A Messy Murder

<p><b><i>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</i></b></p><p><b><i><br></i></b></p><p><b>"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" <i>Booklist </i>Starred Review</b><br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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. <br><br>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?<br><br><b>This thoroughly engaging contemporary mystery is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and M.C. Beaton. </b></p>