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It’s just another crime scene. Blood, bone fragments, carpet totally ruined. Gabby St. Clair would have much preferred seeing it with the tools and equipment entrusted to the forensic scientists, but instead she’s got her haz-mat suit and some industrial cleaners, ready to get to work. That’s right, she’s a crime-scene cleaner. Glamorous it ain’t, but it pays the bills, and it’s in the line of work she always dreamed of—before she had to quite college one semester shy of her degree. Only, this isn’t just another crime scene. This one still has evidence that the police have missed; and the hunky detective she turns it over to doesn’t seem to be taking her seriously. She expects a little comfort from her neighbor and best friend, Sierra, but she’s a little preoccupied with the arrival of a new tenant—another hunk, though this one at least doesn’t patronize her—and the rescue of a parrot stranded in her tree. But Gabby isn’t one to give up. She’s determined to keep pestering anyone it takes to get to the bottom of the crime, especially when her friend and employee is arrested for something he didn’t do. Obviously, someone’s set the whole thing up so that others will pay the price for their crime. But if they think they can scare her away with their attempts on her life, they’ve got another thing coming. In this witty novel, chick lit meets mystery in the show-tune singing Gabby, creating a fun whodunit where you just don’t know who killed the woman or which guy you like for the heroine. There’s the changeable Detective Parker or the sweet guy-next-door-with-a-secret Riley for Gabby, and who but the would-be Senator husband would want the murder vic dead? Hazardous Duty will take you on a ride through twists, turns, quirks, acorn brownies, and spiritual questions that keep Gabby guessing. She’s a character you’re guaranteed to love, and the plot is entertaining and fast paced. My only gripe is a very, very small one: by the end of the book Gabby is only beginning to wonder about this faith that seems to make Riley and her friend Harold different, which is in itself no big deal in my mind, since this is obviously a first book in a series, and I’m fine with following up the interest in the Lord in later books. But Gabby, as the narrator, feels the need to explain her lack of interest early on; I didn’t think this was something a nonbeliever would do, but given that it’s aimed at Christian readers, it’s understandable. As I said, very small, and it in no way detracts from a great read. Overall, Hazardous Duty is a safe bet for a book that will keep you biting your nails and spitting ’em back out in laughter. I highly recommend it for lovers of mystery, crime novels, romance, and chick lit alike. Publisher: Kregel
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