Witty suspense, steamy romance, and NOLA danger.
Nell Whitby moved to New Orleans for peace, beignets, and quiet sketches—then stopped a carjacking and found a target on her back and a gruff detective in her orbit. Relatively Risky delivers laugh-out-loud voice, slow-burn chemistry, and a high-stakes family secret that makes every choice feel urgent.
What readers and reviewers have to say:
Murder, Heart, and the Big Uneasy
Children’s-book author Nell Whitby sought inspiration in the French Quarter, but a bike ride gone wrong pulls her into murder, mob vendettas, and the unsettling attention of Detective Alex Baker—whose rules include solving murders and avoiding anyone under ten. As bullets fly and old loyalties flare, Nell and Alex must learn to trust each other while unraveling a family secret hotter than a Cajun gumbo.
Step Inside the World
Beignets, Bullets, and a Big Family Secret — Welcome to The Big Uneasy
A fast, funny, and fiercely heartfelt mystery where a children’s author and a homicide detective collide in New Orleans.
Nell Whitby moved to the French Quarter for peace, a fresh beignet, and quiet afternoons sketching the city she’d fallen in love with. Instead, a routine bike ride drags her into the chaos of a thwarted carjacking and onto the radar of Detective Alex Baker — a man whose rules are solve murders and avoid anyone under ten. When a mob vendetta and a family secret cranked up hotter than Cajun gumbo bleed into the streets, Nell and Alex find themselves reluctantly paired: bullets fly, loyalties shift, and a wary attraction sparks amid the danger.
Relatively Risky blends lighthearted, witty banter with high-stakes suspense and a warm center of family and healing. Fans of cozy mysteries with an edge, romantic suspense lovers who crave chemistry, and anyone enchanted by the pulse of New Orleans will find a voice on every page. With laugh-out-loud dialogue, a cast of unforgettable characters — including Alex’s twelve rambunctious siblings — and a city that lives and breathes through the narrative, this first installment of The Big Uneasy series is a romp you won’t want to put down.
Claim Your Copy—Jazz, Danger, Desire
Start the Big Uneasy series today—danger, secrets, and a slow-burn romance await.
What you’ll find in Relatively Risky
- A capable, intelligent heroine who doesn’t back down
- A hero who understands risk — and chooses it anyway
- High-stakes situations that demand hard choices
- Humor woven through tension
- A romance forged in motion, not after the danger ends
This is the kind of story where:
the threat is immediate,
the chemistry is inconvenient,
and the outcome is anything but guaranteed.
Is this book for you?
You’ll likely enjoy Relatively Risky if you like:
- Romance mixed with action and adventure
- Stories where love grows under pressure
- Competent characters facing real danger
- A balance of suspense, warmth, and wit
- Plot-driven stories that still leave room for heart
If you’re looking for quiet, low-stakes romance, this probably isn’t your book.
If you want momentum, connection, and characters who don’t wait for perfect conditions — welcome.
Pauline Baird Jones writes character-driven romantic suspense that balances sharp humor with emotional stakes. Drawn to New Orleans’ music, food, and folklore, she crafts settings that sing as loudly as her characters. Relatively Risky launches her Big Uneasy series.
More praise for Relatively Risky:
“Readers of romantic suspense novels will certainly not go wrong if they take a trip to New Orleans with Relatively Risky!” Long & Short Romance Reviews
“A fun, cozy mystery I couldn’t put down—with constant excitement and a dash of romance.”
“Jones blends romantic suspense and cozy mystery into a fast-paced, twisty, and hilarious ride.”
“The characters are quirky, the setting is rich, and the story is just plain addictive.”
“This is a ridiculously great book—funny, weird, and completely unforgettable.”
“If romantic suspense in the Big Easy sounds good, Relatively Risky is your next must-read.”
“Humorous dialogue, lovable characters, and evil villains make this a can’t-put-down read.”
“Fast-paced (but not exhausting), funny, and full of romantic sizzle that won’t make you blush.”
“This book is a wild romp from beginning to end—I MUST read the next one!”
“With witty dialogue and strong noir flavor, Jones creates a unique voice that’s hard to resist.”
“You can smell the beignets and feel the bullets fly in this New Orleans-set romantic mystery.”
“Perfect for fans of clean romance, quirky characters, and thrilling plots with heart.”
“The heroine’s veggie-obsessed imagination is oddly charming and totally original.”
“Smart writing, sharp humor, and a genuinely good guy hero—yes please!”
“Part mystery, part romance, part chaos—this book has all the things I love.”
“Packed with surprises, secrets, mob mayhem, and one very swoony cop.”
“A stellar kickoff to a series I want to binge—starting with Alex and Nell’s story.”
“From a bike-riding heroine to mafia secrets, this story is bonkers in the best way.”
“The Big Uneasy is the perfect name for this deliciously offbeat series.”
“Equal parts suspenseful, sweet, and side-splittingly funny.”
“Pauline Baird Jones nails the romantic suspense genre—with brains, heart, and a killer sense of humor.”