The Cleaner

The Messes Series, Book 1

By: Kiersten Modglin

Narrated by: Chris Andrew Ciulla, Rachel L. Jacobs, Heather Costa

Gunner James is good at death—an expert. His job is to clean up the messes no one else can. But behind that tough exterior, he has a few secrets of his own.

Eight years ago, he left his hometown and vowed to never look back. When his past collides with his present in the form of a familiar face, he must return home to take care of one final mess: the woman he left behind.

Reagan Orrick knows heartbreak. Eight years ago, the love of her life disappeared without a trace or goodbye. In his absence, she has fought to build a life she can be proud of.

When tragedy strikes, she must go it alone or make a choice to trust the man who shattered her heart once again. Their secrets can save or destroy them...but only the truth will allow them to be cleaned.

©2018 Kiersten Modglin (P)2023 Dreamscape Media

Dragged then went too fast

Some spots would just drag on for way too long and then other spots that needed more development were rushed. felt like it was being told by a love struck teenager.

This started out great….

But took a wrong turn at the lake back in 2010. I really wanted to like this book but by the end I was just scratching my head wondering what the next unlikely curve would be. And how much more Gunner could whine. I have really liked all the other KM books I’ve read and was excited to see that this was part of a series. Unfortunately, I will not be listening to the rest of the books in this series. :-(

Fantastic

📚 The Cleaner by Kiersten Modglin – A Gripping Second-Chance Romantic Suspense
Kiersten Modglin's The Cleaner is the first installment in The Messes series, blending elements of romantic suspense with a second-chance love story.
🧼 Plot Overview

Gunner James is a professional crime scene cleaner in New York, adept at erasing the physical remnants of death. However, his own past is a mess he's yet to confront. Eight years prior, he left his hometown and the love of his life, Reagan Orrick, without explanation. When a death in his apartment building connects back to Reagan, Gunner is compelled to return home and face the unresolved issues he left behind.
Reagan has spent the past eight years rebuilding her life after Gunner's sudden departure. When tragedy strikes her family, she must decide whether to trust the man who once broke her heart. As they navigate their shared past and present dangers, secrets emerge that could either heal or destroy them.
🔍 Themes and Style

The novel delves into themes of forgiveness, the enduring impact of past decisions, and the complexities of rekindled love. Modglin employs a dual timeline, alternating between past and present, to unravel the depth of Gunner and Reagan's relationship. This structure allows readers to understand the characters' motivations and the weight of their shared history.

📖 Final Thoughts

The Cleaner offers a compelling mix of romance and suspense, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps readers engaged. While some may find certain elements familiar within the genre, the emotional resonance and unexpected twists provide a satisfying reading experience.

Narration for teenage boys

I almost stopped listening to this book because of the narrator’s way of depicting teenage boys. It was so annoying I almost couldn’t stand it to make it through the book. I’m not far into it – so we’ll see. Hopefully she stops talking like that because if she doesn’t I won’t be able to listen to this book


I came back to this review to add that it’s not just the teenage boys. The teenage boys directed my awareness to the fact that she does weird pauses in all of her narration and it is one of the most annoying narration I’ve heard and I listened to a lot… I mean a lot of books. I make deliveries all day long and I listen to books while I do so

Love

Another great story by Kiersten Modglin! It just seemed like a typical love story until the final quarter... holy cow, did that twist quick. This is part of a series... I can't wait to read the rest! They always keep me captivated! 🫶🏻