Customer Reviews

Every Crooked Nanny

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is Kathy Hogan Trocheck's first mystery published. Normally, I would be afraid to pick up anyone's first mystery, but Trocheck comes off as a seasoned professional. It is a smooth fast read.

Callahan Garrity, former Atlanta police officer, tried her hand at becoming a personal investigator. After finding out that it was not as lucrative as she had hoped, and nearly at the end of her money, Callahan bought the "House Mouse" cleaning service with her hard talking, chain smoking, blue haired mother Edna Mae Garrity.

Running a cleaning service puts Callahan in touch with an interesting cross section of the population. Her cleaning staff is quite a colorful cast of women. Then there is the other end of the spectrum, her clientele.

Callahan, by an odd twist of fate, has to go clean the home of a new client when she faces a labor shortage one morning. Upon arriving on the premises, who does she find is married to one of the local society big shots, but a sorority sister from her college days. Imagine that, and Callahan wearing an apron.

What starts off as a routine cleaning job turns into a crime investigation. What starts as a crime investigation turns into a series of crimes being investigated, and all of this while trying to keep a business running. In the course of cleaning homes, the members of the House Mouse are in a position to learn the most intimate details about their client's lives. Her cleaning staff learns the finer points of investigating crimes, all the while cleaning house.

Callahan has to tap into her old connection at the police department to solve the heinous crimes. We find out quite a bit about her tenure on the force.

There is a wonderful thread of religious misunderstanding and education as a sub-thread of the tale. Some have criticized that this thread was not as detailed as it could have been, but I would argue that it cleared up quite a few misconceptions, enough to make that plot element work. If a reader wanted to know all of the nitty gritty details of that faith, they could research further on their own.

I despise spoilers, so I will not give any more on the plot, but it is a good fast read with engaging characters.
The gore factor is low, and there are a few salty words, but few and far between. It has a pretty lightweight feel overall.

I plan on reading more of Kathy Hogan Trocheck's books, and hope to see much more of Callahan Garrity and especially Edna Mae Garrity.

A long time ago a friend from work lent me the book Strange Brew, which I immediately loved and I was determined to begin the Callahan Garrity series in chronological order. I breezed through this in 2 days and found it to be a fast, fun read. I definitely plan to continue with the rest of the Callahan Garrity series. The concept of running a housecleaning business while solving murder mysteries is a very good one. The other characters also play a major part in the story, beginning with Callahan's mom Edna as well as the 'girls' that work for their House Mouse cleanup biz, plus Bucky Deaver, a cop that Callahan used to work with when she was a police officer on the Atlanta force. If you like mysteries where the main character has both intelligence and a sense of humor, then you can't go wrong with this series. Very highly recommended.

I was introduced to this book & writer through a co-worker. Once I began to read it, I couldn't stop until the last page. I fell in love with the wild characters of House Mouse. I plan to read the rest of the series.

I just discovered this author and was pleasantly surprised. I rate Kathy Hogan Trocheck right up there with Sue Grafton, but with a touch of humor. I can't wait to read the rest of her Callahan Garrity books.

It's interesting that after such a bad review as the one above that Trocheck went on to write six or seven more of these. It has its problems (like finding the body with no effort on the part of the PI) but it's workmanlike enough.

The usual amusing blunders when outsiders try to write about Mormons.

On a whim I picked up this book ~ and thought it was great!! I easily got caught up in the characters and can't wait to learn what Callahan, Edna and the crew are up to next!! As an educator, when I have the opportunity to read, I want it to be for the purpose of pure "fun", and that's what this series will be for me ~ nothing more than fun. Just enjoy it ~ that's what it's all about!!

Every Crooked Nanny introduces Callahan Garrity, a former Atlanta cop and the current owner of The House Mouse cleaning business. She's also a part-time private investigator.

Callahan is asked to investigate when the nanny of a former classmate goes missing, taking confidential business papers and other valuables with her. What really makes the story (and the entire series) is the wonderful cast of characters: her feisty mother Edna Mae and the House Mice, especially the hilarious duo of Baby and Sister. Callahan herself is especially likable: she struggles with her weight, she's gutsy without being rash and is far more credible than most female sleuths.

It's also wonderfully evocative of the South, I can spot the iced tea and cornbread from here. Put your feet up and enjoy!

Thia was a great read. A good mystery with some spots that made me LOL. I love this author. I have read all her books under her other pen name Mary Kay Andrews. You don't have to work at enjoying this book.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery in this Callahan Garrity novel that takes place in and around Atlanta.

Callahan Garrity has left the Atlanta Police Force to run a cleaning agency and to do a bit of detecting, as in private investigator, on the side.

The story is well rounded and so are all the zany characters. I found it just the right amount of humor and good old mystery to make for a really great read.

I am going to go and order some more of this author's books because this one was so good.

This book has everything. Lesbian love triangles, mixed marriages, crooked real estate deals, a phony nanny scam, and a body in the fur vault. So, if you are missing your daily dose of soap opera's check out this book.

Trocheck also known as Mary Kay Andrews, introduces us to J. Callahan Garrity, a retired cop who traded it all in for a cleaning business in Atlanta, Georgia. While taking on a new client, Callahan runs smack dab into ex sorority sister Lilah who is now married to a high rolling developer.

When Lilah finds out about Callahan's experience in PI work, she hires Callahan to find their Mormon nanny who has disappeared with furs, jewels and very sensitive business information that the Beemish's are desperate to get back.

The story goes from wacky to quirky rather quickly, but definitely not a story you have heard before. Great characters that will carry this series far. Characters are laugh out loud funny and I look forward to the next in the series.