This is the second book I've read by this author and she never disappoint s. I really like the writing style and the characters are always well written. Nikki is an ex cop who's five years sober running a house for women with substance abuse issues. Most everything is going along well and then the murders start and they seem to be connected to her and this is where the story becomes interesting. This is a murder, crime mystery story with a bit of romance thrown in. Its fast past and very thrilling. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

My first thought when I finished this book was delight that it says "A Nicky Sullivan Mystery, 1" on the cover as I’m already looking forward to book two! Ms Laughlin introduces us to a hero with so many flaws she needs a u-haul to carry them along with her. She’s an ex-homicide detective who fell too deeply in love with alcohol. She’s 5 years sober and managing a clean living house. Managing a herd of feral cats more like. But Nicky wants to create an atmosphere where the women can support each other and get clean. She would find it easier to achieve that if her b***h of a boss would back off. But boss Gerri has a ton of problems too…

Then the murders start and continue. And all the dead women have some link to Nicky. She reaches out to her old detective partner and then also meets his new partner. Parker is a beautiful woman who ignites something in Nicky. But she’s not sure how to deal with her feelings when she’s fully sober. And then there’s all these murders.

The writing is tight and the characters well developed. The plot races along as the catastrophes pile up, till at the end you’re almost breathless. The ending is satisfying and I’m definitely picking up the next one which I hope Ms Laughlin is busy writing.

Recommended if you like flawed but self aware lead characters and a push/pull romance with a happy ending.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the authors style of writing and the characters development. I think Anne did an excellent job with this murder mystery. Well done!

Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to more of the authors books, I thoroughly enjoyed they're writing style, story telling and character development. You have Nicky a former police office who now manages sober living house while also being a recovering alcoholic, When former residents start being killed and a pattern starts forming things link back to Nicky, then enters her former partner Quinn and his new partner Joanne Parker. While Nicky "works" with Quinn and Parker hunt and track a serial killer, she's also trying to clear her name and keep her job, and then add in an expected attraction to Parker, her plate becomes quite full but she try's to balance everything as best as she can on top of maintaining her own sobriety with everything that's happening. This book was an amazing crime fiction/ psychological thriller. I look forward to the other books that could come from this series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Anne Laughlin, and Bold Stroke Books for the ARC.

Nicky is a ex cop who now runs a home for women with addictions. As she tries to keep the home open she has trouble with her boss who isn’t really trying to help and making things more difficult for her. When she has to kick a women who is falsely accused of stealing she gets murder as Nicky is devastated by it she decides to turn to her ex partner Quinn and his new partner Parker who surprisingly she becomes attracted to. As she gets help she investigates and learns there been more murders that seems to be connected to her will she be able to solve it before another victim and will she let Parker in despite her being a work in progress. I enjoy this read I like the mystery but I did figure out who the killer was look forward to next book with this character if it’s a series.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦: ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ. ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀʏ. ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀꜱ. ᴘꜱʏᴄʜɪᴀᴛʀʏ. ʀᴇʜᴀʙ. ᴀʟᴄᴏʜᴏʟ/ᴅʀᴜɢꜱ. ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴋ.

I still don't know how this is going to be series but I am intrigued. I was mainly intrigued by the synopsis and cover. The plot is heartfelt and very real so it was not hard to follow. The emotions and chemistry between the main characters was a little bit thin but their connection to the circumstances that brought them together had authentic feelings that I am sure that if this is going to be a series, I might grow fond of them. The book is very plot focused so there are next to no sweet moments. And I have to say, I was so mad when we found out who was murdered first. That poor woman and the others as well, of course.


𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

I really enjoyed this book. Nicky is a former police officer and a recovering alcoholic who runs a house for people with addiction issues.
People unfortuntely start to missing and police get involved as bodies start to turn up. There is also Nicky's personal life to deal with too which brings back memories.
The author deals with the subject well. Would like to read more from this author.

First book by this author and I found it very engaging and well written if you like a mystery/suspense novel as the romance is not prominent in this story.

Nicky Sullivan is the resident manager of a sober house and has been sober herself for five years. After she left the police force because of an accident and her drinking, she is barely getting by, but is afraid to try for more until residents that relapse are being killed and Nicky is determined to find out who the killer is with the help of her old partner, Quinn and his new partner, Parker who Nicky feels an instant attraction too.

Despite figuring out who the killer was before the end of the book, this was still very good and kept me interested until I finished it. I didn't care for Gwen's POV as it didn't really move the story forward. I would have liked the killer's POV over Gwen's, but the author did do a good job for making Gwen a bitch.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

nicky is a recovering alcoholic but she is also a manager at a sober living home and has 10 women there trying to stay sober

she is a good manager but has some regrets in her life..one being her detectives badge she gave up... but life is for living and staying sober but when the first body shows up stabbed through the heart and its one of the women that has just been kicked out of her home unjustly nicky is hoping the killer will be found quickly

but as more bodies show up and with them being other alcoholics there seems to be a pattern forming and its drawing attention to nicky herself..

time is running out for nicky can she find the killer before anymore are being killed

this one was an interesting read that kept you guessing right to the end... interesting concept....

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.