A Messy Murder

Simon Brett is juggling a number of excellent series, but these mysteries, featuring professional declutterer Ellen Curtis, are my favorites. Ellen is a totally believable character, with a complex life involving family, her career, and the lives of her clients, who often come to her in a state of crisis. The major mystery here is the death of 80-year-old Humphrey Carter, a well-known TV personality. Ellen is hired to sort out his study, only to find him slumped over his desk, dead. But minor mysteries abound. Why has Ellen’s 20-something daughter moved home, refusing to talk and leaving an older man to take care of the expenses? And how did her son suddenly pop up on the television, escorting a starlet on Hollywood’s red carpet? There’s lots to figure out here, and even more to make us wait impatiently for the next installation.