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Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries #1
Random Acts of Murder
When Holly Anna Paladin is given a year to live, she embraces her final days doing what she loves most—random acts of kindness. But one of her extreme good deeds goes horribly wrong, implicating Holly in a string of murders. Holly is suddenly in a different kind of fight for her life. Only two other people know Holly was at the site of the murder, and one of them is the killer. Making matters stickier is the fact that the detective assigned to the case is her old high school crush and present day nemesis. The clock is ticking as Holly is forced to play a dangerous game. Will Holly find the killer before he ruins what’s left of her life? Or will she spend her final days alone and behind bars? Holly Anna Paladin Random Acts of Murder Random Acts of Deceit Random Acts of Malice Random Acts of Scrooge Random Acts of Greed Random Acts of Fraud (coming soon) Clean and wholesome mysteries with a side of faith, romance, and humor! Fiction/Christian/Mystery/Suspense
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
624 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Christy Barritt
332 books1,661 followersChristy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
August 4, 2014
REALLY, REALLY Good! I hope Christy does more books with this character and not just because her name is Holly!!
March 29, 2016
Having read Ms. Barritt's Squeaky Clean series, I knew I would be in for a fun ride with this one. The funny thing about it is that I don't usually enjoy reading mysteries. But somewhere along the way, I tried Hazardous Duty and was hooked! Somehow, Ms. Barritt has the skill to write fantastic characters that make me invested in their lives and waiting with baited breath for how they'll keep from getting killed. Because yes, this is a murder mystery (in case the title didn't give it away ;). I mean, I'm a girl who loves cute romances, not really a murder mystery type.
But wait, she includes the cute romance part too! Watching these two get closer while juggling secrets and a few white lies, oh and a murder or five, is so much fun! (I know. Fun and murder don't really seem like they're compatible. Yet they are. Trust me.) I just love being inside Holly's head. She's hilarious! I don't know how many times I laughed while reading this, but too many to count. And Chase? His history with Holly, along with simply liking her for who she is and teasing her a lot, combine with his personal struggles and genuine nice-guy-ness to make a great guy. I could watch their interactions all day. They're fantastic together.
As I said, the characters are where Ms. Barritt excels. And where she keeps me coming back to her stories. Because just writing a murder mystery is not going to draw me in. At all. But blend a cute romance, a heroine with a good heart who's struggling with a major life-changing circumstance, a hero who's made some bad choices in the past and is trying to rise above them, along with a mysterious killer who won't let Holly forget he/she is around, and you have a fun, tension-filled ride! And it's only book one. So you know more fun will follow! :)
But wait, she includes the cute romance part too! Watching these two get closer while juggling secrets and a few white lies, oh and a murder or five, is so much fun! (I know. Fun and murder don't really seem like they're compatible. Yet they are. Trust me.) I just love being inside Holly's head. She's hilarious! I don't know how many times I laughed while reading this, but too many to count. And Chase? His history with Holly, along with simply liking her for who she is and teasing her a lot, combine with his personal struggles and genuine nice-guy-ness to make a great guy. I could watch their interactions all day. They're fantastic together.
As I said, the characters are where Ms. Barritt excels. And where she keeps me coming back to her stories. Because just writing a murder mystery is not going to draw me in. At all. But blend a cute romance, a heroine with a good heart who's struggling with a major life-changing circumstance, a hero who's made some bad choices in the past and is trying to rise above them, along with a mysterious killer who won't let Holly forget he/she is around, and you have a fun, tension-filled ride! And it's only book one. So you know more fun will follow! :)
November 20, 2018
Good whodunit mystery
March 30, 2024
I do not know why I waited so long to read this book.
I really enjoyed this romantic suspense with a few humorous moments. Holly Anna was an interesting character and though I found myself a bit frustrated a few times because I felt so she should have been upfront with Chase, I enjoyed following the clues and murders to the reveal of the murderer.
I am looking forward to more future Holly Anna and Chase adventures.
I really enjoyed this romantic suspense with a few humorous moments. Holly Anna was an interesting character and though I found myself a bit frustrated a few times because I felt so she should have been upfront with Chase, I enjoyed following the clues and murders to the reveal of the murderer.
I am looking forward to more future Holly Anna and Chase adventures.
November 2, 2014
In a new spin-off of the Squeaky Clean series, Christy Barritt introduces us to Holly Anna Paladin - a young woman with a heart of gold and very limited time left on Earth. Holly Anna decides to spend the rest of her days helping others, with random acts of kindness. Her plan to live her last days anxiety-free back fires when one of her RAKs implicates her in a string of twisted murders.
To make matters even worse, one of the detectives investigating the serial killer is her former high school crush.
As a follower of Christy's Squeaky Clean series, I actually wasn't planning on reading this book at all. Holly Anna irritated me in her appearance in the other series, even though I could relate to her - I just didn't like how "clean" she was, it wasn't believable. But, I'm happy to report that I loved this book better than any of Christy's others! She showed Holly Anna's vulnerabilities, her feelings of anxiety - that made her a believable character. The plot was very well done, I was kept guessing the entire book and was still slightly surprised at the end. I hope Christy keeps writing this series, it's probably her best one yet!
To make matters even worse, one of the detectives investigating the serial killer is her former high school crush.
As a follower of Christy's Squeaky Clean series, I actually wasn't planning on reading this book at all. Holly Anna irritated me in her appearance in the other series, even though I could relate to her - I just didn't like how "clean" she was, it wasn't believable. But, I'm happy to report that I loved this book better than any of Christy's others! She showed Holly Anna's vulnerabilities, her feelings of anxiety - that made her a believable character. The plot was very well done, I was kept guessing the entire book and was still slightly surprised at the end. I hope Christy keeps writing this series, it's probably her best one yet!
March 12, 2025
8/7/14-8/14/14
This is a spin off from the Squeaky Clean series and I loved it!
This is a spin off from the Squeaky Clean series and I loved it!
December 22, 2017
4.5 Stars
Random Acts of Murder was SO good! Right from the very beginning I was hooked! Holly Paladin has been told she only has a year to live. She decides to make the best of the situation and perform as many random acts of kindness as she can. It backfires, though, when she discovers a dead body at the house of one of her acts of kindness. Before she's wrongly accused of the crime, she decides to figure out the killer herself.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I was afraid it was gonna be a bit of a downer since the main character is sick and only has a year to live. But I had no need to worry, this is a Christy Barritt book after all. It featured her trademark humor, edge of your seat suspense, and heartfelt moments. I instantly liked Holly. Her optimism in the face of her diagnosis and circumstances was so admirable. The mystery was multi-layered and kept me guessing. I'm excited to find out what mysteries await in the next book, Random Acts of Deceit. Highly recommend!
Random Acts of Murder was SO good! Right from the very beginning I was hooked! Holly Paladin has been told she only has a year to live. She decides to make the best of the situation and perform as many random acts of kindness as she can. It backfires, though, when she discovers a dead body at the house of one of her acts of kindness. Before she's wrongly accused of the crime, she decides to figure out the killer herself.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I was afraid it was gonna be a bit of a downer since the main character is sick and only has a year to live. But I had no need to worry, this is a Christy Barritt book after all. It featured her trademark humor, edge of your seat suspense, and heartfelt moments. I instantly liked Holly. Her optimism in the face of her diagnosis and circumstances was so admirable. The mystery was multi-layered and kept me guessing. I'm excited to find out what mysteries await in the next book, Random Acts of Deceit. Highly recommend!
October 15, 2018
Holly Anna Paladin - what a piece of work she is. She is filled with the need to protect and nurture others, sometimes to the detriment of wise thinking. Not wanting to hurt someone's career or add sorrow to their lives just before a wedding doesn't preclude doing the right thing. If it's the right thing to do, it should be done. Holly is hiding something from everyone in her life, well two somethings - only her best friend Jamie knows the whole truth. She tries to tell Chase, but things just always seem to come up and stop her confessions. But, in the end it all works out - and that is how I like a story to end - happy!
This is a clean read.
This is a clean read.
July 2, 2018
Random Act of Kindness Gone way Wrong
After a death sentence from her oncologist, Holly decides to help a former CPS client by cleaning her house. Using her lock picking skills, she finds more than she bargained for when she finishes the kitchen and heads to the bathroom. As bodies pile up and she gets closer to her high school crush, she worries about how to solve the crimes and save her political family from embarassment. What a faith filled, twisting and turning, adventure this book is! I loved it!
After a death sentence from her oncologist, Holly decides to help a former CPS client by cleaning her house. Using her lock picking skills, she finds more than she bargained for when she finishes the kitchen and heads to the bathroom. As bodies pile up and she gets closer to her high school crush, she worries about how to solve the crimes and save her political family from embarassment. What a faith filled, twisting and turning, adventure this book is! I loved it!
August 18, 2020
A Girl in Trouble
Holly Anna was told she had cancer and was given a year to live. She decided that instead of taking treatments she would live the remainder of her life to the fullest. One of the things on her bucket list was to do random acts of kindness. She breaks into a client's house to clean her kitchen and discovers a dead body. Now Holly Anna would be the prime suspect if the police ever found out. There are other murders happening around the city and Holly Anna is a target. Who is trying to frame her?
Holly Anna was told she had cancer and was given a year to live. She decided that instead of taking treatments she would live the remainder of her life to the fullest. One of the things on her bucket list was to do random acts of kindness. She breaks into a client's house to clean her kitchen and discovers a dead body. Now Holly Anna would be the prime suspect if the police ever found out. There are other murders happening around the city and Holly Anna is a target. Who is trying to frame her?
January 27, 2023
I loved this book! It's one of my favorites that Christy has written. I feel like I say some version of that sentiment with every book of hers that I've read so far, but that doesn't make it any less true! Her stories are always great and a lot of her characters, like Holly, I can relate to in some way. There’s a fun little connection to one of Christy’s other series in this one which was fun to come across. Random Acts of Murder is another great book to add to your TBR list. I can't recommend it enough and can't wait to read more from this series!
November 6, 2021
I loved “Random Acts of Murder” by Christy Barritt. This is the first book in a series featuring Holly Anna Paladin. Holly is a very likeable character and you can’t help but cheer for her throughout the whole book. This book had a little romance and a mystery. There was a twist that I never saw coming! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I highly recommend this book and all of Christy Barritt’s books.
I highly recommend this book and all of Christy Barritt’s books.
October 16, 2018
Cleanliness is next to ----Murder!
Diagnosed with a terminal illness and wanting to do random acts of kindness before she dies has put Holly right smack dab in the middle of multiple murders. Holly is amazing, she was just born in the the wrong decade. The storyline is compelling and the characters are complex and intriguing.
Diagnosed with a terminal illness and wanting to do random acts of kindness before she dies has put Holly right smack dab in the middle of multiple murders. Holly is amazing, she was just born in the the wrong decade. The storyline is compelling and the characters are complex and intriguing.
April 19, 2024
I devoured this book quickly because it grabbed my interest right away and kept me engaged. Holly gets a devastating diagnosis from her doctor and is trying to increase her random acts of kindness but ends up getting framed for murder. It reminds me that we should live like tomorrow could be our last day.
August 15, 2024
Loved it all over again
I am reading this series for a second time around and I still love it! I loved the story, I loved Holly's style, I loved the mystery, the humor and the ending, which leads me to read the next book! Again. So, Until next time peace, love and happy reading y'all 🥰📚📖
I am reading this series for a second time around and I still love it! I loved the story, I loved Holly's style, I loved the mystery, the humor and the ending, which leads me to read the next book! Again. So, Until next time peace, love and happy reading y'all 🥰📚📖
July 29, 2017
Really enjoyed this book
I totally loved this book. I read it in less Ghana day. The premise of the story didn't really work for me at first, but people do not think clearly under stressful situations. Ready to read the next book in the series.
I totally loved this book. I read it in less Ghana day. The premise of the story didn't really work for me at first, but people do not think clearly under stressful situations. Ready to read the next book in the series.
July 19, 2018
A spin off from the squeaky clean series but you don’t have to read the squeaky clean series to totally enjoy this series by Barritt. Set in Cincinnati, Ohio, this series is thrilling and exciting with the twists and turns you have come to expect in Barritt’s stories. Highly recommend this series!
October 23, 2018
Clean
Although this was a striking relief from bad language, I found the story all over the place. There were many spots where the editing should have caught the mistakes. Toward the end i was bored, confused & just wanted to find out the conclusion.
Although this was a striking relief from bad language, I found the story all over the place. There were many spots where the editing should have caught the mistakes. Toward the end i was bored, confused & just wanted to find out the conclusion.
February 25, 2020
Random Acts of Murder Book 1🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠5 Stars
What a fantastic read. I love reading a good mystery without the author using the Lords name in vain. This book was especially good because it was based on the characters having faith in God too.
What a fantastic read. I love reading a good mystery without the author using the Lords name in vain. This book was especially good because it was based on the characters having faith in God too.
July 31, 2020
I liked this book. The shelley library had me read a bunch of new books because they ordered them and then didn't have time to read them. So I got the assignment. this is a book that is one of my favorite genres.
October 3, 2020
Really liked the mix between criminal novel and rom-com. Honestly I wasn't sure of reading this book but it was a good surprise. I liked a lot the way Holly talked and expresed herself, some might think it was silly, but I found it was the perfect quick read for after work hours.
November 10, 2020
Love those frilly dresses!
Such a fun and cute mystery! A lot of interesting characters, even though this series does not seem to give much detail on each character as her later series.
Such a fun and cute mystery! A lot of interesting characters, even though this series does not seem to give much detail on each character as her later series.
February 12, 2021
Holly Anna loved to do random acts of kindness when she could. So she snuck into a woman’s house with the intention of helping her out by cleaning her kitchen and possibly more. She heard a strange sound and found a body. That’s all I’m giving you. Hope it’s enough to grab your intention. Enjoy!
April 5, 2021
This book gave me anxiety 😆 I don't really enjoy the scenarios where there is no communication or miscommunication.. I wanted to skip ahead where she finally said something!! it made me crazy .. I hope the rest of the series isn't this way, I don't think I can take another book like that!
July 4, 2021
Another winner!
Great suspense, believable characters and a bit of romance made this a book that was hard to put down. Situations were built upon with skill and there were a few red herrings. Really enjoyed knowing what the characters thought and what motivated them.
Great suspense, believable characters and a bit of romance made this a book that was hard to put down. Situations were built upon with skill and there were a few red herrings. Really enjoyed knowing what the characters thought and what motivated them.
October 17, 2022
Excellent. An Author to Follow
The author spices her books with humor and mystery. I very much enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to beginning book 2 NOW. WHAT CAN Holly Anna get into next?
The author spices her books with humor and mystery. I very much enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to beginning book 2 NOW. WHAT CAN Holly Anna get into next?
July 11, 2017
A good read an interesting story with. At times I couldn't decide if it was a mystery or a comedy.
February 23, 2018
Random Act's
Another good read. This book opened with a bang and kept it up right to the end. A book you don't want to put down.
Another good read. This book opened with a bang and kept it up right to the end. A book you don't want to put down.
March 29, 2018
Well done. I couldn't figure out who did what until it was revealed in the end. Thank you.
April 11, 2018
Good read
I enjoyed this book! Kept you in your toes waiting to see how it would end! Can't wait to read #2!
I enjoyed this book! Kept you in your toes waiting to see how it would end! Can't wait to read #2!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews