What do you think?
Rate this book
Clean Up Crew #1
The Beauty of Bucharest
What would you do if you found a body in the trunk of your wife’s car?
This is the question facing Dan Porter as he stood in the parking lot and looked down at a man wrapped in clear plastic sheeting…a man with a tidy .38 bullet hole in his forehead. But finding the body is a mere curiosity compared with the twists and turns Dan’s life will take over the next few days.
International intrigue and edge-of-your-seat action abound as Dan and his lovely wife Nicole—who clearly has more than her share of dark secrets—risk their lives to rescue a stunning model and bring down one of the most evil men either of them have had the misfortune to meet.
This is the question facing Dan Porter as he stood in the parking lot and looked down at a man wrapped in clear plastic sheeting…a man with a tidy .38 bullet hole in his forehead. But finding the body is a mere curiosity compared with the twists and turns Dan’s life will take over the next few days.
International intrigue and edge-of-your-seat action abound as Dan and his lovely wife Nicole—who clearly has more than her share of dark secrets—risk their lives to rescue a stunning model and bring down one of the most evil men either of them have had the misfortune to meet.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2018
699 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Varengo
34 books41 followersScott James (S.J.) Varengo was born in 1960, in a city called New York. Two years later he formed a band called The Beatles [citation needed].
He returned to New York City to attend Fordham University (having been told it was a basketball powerhouse) before transferring to the State University of New York at Potsdam (having been told it was located in the tropics), from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in Art History.
Varengo loves to read (favorite authors include Craig A. Hart, Kurt Vonnegut, J.R.R. Tolkien and an up-and-comer named Ernie Heming-something-or-other), listen to music (when he writes, it's usually jazz - the rest of the time it's Tasmanian flute concertos), and walk along forested trails with his wife Kim and their dog Tanner. He lives in Baldwinsville, NY, a suburb of Syracuse, known for its picturesque setting and its friendly people. He has two adult children of whom he is obnoxiously proud.
His published works include a volume of short fiction, two fantasy novels, and an ever-growing list of spy/espionage novellas, which he co-writes with Craig A. Hart.
He returned to New York City to attend Fordham University (having been told it was a basketball powerhouse) before transferring to the State University of New York at Potsdam (having been told it was located in the tropics), from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in Art History.
Varengo loves to read (favorite authors include Craig A. Hart, Kurt Vonnegut, J.R.R. Tolkien and an up-and-comer named Ernie Heming-something-or-other), listen to music (when he writes, it's usually jazz - the rest of the time it's Tasmanian flute concertos), and walk along forested trails with his wife Kim and their dog Tanner. He lives in Baldwinsville, NY, a suburb of Syracuse, known for its picturesque setting and its friendly people. He has two adult children of whom he is obnoxiously proud.
His published works include a volume of short fiction, two fantasy novels, and an ever-growing list of spy/espionage novellas, which he co-writes with Craig A. Hart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 21, 2021
Dan Porter has just retired to a comfortable life of lusting over his gorgeous, much younger wife. I mean, he really is the most uxorious of spouses. In fact, even finding a dead body in a trunk of her car doesn’t put him off. You’d think it would make for some marital unrest, but no. The second his dearly beloved Nicole explains that the cleaning outfit (abbreviated CUC, which is odd because there’s really no flattering or even decent way of pronouncing that) she is working for is actually an international consortium of assassins, intent on cleaning the world of its sum, Dan jumps on board as quickly as you can say Dan jumps on board and off they go. To the eponymous destination to rescue the innocents from the evils of people trafficking.
And what an intrepid team they make, their 20 years of harmonious marriage are really paying off in the field. And they still find time for connubial pleasures, because despite their ages, they are horny as teens, aroused by a variety of things from shotting guns to…wind, probably, and are as madly in lurv and list with each other as newlyweds. Oh, those happy gun toting Porters.
This is a prime example of mindless books done right. It’s silly, but not stupid. Cheesy, but overall decent. Despite graphic violence, the general tone here is easy, breezy…and the beauty’s already in the title. And yes, it does actually refer to a cover girl, or a famous model more precisely.
Overall, a quick entertaining fun read with a nice international flair. Pretty good for a random kindle freebie.
And what an intrepid team they make, their 20 years of harmonious marriage are really paying off in the field. And they still find time for connubial pleasures, because despite their ages, they are horny as teens, aroused by a variety of things from shotting guns to…wind, probably, and are as madly in lurv and list with each other as newlyweds. Oh, those happy gun toting Porters.
This is a prime example of mindless books done right. It’s silly, but not stupid. Cheesy, but overall decent. Despite graphic violence, the general tone here is easy, breezy…and the beauty’s already in the title. And yes, it does actually refer to a cover girl, or a famous model more precisely.
Overall, a quick entertaining fun read with a nice international flair. Pretty good for a random kindle freebie.
September 12, 2018
I'll be honest, I only got about 25% of the way through but even that was a huge effort. The dialogue between husband and wife seemed frankly ridiculous from the off and the author tries to hard to be funny, it doesn't remotely work. Then there's the ease with which hubby goes from ghost-white with fear upon discovery of a dead body to willing participant in murder, pure nonsense.
Not to mention the premise on which the whole story is based, that supposedly the "best in the business" was lazy and stupid enough to forget she had a body in the trunk of her car and goes shopping with her soft civilian husband, a scenario as amatuerish as the author's writing.
Not to mention the premise on which the whole story is based, that supposedly the "best in the business" was lazy and stupid enough to forget she had a body in the trunk of her car and goes shopping with her soft civilian husband, a scenario as amatuerish as the author's writing.
March 31, 2018
WOW this is a fantastic start to a series. There were lots of giggles & OMG how they gona get out of this moments. Strong extremely likeable characters, bad guy & gal who you really do hate. Action, suspense & good plot. You'll be wanting more once you finish. Highly recommend this book but be prepared to be hooked & loose all track of time. From mild innocent retired exec to kick ass saviour you'll love the way the main character changes & deals with a whole new world. Book 2 can't come soon enough.
May 10, 2018
Danny and Nicole Porter are shopping its raining so Danny stops outside the store so Nicole doesn’t get wet then goes to park the car. When he parks theres a thud thinking it was something fallen over that might mess up Nicoles car he decided to sort if for her. When he opened the trunk he knew his life would never be the same again.
In the trunk was the body of man maybe in his mid thirties with a very neat bullet hole in his forehead the man had been wrapped in a thin drop cloth and through it Dan seen his brown eyes staring at him. Now Dan was getting the picture Nicoles Cleaning Crew maybe wasn’t just to clear up after crime scenes like she’d told him?
The Beauty Of Bucharest is a fast paced thriller we follow on from when Danny finds the body in the trunk of Nicole’s Lexus to when she explains what she actually does. She also tells him she has an assignment and must leave right away Daniel insists on going with her but will he be a hinderance?
First book for Scott and in my opinion its gonna be a massive success. Really enjoyed reading this. There are twists you won’t see coming. Will Dan and Nicole’s twenty year marriage survive this?
In the trunk was the body of man maybe in his mid thirties with a very neat bullet hole in his forehead the man had been wrapped in a thin drop cloth and through it Dan seen his brown eyes staring at him. Now Dan was getting the picture Nicoles Cleaning Crew maybe wasn’t just to clear up after crime scenes like she’d told him?
The Beauty Of Bucharest is a fast paced thriller we follow on from when Danny finds the body in the trunk of Nicole’s Lexus to when she explains what she actually does. She also tells him she has an assignment and must leave right away Daniel insists on going with her but will he be a hinderance?
First book for Scott and in my opinion its gonna be a massive success. Really enjoyed reading this. There are twists you won’t see coming. Will Dan and Nicole’s twenty year marriage survive this?
September 11, 2018
A book I was unable to put aside
Warning: SPOILERS!
Although many of Varengo's scenarios are so unlikely, and considerable dialogue is so artificial that the writing seems an amateur's first efforts, I found myself reading — enjoying reading — this yarn.
From the opening fumble (okay I was warned: the first line of the synopsis did disclose that the protagonist would find a cadaver in the trunk of his wife's car); through the total novice hubby being invited to go on a manhunt; through the "best handler in the organization" having been compromised and the heroine ambushed; through secret doorways, hidden by ECM (Electronic Counter Measures); and dozens of semi-naked women — including, of course, the most beautiful woman in the world — to be rescued, I shouldn't have been able to get started. Yet as I said, I did enjoy it. I think it's because Varengo's writing style — his prose — is excellent, and his narrative flows well, with few hiccups over backfilling.
I'm looking forward to the next book(s) in the series (and am desperately hoping that an editor or some advisor will have joined the effort).
Warning: SPOILERS!
Although many of Varengo's scenarios are so unlikely, and considerable dialogue is so artificial that the writing seems an amateur's first efforts, I found myself reading — enjoying reading — this yarn.
From the opening fumble (okay I was warned: the first line of the synopsis did disclose that the protagonist would find a cadaver in the trunk of his wife's car); through the total novice hubby being invited to go on a manhunt; through the "best handler in the organization" having been compromised and the heroine ambushed; through secret doorways, hidden by ECM (Electronic Counter Measures); and dozens of semi-naked women — including, of course, the most beautiful woman in the world — to be rescued, I shouldn't have been able to get started. Yet as I said, I did enjoy it. I think it's because Varengo's writing style — his prose — is excellent, and his narrative flows well, with few hiccups over backfilling.
I'm looking forward to the next book(s) in the series (and am desperately hoping that an editor or some advisor will have joined the effort).
March 30, 2018
What a great first in a series book. It is an exciting thriller, with the requisite assassinations and very bad guys, but has lots of giggles and lovable characters too. The Beauty of Bucharest by S. J. Varengo is quite the adventure. I was given a pre-release copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. This book is a joy to read.
August 24, 2018
S.J. spins a great yarn of action, thrills, and suspense. The story follows Dan Porter, who discovers his wife is a trained killer, and ends up accompanying her to Bucharest for a mission. The writing is tight, and the story moves at a fast pace. A great read, through and through!
August 29, 2021
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
midlife changes with a twist or two
I very much enjoyed this one. It was intrigue with a husband and wife duo. But it was more Nicole. She was boss lady status. She handled her business and kept it moving forward. Her husband was business minded and a bit unexpected for me. I was wanting a stronger male counterpart for Nicole. He did somethings that I found might/should have been outside his wheelhouse. Unless we were not seeing all that really was Dan. Only venturing in to more stories will allow for me to formulate a better opinion.
Narrator Austeene Grey was introduced to me with this story and I must say that I enjoyed the introduction. The story a bit predictable, but it was an afternoon of entertainment. I enjoyed see more of the mature adults letting go.
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
midlife changes with a twist or two
I very much enjoyed this one. It was intrigue with a husband and wife duo. But it was more Nicole. She was boss lady status. She handled her business and kept it moving forward. Her husband was business minded and a bit unexpected for me. I was wanting a stronger male counterpart for Nicole. He did somethings that I found might/should have been outside his wheelhouse. Unless we were not seeing all that really was Dan. Only venturing in to more stories will allow for me to formulate a better opinion.
Narrator Austeene Grey was introduced to me with this story and I must say that I enjoyed the introduction. The story a bit predictable, but it was an afternoon of entertainment. I enjoyed see more of the mature adults letting go.
June 27, 2021
The Beauty of Bucharest/Clean Up Crew Book 1
By S.J Varengo with Craig A. Hart
I have read several novels by Mr. Hart but I believe this is the first novel I have read by S.J. Varengo. I know it won’t be the last. I am looking forward to getting Book 2 in this series.
How would you react if your spouse’s profession wasn’t as innocent as you were led to believe? This is what happens to Dan when he discovers what Nicole really does. Without giving anything away, my mind would be blown.
Varengo and Hart write in a style that kept me wanting to turn the page and read more. The characters were true to life and seemed like people I might know. The chapters flow, at times too quickly, as I wanted the story to go on. I did not expect some of the twists and turns and am wondering if this will remain the case in the following books.
If you are a mystery reader, then get The Beauty of Bucharest and start reading.
06.27.21
By S.J Varengo with Craig A. Hart
I have read several novels by Mr. Hart but I believe this is the first novel I have read by S.J. Varengo. I know it won’t be the last. I am looking forward to getting Book 2 in this series.
How would you react if your spouse’s profession wasn’t as innocent as you were led to believe? This is what happens to Dan when he discovers what Nicole really does. Without giving anything away, my mind would be blown.
Varengo and Hart write in a style that kept me wanting to turn the page and read more. The characters were true to life and seemed like people I might know. The chapters flow, at times too quickly, as I wanted the story to go on. I did not expect some of the twists and turns and am wondering if this will remain the case in the following books.
If you are a mystery reader, then get The Beauty of Bucharest and start reading.
06.27.21
July 10, 2021
A Wonderfully unique story!
This was well written with plenty of humor, sarcasm & intrigue. At first I’m thinking this was going to be a romantic comedy but then it quickly escalated into a suspense thriller. A loved going on this journey with a happily married couple as their life is turned upside down, or at least for her husband. This story was an emotional roller coaster with moments of joy, despair and angst. The narration was absolutely brilliant. She did nailed all the characters and did fantastic on the accents.
Very interesting and I highly recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
This was well written with plenty of humor, sarcasm & intrigue. At first I’m thinking this was going to be a romantic comedy but then it quickly escalated into a suspense thriller. A loved going on this journey with a happily married couple as their life is turned upside down, or at least for her husband. This story was an emotional roller coaster with moments of joy, despair and angst. The narration was absolutely brilliant. She did nailed all the characters and did fantastic on the accents.
Very interesting and I highly recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
January 24, 2022
An Absolutely Brilliant 1-sitting read. I was hooked from the starting premise - a husband finding a dead man in the trunk of his wife's car, until the last page. If you love quirky thrillers and tales of bad people meeting their just end then you'll love this as much as I did.
May 31, 2018
Recommended to fans of action and spy thrillers looking for a fun read. Thanks to the publisher for offering me a free copy of this book, which I freely chose to review.
It is quite difficult to review this novel without revealing any spoilers, and the description does not help much (it is gripping although extremely discreet) but considering the genre, this is pretty understandable, and I’ll try my hardest not to spoil the fun.
I am not a big reader of spy novels but have watched a fair amount of spy movies,and although this is not a spy novel per se, it shares with them many of its characteristics. We have professionals working in an international team, taking up false identities, travelling all over the world to undertake dangerous missions, using weaponry and skills beyond those of most normal individuals. We have the goodies and the baddies (and they are very bad indeed, no question about it), we have secrets, risky situations, and a fair amount of violence. The novel also requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief but not more than is usual in the genre.
The story, as suggested by the title, takes place, in its majority, in Bucharest, and it involves a beautiful model, but also many other women who are at risk. The background of the operation and the individuals the two protagonists —Dan and Nicole, a married couple— are trying to get rid of are bad beyond discussion. We are not dealing with white-collar crimes or morally ambiguous matters. I don’t think any readers will find it difficult to root for the protagonists, who are also likeable and have an endearing, if somewhat idealised, relationship.
The novel manages to combine what might be some women’s fantasies (having plenty of power, running an international company that deals with and avenges those who do evil, helping make the world a better place, knowing how to use powerful weapons and possessing fighting skills, whilst at the same time having the perfect husband and children), with some men’s fantasies (having a gorgeous and younger wife, the perfect family life, retiring after having dedicated one’s life to creating a company that is fun to run [a company that designs computer games], becoming involved in fascinating adventures, and then being able to use his geek skills to save his kick-ass wife). It is a fast-paced adventure, exciting, and there’s not a moment’s boredom. Although we get a sense of what Bucharest is like, there are no lengthy descriptions to slow down the action, and we do not get lost in psychological studies of the characters either.
This is, first and foremost, a plot-driven book, and we do not get to know much about the characters or their motivations, although this is book one in the series and there are hints that we will get to discover some important secrets in future novels. The story is told in the third person but from the points of views of both of the main characters (and sometimes briefly from some of other characters, including one of the baddies), and, although as I said there is no deep analysis of the individuals, having access to their thoughts makes it easy to empathise with them. There is a degree of head-hopping (sometimes the narration quickly moves from the point of view of one of the characters to the other), but I did not find it confusing as it is quite evident who is thinking what. I am not sure the characters are always fully consistent, but they are confronting pretty challenging circumstances and that is not what the book is focused on. (I must confess to feeling quite intrigued by one of the bad characters, the female bodyguard. Not likeable but…) The writing is dynamic and fluid, and although there are some USA-based cultural references, they do not detract from the understanding of the story.
There is violence, some fairly explicit (although not extreme), and there is a scene that although very bloody, will be satisfying to most readers (just deserts come to mind, and I was close to cheering at that point) but the book is not a heavy read. Although it deals with serious matters, these are not the subject of far-reaching analysis but rather an evil that has to be fought.
In summary, this is a fun and quick read, full of action, with a degree of role reversal (strong and powerful females, and males who are side-kicks at best and distractions at worst, although they end up coming quite handy), in an interesting setting, with a very satisfying ending and a promise of more secrets to be revealed in future instalments. I could not help but think of many of the spy movies I’ve watched, and with the right cast, it could turn into a blockbuster. Recommended to lovers of action and spy thrillers looking for a fun, non-taxing read.
It is quite difficult to review this novel without revealing any spoilers, and the description does not help much (it is gripping although extremely discreet) but considering the genre, this is pretty understandable, and I’ll try my hardest not to spoil the fun.
I am not a big reader of spy novels but have watched a fair amount of spy movies,and although this is not a spy novel per se, it shares with them many of its characteristics. We have professionals working in an international team, taking up false identities, travelling all over the world to undertake dangerous missions, using weaponry and skills beyond those of most normal individuals. We have the goodies and the baddies (and they are very bad indeed, no question about it), we have secrets, risky situations, and a fair amount of violence. The novel also requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief but not more than is usual in the genre.
The story, as suggested by the title, takes place, in its majority, in Bucharest, and it involves a beautiful model, but also many other women who are at risk. The background of the operation and the individuals the two protagonists —Dan and Nicole, a married couple— are trying to get rid of are bad beyond discussion. We are not dealing with white-collar crimes or morally ambiguous matters. I don’t think any readers will find it difficult to root for the protagonists, who are also likeable and have an endearing, if somewhat idealised, relationship.
The novel manages to combine what might be some women’s fantasies (having plenty of power, running an international company that deals with and avenges those who do evil, helping make the world a better place, knowing how to use powerful weapons and possessing fighting skills, whilst at the same time having the perfect husband and children), with some men’s fantasies (having a gorgeous and younger wife, the perfect family life, retiring after having dedicated one’s life to creating a company that is fun to run [a company that designs computer games], becoming involved in fascinating adventures, and then being able to use his geek skills to save his kick-ass wife). It is a fast-paced adventure, exciting, and there’s not a moment’s boredom. Although we get a sense of what Bucharest is like, there are no lengthy descriptions to slow down the action, and we do not get lost in psychological studies of the characters either.
This is, first and foremost, a plot-driven book, and we do not get to know much about the characters or their motivations, although this is book one in the series and there are hints that we will get to discover some important secrets in future novels. The story is told in the third person but from the points of views of both of the main characters (and sometimes briefly from some of other characters, including one of the baddies), and, although as I said there is no deep analysis of the individuals, having access to their thoughts makes it easy to empathise with them. There is a degree of head-hopping (sometimes the narration quickly moves from the point of view of one of the characters to the other), but I did not find it confusing as it is quite evident who is thinking what. I am not sure the characters are always fully consistent, but they are confronting pretty challenging circumstances and that is not what the book is focused on. (I must confess to feeling quite intrigued by one of the bad characters, the female bodyguard. Not likeable but…) The writing is dynamic and fluid, and although there are some USA-based cultural references, they do not detract from the understanding of the story.
There is violence, some fairly explicit (although not extreme), and there is a scene that although very bloody, will be satisfying to most readers (just deserts come to mind, and I was close to cheering at that point) but the book is not a heavy read. Although it deals with serious matters, these are not the subject of far-reaching analysis but rather an evil that has to be fought.
In summary, this is a fun and quick read, full of action, with a degree of role reversal (strong and powerful females, and males who are side-kicks at best and distractions at worst, although they end up coming quite handy), in an interesting setting, with a very satisfying ending and a promise of more secrets to be revealed in future instalments. I could not help but think of many of the spy movies I’ve watched, and with the right cast, it could turn into a blockbuster. Recommended to lovers of action and spy thrillers looking for a fun, non-taxing read.
August 20, 2019
Blurb: Dan Porter knows his wife Nicole is the love of his life. He knows that as sure as he knows that he has no idea who the dead body in the trunk of his car is, or how he got there. Now, Dan gets to learn all about the business side of his beloved wife and put some stamps in his passport while he does so!
Trigger Warnings:
Blood, Bullying, Child Abuse, Child Prostitution, Death, Drug Use (Illicit), Drug Use (Non-Consensual), Drug Use (Prescription), Emotional Abuse, Food, Gore, Gun Violence, Mental Abuse, Mental Illness, Murder, Non-Consensual Sex, Non-Consensual Touching, Off Screen Sex, Physical Abuse,Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault (mentioned), Slavery, Unsafe Lifestyle, Unsafe Sex, Violence, Violent Imagery,
Body Count: SO MANY
The Specs:
Series
Series Name: Clean Up Crew Thriller
Book Number: 1
Genre
Technical Genre: Suspense, Espionage Thrillers
Theo Genre: Murder Fiction, Damn Good Book
Page count: 204 pages
POV: limited 3rd
Publication information:
Publisher: Northern Lake Publishing
Language: English
ASIN: B07BLJSCYH
Other Fun Stuff:
To Read or Not To Read (Again):
Donated
Rating out of five: 2.0 out of 5
Representation, Morality, and Sexism Tests:
Bechdel–Wallace Test:
Purpose: to establish actual female characters that act independently of male characters in a story.
Do two female characters talk about something other than a male character? Yes
Pass or Fail: Pass
DuVernay Test:
Purpose: to establish characters of color in a story.
Are there fully actualized characters of color? No
Pass or Fail: Fail
Ellen Willis Test:
Purpose: to show balance in characters regardless of gender.
Would two related characters still work to carry the story if their genders were reversed? Yes
Pass or Fail: Pass
Hays Code Test:
Purpose: to ignore outdated and queer-degrading/punishing standards that once were the standard for produced mass media.
Part One: outdated moral guidelines
Are there any outdated "moral content" rules gloriously kicked in the teeth by this story? Yup
Are there people of color allowed a happy ending? No
Is there an interracial couple? No
Is there profanity used at all? Yes
Is there one or more homicidal acts and/or murder? Yes
Part Two: queer representation
Are there queer characters that get a happy ending? No
Is there an illegal or otherwise distasteful age gap between characters, queer or otherwise? No
Do the queer characters die tragically, violently, or at all? No
Pass or Fail: Half Pass
Mako Mori Test:
Purpose: to assure that in the story there is at least one female character independent of a male character's story.
Is there a female character? Yes
Does she get her own arc? Yes
Does it do anything other than serve to support a man’s story? Yes
Pass or Fail: Pass
Sexy Lamp Test:
Purpose: to assure that a female character in the story serves as an active protagonist, not just a device to be used by the male main character.
Would the plot fall apart if the female character was replaced by a sexy looking lamp? Yes
Post-It Note Caveat:
Would the character be able to be replaced by a Sexy Lamp with a sticky note on it for information conveyance? NO
Pass or Fail: Pass
Tauriel Test:
Purpose: to help support the existence of competent, independent female characters regardless of a romantic sub-plot.
Is there at least one woman in the story? Yes
Is this woman competent in her chosen occupation and not immediately shown up by a newcomer male character? Yes
If she has or develops a love interest during the story, either implied or explicitly stated, does she suddenly abandon her job and/or chosen path to support or pursue said love interest? Not really?
Pass or Fail: Pass
Vito Russo Test:
Purpose: to establish more characters that are on the SAGA (Sexuality And Gender Acceptance), QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color) or LGBTQIAP+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual/Biromantic/Bigender, Transgender, Queer/Genderqueer, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender, Pansexual/Panromantic, and others not listed here) spectrum.
Is there a character on the queer spectrum? Nope
Are they a character beyond their orientation? Not applicable
Do they actually affect the plot? No
Is the character something beyond a punchline? Not applicable
Pass or Fail: Fail
Overall review:
Thoughts:
Lots of triggers, quick, good read, but damn would I not read it again. I might read more in the series though, should the opportunity arise.
Was it engaging?
At times
Favorite Character:
Nicole.
Trigger Warnings:
Blood, Bullying, Child Abuse, Child Prostitution, Death, Drug Use (Illicit), Drug Use (Non-Consensual), Drug Use (Prescription), Emotional Abuse, Food, Gore, Gun Violence, Mental Abuse, Mental Illness, Murder, Non-Consensual Sex, Non-Consensual Touching, Off Screen Sex, Physical Abuse,Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault (mentioned), Slavery, Unsafe Lifestyle, Unsafe Sex, Violence, Violent Imagery,
Body Count: SO MANY
The Specs:
Series
Series Name: Clean Up Crew Thriller
Book Number: 1
Genre
Technical Genre: Suspense, Espionage Thrillers
Theo Genre: Murder Fiction, Damn Good Book
Page count: 204 pages
POV: limited 3rd
Publication information:
Publisher: Northern Lake Publishing
Language: English
ASIN: B07BLJSCYH
Other Fun Stuff:
To Read or Not To Read (Again):
Donated
Rating out of five: 2.0 out of 5
Representation, Morality, and Sexism Tests:
Bechdel–Wallace Test:
Purpose: to establish actual female characters that act independently of male characters in a story.
Do two female characters talk about something other than a male character? Yes
Pass or Fail: Pass
DuVernay Test:
Purpose: to establish characters of color in a story.
Are there fully actualized characters of color? No
Pass or Fail: Fail
Ellen Willis Test:
Purpose: to show balance in characters regardless of gender.
Would two related characters still work to carry the story if their genders were reversed? Yes
Pass or Fail: Pass
Hays Code Test:
Purpose: to ignore outdated and queer-degrading/punishing standards that once were the standard for produced mass media.
Part One: outdated moral guidelines
Are there any outdated "moral content" rules gloriously kicked in the teeth by this story? Yup
Are there people of color allowed a happy ending? No
Is there an interracial couple? No
Is there profanity used at all? Yes
Is there one or more homicidal acts and/or murder? Yes
Part Two: queer representation
Are there queer characters that get a happy ending? No
Is there an illegal or otherwise distasteful age gap between characters, queer or otherwise? No
Do the queer characters die tragically, violently, or at all? No
Pass or Fail: Half Pass
Mako Mori Test:
Purpose: to assure that in the story there is at least one female character independent of a male character's story.
Is there a female character? Yes
Does she get her own arc? Yes
Does it do anything other than serve to support a man’s story? Yes
Pass or Fail: Pass
Sexy Lamp Test:
Purpose: to assure that a female character in the story serves as an active protagonist, not just a device to be used by the male main character.
Would the plot fall apart if the female character was replaced by a sexy looking lamp? Yes
Post-It Note Caveat:
Would the character be able to be replaced by a Sexy Lamp with a sticky note on it for information conveyance? NO
Pass or Fail: Pass
Tauriel Test:
Purpose: to help support the existence of competent, independent female characters regardless of a romantic sub-plot.
Is there at least one woman in the story? Yes
Is this woman competent in her chosen occupation and not immediately shown up by a newcomer male character? Yes
If she has or develops a love interest during the story, either implied or explicitly stated, does she suddenly abandon her job and/or chosen path to support or pursue said love interest? Not really?
Pass or Fail: Pass
Vito Russo Test:
Purpose: to establish more characters that are on the SAGA (Sexuality And Gender Acceptance), QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color) or LGBTQIAP+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual/Biromantic/Bigender, Transgender, Queer/Genderqueer, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender, Pansexual/Panromantic, and others not listed here) spectrum.
Is there a character on the queer spectrum? Nope
Are they a character beyond their orientation? Not applicable
Do they actually affect the plot? No
Is the character something beyond a punchline? Not applicable
Pass or Fail: Fail
Overall review:
Thoughts:
Lots of triggers, quick, good read, but damn would I not read it again. I might read more in the series though, should the opportunity arise.
Was it engaging?
At times
Favorite Character:
Nicole.
May 17, 2018
“I hear in your voice that you believe you can do this, that you can save us from this horrible man. Can you?’
New York author S.J. Varengo attended Fordham University and State University of New York earning a bachelor's degree in Art History. He has written a volume of short fiction WELCOME HOME, the Cerah of Quadar series of which A DARK CLOCK is volume 1, and now THE BEAUTY OF BUCHAREST. He has also co-written several installments of the SpyCo espionage thriller series with Craig A. Hart.
Varengo has demonstrated his expertise in his works with Craig A. Hart – one of today’s master thriller writers – and he uses his skills well in penning this own terrifying thriller mystery in this solid book. One of the many aspects that make this book significant is his use painting an atmosphere on which to place his well-drawn characters – a fine mixture of drama and strange personality changes that heighten the suspense of this particular story.
Varengo establishes his lead characters on the first page of his story – ‘“I’ll just pull up front and drop you off,” Dan told his wife. “It’s raining and you’re too sweet to get wet. You’ll melt.” It was early December in Denver and by all rights it should have been snowing. But a freak warm front had kept the temperature in the forties for the past several days and when the precipitation came, it did so in the form of a drenching rain. Nicole smiled at his cheesy sentiment. “You weren’t worrying about me being wet when you joined me in the shower this morning,” she said, her voice husky and teasing. Dan looked at his drop-dead gorgeous wife and wondered, probably for the ten-millionth time, what he’d done right to win her. The best explanation he’d ever heard was from a Buddhist friend who’d said he’d probably stored up a bunch of karma points in previous lifetimes. He pulled Nicole’s Lexus into the fire zone in front of The Home Depot and stopped as close to the overhang as he could get. “Thanks, honey,” Nicole said. She blew him a kiss, then jumped out and ran into the store. Dan watched her all the way through the door, grinning as he marveled at her perfect body, as well-formed at 41 as it had been when he’d first met her at 21, then looked for a parking space. Must be a big sale on nuts and bolts, he thought, seeing that the closest vacant space was three-quarters of the way to the other end of the lot. Dan Porter loved retirement. He knew he loved it, because at least three times a day, he said, “I love being retired.” He said it that often, of course, because he was trying to convince himself that it was the truth.’ And then comes the discovery that opens the caper.
The synopsis distills the mystery well – ‘What would you do if you found a body in the trunk of your wife’s car? This is the question facing Dan Porter as he stood in the parking lot and looked down at a man wrapped in clear plastic sheeting…a man with a tidy .38 bullet hole in his forehead. But finding the body is a mere curiosity compared with the twists and turns Dan’s life will take over the next few days. International intrigue and edge-of-your-seat action abound as Dan and his lovely wife Nicole—who clearly has more than her share of dark secrets—risk their lives to rescue a stunning model and bring down one of the most evil men either of them have had the misfortune to meet.’
A strong new direction from a strong new author. This is a fast reading escape from the chaos of today’s messy world.
New York author S.J. Varengo attended Fordham University and State University of New York earning a bachelor's degree in Art History. He has written a volume of short fiction WELCOME HOME, the Cerah of Quadar series of which A DARK CLOCK is volume 1, and now THE BEAUTY OF BUCHAREST. He has also co-written several installments of the SpyCo espionage thriller series with Craig A. Hart.
Varengo has demonstrated his expertise in his works with Craig A. Hart – one of today’s master thriller writers – and he uses his skills well in penning this own terrifying thriller mystery in this solid book. One of the many aspects that make this book significant is his use painting an atmosphere on which to place his well-drawn characters – a fine mixture of drama and strange personality changes that heighten the suspense of this particular story.
Varengo establishes his lead characters on the first page of his story – ‘“I’ll just pull up front and drop you off,” Dan told his wife. “It’s raining and you’re too sweet to get wet. You’ll melt.” It was early December in Denver and by all rights it should have been snowing. But a freak warm front had kept the temperature in the forties for the past several days and when the precipitation came, it did so in the form of a drenching rain. Nicole smiled at his cheesy sentiment. “You weren’t worrying about me being wet when you joined me in the shower this morning,” she said, her voice husky and teasing. Dan looked at his drop-dead gorgeous wife and wondered, probably for the ten-millionth time, what he’d done right to win her. The best explanation he’d ever heard was from a Buddhist friend who’d said he’d probably stored up a bunch of karma points in previous lifetimes. He pulled Nicole’s Lexus into the fire zone in front of The Home Depot and stopped as close to the overhang as he could get. “Thanks, honey,” Nicole said. She blew him a kiss, then jumped out and ran into the store. Dan watched her all the way through the door, grinning as he marveled at her perfect body, as well-formed at 41 as it had been when he’d first met her at 21, then looked for a parking space. Must be a big sale on nuts and bolts, he thought, seeing that the closest vacant space was three-quarters of the way to the other end of the lot. Dan Porter loved retirement. He knew he loved it, because at least three times a day, he said, “I love being retired.” He said it that often, of course, because he was trying to convince himself that it was the truth.’ And then comes the discovery that opens the caper.
The synopsis distills the mystery well – ‘What would you do if you found a body in the trunk of your wife’s car? This is the question facing Dan Porter as he stood in the parking lot and looked down at a man wrapped in clear plastic sheeting…a man with a tidy .38 bullet hole in his forehead. But finding the body is a mere curiosity compared with the twists and turns Dan’s life will take over the next few days. International intrigue and edge-of-your-seat action abound as Dan and his lovely wife Nicole—who clearly has more than her share of dark secrets—risk their lives to rescue a stunning model and bring down one of the most evil men either of them have had the misfortune to meet.’
A strong new direction from a strong new author. This is a fast reading escape from the chaos of today’s messy world.
August 23, 2021
Nichole and Dan Porter are such a cute couple. He’s a game software designer and she works for a trauma clean up company…. but Dan doesn’t know that Nichole and her coworkers aren’t really cleaning up after suicides and crime scenes. Rather, they are actually responsible for creating some of those crime scenes. Nichole has been a spy and assassin since she was 18. Dan is dumbfounded but he believes his wife is a good person. Indeed, it does appear that Nichole and company are morally-conscientious assassins, only taking out the bad people. We hope. Dan hopes.
So now these two are off to Bucharest where Dan will get to see some of Nichole’s work first hand. Honestly, it was a lot o fun for me as a reader. It was part second honeymoon, part training day. Dan and Nichole get some wholesome kissy face time but there’s also bad guys to dispatch. I loved the combination because there’s plenty of action to keep the pace up but also these little moments of loveydovey connection between are two main characters.
My only little quibble is this nebulous psychic connection between Dan and Nichole. I usually don’t like this type of thing as it allows an easy out if the story writes itself into a corner, and, indeed, that does happen here too. Even with that, I really enjoyed this story. Dan and Nichole get to save the day and while there’s a good amount of justice meted out, there’s still more villains for them to hunt down in future books. 4.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Austenne Grey was a good fit for this story. I really liked her voice for Nichole – definitely feminine but also authoritative and firm when needed. Grey does a great job of putting humor into the character voices in moments of joking. Grey’s masculine voices were believable and I liked her Romanian accent (I’m not familiar with the accent but all the words were pronounced smoothly). The pacing was good and there were no tech issues. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Northern Lake Audio. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
So now these two are off to Bucharest where Dan will get to see some of Nichole’s work first hand. Honestly, it was a lot o fun for me as a reader. It was part second honeymoon, part training day. Dan and Nichole get some wholesome kissy face time but there’s also bad guys to dispatch. I loved the combination because there’s plenty of action to keep the pace up but also these little moments of loveydovey connection between are two main characters.
My only little quibble is this nebulous psychic connection between Dan and Nichole. I usually don’t like this type of thing as it allows an easy out if the story writes itself into a corner, and, indeed, that does happen here too. Even with that, I really enjoyed this story. Dan and Nichole get to save the day and while there’s a good amount of justice meted out, there’s still more villains for them to hunt down in future books. 4.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Austenne Grey was a good fit for this story. I really liked her voice for Nichole – definitely feminine but also authoritative and firm when needed. Grey does a great job of putting humor into the character voices in moments of joking. Grey’s masculine voices were believable and I liked her Romanian accent (I’m not familiar with the accent but all the words were pronounced smoothly). The pacing was good and there were no tech issues. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Northern Lake Audio. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
August 25, 2021
If you're looking for an action-packed thriller with plenty of humor and romance thrown in, The Beauty of Bucharest by S.J. Varengo may be right up your alley. The plot centered around a cute couple with an endearing dynamic. It was interesting to see how both partners coped with the changes in their lives. Their development was as entertaining as their banter. My favorite part of The Beauty of Bucharest was the intense, emotional climax. It delivered a balancing weight that contrasted well with the buoyant humor and romance, which did, at times, get just a little corny.
S.J. Varengo's writing style was, for the most part, wonderfully crisp. I loved the setting and appreciated the amount of research the author put into The Beauty of Bucharest. The technical information on weapons and anatomy he provided here and there was interesting. There were a couple of times when it slowed the story some, but I felt such information combined with the brief, intriguing descriptions to create a fitting ambiance. The plot was well-crafted, but the characters particularly stood out to me. The protagonists were easy to like, and the antagonists were downright chilling.
Narrator Austenne Grey delivered an immersive performance. I loved her portrayal of each character. Her expertise with various accents especially shined, providing an exceptionally absorbing experience that I wouldn't have had by just reading the book. Though there were a few areas outside of the dialogue that sounded a bit awkward, Austenne Grey was easy to understand, she kept a great pace throughout the reading, and the audio quality was perfect. I would definitely be open to checking out the next book in the Cleanup Crew Thriller series, especially if Austenne Grey returns as narrator.
(Disclaimer: I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Northern Lake Audio. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)
Trigger Warning: This is an adult work that contains profanity and themes of human trafficking, homicide, and violence.
S.J. Varengo's writing style was, for the most part, wonderfully crisp. I loved the setting and appreciated the amount of research the author put into The Beauty of Bucharest. The technical information on weapons and anatomy he provided here and there was interesting. There were a couple of times when it slowed the story some, but I felt such information combined with the brief, intriguing descriptions to create a fitting ambiance. The plot was well-crafted, but the characters particularly stood out to me. The protagonists were easy to like, and the antagonists were downright chilling.
Narrator Austenne Grey delivered an immersive performance. I loved her portrayal of each character. Her expertise with various accents especially shined, providing an exceptionally absorbing experience that I wouldn't have had by just reading the book. Though there were a few areas outside of the dialogue that sounded a bit awkward, Austenne Grey was easy to understand, she kept a great pace throughout the reading, and the audio quality was perfect. I would definitely be open to checking out the next book in the Cleanup Crew Thriller series, especially if Austenne Grey returns as narrator.
(Disclaimer: I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Northern Lake Audio. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)
Trigger Warning: This is an adult work that contains profanity and themes of human trafficking, homicide, and violence.
June 28, 2018
The Beauty of Bucharest - a review by Rosemary Kenny
The eponymous Beauty is Ana Albu, a Romanian supermodel kidnapped and put up for sale to the highest bidder on the Dark Web, in this
spine-chilling thriller by espionage writer par excellence, Susan Varengo.
Ana's been kidnapped, along with hundreds of trafficked girls by gang-boss millionaire Grigorescu, whose HQ is in the famed Cenulescu Palace,
where he's guarded 24/7 by his head of security Ileana Gabor and her henchmen. Into the mix comes Nicole Porter and her now retired computer-game
designer husband, Garry. During a normal run to the DIY centre for some necessities, Garry is stunned to find a bullet-riddled corpse in the boot of his wife's
Lexus along with the already purchased tins of paint! Once his panic attack subsides, Nicole explains that she's an assassin for hire, as are many of her co-workers
at Clean Up Crew, where she's the new boss, having been in this bizarre 'job' since the age of 18...and she's now 41 and the mother of their two grown-up kids!
Why does Nicole need to go to Bucharest? How does Garry come to accompany her? What are their cover identities? Can Garry remember to use these new names? Who does Nicole meet at the restaurant after Garry has gone to the bathroom? Why does he follow her?
When does he lose her trail - and who is she following? What orders have been given regarding Garry? How does he rescue Nicole in the catacombs?
Where is he able to help her next? Can they save Ana and the other women? Who kills Grigorescu and how? What happens on the couple's return to the US?
With some comedic interludes to lighten an otherwise dramatic tale of spies and missions, there is something for everyone.With engaging characters reminding one of the Mr and Mrs Smith film as well as a touch of James Bond in Octopussy, you should make haste to grab a copy for your bookshelves as soon as possible!
The eponymous Beauty is Ana Albu, a Romanian supermodel kidnapped and put up for sale to the highest bidder on the Dark Web, in this
spine-chilling thriller by espionage writer par excellence, Susan Varengo.
Ana's been kidnapped, along with hundreds of trafficked girls by gang-boss millionaire Grigorescu, whose HQ is in the famed Cenulescu Palace,
where he's guarded 24/7 by his head of security Ileana Gabor and her henchmen. Into the mix comes Nicole Porter and her now retired computer-game
designer husband, Garry. During a normal run to the DIY centre for some necessities, Garry is stunned to find a bullet-riddled corpse in the boot of his wife's
Lexus along with the already purchased tins of paint! Once his panic attack subsides, Nicole explains that she's an assassin for hire, as are many of her co-workers
at Clean Up Crew, where she's the new boss, having been in this bizarre 'job' since the age of 18...and she's now 41 and the mother of their two grown-up kids!
Why does Nicole need to go to Bucharest? How does Garry come to accompany her? What are their cover identities? Can Garry remember to use these new names? Who does Nicole meet at the restaurant after Garry has gone to the bathroom? Why does he follow her?
When does he lose her trail - and who is she following? What orders have been given regarding Garry? How does he rescue Nicole in the catacombs?
Where is he able to help her next? Can they save Ana and the other women? Who kills Grigorescu and how? What happens on the couple's return to the US?
With some comedic interludes to lighten an otherwise dramatic tale of spies and missions, there is something for everyone.With engaging characters reminding one of the Mr and Mrs Smith film as well as a touch of James Bond in Octopussy, you should make haste to grab a copy for your bookshelves as soon as possible!
August 24, 2021
A good mysterious and suspenseful read.
Dan, one day find a dead body of a man with a bullet hole in his head, the body covered in plastic in his wife, Niocole’s car trunk.
Dan met his wife when he was once on a business dinner. But never did he knew his wife’s secret. She bore him kids and lived with them for years yet kept this secret hidden.
Finding the body, He goes perplexed and shocked not knowing any of this and hurries to his wife asking so many questions.
Nicol’s is sure now that her secret is out and now is the high time and she should let Dan know of her being a member of clean up crew and everything about it.
It is a mystery, thriller and suspense genre. It is quite suspenseful since the very beginning and the mysteries followed after that. With all the revelation of Nicole’s profession. The plot seemed very interesting to the [point and was undeniably gripping.
The Audiobook was narrated by Austenne Grey.
She is sole narrator of the story.
This is the first time I have heard an audiobook from this narrator and I absolutely loved it. The narrator did properly distinguish between the characters and with a good fluency.
It felt as though witnessing the plot around me. It narration was very much realistic and was in sync with the plot.
I didn’t find any of the awkward pauses or stumbling during the narration. Hence. I would definitely go for more of books narrated by Austenne Grey.
The sound quality was a priority as it had good quality voice with absolutely no disturbances.
I had a great experience with such all the sound effects as they enhanced my hearing experience and kept me hooked up to the plot.
It provided a good experience than a physical book because when the narrator spoke of the plot my imagination was all around finding the substances and characters of the plot living around and happening.
Dan, one day find a dead body of a man with a bullet hole in his head, the body covered in plastic in his wife, Niocole’s car trunk.
Dan met his wife when he was once on a business dinner. But never did he knew his wife’s secret. She bore him kids and lived with them for years yet kept this secret hidden.
Finding the body, He goes perplexed and shocked not knowing any of this and hurries to his wife asking so many questions.
Nicol’s is sure now that her secret is out and now is the high time and she should let Dan know of her being a member of clean up crew and everything about it.
It is a mystery, thriller and suspense genre. It is quite suspenseful since the very beginning and the mysteries followed after that. With all the revelation of Nicole’s profession. The plot seemed very interesting to the [point and was undeniably gripping.
The Audiobook was narrated by Austenne Grey.
She is sole narrator of the story.
This is the first time I have heard an audiobook from this narrator and I absolutely loved it. The narrator did properly distinguish between the characters and with a good fluency.
It felt as though witnessing the plot around me. It narration was very much realistic and was in sync with the plot.
I didn’t find any of the awkward pauses or stumbling during the narration. Hence. I would definitely go for more of books narrated by Austenne Grey.
The sound quality was a priority as it had good quality voice with absolutely no disturbances.
I had a great experience with such all the sound effects as they enhanced my hearing experience and kept me hooked up to the plot.
It provided a good experience than a physical book because when the narrator spoke of the plot my imagination was all around finding the substances and characters of the plot living around and happening.
October 8, 2018
The Beauty of Bucharest is the first in the Clean Up Crew series and is an action/thriller/spy novel. It can be read as a standalone book.
Dan and Nicole are very much in love. Dan is recently retired from being a game designer and Nicole works for a company that cleans up crime scenes. During a quick stop at Home Depot, Dan is horrified to find a body in the boot of his car. It seems there is more to Nicole than meets the eye. As a trafficking ring in Bucharest takes a turn when a high profile model is abducted, Dan finds himself drawn into a nest of lies and intrigue and will find himself in situations he could only have imagined in his games. Will real life prove too much for him?
The story started with the promise of deception and action. While it delivered on the basics, I felt it very generic. I was never on the edge of my seat as I would expect from an action story. There are the usual twists and turns that can be expected, but the story seemed to end far too predictably.
There were very few editing mistakes which made the flow of the book comfortable to read. Perhaps because this is the first in the series it was used to create context and introduce characters, but as a spy thriller, I found it rather average. Nothing wrong with the book, but nothing that stood out for me.
Dan and Nicole are very much in love. Dan is recently retired from being a game designer and Nicole works for a company that cleans up crime scenes. During a quick stop at Home Depot, Dan is horrified to find a body in the boot of his car. It seems there is more to Nicole than meets the eye. As a trafficking ring in Bucharest takes a turn when a high profile model is abducted, Dan finds himself drawn into a nest of lies and intrigue and will find himself in situations he could only have imagined in his games. Will real life prove too much for him?
The story started with the promise of deception and action. While it delivered on the basics, I felt it very generic. I was never on the edge of my seat as I would expect from an action story. There are the usual twists and turns that can be expected, but the story seemed to end far too predictably.
There were very few editing mistakes which made the flow of the book comfortable to read. Perhaps because this is the first in the series it was used to create context and introduce characters, but as a spy thriller, I found it rather average. Nothing wrong with the book, but nothing that stood out for me.
April 16, 2019
December, Denver, CO. Danny “Dan” Porter (retired) & Nicole Jacks (41, Dan’s wife, Clean Up Crew franchises) were out shopping.
Panera Bread. Out eating lunch Dan explained the predicament to Nicole that he was in.
A male Middle Eastern origin’s boy’s body was in the trunk of his Lexus.
Bucharest, Romania. Crețulescu Palace (# 39 Știrbei Vodă St.). What were the plans for Bogdan Grigorescu?
What happened to Ana Albu (model)?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written International crime thriller book. It wasn’t very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great International crime thriller movie, animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. Not sure I got the whole story content so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Northern Lake Publishing LLC.; BookFunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Panera Bread. Out eating lunch Dan explained the predicament to Nicole that he was in.
A male Middle Eastern origin’s boy’s body was in the trunk of his Lexus.
Bucharest, Romania. Crețulescu Palace (# 39 Știrbei Vodă St.). What were the plans for Bogdan Grigorescu?
What happened to Ana Albu (model)?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written International crime thriller book. It wasn’t very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great International crime thriller movie, animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. Not sure I got the whole story content so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Northern Lake Publishing LLC.; BookFunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
May 18, 2018
The Beauty of Bucharest - This is my first book by this author, other than the Assignment Series co-written with Craig A. Hart. Well written, intriguing but a bit unrealistic. I started losing interest in the story and the characters around the 59 - 60 percent mark. The vulgar language didn't help matters, either. By the 62 percent mark, my eyes rolled up and back and I stopped reading, without a concern for the ending, since it was a difficult two days to get this far. The characters didn't act or feel right in this type of genre; kinda whatcha expect from a cozy.
The safety switch on a snub-nose revolver got to me, but maybe it was a KGB-issued revolver? Maybe I was wrong to read this as a serious book, like a Ludlum or Follette or De Mille or even Hart's Serenity Series. I should have read a cozy or romance first since I just finished six books by Frank H. Jordan.
The safety switch on a snub-nose revolver got to me, but maybe it was a KGB-issued revolver? Maybe I was wrong to read this as a serious book, like a Ludlum or Follette or De Mille or even Hart's Serenity Series. I should have read a cozy or romance first since I just finished six books by Frank H. Jordan.
June 7, 2018
A Crew to Clean it up
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book by Northern Lakes Publishing [NLP]. I decided to read it and provide my honest review, which I have.) Reading the beauty of Bucharest, A Clean Up Crew Thriller Book 1 by S.J. Varengo was an exciting, suspenseful, thrilling, roller-coaster of a ride. There was action-adventure from the beginning page to the last page. The author did a great job on the fundamentals such as the storyline, plot, character development and world-building so that the reader can sit back and truly enjoy the page-turner without any interruption. Overall, the beauty of Bucharest is a good all-around thriller suspense mystery. My RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoy a good old spy novel then the beauty of Bucharest is just the book you’ve been looking for. –Tex.
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book by Northern Lakes Publishing [NLP]. I decided to read it and provide my honest review, which I have.) Reading the beauty of Bucharest, A Clean Up Crew Thriller Book 1 by S.J. Varengo was an exciting, suspenseful, thrilling, roller-coaster of a ride. There was action-adventure from the beginning page to the last page. The author did a great job on the fundamentals such as the storyline, plot, character development and world-building so that the reader can sit back and truly enjoy the page-turner without any interruption. Overall, the beauty of Bucharest is a good all-around thriller suspense mystery. My RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoy a good old spy novel then the beauty of Bucharest is just the book you’ve been looking for. –Tex.
May 14, 2018
Dan accidently found a body in the trunk of his wife's car. The shocking thing to him was that she had put it there and was transporting it to a disposal site. A whole new existence opened up for him as he was briefed on his wife's long time occupation. There follows his insistence on accompanying her on her next job to Bucharest, where a sex slaver has captured a beautiful model and is selling her to the highest bidder. He must be stopped. Steet chases, underground pursuit, skulduggery ensue. A rousing tale of action and intrigue. Well written and well edited if a bit short. This seems to be the beginning of a series with an undefined cliffhanger which won't detract from the enjoyment of the story.
May 28, 2018
This book was recommended to me by Craig A. Hart, an author I really enjoy. This book was everything you would want it to be it was fast paced with unexpected parts and set in one of the worlds oldest cities. On a rainy day in Denver Dan drops his wife off at the Home Depot entrance. As he parks he hears the paint cans in her trunk fall over. Being the considerate husband he worries the cans may have opened. When he goes to check he shocked to see a dead body! Once his wife explains exactly what kind of cleaner she is his life is never the same! Retirement isn’t so boring any more! I loved this book and hung on every word. It was impossible to put down! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an action packed book.
October 14, 2018
Surprising twist to Assassin genre.
Smart, action packed, surprising Assassin novel. A married, family mom is taking her hubby on the trip of a lifetime. Both find themselves in a dangerous situation, being hunted by a merciless killer. Add to that, they need to rescue a kidnapped super-model, and release a group of young women being sold by a sex trafficking gangster. S .J .Varengo does an excellent job of letting us see into a hidden world of the assassin from a different angle. No glamour, and sometimes a twinge of guilt. The action is fierce and fast. I highly recommend this book to those who like a little humour, some soul searching, a lot of love, and a bang-up ending!
Smart, action packed, surprising Assassin novel. A married, family mom is taking her hubby on the trip of a lifetime. Both find themselves in a dangerous situation, being hunted by a merciless killer. Add to that, they need to rescue a kidnapped super-model, and release a group of young women being sold by a sex trafficking gangster. S .J .Varengo does an excellent job of letting us see into a hidden world of the assassin from a different angle. No glamour, and sometimes a twinge of guilt. The action is fierce and fast. I highly recommend this book to those who like a little humour, some soul searching, a lot of love, and a bang-up ending!
May 26, 2018
Kobo edition (no SBN printed - kindle and paperback versions on Amazon)
Much in the style of the Spy-Co Assignment novellas, this is a fast-paced story moving from Denver to Bucharest and back in just a few days. Happily married for 20 years to a somehat younger woman Dan discovers a body in the boot of her car... What follows as the truth about her work emerges may destroy their marriage or make it stronger.
I enjoyed this very much - it is similar in pace to those earlier novellas and visits a new city. One of the strengths is the clear portayal of somewhere I've never been and despite not having any grasp of Romanian to city comes over well.
To be recommended - not least as it's the first of a projected series. I hope.
Much in the style of the Spy-Co Assignment novellas, this is a fast-paced story moving from Denver to Bucharest and back in just a few days. Happily married for 20 years to a somehat younger woman Dan discovers a body in the boot of her car... What follows as the truth about her work emerges may destroy their marriage or make it stronger.
I enjoyed this very much - it is similar in pace to those earlier novellas and visits a new city. One of the strengths is the clear portayal of somewhere I've never been and despite not having any grasp of Romanian to city comes over well.
To be recommended - not least as it's the first of a projected series. I hope.
October 29, 2018
This was a great first book of a series. A very quick and easy read. Both the plot and characters kept me interested, with an equal amount of humor and action.
Poor Dan has just discovered his wife isn’t quite who he though she was. While she does work for the Clean-Up Crew, Nicole is not some ordinary maid, she’s a hired assassin. Since he seems to go into shock at this discovery, Nicole reluctantly agrees to bring him along on her next “cleaning” assignment to show him what she does. This, oddly, turns out to be a much better idea than she had thought.
I look forward to continuing with this series 😊
Poor Dan has just discovered his wife isn’t quite who he though she was. While she does work for the Clean-Up Crew, Nicole is not some ordinary maid, she’s a hired assassin. Since he seems to go into shock at this discovery, Nicole reluctantly agrees to bring him along on her next “cleaning” assignment to show him what she does. This, oddly, turns out to be a much better idea than she had thought.
I look forward to continuing with this series 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2022
It was a fun read, short and quick. It kept my interest as the characters are introduced and the job that the wife holds.
There's some fun references to old TV shows, so being of an age to know the shows, I was amused and laughed, especially a Romanian confusing Terry Bradshaw with Carrie Bradshaw.
Some of the characters were close to being cardboard, but anyone really a part of the story was pretty well fleshed out. Given the length of the book and the point of the story, that was not an issue; more would have been a distraction.
Go ahead and read it, as it's a quick diversion. I have the next two in the series and presume I will quickly and enjoyably move thru them, too.
There's some fun references to old TV shows, so being of an age to know the shows, I was amused and laughed, especially a Romanian confusing Terry Bradshaw with Carrie Bradshaw.
Some of the characters were close to being cardboard, but anyone really a part of the story was pretty well fleshed out. Given the length of the book and the point of the story, that was not an issue; more would have been a distraction.
Go ahead and read it, as it's a quick diversion. I have the next two in the series and presume I will quickly and enjoyably move thru them, too.
May 10, 2018
Daniel Porter is retired, his wife, Nicole works around the world for "The Clean Up Crew". Dan thinks they clean crime scenes. That dream went out the window when a dead guy's body is in the trunk of Nicole's car! Just what does Nicole do? The storyline covers human trafficking and there is some very intense scenes in this book. You will cheer for the main characters, even though at first they make you wonder if maybe they are the bad guys! I read this book because another author, recommended it. Thank you Craig A. Hart!!! I voluntarily reviewed this book.
September 30, 2018
The writing seemed amateurish. The dialogue between husband and wife seemed ridiculous from the start. The ease with which hubby goes from the grisly discovery of a dead body in his wife's trunk to easy acceptance of his wife's 'secret' job, and then becoming not only a willing but efficient participant in murder was a turn off for me. Oh, yeah, and add on how she can't help herself in feeling horny while looking at her husband's backside in spandex while they are in the middle of a life or death operation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews