REVIEW: Snitch by Rene Gutteridge

Having not read Scoop, the first book in the Occupational Hazard series, I was’t sure what to expect. I only knew if Rene Gutteridge wrote it, it had to be an entertaining read.

I was right!

No one does quirky characters quite like Rene Gutteridge. The characters jumped off the page and into full color. I actually felt like I knew these under cover agents, all except Mackensie Hazard, who I assumed was the main character of the book. yet the more I read, the more more I began to realize that this wasn’t exactly Mack Hazard’s story, but a story about how one person affects the lives of others.

Through a semi-retired undercover officer and a hot-headed young U.C. officer, we come to se the influence one sort of naive, slightly flawed, faith-walking Christian can have on the people she works with.

Not only did the characters keep me entertained, but the plot moved, introducing more zany characters to complicate the undercover operation.

Snitch’s message is subtle, but readers will walk away knowing it’s okay to be yourself in every situation and to follow your heart even if it leads you into unexpected territory.

You can buy it here! 

INTERVIEW:

How did you come up with the idea for this series?

I’ve always found other people’s jobs interesting, especially the details
other people don’t know. And I wanted to explore faith in people who live it out daily in a way that doesn’t come naturally to me. That’s how I
created the Hazards. They’ve been a lot of fun and an inspiration to me.

Having not read Scoop, at first I was thrown off by the fact the first
(and last) chapter of Snitch is in Mackenzie Hazard’s POV,who I assumed was the main character. But as I read further and got into the
story and other characters story line, I got the feeling that maybe
this really wasn’t Mack’s story, but a story about how her character
and faith affected others. Am I off on this, and if not, did you plan
the series this way?

You’re exactly right. I wanted to introduce the Hazard characters, and then show the revolving cast of other characters and how they were affected by the Hazards. Scoop is written the same way. So the stories are really about the people who come in and out of the Hazards’ lives.
Why did you choose to write the story this way, using POVs of everyone except Mack?

I thought it would be interesting and I personally could relate more to the
person who doesn’t have their faith completely together. I also thought it
would be a unique way to show how our faith affects others around us.
It is apparent a lot of research had to go into writing this book. What’s the one most interesting fact about undercover work you learned? What fact did you wish could have been a part of Snitch?

I think what was most interesting is how controlled it is. It’s not renegade work. It’s carefully planned, especially in narcotics. I wish I could’ve added more of the real life stories I heard. They were amazing. I love hearing cops tell their stories. They’re great storytellers.
Aside from interviews, did you get to sit in on a stake out or do a ride-a-long?

I didn’t. It would be pretty hard to get on a stake out. I know a lot of cops so could’ve done a ride-a-long, but since my story isn’t about patrol officers, I didn’t figure it would help much. I did however tour a really hardcore part of Las Vegas. The cop I was with went back to get his gun and told me he never goes into that part of town without a gun. What was interesting is that it didn’t look that scummy. Las Vegas is a newer town, so the buildings weren’t crumbling. Driving through in the middle of the day, it was hard to tell it was different from the rest of the city.
What’s next in the Occupational Hazard series and when is it scheduled to be released?

Skid, about trans-Altantic pilots and crew, is scheduled for a Spring, 2008
release.

Can’t wait to read it!