Customer Reviews

Snitch (Occupational Hazards, Book 2)

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Although retirement looms on the near horizon and he earned the desk job, Las Vegas police sergeant Ron Yeager is bored. Thus when the brass asks him if he would agree to train an undercover task force of rookies to infiltrate an auto theft gang, Ron euphorically says yes. He may have reconsidered his agreeing if he met his inexperienced team before his acceptance.

Ron meets his squad and instantly knows some idiot must be punishing him as they make the worst choices he could imagine going undercover inside the underbelly of Sin City. The squad includes an open Christian Mackenzie "Mack" Hazard trying to get converts, super-egotistical Jesse "know it all" Lunden trying to get Ron's job, and Dozer trying to stay awake more minutes than Disney's Sleepy. Ron thinks this trio will send him into disability retirement due to high blood pressure.

The second Occupational Hazards tale (see SNOOP) is a delightful police procedural due to a strong prime cast. Ron is fabulous as he wonders what insanity led him to say yes. His tyros are eccentrically different as Mack makes her religious beliefs known to her teammates, Jesse makes it clear he knows more than anyone else including Ron, and Dozer cannot stay awake. Humor and police on the job training and investigation fit nicely together in Rene Gutteridge's fun inspirational tale.

Harriet Klausner

Rene Gutteridge's Occupational Hazard series returns with Snitch, a book featuring Mack Hazard as an undercover police officer in Las Vegas. The great thing about the first book in the series, Scoop, and in this one, is that it is a comedy with an ensemble cast. Also, beneath the quirky characters and outlandish situations, there is tense drama and a solid suspenseful plot.

Laura Gates is setting up an undercover unit to bust an auto theft ring. The unit will be small, and Gates insists it must include Mack Hazard, a young cop that wears her Christian faith on her sleeve. The assembled unit will be lead by Ron Yeager. Yeager is riding out the few years to retirement behind the desk. He reluctantly agrees to head the task force but soons find himself drawn back to the undercover work, much to his wife Nan's worrisome dismay. The task force contains a few other odd characters, including Dozer, who falls a sleep at random times, and Wiz, who has to go to the bathroom a lot.

The plot moves quickly as the group trains, then devises a plan to catch the auto theft ring. As the plot moves along it becomes apparent that Gates had another motive for setting up the undercover unit. Yeager must deal with his wife's worries about his health and the danger of going back undercover. Jesse, the experienced undercover office from a nearby town, is the hero of the novel, teaching the group his methods and at time rebelling against his boss.

I really enjoyed this fast paced novel. The many characters kept the plot moving and each scene offered something new and interesting. I have a few complaints. The novel is set in Vegas, but could have been an any big city. Vegas wasn't really much of the plot. Also, Mack Hazard, as the main character, shows little other than her intense Christianity. I wish she had a little more depth, especially relating to the weak, pushover, wannabe under cover cop pastor named Kyle.

Gutteridge is a good comedy writer, and with her background in suspense from the Storm seires, she is able to give this novel some added realism. Fans of the Boo series will definitely enjoy and I'm curious to see how the next book, Skid, plays out with Mack's brother, Hank.

If you love a good mystery thriller, without all the violence, Rene Gutteridge's second book in the Occupational Hazard series is full of excitement.

Mackenzie "Mack" Hazard brings her Christian faith and homeschooling background to join a special undercover task force set up to expose an auto theft ring.

Her boss, Las Vegas Police Department Sergeant Ron Yeager, is only months away from retirement, yet he pulls together a diverse group of cops, along with his adventure-seeking pastor, to form a team.

As the plot unfolds, the crew discovers the auto thieves have connections to the mob, and the danger intensifies.

Gutteridge researched extensively to create a novel that has it all -- mystery, comedy and even a little romance. Her light-hearted writing style endears the characters to the reader, allowing us to see how faith can play a major role in the workplace.

--Christian Women Online Book Buzz

As much as I hate to admit this...I just figured out the whole Occupational Hazards series premise. Old school meets new school meets homeschool.

As in book one, Scoop, there is an older character who discovers that he may be an old dog that can learn a trick or two from a young pup. The young pup discovers the old dog survived to an age where he can taste retirement because he was smart enough to learn the game and wise enough to play by the rules.

Then we have the Hazards.

Mack Hazard stirs up under-cover work like Hayden upended the television newsroom in Scoop.

The homeschool uber-focused intelligence with the classic innocence born from limited socialization to the Christian faith that is refreshingly and foreignly foundational, shapes the Hazards into anomalies - attractive ones - but challenging and uncomfortable.

Gutteridge's humor is on display in her subtle descriptions and characterizations. Kyle -- the pastor on sabbatical with the Miami Vice dreams. Jesse -- the classic rebel cop -- with a few twists and snippets of his past come back to haunt him.

Nan and Ron, Laura and Dozer -- all characters that are real enough that you grow to care.

The story line is fast moving and well-developed.

I liked Scoop and Snitch is even better. Snitch can be read without Scoop, they stand alone, but the series will no doubt scatter bits of characterization for each sibling throughout.

If like Gutteridge, you're going to like this series. If you haven't tried her yet, give her a shot (pun intended, of course.)

Rene Gutteridge continues to shine with the latest book in her Occupational Hazards series, Snitch. This series follows the adventures of the Hazard children, a family that was homeschooled by their parents while helping to run the family clown business. When their parents pass away in a tragic hot tub accident, the adult children go to find their place in the world.

For Mackenzie "Mack" Hazard, her place is as a police officer in Las Vegas. She is chosen for a special undercover task force involving stolen vehicles, though this decision is questioned by the aging head of the task force, Ron Yeager.

His task is to train this rag-tag bunch of officers into a unit able to bring down this crime ring. He may have lots of experience, but nothing prepared him for Jesse, his hotshot maverick; Dozer, the loveable narcoleptic; Wiz, who likes to visit the bathroom; Mack, who wears her faith like "an ever-present badge"; and the mysterious Kyle. The stakes get higher as the team must learn to trust one another to even survive.

This sounds like your typical crime/suspense novel. It is, but then again it is anything but. Gutteridge is perhaps the funniest author currently writing Christian novels. The story moves along and draws you in, but it is the zany cast of characters and the zig-zag journey the author takes you on that makes this book sparkle. I have an hour bus commute to work one-way, and I had to stifle many laughs so I wouldn't draw the stares of my fellow passengers. The book was a great read - my only complaint is that I was drawn in so much that I am already finished! I'm not ready for it to be over. Gutteridge has an original voice and talent with keeping you guessing that you don't feel like you're reading - you feel like you're along for the ride of a real-life sitcom.

I heartily recommend this book and the previous book in the series, Scoop . Now we have to wait until Skid, the third book, hits the runways.

Snitch is the second book I have read by Rene Gutteridge and I flipped through the pages with great joy. The storyline was fun and quick - yet also carried a solid plot that held everything together. The characters were interesting and diverse.

Snitch happens to be the second book in this three book series... Scoop being the first one which I have not read. (Short story - I wanted to try Rene Gutteridge, I put in for several of her books at the library and this is what came in, so this is what I read. :D) However, I did not feel that I had missed out on anything by not having read Scoop first. Snitch is a self contained book and while I enjoyed it enough to be curious about the first book and interested in pursuing the third book,, I do not feel I would need to in order to complete the story.

What I really found in this book was a bit of humorous mystery that was enjoyable to read. A nice mix of suspense, humor, and even a little romance - but not to the point of sappy. I liked this book very much and for the second time can say I am impressed with Rene Gutteridge's style of writing.

LVPD property crimes captain, Laura Gates, has a chance to prove to the narcotics division that keeping her off the team was a big mistake. Gates pulls together undercover task force of relatively inexperienced officers and calls upon former undercover officer, sergeant Ron Yeager to lead the team. Less than 2 years from retirement Yeager is not sure he's the man for the job but Gates convinces him to take accept the position.

When assembled the team seems more like the Keystone cops with members like "Wiz" who has an unusually small bladder, "Dozer" who falls asleep at any given moment and "Mack" a female cop who wears her faith like a badge. Somehow Yeager has to train his team and make the bust that will bring Gates the respect she deserves in the eyes of the narcotics division.

This is second book in the Occupational Hazards series but stands alone as I have not yet read Scoop (The Occupational Hazards Series #1) which includes Mack's sister, Hayden. What I liked about the book is that although Mack is the character that ties the series together the story wasn't focused solely on her. Gutteridge weaves together a great story using off the wall characters that liven up the plot with humor and wackiness throughout. It's hard to categorize this one but I'd say if you love Christian fiction, chick lit and suspense books you'll love this book.

There are plenty of funny books on the market, but there are very few that can actually make me laugh out loud as I'm reading. Gutteridge also has a talent for weaving all of the characters together in such a way that turning the page becomes a necessity.

Snitch, the second entry in The Occupational Hazards series, continues to follow the humorous misadventures of the Hazard siblings as they enter the workforce following their parents' deaths and the dissolution of the family clown business. This time, daughter Mackenzie - who prefers to be known as "Mack" - takes center stage as an officer with the Las Vegas Police Department who dreams of working undercover. Her dedication catches the attention of Captain Laura Gates, who selects Mack for an task force dedicated to breaking up an auto theft ring. With little training and a personality distinctly lacking in guile, Mack is thrust onto a rag-tag team where her vibrant faith often makes her stand out.

However, even the most experienced team members bring baggage to the task force. Leader Ron is just shy of retirement but desperate to seize one last chance at a high-profile assignment. Jesse, the most experienced officer, has his heart set on working in narcotics and not property crimes. He masks his uncertainties with a grating bravado and aversion to taking orders that marks him as a "wild card." And then there's Kevin, who mysteriously seems the most ill-equipped to handle undercover work. When the assignment turns out to be much bigger and more dangerous than anyone dreamed, can this rag-tag group of officers rise to the occasion and bring down the bad guys?

I think Snitch is a much better read than its news-themed predecessor, Scoop (Occupational Hazards, Book 1). Mack is a much better-rounded, more interesting, and less "cardboard" character than the previously featured Hayden. Gutteridge does a hilarious job dealing with Mack's quirks - like her quick temper - and a better job of presenting Mack's faith and homeschool background without feeling like she's brushing the fringes of cheesy stereotyping. Each ensemble member also benefits from stronger characterizations - I particularly enjoyed Gutteridge's portrayal of Ron's marriage. She does a terrific job of not only portraying Ron's work drive but also gives equal, insightful time to the challenges that face a marriage when one member thrives on a high-risk occupation. Since I'm a series reader, I would've preferred if Snitch had skipped recapping the Hazard parents' funeral (this time from Mack's point-of-view). This opening was so similar to Scoop's that it felt redundant as a result I had a harder time getting into the story - however for non-series readers this shouldn't be an issue. Strong character development coupled with brisk plotting, snappy dialogue, and hilarious, laugh-out-loud humor make Snitch a winning entry in The Occupational Hazards series.

I just finished Snitch, the second in the Hazards series by Renee Gutteridge. Renee's fine-tuned sense of humor shines through again in this fun book. Renee pulls together a cast of characters filled with quirks and puts them in an impossible situation. How are a bunch of untrained undercover cops supposed to penetrate and bust a stolen cars ring in six months? If that wasn't hard enough, she adds another level to the complexity.

The author does a great job of putting characters together who have nothing in common and watching the sparks fly. The book starts a teeny bit slow and then races to the end. And the slowness in the beginning is simply the creation of the task force. Once that's done, the book pulled me through.

If you enjoy books with a touch of sass, you'll enjoy this one.