MIDNIGHT CLEAR by Kathy Hogan Trocheck (Mary Kay Andrews)
Callahan Garrity and her House Mouse Cleaners are busy working and readying for Christmas when Brian, Callahan’s long lost brother makes an appearance. Brian shows up with his 2 year-old daughter, Maura. Turns out Brian has kidnapped Maura from his estranged wife and when the wife is discovered dead, Brian is the first (and only) suspect. Brian disappears, again, and Callahan and the girls get busy cleaning up after Brian along with their usual clients.
Along with the murder and merry mayhem, there are plenty of laughs, in this Christmas outing by a master of the cosy mystery. You will enjoy every minute of this fun and chilling mystery.
5 of 5 stars ( )

Description
It's a few days before Christmas and Callahan thinks for once she has things under control. But when her brother, Brian, missing for over ten years, strolls through the door, and lugging his three-year-old daughter, Maura, in his arms, Callahan knows that Brian carries trouble wherever he goes. Brian reveals he's kidnapped Maura from his estranged wife, who's on the warpath and, of course, has the law on her side. When Brian's ex-wife is found dead, Brian disappears again, leaving Maura behind for Callahan to look after, and forcing her to clear his name without his help.

This was mainly about investigating what happened to the ex-wife with a little of Christmas sprinkled in here and there. Callahan is likeable, feisty at times and funny at times. There are also some touching moments but this was only a so-so story for me. ( )

It’s Christmas time, and what better gift than to have all the family gathering for Christmas. Unless one of the family members is a long-lost brother who shows up unannounced with his previously unknown three-year-old daughter – his kidnapped daughter, that it. Before Callahan can fully appreciate this family reunion, her brother’s beyond-trashy ex-wife is found murdered, and her brother becomes quite a person of interest to the cops. If things aren’t complicated enough, a custody battle ensues, with both of the child’s grandmothers wanting Maura. It may not be your typical, heartwarming tale, but baby Maura is a charmer. This audio version is a delight to listen to, and the intricate plot will keep you guessing until the very end. ( )

I am enjoying the Callahan Garrity series and have one more to go (have not read them in order). They could be a standalone; however, once you start reading them, you will want to read them all to learn the crazy colorful southern characters.

Again, Callahan solves a mystery as she has a nose for being digging and finding clues to get her murderer. (she owns a cleaning service House Mouse as well as being a PI-former cop). This time the investigation hits home as involves her long lost brother Brian, his 3 yr. old daughter, and a murdered sister in law, and an array of shady characters.

Set in Atlanta, Edna the mom and all the House Mouse crew come together to solve this mystery with lots of humor and some Christmas cheer. Whether writing as Mary Kay Andrews or Kathy Hogan Trocheck –she knows southern humor! The audio version was very well done. ( )

It's a few days before Christmas and sometime sleuth/full-time cleaning lady Callahan Garrity has things under control for a change, until her ne'er-do-well brother, Brian -- missing over ten years -- appears with his toddler daughter, Maura, at the back door to the house that Callahan shares with her mother, Edna. Trouble has always followed Brian, and now he's in deeper than ever because he's kidnapped Maura from his estranged wife, Shay Gatlin, a real slut and a vengeful shrew with the law on her side.

A few days later, when Shay is found dead, the cops suspect Brian. Though he's done many things wrong in his life, Callahan knows Brian is no murderer, and she is flabbergasted when she learns from her old buddy Deavers (from her days on the Atlanta PD) that they are reopening a couple of very cold murder cases from a decade ago and trying to find a way to connect Brian to those murders as well. Between jaunts to track down clues, Callahan finds herself falling in love with little Maura, and will fight for custody of this child herself if need be.

I'm liking these books better and better. ( )