The mean girls are back in town. Mona, the local 911 operator was bullied relentlessly by them and she is not happy to have them return. She fantasizes to Charlotte, our protagonist, that she would like to see the face of the queen bee of mean girls splattered against her windshield. When a woman bearing a resemblance to her is killed in a hit and run, Charlotte begins to worry about Mona and as another of the gang is killed she begins to investigate-she can't help herself!

This is a solid mystery and I will admit I was completely flummoxed at how it played out-but it made sense and didn't come out of left field. I have not read other books in the series and I didn't feel as it hampered my enjoyment of the book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Net Galley but the opinion expressed is my own.

I really like this series and especially the narrative voice. "Kicked in the keister by Karma." "I'm told I can be just the tiniest bit bossy. I'm trying to fight that. Sometimes, I lose." And my favorite: "White powder from an air bag doesn't flatter anyone. Let's just say that." Charlotte is just snarky enough to make me laugh without being super annoying.

I seem to be reading a lot of cozies right now where mean girl cliques play a big role, and that's fine, I guess. It makes for some good drama. But the drama I can't take is the whole major storyline with Mona. It's tiresome and unconvincing, so it's unfortunate that so much of the plot momentum depends on it. I just feel like it's carried on way too deeply and too long.

Otherwise, a great story.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Even if it's not the best in this series I enjoyed this story.
I think that Charlotte is a bit underdeveloped in this novel and there are too many repetitions.
On the other side the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I think it's recommended to anyone who read the rest of the series.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another thrilling cozy from Mary Jane Maffini.

This time Charlotte is being called BY Mona the 911 operator instead of Charlotte calling her with emergency calls. We already know that Charlotte and her close friends all went to school together. What I hadn’t realized is that Mona also went to the same school.

When a high school mean girl comes back to town, it brings up painful memories for many of her victims. Mona and several others would not be at all sad to learn that this girl and her clique all died horrible deaths. And then people start dying. And who do you suppose the suspect is?

Charlotte has her work cut out for her with this one. People are reluctant to relive the past if they don’t need to. I was completely wrong about the perpetrator! Great book.

The ending with the relationship with Jack was not totally unexpected, but I wish it had been handled a little differently.

Charlotte Adams is a professional organizer. She also is an amateur sleuth. Charlotte’s friend, Mona, calls to tell her that the meanest of the mean girls from high school is back in town. Mona also confesses that she wanted to run her down and “see that face splattered against my windshield”. As the mean girl group is run over and killed one by one, Charlotte needs to prove that Mona isn’t responsible for the murders in spite of her declaration. This is the fifth book in the series. I haven’t read the others but was given an ARC of The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder in exchange for an honest review. The book was what I call a cozy mystery. You don’t need to read the other 4 in order to read this book. It was a good 4-star book.

In The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder, Charlotte Adams helps out a woman whose daughter recently died. When Charlotte receives a call from 911 operator, Mona Pringle, she is amazed as Charlotte is normally the one needing Mona's help. Charlotte and Mona both went to St Jude's school and Mona was subjected to a fair degree of bitchiness and bullying from Serena Redding who is back in Woodbridge. The other girls involved back then along with Serena were collectively known as the mean girls and then one of them is found dead...

My fifth instalment in Mary Jane Maffini's Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mystery series was just as good as the first four. Professional organiser Charlotte is a marvellous protagonist whom I find to be compassionate and smart. The book is well-crafted, rich in humour, swift-paced and thoroughly entertaining. The mystery is very engaging and I was kept guessing until later on in this lively tale. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is the fifth book in the Charlotte Adams Organizer Mystery series and it does not disappoint. I really enjoy being back with Charlotte, Jack and the rest of their friends. I like seeing the characters develop and the relationships grow. As much as Charlotte wants to stay away from murder and stay out of police business, she cannot resist helping a friend in need. She is bold and will do anything and everything she can for her friends. When a bully from high school, Serena, returns to town and wants to make amends with those she wronged in the past, people begin to get hurt. A victim of hers, Mona, is pushed over the edge and all the evidence points to her. Charlotte cannot stand by and watch a friend being set up for a crime she did not commit. How many people will get hurt before the truth is revealed? Will Charlotte or any of her group of friends end up as one of the victims? Is there a slight hint of romance in the air? I like the little organizing tips at the beginning of each chapter and the recipe at the end of the book. I am looking forward to finding out more about Charlotte and her friends.

Organize time in your schedule for this quick-paced cozy murder mystery. Charlotte, a professional organizer and part-time crime solver, receives a desperate call from her friend Mona, who works as a 911 operator. Mona warns her, "That bitch is back." She's talking about Serena, the queen bee mean girl from their school days. What delicious fun right at the start of the story!

A series of hit-and-runs targeting the mean girls sends Mona into hiding after telling Charlotte she wanted to run Serena down with her car. With plenty of organizing tips sprinkled in and juggling her hectic career, Charlotte tries to save Mona while searching for the real killer. Soon it's not just the mean girls who are targeted and that puts all of Charlotte's friends in jeopardy. Can her organizing and sleuthing skills save the day?

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Please note that your link to Goodreads is not working for this book. Here's my Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4243473541?book_show_action=false
Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R16OS50E4ZCQIJ/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Beyond the Page Publishing and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I’m a big fan of these books and Charlotte Adams.

Lots of twists and turns in this book that I didn't see coming. This book was great! I couldn't put this down. It got a little unrealistic at the end when they're calling 911 and they hang up on her, but other than that, great story. Excited for the next book in this series!

Once again I loved the organizational tips at the start of each chapter. The mystery kept me guessing and I wasn't expecting who did it. Everything was tied up nicely and there was a lot going on throughout the book

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spring doesn't seem to want to arrive in Woodbridge, could it get any worse? If you're Charlotte Adams, the answer is always, "Yes, it can". Sadly the 911 operator that Charlotte seems to call often has turned the tables and calls Charlotte, telling her that the queen of the high school bullies is back in town. This sends Mona over the deep end when some of them start turning up dead in hit and run accidents. Now Charlotte has to not only find Mona, but also a killer, even if it is Mona.

The fifth entry in this series is just as good as the previous four and I can't get enough of it. From the misfits to the high strung pups, what's not to love when it's wrapped up in a solid whodunit? A great series for any mystery lover!

I'm so glad that Mary Jane Maffini's A Charlotte Adams Mystery series is continuing. Charlotte is a delightful, though somewhat flawed character. Her surrounding cast of characters are so engaging, and the background into their longtime friendship was expertly explored in 'The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder.' Although Charlotte may seem frivolous at times, she is in fact a multi-faceted deep and thoughtful person who is extremely loyal. This book deals with the painful subject of bullying, in this case especially severe. I was thrilled with the ending and look forward to the upcoming new book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is a fully revised edition of a book originally published in 2011.

This has quickly become one of my favourite cozy series!

I am guaranteed to enjoy reading a book in this series. Great characters that I cannot get enough of, and always a whodunit that keeps me guessing with great twists!

I truly hope there will be further books in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Emergency Call…?
The fifth in the ‘Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer’ Mystery series and Charlotte is faced with a 911 call for assistance from Mona. Whilst trying her best to help her friend, and make her see sense, the question of murder suddenly raises its ugly head and Charlotte becomes embroiled in an investigation that’s way too close to home. A lighthearted and entertaining read and a fitting addition to the series

I truly enjoy the Charlotte Adams series and I think this was my favorite in the series! I loved the ending!!

I had a little bit of a hard time warming up to this one — I didn’t find the characters particularly appealing. But it was a mostly fun, fast read, not as ‘cozy’ as I first assumed (!), and includes some tips on organizing and time management; as well as what looks like a yummy recipe for lemon bars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for making this advance copy available for review.

What a fantastic addition to the series! In fact, The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder is my new favorite in the series. I really enjoyed reading this one.

The mystery behind the murders with a hit-and-run MO kept me guessing till the end. The identity of the killer was a huge shocker. It goes without saying Mary Jane is a master storyteller and I am a huge fan of her writing.

The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder is an engrossing and completely entertaining cozy mystery. If you love quirky cozies, you might want to give this book a read.

It's April in Woodbridge but it's snowing! Despite this, and wanting to diversify a little, professional organizer Charlotte Adams is offering two different courses at her local library designed to help others get their lives into some sort of routine. Charlotte is still helping private clients with their problems, of course, including a local woman with a pristine home until you get to the kitchen, but everything goes on hold when she receives an unexpected phone call.

Mona Pringle is the 911 operator Charlotte always seems to speak with when she has a problem but now the tables have turned and Mona is calling Charlotte in a panic. One of the nightmares from her past has returned, the queen bee of the St Judes school bullies is back in town, and Mona wants revenge. As things quickly escalate, people start dying, and Charlotte, along with schoolfriends Pepper, Sally, Margaret, and Jack, try to find the missing Mona and prevent any more deaths. Things are never as simple as they sound for Charlotte and she soon finds herself in a heap of trouble and it's still snowing!

This is the fifth outing in this entertaining series and probably my favourite so far. Slightly different to those preceding it the author has added an awareness of how the past alters our perception of the present to give a more hard-hitting storyline this time around. The main protagonists all play their part and there were a nice amount of hints at what is to come for Charlotte and her group of misfits.

I was able to read a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much and the good cosy crime series it is a part of.

Professional Organizer Charlotte Adams doesn't have much time to attend to her business in Mary Jane Maffini's The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder which is the fifth book in the Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mystery series. Charlotte is too busy trying to save her friend 911 operator Mona who is freaked out because the nasty bully from her youth has returned to Woodbridge. A series of hit and run fatalities seems to be tied to Charlotte's St. Jude High School class. I liked Charlotte's tenacity in trying to help her friend and her quick thinking during crucial moments. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery.

I received an ARC and am happy to provide a honest review.