Product Description

On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire dropped out of school and started her own crime scene cleaning business. Now, when a routine cleaning job leads her to a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong man is in jail. With the help of her neighbor, Gabby plays detective to make sure the right man is put behind bars. Guaranteed fiction!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #121164 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780825420160
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"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 victim 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." (Roseanna White Christian Review of Books 20070108)

"The next time you're temped to watch CSI reruns, read this book instead! Spunky, sassy Gabby St. Claire sparkles in this new series. She'll keep you turning the pages." (Siri Mitchell Sporting the Faith Newsletter 20070104)

"Christy Barritt's novel, Hazardous Duty, is a delightfil read from beginning to end. The story'sfresh, engaging heroine with an unusual occupation hooked me, and I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend Hazardous Duty. --Colleen Coble, Author of Fire Dancer, nook one of the Smoke Jumpers series

Captivating, entertaining, and downright funny, this book will keep you reading until the satisfying ending. Unique characters capture your heart and have you rooting for them from the beginning. Gabby St. Claire is truly a breath of fresh air. (Susan Sleeman The Christian Suspense Zone )

Captivating, entertaining, and downright funny, this book will keep you reading until the satisfying ending. Unique characters capture your heart and have you rooting for them from the beginning. Gabby St. Claire is truly a breath of fresh air. (Susan Sleeman The Christian Suspense Zone 20061030)

Christy Barritt created one lovable and unique character. Readers will fall in love with Gabby from page one with her laugh out loud scenes and sarcastic humor. This mystery was fun to read as well as to solve. Up until the very end, I wasn't too sure who the real suspect was in the book. I'm not sure if Gabby St. Claire will morph into a book series, but I'm sure readers will want to meet her again at future crime cleaning scenes. (Tyora Moody Faithwebbin )

Christy Barritt created one lovable and unique character. Readers will fall in love with Gabby from page one with her laugh out loud scenes and sarcastic humor. This mystery was fun to read as well as to solve. Up until the very end, I wasn't too sure who the real suspect was in the book. I'm not sure if Gabby St. Claire will morph into a book series, but I'm sure readers will want to meet her again at future crime cleaning scenes. (Tyora Moody Faithwebbin 20061001)

If you like murder mysteries and suspense with a chick-lit feel, you'll want to read this one! (Michelle Sutton michellesutton.net )

If you like murder mysteries and suspense with a chick-lit feel, you'll want to read this one! (Michelle Sutton michellesutton.net 20061212)

From the Back Cover
On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire drops out of school and starts her own crime scene cleaning business. "Yeah, that's me," she says, "a crime scene cleaner. People waiting in line behind me who strike up conversations always regret it." HTML When a routine cleaning job uncovers a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong person is in jail. But the owner of the weapon is a powerful foe...and willing to do anything to keep Gabby quiet. HTML With the help of her new neighbor, Riley Thomas, a man whose life and faith fascinate her, Gabby plays the detective to make sure the right person is put behind bars. Can Riley help her before another murder occurs?

About the Author
Paul Hattaway is a New Zealander, a prolific author, and an expert on the Chinese Church. Fluent in Mandarin, he is a frequent visitor to China.

Christy Barritt is a speaker and freelance writer. The author of many books and articles, she is also a worship leader at her church. Christy lives in Virginia with her family.

Customer Reviews

A Fun Story With Quirky Characters
Talk about strange job descriptions, Gabby St. Clair is a crime scene cleaner. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. She can restore a scene to, if not it's original appearance, at least to something the average person can look at without throwing up. At first this seems like a routine job, until Gabby turns up the murder weapon someone used to kill the wife of a powerful politician, someone tries to burn down the house with Gabby inside, and her employee is in jail on an arson charge.
Gabby St. Clair is a spunky, spirited stubborn heroine who is on a mission to track down a cold-blooded killer. She is also trying to fend off Riley Thomas, her new, good looking neighbor, and detective Chip Parker, who bears a strong resemblence to Brad Pitt. Hazardous Duty is a delightful blend of humor and suspense, with a cast of quirky characters and a twisted plot that will keep the reader turning pages to the end.

Christian fiction has just turned a corner with this book!
Gabby St. Clair wants to be a CSI specialist. She's always loved science and mystery. Family trouble demanded her time and she didn't finish college. Now, she's given up her dream so she can clean up after murders, assaults and the occasional cat lady.

But with her inclination toward crime solving, Gabby can't help but notice some things don't add up at the site of a murder. And when she takes her suspicion to the police, she's met with incompetence or maybe it's a cover-up. And then a bomb shows up on her doorstep. She's definitely making someone nervous.

Hazardous Duty switches pace from comedy to spine tingling suspense with quick deft skill. Barritt has a great cast of odd-ball characters backing up her heroine: a way-too-cute new neighbor who stacks up to be a bum like Gabby's dad; a vegan who is willing to give a pro-animal speech at the least provocation; and a cop who looks like Brad Pitt and who might be trying to kill Gabby.

Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt as much fun as I've had reading a book in a while. I feel like Christian fiction, which I love and write, has just turned a corner with this book. It's as funny and fast paced as any book, created with Christian readers in mind with no offensive language or situations--unless picking skull fragments out of a wall offends you--which is possible. It's pure entertainment with a Christian worldview. - Debbie W. Wilson, [...]

Mystery with a twist
Some women have interesting careers. Some women have interesting neighbors and friends. Then there are the women with active imaginations and creative minds. And very few women face a murderer and find God. Gabby St. Claire has all that and more.

For Gabby, life as a crime-scene cleaner is far from glamorous. her days are spent cleaning up other people's messes and trying to think of a jingle to advertise her business. How exactly does one advertise cleaning up a murder scene?

When a routine cleanup uncovers a murder weapon her inquisitive nature takes over. Lessons learned in forensics school become invaluable as she becomes self-made sleuth. Sure she knows who the murderer is and equally sure Detective parker does not care she noses around on her own. With the help of a good looking new neighbor she uncovers a trail pointing directly to her suspect. And he is not the man the police
have in custody. Her perseverance almost causes her to be the next victim. Will Riley, the neighbor or Detective parker save her?

If you want a calm, peaceful read, this is not the book. The action begins on page one and continues until the end. The characters grab. The mystery intrigues. And gabby's mixture of stubborn boldness and humor compel you to read more. Clear your calendar, you won't stop reading.