Hazardous Duty (Squeaky Clean Mysteries) Paperback – February 11, 2011

This was a fantastic mystery. There is more action than an action movie. The predicaments Gabby manages to get into will keep you turning page after page. There are serious situations, budding romance, fear and happiness as well. There is heart pounding moments that also keep you reading long after bedtime! All in all, it is one i recommend!

My wife had been needling me on my choice of books. She asked if I had a problem with reading a book where the woman is the hero. So, to find out I picked out a couple for a test run. This one was recommended by her, and I thought the concept of a crime scene clean-up business be the center of solving mysteries sounded, shall I say, entertaining to me. After all, I followed the adventures of Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote) and Miss Marple (Agatha Christie). Why wouldn’t this work?Christy Barritt developed her character of Gabby in this first of the series book to make me say that she is a perfect match for this line of work. The other characters developed their respect for her skills and insights at an appropriate rate toward the plot twist and revelation of the perpetrator, leaving the reader cheering and pleased.I enjoyed the characters, the story, the readability, and watching it all play out. If there is anything I object to, it is the attempts on Gabby’s life. The first seemed to be an unfortunate accident. The second was understandable, but the third was a stretch. Then there had to be a fourth. First one was one of those don’t-open-that-door moments. You know what I mean: only the character fails to see the folly in her action. The second gave a perfect set-up for her escape. I’ll skip the third. The fourth was back to making perfect sense as it brought us to the climax.In summary, yes my dear wife, I enjoyed it and am interested in book #2 of the series. Thanks for steering me to it.

I like Gabby's quirkiness. She keeps pushing the envelope and doesn't back down. She's sensitive but tough. Innocent? Yes, but no. The story is intriguing and fast paced. A definite page turner. If you like mysteries then quit reading this review and read the book :-)

It's cute. It's funny. It's even somewhat compelling. If I could afford it, I'd be dashing off the buy more books in the series.This is a series done the right way! Clearly some of the characters continue in other books. The love interest continues in other books (I hope.) But *this* book is complete. One isn't left hanging wondering who the murderer is. If I want to know more about the characters, now that I've been introduced to them, I just buy more books. And what a set of characters these are. They are quirky, and real, and utterly delightful. The heroine runs a forensic cleaning service (she cleans up after a crime has been committed.) She also has some rather unique friends. And she's a bit pushy... All in a good cause, of course. And she's got a very vivid imagination. It's a good mix for a murder.I was a little unsure about getting this book because somewhere (a review? Some article about the author?) I read that these are "Christian" books and I hate books that preach at me. This book is "Christian" in the sense that it isn't afraid to mention that half of the love interest is Christian and attends church. It's a book that doesn't talk trashy, or have characters that use profanity. In that sense it's definitely "Christian" and I *like* that. But it doesn't have any long preachy passages, "deep" discussions about God's characteristics, or anything that makes a non-Christian uncomfortable. It is probably "christian" more than "Christian" (if you know what I mean.)I enjoyed it greatly, and would recommend it to my friends, no matter what age they are.

The book is quite complex, with multiple characters and storylines all intertwined. The plot is intricate, with several subplots like the murder of Gloria Cunningham, the ensuing investigation, and the personal dynamics between characters. But I found the clarity of these subplots to be an issue. It was sometimes challenging to follow the events and understand how they all connect.The characters each have distinct backgrounds and motives, which I liked. However, their development felt uneven. Some characters, like Michael Cunningham and Gloria, had clear roles and backstories. Others, like Detective Parker and Gabby, needed more depth to make their actions and decisions more relatable and understandable.The dialogue often seemed more about conveying information than developing characters or advancing the plot naturally. This made the interactions between characters feel a bit forced and less real. Additionally, some scenarios, like characters easily accessing restricted areas or sensitive information, stretched believability.The pacing fluctuated a lot. Some parts were packed with action and information, while others dragged and slowed down the story. A more balanced structure would help maintain engagement and build suspense more effectively.I think the emotional impact of key events, such as the murder and its aftermath, could be stronger. Delving deeper into the characters' psychological responses and the emotional toll these events take on them would make me more invested in their journeys.The book touches on themes of betrayal, justice, and personal redemption. These themes are compelling but could be woven more consistently throughout the story for stronger thematic coherence.There are numerous repetitions and unnecessary scenes that don't add much to the plot or character development. Streamlining these through careful editing would enhance the readability and overall impact of the story.Overall, while I think the book has a strong foundation with its intriguing premise and diverse characters, it needs more focused character development, clearer plot progression, more natural dialogue, and tighter pacing. With these improvements, I’m convinced it could offer a more engaging and emotionally resonant reading experience.

Quirky definitely! This book contains a bit of so much - romance, lack of romance, mystery, suspense, faith, lack of faith, reminiscence, banter, humour, wisdom and overall fun. I actually loved it and look forward to reading more by this author.

This book was excellent. The story, the characters, the writing, the faith content — all of it was memorable, intriguing and entertaining. I was genuinely gutted by some of the plot twists and the suspense was crafted so well that I had a hard time putting the book down. I definitely recommend this novel if you love clean suspense that isn’t dark or unsettling. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

ストーリーの展開が「都合良すぎる」。犯人が意外でもないし、説得力に欠ける。

Good

This suspenseful page- turner had me enthralled with its plot, twists and feisty main character. The story is really well written, grabbing your attention and imagination equally. I couldn't put out down and cannot wait to read more!