Former police detective, recovering alcoholic Nicky is manager of a sober living home when the murders begin.
A well written murder mystery with a side order of love.
While I thought I had guessed who the murderer was half way through there was still enough interest to keep me reading to the end.

Nicky Sullivan was a homicide detective in Chicago before a shooting mishap had her quitting the force and turning to drink. Now she is five years sober and manages a halfway house for those who have been addicted to drugs or alcohol. The story begins when she returns from vacation and finds her desk broken into and cash boxes missing. It becomes more complex when one of her residents is murdered on the day they leave the house. Her old police partner is working the case and Nicky wants to help.

I thought this was a little slow starting only because it takes a while to get to the focus of the blurb. Once there, the pace of the story picks up. I like investigative novels or police procedurals and I liked the mystery of this one. I didn’t necessarily like all the characters. This seems to be the beginning of a new series setting up Nicky to solve future mysteries. I enjoyed this enough to look forward to the next mystery that comes Nicky’s way. (3.5 Stars)

Alcoholism is serious business. Nicky Sullivan, former detective currently working as a resident manager in a sober living house. Though five years without a drink, Nicky understands staying alcohol free is a daily challenge and struggle. It is important to have people that you care about and vice-versa, care about you around for support and encouragement. Nicky also knows that ultimately sobriety is a road of self-determination.

Quinn is Nicky's former partner and continues to be in her life. Quinn's new partner, Detective Joanne Parker is very capable and provides assistance to the case and to Nicky personally. When one of Nicky's residents goes missing, Quinn and Parker work "with" Nicky to find her. They soon find out several women that Nicky knows have been murdered. What a bummer to have a boss like Gerri Thomas. Personal issues can impact your job performance.

This read was slow at times and fast at others. Choppy is a word I would use. I look forward to maybe more in depth information in the next book in the series.

Enjoyed the Chicago setting, very nice to read about various locations I am familiar with.

Nicky Sullivan is now helping other women get and stay sober. But something is happening to these women. There being killed. But who is doing this and why? Nicky needs help because even the company that owns the half way house is about to let her go. The police suspect that Nicky was something to do with the murders as they find out about recent money being stolen. How can Nicky prove her innocence and is she being stalked? The police need to move faster to stop this.
The twist ending is one you didn’t see coming but wow.

Thank you #Netgalley #Boldstrokesbooks #Cleankill for this ARC

Nicky Sullivan is 5 years sober and managing a sober living house for women after giving up her career as a police detective after a traumatic event. She is committed to the women she is helping while she deals with a shady and difficult boss. When one of her residents goes missing after leaving the house, she begins search for her and meets with her former partner, Quinn and his new partner, Parker to enlist their help. She soon finds out the missing resident has been murdered. As the case unfolds it is discovered other women have been murdered and all had ties to Nicky.
The story follows Nicky’s investigation, the drama with her boss and her developing feelings for Parker.
At some points I felt things moved too fast and unnecessary friction occurred too soon with new relationships. A bit over dramatic. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and the twists and turns it took. Nicky was an easy character to like and I look forward to reading more about her in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book a bit hard to get into. I was probably about a third of the way through the book before it seemed to get interesting. Gerri was a bit annoying, but then she was probably supposed to be like that, and I felt that Nikki as an ex cop should have been more on the ball there. The murders were slightly intriguing and the investigation into them was what I found most interesting.

"Clean Kill" by Anne Laughlin is a gripping tale that seamlessly blends the worlds of addiction recovery and homicide investigation. Nicky Sullivan, a former homicide detective turned resident manager of a sober living home in Chicago, is thrust into a whirlwind of danger when one of her residents is brutally murdered. As the body count rises and a serial killer emerges, Nicky must navigate her past and present, grappling with her own sobriety while racing against time to save her loved ones and uncover the truth. Laughlin skillfully crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its complex characters and heart-pounding plot, "Clean Kill" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers alike.