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Gabby St. Claire is determined to get back in the saddle again.

While in Oklahoma for a forensic conference, she meets her soon-to-be stepbrother Trace Ryan, an up-and-coming country singer. Trace shares that a woman he was dating went missing a month ago, and he suspects a crazy fan girl may be behind her disappearance.

Gabby can’t pass up the opportunity to investigate. But her schedule is tricky as she tries to juggle her conference, navigate being alone in a new place, and locate a woman who may not want to be found.

She discovers that sometimes taking life by the horns means staring danger in the face, no matter the consequences.

Other Books In the Series:
Hazardous Duty
Suspicious Minds
It Came Upon a Midnight Crime
Organized Grime
Dirty Deeds
The Scum of All Fears
To Love, Honor, and Perish
Mucky Streak
Foul Play
Coming soon: Dust and Obey

Fiction/Christian/Mystery

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2014

385 people are currently reading
301 people want to read

About the author

Christy Barritt

340 books1,677 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
432 (58%)
4 stars
237 (31%)
3 stars
60 (8%)
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7 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for Amanda Tero.
Author 30 books546 followers
June 27, 2022
This one may be my favorite of the series so far. It might be because romance was back burner (though there was a whole storyline of a jerk who made a pass but nothing obscene happened). The mystery was complex and though I had my suspicions at the beginning, they played out in a great way.

There was also a good spiritual plot of Gabby learning to trust God with her future yet also take the steps she needed to.
Profile Image for Dina.
417 reviews
July 30, 2024
Finished 1/4/15
I know I sound like a broken record when it comes to this series but it is my all time favorite Christian mystery/suspense series. Christy Barritt has developed the characters so well that in my mind they are more than fictional, but almost real. In this story, Gabby is in Oklahoma attending a workshop/conference for forensics. She has the opportunity to meet up and coming country music sensation, Trace Ryan, who will soon be her step brother. Trace has been dealing with a stalker and his girlfriend disappeared weeks ago with no trace. Gabby attempts to solve this mystery while keeping up with the conference and trying to figure out her own tangled up life and work through her feelings for Riley, her former fiancé.

Re-reading on audio. Such a great series! Christy, if you see this review, we need more Gabby in our lives! My favorite of all of Barritt’s series.
Profile Image for Suzie Waltner.
Author 13 books148 followers
December 25, 2014
As a reader, I usually get bored with series around book five or six. This has not happened to me yet with "The Squeaky Clean" mysteries. I'm ready for book ten to come out already :). Author Christy Barritt does an amazing job of keeping the suspense up as Gabby St. Claire continues to struggle with finding herself. I feel like I've gone on this journey with Gabby and I want to keep going until she's got everything figured out--what she wants to do when she grows up and whether she's going to get her happily ever after.

It's almost humorous the way Gabby stumbles onto the solutions for the cases she somehow entangles herself in but she always gets the right suspect in the end. Until we meet again Gabby St. Claire....
Profile Image for Jesus Beach Girl Reads.
400 reviews21 followers
February 11, 2015
I did like this story better than Foul Play, but I still miss Riley in the Gabby and Riley equation. They balance each other. It was nice to get to know Gabby’s soon to be step brother.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,671 reviews1,225 followers
December 15, 2024
I’d never read a book about a crime scene cleaner so this was fascinating. Sounds a bit gruesome, but honestly, it wasn’t in the least. It was just the business she was in for years. This was more of a forensic case, not about a dead person, but a missing one. More detective work, but Gabby St. Claire was not a detective.

She was in Oklahoma City to attend a forensic conference and to meet her future stepbrother, a country star named Trace Ryan. His mother was marrying her father. He wanted to meet her, but he had an agenda, a request. He asked her to use her forensic knowledge to find a girl he dated a few times but who disappeared without a trace.

This turned out to be complicated and at times dangerous, but the author has a cute sense of humor, so much of it was lighthearted.

Very enjoyable. More than enjoyable because I don’t give five-stars lightly. The author added a lovely faith element that both Gabby and Chase shared. It was sweet. And they learned to care for each other as future relatives.

Clean and fun without being over-the -top.
Profile Image for Stacy.
1,361 reviews8 followers
August 24, 2015
Number 9 in the Squeaky Clean Christian mystery series. I've had to skip a couple that I was not able to find free or on Prime. This one was my Prime free book for the month of August. I believe I'm running out of these and her next series, the Holly Ann Paladin ones are not available on Prime (and I've not seen them offered for free, just a reduced price). I shall miss reading these when I'm done....
Profile Image for Kelly.
304 reviews6 followers
December 28, 2014
I love this series and it keeps getting better. The mix of characters kept me guessing this mystery to the end. Good quality,clean mystery.
Profile Image for Florence.
69 reviews
January 1, 2015
Finally the 9th book in the Squeaky Clean Mystery series! I read it in one day...need I say more? One of my favorite in the series.
1,048 reviews11 followers
August 26, 2017
Squeaky clean

This book, number 9 in the series, was my first one to read by this author. References were made to characters from previous installations, but I felt the book was a good stand alone. The plot line contained many twists and turns, and in all the twisting two characters were left dangling. Did Georgia live or die (or did I miss that part)? And was the manager a dirt bag or not? Those are just things I was not clear on. Overall it was a good read and I will probably read some more in the series as I have time.
144 reviews
November 29, 2020
I really enjoy the main character of this book, Gabby St. Claire. She has a determined spirit. While attending a forensic conference, she visits her soon to be stepbrother and the adventure begins. Gabby has a heart to want to help people and that is what gets her involved with the situation her stepbrother, Trace, is in. I like the way the author blends the mystery with personal issues that Gabby is facing. Once again, the reader gets to know Gabby on a deeper level. The mixture of suspense, love and “who done it” makes this story a definite fun read!
621 reviews11 followers
March 14, 2018
In a way, I feel like Gabby is Angela Landsbury on Murder She Wrote. Seriously, how many crime scenes, murderers and havoc can one person see and experience in life? Most people don’t have one of these things happen to them. But you have to put that aside and realize, it’s fiction and anything can happen. And it makes for some quick, good reads. I only have one more book to go in the series, and I can honestly say, I’m going to miss Gabby and her snoopy antics.
Profile Image for Kay Defreese.
664 reviews43 followers
February 12, 2019
I liked this book better than the past two. For one thing there is not as much Garrett in this one. I don't really like Gabby and Garrett together since I think her heart belongs to Riley. This one has a change of scenery. She travels to Oklahoma for a forensic conference. She also meets her future step-brother Trace who is a country music singer. Trace knows her reputation and he want her to help find a missing girlfriend. There is also a stalker female fan involved. Is the stalker responsible for the missing girlfriend? There is also a side story of a lecherous professor who has the reputation of hitting on students. Gabby looked up to this professor and did not know about his reputation until it was too late. Lots of twists and turns in this story. I was surprised at the twist at the end of the story as to who the guilty party was.
Profile Image for Laura Hamby.
199 reviews15 followers
August 3, 2019
Moving Forward

Christy Barritt wove an appealing story dealing with making decisions and prioritizing. Should Gabby St Clair put herself first or the needs of others as she has much or her life? Once again Christy weaves life truths into the story line reminding us that God uses the storms of our lives for our good even when we don’t see it. I look forward to reading the side book about Riley.
Profile Image for Christie Miller.
32 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2018
Disjointed

While I enjoyed the overall plot, including the change of scenery and new characters, I had a really hard time following much of this book. There were so many confusing things. I have a feeling, it underwent some rewrites that were not fully checked for continuity. It didn't stop me from reading but it dis drive me crazy.
Profile Image for Dawn Trainer.
123 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2019
Stroke of Brilliance

The author putting Gabby at a frantic conference and in touch with the creme Dela creme a forensics, her hero photography things, was just genius.

I also love the relationship between the new step-siblings. Trace and Gabby to being family.

This was a very touching and exciting story.
Profile Image for Tina at Mommynificent.
662 reviews18 followers
April 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this story with Gabby completely out of her usual setting and without any of her usual sidekicks. It was fun to meet her future step-brother and to have him be such an all-around good guy to her. I was more nervous for her in this book than I have been in any previously except maybe the serial killer one so that's saying something.
404 reviews2 followers
November 9, 2022
Review of this book.

Another wonderful clean cozy mystery. Such a joy and pleasure to read. There is plenty of suspense, drama , humor and romance in the story. The ending blew x me away! I never saw it coming. I was so far off base about who the killer was that I was embarrassed. This was one of the best books in the series.
Profile Image for Hunter Q Lee.
496 reviews3 followers
September 20, 2019
A great lesson can be leaned from this book.

In following this series I have come to learn that it is more than just an entertaining story. A great lesson can be learned from this book.
65 reviews
October 2, 2020
Loved it

Only Gabby could go out of town and run into all of the things that happen in this book. Oh and if you think you know who the real perpetrator is think again you won't see this one coming. Christy is such a talented mystery writer.
Profile Image for Cary.
2,302 reviews
December 24, 2016
I feel like these reviews are getting rather redundant but there you have it... still like all the same things!
1 review
March 26, 2020
Great book. I liked that it moved easily.

I chose this book because it was a christy Barritt. I have read a lot of her books. They are all good this was especially good.


Profile Image for Beth Kaminske.
696 reviews5 followers
July 21, 2020
Surprised

The ending was not what I have expected. I wasn't surprised, however.I just didn't figure it out before Gabby did.
Profile Image for Keith Dearden.
5 reviews
September 4, 2020
The story has too many twists and turns for me but redeemed itself with the final twist. Missing Riley!
1,596 reviews
December 28, 2020
Good mystery!

This was a good mystery, and I enjoyed reading more about Gabby! I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Tom Robinson.
320 reviews6 followers
December 22, 2021
Cowboy Thriller

Good story line, strong characters, Gabby still learning - growing in Faith. Added country music star power and flavor, and great tie-in.
138 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2023
Broom and Gloom

Thus book was interesting, suspenseful, funny, romantic, and hard to out down. I’ve enjoyed all the Gabby St. Claire books so far.
797 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.
Profile Image for Nicole Morphew.
47 reviews
November 24, 2025
Fantastic!

Another great story! Lots of twists and turns! If you want an edge of your seat story this is the book/series for you!
Profile Image for Kelly Bridgewater.
1,209 reviews62 followers
January 10, 2015
I am a huge fan of Christy Barritt's mystery and suspense books. I have read the previous books in her Squeaky Clean mystery and love the heroine of Gabby St. Clair. In this book, Gabby St. Clair travels to Oklahoma to meet her about to be step-sibling, Trace, who is an up and coming country music star. While the story doesn't really have a romantic string through the plot, the story does show Gabby questioning her ability to keep Riley or any guy for that matter. She connects with her brother and is grateful for a chance at a family.

Barritt's writing is clear and concise. All of the story is told in first person narrative. Our viewpoint is from Gabby. Barritt never runs off into a minor character's perspective. Writing in first person is tricky, at least, from my personal experience because you want to head hop into the other characters, but Barritt stays true to the nature of Gabby St. Clair.

As for the mystery, Barritt does a good job at creating one. She allows Gabby's skin to stand on end when she thinks someone is falling her. I love falling the trail of clues as Gabby keeps questioning people and even skipping her own conference that she paid for to ask a person of interest something that she believes will draw her closer to the conclusion. I couldn't pinpoint who the bad guy was, but I had a suspicion it had to be at least, one of these three people. So I had a hard time figuring out who it was. Good job, Christy.

Christy Barritt does it again in her latest attention to the Squeaky Clean Mysteries, Broom and Gloom, with a captivating plot, additive characters, and the feeling of wanting to belong. Barritt did not disapoint. I will be recommending this book to everyone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

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