Midnight Clear
A Callahan Garrity Mystery
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4.3 • 120 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Ex-Atlanta cop-turned-house-cleaning entrepreneur Callahan Garrity doesn't know what she is getting for Christmas, but she never expects the gift that arrives at her door: her estranged, ne'er-do-well brother, Brian, and his adorable three-year-old daughter, Maura. A rebel who's been in and out of trouble most of his life, Brian's deep in it now since he illegally abducted Maura from under the nose of his shrewish former wife.
When the beautiful child's mother is found murdered, the police come looking for Brian. And now, to save her brother and her holiday, Callahan -- along with her irascible mom, Edna, and a gaggle of House Mouse employees -- must uncover the truth and a killer, even if it means digging around the roots of her own family tree and exposing the rot underneath.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Callahan Garrity (Strange Brew, etc.) is the owner of the House Mouse cleaning business in Atlanta and a part-time PI. She lives with her mother, Edna, with whom she runs the business, employing several eccentric assistants. As the story opens, Callahan and Edna are cooking the traditional family treats for their annual staff Christmas party when, after a 10-year absence, Callahan's prodigal brother shows up. Brian is the black sheep of the family, with a long history of booze and recklessness. Now, however, he thinks he's finally taking responsibility with a vengeance: he has kidnapped his three-year-old daughter, Maura, from her unfit and slutty mother. As if fighting with his ex-wife and abducting his child weren't enough drama for his horrified sister and mother, Brian soon asks for their help when he is suspected of murder. In addition to lively characters, Trochek delivers in this seventh Garrity mystery an unusually vivid Atlanta, as she smartly unfurls an engrossing tale of family troubles and family loyalty.
Customer Reviews
Loved it!
Midnight Clear is more than just a Christmas mystery. It is also a story of family and friendship. From my own experience in both Atlanta and working in the criminal justice system, I find the Callahan Garrity stories to be very authentic. Suspenseful yet not overdone, this was a great book. Though it was written in the late 1990s, except for the technology, it fits right into our own times. In Midnight Clear, Hocheck manages to touch naturally on issues of drug addiction, custody, and elite and corrupt politiciansI - withought being preachy or heavy-handed. I loved reading about both the Atlanta that I remember, as well as learning about places like Funtown, that preceded my move to the metro. I look forward to completing the series, though I believe I shall try to string them out, to make them last. My only complaint is that the number of Callahan Garrity books is finite!
Midnight Clear
Amazing. Kept me guessing til the end.