Description
Description
Ellen Curtis - professional declutterer, amateur sleuth and woman of a certain age - hunts for a missing will with a killer bequest in this gripping mystery from the original king of British cosy crime, Simon Brett.
Professional declutterer Ellen Curtis doesn't do house clearances. So when Tamara Nicklin, owner of a local gastropub, asks Ellen to clear her late father's house, she's not interested . . . even when Tamara admits that the real reason she wants to hire Ellen is to find his missing will. Then Ellen discovers Tamara's husband has plans for the house. Plans Tamara doesn't know about. And it's clear to Ellen that this is the right job for her, after all. Ellen dives in, and what she finds in the dead man's house soon makes her wonder if Tamara's father really fell down the stairs, or if he was pushed. Can she sort through the secrets and lies to find not just the missing will - but the truth? This thoroughly engaging contemporary mystery, packed with red-herrings, is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and M.C. Beaton.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
Satisfying . . . A perfect snack for anyone between meals or airline flights-- "Kirkus Reviews"
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 of A Messy Murder"
Brett layers the old-fashioned puzzle with deep psychological insights . . . Not to be missed-- "Booklist Starred Review of Waste of a LIfe"
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"
Witty and amusing feelgood fiction-- "The Times on Waste of a LIfe"
This book is pure pleasure-- "Publishers Weekly on Waste of a LIfe"
[Brett] distributes his clues cleverly-- "Kirkus Reviews on Waste of a Life"
Ellen is an extremely sympathetic accidental sleuth . . . Brett is brilliant at creating settings that reflect character-- "Booklist Starred Review of An Untidy Death"
A neatly constructed whodunit-- "Kirkus Reviews on An Untidy Death"
Diverting . . . cozy fans will be delighted-- "Publishers Weekly on An Untidy Death"
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Severn House
Pub date:
2026-04-07
Length:
192 pages
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