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Gabby St. Claire is crying foul play, in every sense of the phrase.

When crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire agrees to go undercover at a local community theater, she discovers more than backstage bickering, atrocious acting, and rotten writing. The female lead is dead and an old classmate who’s staked everything on the musical production’s success is about to go under.

In her dual role of investigator and star of the show, Gabby finds the stakes rising faster than the opening night curtain. She comes face to face with her past and must make monumental decisions, not just about the play but also concerning her future relationships and career.

Will Gabby find the killer before the curtain goes down—not only on the play, but also on life as she knows it?

Fiction/Christian/Mystery

Other books in the Squeaky Clean series:
Hazardous Duty
Suspicious Minds
It Came Upon a Midnight Crime (a novella)
Organized Grime
Dirty Deeds
The Scum of All Fears
To Love, Honor, and Perish
Mucky Streak

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2014

324 people are currently reading
297 people want to read

About the author

Christy Barritt

340 books1,673 followers
Christy 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.

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5 stars
398 (54%)
4 stars
237 (32%)
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77 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Amanda Tero.
Author 30 books544 followers
June 25, 2022
This mystery kept me guessing. I thought I knew who the bad guy was from the beginning but I waffled on that decision throughout the story. The character cast was eclectic and made for an interesting play.

The spiritual content in this series is slightly more than the Worst Detective Ever series.

I am still not sure what my loyal heart thinks of where the romance is turning. :)
Profile Image for Nadishka Aloysius.
Author 25 books72 followers
August 20, 2019
This is another of those odd stories that are not as good as the rest. I thought the answer was quite obvious...
Profile Image for JaneReads.
982 reviews126 followers
October 24, 2015
Another good book by Christy. Kept me guessing who was the behind the mystery right up to the end. I like when I am not able to solve it before it is revealed. I did miss Riley in this book, but really got to like Garrett, I feel a bit torn between the two. I was interested to hear what Mrs. Baker thought of Garrett and was hoping she would tell Gabby what she thought of Riley when they met. Maybe in the next book? I understand Riley is dealing with a major recovery, but I feel like he has shut Gabby out and that's not fair to her. I look forward to the next book and hope that things start to balance out for Gabby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kay Defreese.
664 reviews42 followers
February 6, 2019
So far this has been my least favorite of all the books so far in the Squeaky Clean mysteries. Gabby has grown closer to Garrett and is exploring a romance with him but I think she still has some lingering feelings for Riley. Riley does make an appearance as her lawyer but nothing about them as a couple is discussed. She suspects Riley has moved on to another lady friend.

This book was confusing to me. I could not get all the characters straight. This book disappointed me but hoping the next will be better.
Profile Image for Kelly.
304 reviews6 followers
October 8, 2014
I keep saying how much I love this series. Number 8 and they haven't gotten tired or jumped the shark yet. I almost feel sad when one is over and I have to wait for the next one. Luckily Christy doesn't keep us waiting long!
Profile Image for Suzie Waltner.
Author 13 books148 followers
September 20, 2014
Gabby St. Clair is back and involved in another mystery. As she searches for a killer, she also searches for her purpose. Can she move beyond her past and embrace the future?
144 reviews
October 29, 2020
Once again, Christy Barritt has done an outstanding job at creating amazing characters and a twisted plot that keeps the reader wanting to read on. The main character, Gabby, struggles with a lot of personal issues throughout the book and handles them well. She is a fun character to get to know more and more. I missed Riley, her boyfriend, in previous books. Gabby does begin a relationship with another man, but I am hoping that Riley is not out of the picture. Great book for someone who enjoys the theatre.
621 reviews11 followers
March 11, 2018
This was my least favorite of this series. I didn’t like her friend from middle school. There were so many characters with the play going on. It took a while to get therm all separated. I miss some of the characters from the past. Maybe I went to a low budget middle school, but we didn’t have plays, so that wasn’t relatable to me at all. I’m still going to finish the rest of the series. But just didn’t care all that much for this one.
Profile Image for Nicole Morphew.
46 reviews
November 17, 2025
Never a dull moment!

An absolute must-have/read series! If you like action, love, mystery, humor, entertainment, some references to God, hope, courage, bravery, and so much more I highly recommend this series. Edge of your seat entertainment from start to finish! I look forward to see what happens with the business and Chad, who Gabby ends up with (Garrett, Riley, someone else?), and how all the other characters grow!!
Profile Image for Laura Hamby.
198 reviews14 followers
August 2, 2019
The Show Must Go On

In this case Gabby is asked to help a friend find out why things keep going wrong with a play she is producing. Just as she gets started a body is found. This book has Gabby struggling with where her life is going. She is learning about putting the past behind her and focusing on the future. This was one of my favorites so far in this series! On to book 9.
65 reviews
November 13, 2019
Gabby's love life is a mess! Poor thing!

So will the mystery of her love life be solved in the next book? We'll have to wait and see! Christy if you read this wouldn't a spin off with Clarice solving mysteries be great since she's a criminal justice student and she loves helping Gabby. Just a thought!
Profile Image for Beth Kaminske.
694 reviews5 followers
June 13, 2020
Gabby Scored again

The main problem I have with this series is how trite and short the conclusion is. I like the characters and the mystery, even though they are a little simple. And I find myself getting caught up with it all, and then the ending comes. And it is over so quickly with the culprit confessing and just so trite.
Profile Image for Tina at Mommynificent.
661 reviews18 followers
April 28, 2022
This was a fun, fresh plot for this series that did a great job building on the overarching storyline while being its own entertaining mystery. I'm sure that this one is very related to the tween series about Gabby, which I haven't read yet, but it didn't take any enjoyment from me that I hadn't read them.
1 review
May 13, 2020
I liked it because it was entertaining and challenging at the same time.

Gabby life didn't seem beyond the realm of possibility. I can hardly wait to read the next one.Good job Gabby.
Profile Image for Keith Dearden.
5 reviews
August 4, 2020
A good suspense with lots of twists - maybe too many characters/suspects once again. However it keeps the reader engaged and guessing until the end. Riley - where are you? Get yourself sorted out with Gabby before you lose her!
10 reviews2 followers
May 26, 2018
Excellent

I could not put this book down like the rest. Can’t wait to read the next one to see who Gabby ends up with.
Profile Image for Hunter Q Lee.
496 reviews3 followers
September 19, 2019
Very emotional

Another fine story in the Squeaky Clean Mysteries. It was very emotional, and keeps you guessing. Now for number nine.
1,592 reviews
April 18, 2020
Loved it!

This is such a fun series. I love Gabby, and the mysteries are a lot of fun to read. I’m looking forward to finding out what is next for Gabby!
729 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2020
Wow!

This was another great book! It has all the suspense and mystery needed for a great novel. I'm just glad it's a series so I have several more books to read.
513 reviews7 followers
October 21, 2020
Loved it. Great plot

Loved this book. Great plot and we see a new side of Gabby. Love the way her faith stays with her
272 reviews4 followers
April 20, 2021
Just another fun mystery with a great team of characters. I love the series.
Profile Image for Kassie R..
332 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2022
I give this 3.5 stars. It is probably my least favorite out of the series so far. It was just kind of boring when it cane to the crime going on.
793 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2025
Christy Barritt does it again. Another good book in this series. Great setting and cast of characters. On to the next in this series.
195 reviews5 followers
January 24, 2016
In this book, Gabby was revisiting her past, at Oceanside Middle School, now a theater for putting on plays. An old friend asks Gabby to work undercover to figure out who was stop a play from going on. It was reminiscent of the first book in the Gabby St. Claire Diaries (Gabby as a middle-schooler) and the plot was very similar. I did enjoy reading the book, but it was not my favorite, mainly because I missed some of the main characters (especially Riley working together with Gabby to solve crimes)! I like the Garrett character, but enjoy Riley more. I was pleased that he made an appearance in this book though. I have always felt that this series had quirky characters, humor, romance, and mystery, but missed the humor in this installment. I also missed Gabby's interaction with the people in her apartment building (a little with best friend Sierra, but none with the Mystery Lady or the guy downstairs) and with her ex, Parker. I just thought he'd show up to "save the day," especially when Gabby got arrested! I figured out early on what was going on at the old school, but not who the murderers were until they were revealed. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did like the book, and enjoy reading anything Christy Barritt writes! I look forward to beginning Book #9.
Profile Image for Nichole.
122 reviews1 follower
April 10, 2015
good read!

Christy Barritt always gives a great page-turner, and this one is no exception! The mystery definitely lead me on a windy road, and the ending hairpin curve really threw me! The romantic play in book eight was both disheartening and encouraging - an oxymoron, I know, but that's how I felt. I couldn't believe Riley would really truly walk completely out of Gabby's life (but did he really, or is there more to come?). While Gabby is falling for someone else, she has very conflicting emotions because of her feeling for both men. Her business is falling apart, and she has some serious thinking to do about the future. What will book nine bring? I can't wait to find out! Thanks, Christy Barritt for another terrific read!
32 reviews
March 6, 2015
Keeps you guessing!

I enjoy reading about Gabby's exploits as a P.I.; this book was very good. There are lots of suspects from which to choose and everyone has something to hide. I have really had fun reading all of the Squeaky Clean mysteries so far. I hope we see more of Garrett in the future and I also look forward to reading the Riley Thomas Novella. Thanks again Christy Barritt!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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