Skid (Occupational Hazards, Book 3) (Paperback)

by Rene Gutteridge (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
No Christian fiction novelist can tickle a funny bone like Gutteridge, and her third installment in the Occupational Hazards series (Scoop; Snitch) doesn't disappoint and works easily as a stand-alone. Think Snakes on a Plane meets Airplane meets Billy Graham. Hank Hazard, a homeschooled, naïve mime in the Hazard Clowns family troupe, has struggled to find his niche since his parents died in a freak hot tub accident. The 28-year-old's latest job foray is as an airline company spy for Atlantica, where he flies incognito to evaluate the service. Hank gets more than he bargains for on Flight 1945 to Amsterdam, which involves a rampaging pig, a senior flight attendant with hot flashes, some diamond thieves, a 103-year-old woman pronounced dead and an aging female pilot who pastes sticky notes on the windshield. Hank can't resist evangelizing the passengers, and somehow Gutteridge makes it work without seeming awkward. Gutteridge is a pro, from smooth point of view changes to snappy dialogue. What could have been clichéd slapstick turns into unbridled hilarity in her capable hands, and the laughter doesn't stop until the wheels touch the tarmac. (May)
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Product Description
Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.

On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of “What Would Oprah Do?” will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests–prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline–test the limits of the crew’s customer service.

But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank’s odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400071593
• ISBN-13: 978-1400071593
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #531,775 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the Zany Fun...Best Book in the Series, September 22, 2008

By	Kelly Klepfer (Iowa) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is the best in the series. No contest. The characters are a quirky and touching bunch of complex folks who encounter life, death, and drama while flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Humor zings, clever writing and solid plotting make this read delightful and entertaining. The spiritual aspects are strong and solid but not preachy.

The only struggle I can foresee is the camp that doesn't like ambiguous endings. Gutteridge doesn't provide clear cut endings for several characters. But, I imagine we might see one or more in future novels.

This series needed to grow on me. I didn't quite get the premise at the beginning. Now that I've read three, I'm looking forward to the rest and am thrilled that the Hazard family is a big one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing, charming and full of great characters, March 13, 2009

By	Bill Garrison (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

The Hazard family is back in SKID, the third book in the Occupational Hazard Series by Rene Gutteridge. Like the first two books in the series, the ensemble cast is centered around a member of the Hazard family.

After making an appearance in SNITCH, Hank Hazard is back in Atlanta applying for a job. He gets the job with Atlantica Airlines, as a secret shopper. It'll be Hank's job to secretly monitor the performance of the struggling airline's employees. Hank is one of many characters that will be on the long flight to Amsterdam.

As usual, Gutteridge fills the pages with many zany and offbeat characters. Danny McSweeney, is the copilot whose fiance recently left him because he didn't make enough money. He's the straight man. Gigi is the aging flight attendent who, after three divorces, is incredibly lonely. Jake is the young man without a family and barely making ends meet in a struggling garage band. He's traveling to Amsterdam to deliver some diamonds to his grandma that he's never seem. The prisoner that stole the diamonds from his grandma is on the same flight, being extradidted back home. James, the cocky first officer, can't help but make offending comments. Lucy is the young girl trying to escape from a boyfriend who dumped her, only to find out he's on the same flight. Her motto is "What would Oprah do?" Finally, there's Anna Sue, who some how has a medical reason for bringing a pig along on the flight.

The characters are quirky, and they should be in a comedy. But, by the end of the novel, I found that most of the quirks had quietly transformed into real human flaws. The novel takes place entirely on an airplane. I think the fixed setting makes this book the best in the series. Since everything takes place on the plane, author Gutteridge must focus on developing the characters instead of throwing in new scenes or plot twists. While the single setting allows the characters to thrive, it also is the weakness of the book. I kept wondering how many things could go wrong on a single flight and was ready for the plot threads to conclude.

I enjoyed SKID a lot. Gutteridge infuses the plot with humor, of course, but it has a little romance, mystery, suspense, and a good message. I recommend all three books in the series, but they don't need to be read in order to enjoy them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out loud funny!!!, June 3, 2009

By	Shopping Steph - See all my reviews

Rene Gutteridge is truly one of the most talented comedic writers out there. I'm an avid Christian fiction reader, usually reading up to 100 books a year, and I haven't found an author I liked any more the Rene Gutteridge.

Skid, like the previous books of the serious, is filled with humor and plot twists that will keep you guessing. Unlike my experience with other novels, I never can foretell what is coming. The books is filled with charming and quirky characters, and you will find yourself cheering for one of the main characters, Hank Hazard. Forget Edward Cullen, I have a book crush on Hank Hazard.

I don't want to give too many details away, but suffice it to say this book is a very enjoyable read you don't want to miss out on! I also highly recommend the two novels before this in the series, "Scoop" and "Snitch." Also, Gutteridge's "Boo" series is one of my favorites of all time.