Thanks NetGalley, Little Brown Dog Press and E. B. Lee for advanced reader copy to review.
A heartwarming literary book
I liked it

Wealthy retired entrepreneur Carli takes to the streets to help those who live on them. With her mentor Grant she sets out to offer food, clothes and aid to those who have fallen out of regular society and who are too often disregarded or even shunned by the more fortunate. She becomes more and more involved in their lives and it soon becomes clear that she has unresolved issues of her own stemming from when her brother went missing many years before and of whom there has been no trace since. Grant and Carli seem to be working well together when Grant’s behaviour starts to become erratic and Carli realises that he has his own problems. At the heart of the novel is the plight of the homeless. Set in New York City we get to meet some of the homeless and realise that they are not nameless faceless vagrants but each has a back story, a past, and a history to tell. Poverty, isolation, addiction and other social ills are explored with compassion and authenticity and from that point of view the book works well. But overall I found the narrative style flat, with little sense of interiority and with far too much explanation of the issues. As Grant is her guide to this underworld, naturally he has to explain matters to Carli, but the book then becomes more of a documentary then a compelling novel that draws the reader in. Carli herself seems remote, as we only see her from the outside, and Grant in particular seems to be there as a vehicle for expressing mental health issues. I found the book too drawn out and repetitious and although I applaud its aims I couldn’t really relate to the characters.

This was a very good book and i found it extremely eye-opening as we have a bigger look at the homeless. I also love how this book spreads awareness about the homeless and ways to help. i would definitely recommend to friends and family.

Nicely done. This story centers around homelessness, and while probably flawed in some ways (that I didn't identify), it is well told. Readers might even find it emotional at times.

I appreciate the free review copy!

I received a free electronic ARC of this mystery novel on June 28th from Netgalley, E. B. Lee, and Little Brown Dog Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Clean Sweep of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Clean Sweep to friends and family.

Carli and Grant are both functioning anonymously working to assist the homeless in New York City.
Carli is a newly retired public relations director, a resident of NYC, who sold her company for a mint and is now looking for something to do with her time. She assumes an alias before approaching the idea of assisting with the homeless situation in Manhattan, fearing that her recent newspaper coverage of the sale of her advertising agency might make her vulnerable under her real name. After volunteering at a downtown soup kitchen for a month or so, she encounters not only a passel of homeless folks but also Grant, who is rather mysterious and seems so familiar and works himself for a community assistance firm helping the homeless and working to get them into some sort of assisted living space and off of the streets. Grant recruits Carli to work with the women among the homeless as he is great with the guys but can't get through the protective shield of the women. He has a couple he really wants Reni to work with.

This novel really touches the heart of the homeless situation in any large city, but especially NYC. Carli is well-intended and sympathetic, but those homeless who are long-term city street and park dwellers, especially the women, are trapped into a pattern of self-protection that eliminates any chance of accepting assistance. I found this work eye-opening, seeing a side to poverty that I had not even considered important. E. B. Lee is an author I will follow. Clean Sweep is her debut novel, but I hope for many more...

Clean Sweep, by E. B. Lee, could be described as Christian fiction if not for a few strategically, situationally placed "F" bombs. The premise is a affluent, retired female entrepreneur volunteering at a Catholic homeless outreach program. Characters include a Pastor & Sisters throughout. The story's in no way preachy. However: some readers may be adverse to such specific church affiliation. I personally would've preferred nondenominational.
Carli has run a highly successful company & is recently retired and pursuing her lifelong artistic painting passion. The setting is NYC, frigidly cold, snowy, rainy and overcrowded. The vivid descriptions of Carli painting made me feel and see the ocean waves.
A chance encounter with a dying homeless woman alters Carli's retirement path. Having lost her own brother at an early age, she is motivated to help other lost souls.
There is mystery woven throughout the unfolding story. There are some twists, plenty of secrets, and  suspense. Carli begins volunteering in a soup kitchen. Then she progresses to supervised contact with specific homeless people attempting to slowly coax them off the street into shelters.
Their story is a realistic portrayal of homelessness. It seemed believable and while heart wrenching, it did not feel hopeless. A very touching, heartwarming story addressing the social issue of the homeless.
While I guessed at some of the outcomes, I was none the less inspired to continue reading.
There is also an entire section of book club questions & discussions. These seemed useful and detailed.
I had not read this author before so thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Dog Press for the advance digital copy. My review is voluntary.