A Messy Murder - (The Decluttering Mysteries) by Simon Brett

Book Synopsis

Ellen Curtis - professional declutterer, amateur sleuth and woman of a certain age - investigates the puzzling death of a TV personality who's past his prime

"Brett laces the plot with show-biz details that fans of Brett's Charles Paris series will relish. This very special series grows more fascinating with each entry" Booklist Starred Review

Professional declutterer Ellen Curtis doesn't need to like her clients to help them sort their homes out. Aging TV personality and curmudgeon Humphrey Carter might have a chip on his shoulder the size of England about the decline of his career, but a job's a job.

But when Ellen arrives the morning after Humph's eightieth birthday party, primed and ready to tackle his study - no matter his protests - she gets the shock of her life. Humph's dead . . . and all signs point to him having taken his own life.

Did the egotistical chat show host really die by suicide? His wife is adamant he's been murdered, and the more Ellen looks, the more dirt on Humph she digs up . . . and the more suspects she uncovers.

Can she track down a killer - if there even is one? And, just as importantly, can she keep herself from killing not only her own infuriating mother, but also her two grown-up children, who all seem determined to destroy her peace of mind?

This thoroughly engaging contemporary mystery is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and M.C. Beaton.

Review Quotes

I'm not sure why I haven't read this series before, but this book is so good it makes me want to go back and check out the first three installments . . . I found this to be one of the best written and enjoyable mysteries I've read all year-- "Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine"

Brett laces the plot with show-biz details that fans of Brett's Charles Paris series will relish. This very special series grows more fascinating with each entry-- "Booklist Starred Review"

Ellen is an extremely sympathetic accidental sleuth . . . Brett is brilliant at creating settings that reflect character

-- "Booklist Starred Review of An Untidy Death"

[Brett] distributes his clues cleverly-- "Kirkus Reviews on Waste of a Life"

[Readers] will love this quirky, warmhearted mystery-- "Booklist Starred Review of The Clutter Corpse"

A clever cozy mystery with compelling cliffhangers and a lovable leading lady . . . full of wit and whimsy. Recommended for fans of Denise Swanson, Jenn McKinlay, and M.C. Beaton-- "Library Journal on Waste of a Life"

A neatly constructed whodunit-- "Kirkus Reviews on An Untidy Death"

Brett layers the old-fashioned puzzle with deep psychological insights . . . Not to be missed-- "Booklist Starred Review on Waste of a LIfe"

Come for the clues, stay for the heroine's appealingly no-nonsense new voice-- " Kirkus Reviews on The Clutter Corpse "

Diverting . . . cozy fans will be delighted-- "Publishers Weekly on An Untidy Death"

This book is pure pleasure-- "Publishers Weekly on Waste of a LIfe"

Witty and amusing feelgood fiction-- "The Times on Waste of a LIfe"