Cleanup

By Norah McClintock

Connie Suarez, downsized from her job as a legal secretary, is working as a maid. She's getting used to picking up after people and putting their lives in order. But she is not prepared for the mess that awaits her when she arrives at work one morning to find her employer dead on the floor of his bedroom. Connie's co-worker Maria, an illegal alien from Colombia, quickly becomes the prime suspect in his murder. When Maria begs her for help, Connie cannot refuse. As she tries to discover what really happened, she learns that Maria has been keeping a number of things from her. Now Connie can't decide who or what to believe. And that's not the worst of it. Connie soon realizes that she herself is also a potential target for violence. The question now is, will she be able to clean up the mess that Maria is in without getting killed herself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven Books
• Release date: Oct 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781459800557

Norah McClintock

Norah McClintock won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction for young people five times. She wrote more than sixty YA novels, including contributions to Seven (the series), the Seven Sequels and the Secrets series.

Reviews for Cleanup

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The biggest problem with this book is that it's incredibly short. I'd barely started it and realized that it was almost over and we were entering the climax of the ending. The plot was also weirdly complicated, with lots of weird love entanglements and other things that didn't make a lot of sense. If it were more fleshed out, it could've been good.I also never felt anything for the main character. I didn't get to know her at all. Sure, I learned her basic backstory, but I can't remember ever learning anything about her that made her a person and not just a point of view.To be fair, the other characters were just as one-sided. They had their personality and they stuck to it. When secrets came to the surface, they were just kind of pasted onto the character. Nothing ever really took me by surprise because I barely knew the characters to begin with.

[irenereads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Connie Suarez's friend Maria is suspected of a murder she did not commit, she does everything in her power to clear Maria's name. I have to say, this was not the best book I have ever read. It wasn't the worst, but it could have been better. For example, it was kind of predictable. I knew that Maria didn't murder anyone and I had an idea of who did. Also, this book brought up more questions than answers. For example, why would a man in his eighties fall in love with a young woman who works as a maid? That puzzled me. Other than that, it was an okay book. Not one of my favourites, but not one of the books that I hate either. I recommend this to all of my family and friends.

[cloudnrain · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was a pretty fast and easy read. the mystery was interesting but a little too predictable. i love how Connie actually uses her weakness as one of her strengths when looking for the killer. overall it was okay.

[annettemills · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cleanup is part of a series called Rapid Reads, and since it took me a little over an hour to read, I'd say it qualifies. Cleanup, however, did hold my attention.Connie and Maria are maids for Mr. Withers, an elderly man who lives alone. When Connie arrives at work one day to find Maria standing over Mr. Withers' dead body, her life is about to change.Maria is accused of the murder. It turns out she has been having an affair with the deceased, and he's changed his will to cut out his son and give everything to Maria. Connie, who knew nothing of the affair, or that Maria has been lying to her about her past, still decides to help Maria, who Connie believes could not have committed the crime. Connie used to be a legal secretary, so she helps get Maria a lawyer.Since the book is only 128 pages, it never stops. There isn't much description, and the language is simple. But it is a good story, even though predictable.Cleanup has a somewhat unique audience. The books is about adults and targeted to an adult audience. I'm thinking it would be appropriate for ESL students or others who have trouble with English. Cleanup would have appeal to reluctant readers of any age who like a quick who-done-it. For it's intended audience, Cleanup delivers an action packed, easy to read, attention getting plot.

[lms8esmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Once again McClintock crafts a fast paced well-written mystery. In Cleanup, Connie, a former lawyer turned maid, must put the pieces of a client's murder together in order to help a fellow house cleaner. Connie learns some important clues in order to quickly solve this murder. I enjoyed that this was a fast read and look forward to reading more from Norah McClintock.

[larestout_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting. I agree with other review. A short story that kept you moving with some twists and turns. It makes me want to check out the authors other works.

[iandssmom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very quick read but quite enjoyable! Fun mystery and glad to have read it!!