Ellen didn’t plan on sorting through clues to a potential murder when she took on a new job. But when she finds her client dead, and his wife insist he was murdered, she can’t help but start sorting through the plans death.

Was Humphrey murdered? If not, Ellen is wasting her time. If so, Ellen could be putting a big target right on her self. Can Ellen figure out what happened to Humphrey and help his wife put the matter to rest?

I enjoy having protagonists that are mature, and Ellen certainly fits the bill. This is a well written book with a solid mystery with red herrings that will keep you going back and forth until the end.

A Messy Murder is the fourth book in the Decluttering Mysteries series by British author, Simon Brett. Having met Theresa Carter and found her to be practical and easy to get on with, decluttering expert, Ellen Curtis is looking forward to getting started at Staddles, even though the husband, former journalist, TV presenter and chat show host, Humphrey Carter seems less enthusiastic.

She arrives on the Monday after Humph’s eightieth birthday lunch to find the man quite dead in his study, a bottle of Famous Grouse at his elbow. On the desk, an article he wrote years earlier espousing voluntary euthanasia at age eighty, which the police interpret as a suicide note. One thing that seems strange is that he overdosed on pills that were crushed and put into his favourite tipple.

But many people Ellen speaks to express disbelief at the idea that egotistical Humph would kill himself. A bit later, Theresa asks Ellen to watch the recording of the speech that he made during his celebratory lunch, in which he comprehensively insulted, patronised and denigrated every member of his family, and his closest friend and former producer. Does that represent a motive for at least five people?

Ellen is pleased to have her daughter Jools working with her in Spacewoman, bringing in and handling new clients, and taking the business in a new, innovative direction. But distracting her from this intriguing case are her mother’s concerned calls about her partner’s possibly failing health, social media reports of her son Ben’s liaison with a high-maintenance Hollywood blonde who doesn’t look at all his type, and worries over her daughter’s unresolved financial issues.

Regards the latter, Ellen makes a major faux pas that takes some redeeming. For Ben, she worries about the impending crash likely to come after his current high. She is also surprised by a request from her friend Dodge that involves laying a trap…

Ellen does some excellent deductive work to identify the killer, although the denouement takes several turns before the truth is revealed. There’s a promise of some romance for at least one of the characters, and more of this cast will be most welcome. Another enjoyable cosy mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Canongate Books/Severn House

I thought this book was cute, though I wish it was longer. I liked it enough to want to read the others in the series, as this was my introduction to it. however, the cliff hanger ending was not my favorite. and by not my favorite, i mean i hated it.

This series is growing on me as it goes along. It is a clever idea to set a cosy crime or mystery around decluttering houses whether someone has died or people are downsizing. My favourite series is the Fethering mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy all Simon's books as they are light and fun and a good distraction in between the more heavier themed books. Simon is also an excellent narrator of his books for trips in the car.

So, I jumped into Simon Brett’s series with A Messy Murder, which is the fourth book, and let me tell you, I’m definitely going back to devour the first three. Ellen Curtis, the professional declutterer turned amateur sleuth, is on the case when a curmudgeonly TV personality, Humphrey Carter, turns up dead. Everyone’s calling it a suicide, but Ellen’s not so sure, and it’s not long before she’s neck-deep in family secrets and unexpected suspects.

The story’s a wild ride with Ellen navigating not just the murder but also some messy family dynamics and a whole lot of clutter. The murder mystery itself is pretty engaging, with enough twists to keep you guessing. Ellen’s interactions with her own family add a nice layer of depth, even if she does get a bit nosy at times. Overall, it’s a fun read with some solid humor and a bit of emotional weight. If you’re into cozy mysteries with a touch of real-life drama, this one hits the spot.

"A Messy Murder" by Simon Brett is the fourth book in "The Decluttering Mysteries" series. It follows Ellen Curtis, a professional declutterer who works on solving the murder of Humphrey Carter, an aging TV personality. Initially this death was deemed a suicide, however it is then investigated as a murder. Ellen begins to uncover secrets and suspects, including a local boutique-owner, an old classmate, and a bitter ex-boyfriend. This novel combines wit, psychological insight, and engaging storytelling, making it a delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries​.

coulnt get into this sadly the writing style of the author I wasnt keen on so I will not publicly review

#4 in Brett's Decluttering Mysteries find Ellen in the home of a couple preparing to downsize. After sorting out the plan with the woman of the house she arrives the following morning ready to tackle the Humph's study. Humph, an aging former tv host, is at his desk and he's dead! The death appears to be suicide but is it? An article Humph wrote earlier in his career is found under the glass of whiskey in which sleeping pills have been dissolved. In the article the author puts forth his belief that when people reach the age of 80 they should kill themselves. That seems to clinch the suicide verdict since Humph just celebrated his 80th birthday. Some family members aren't convinced and ask Ellen to investigate. Long held secrets come to light that turn the investigation in a different direction.
Ellen's own family situation is uneasy too and she treads a fine line trying to deal with her two adult children.
This is a quick read and a solid entry in the series. Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC.

A messy Murder is a great example of the cosy crime genre. Whilst murder should be shocking and devastating this left me with cosy warm vibes.

The book tells the story of Ellen Curtis a professional de- clutterer amateur sleuth and woman of a certain age. When she starts working for a celebrity's wife she has no idea that she will end up investigating his puzzling death.

If you like murder mysteries without all the gore and twisty turns of a thriller this is the perfect book for you.

I am definately going to keeping my eye for more books by this author.

Decluttering usually doesn't involve bodies
Ellen Curtis runs a decluttering business with the help of her daughter and occasionally a few friends A new client and a body draw her in and she is asked to help find out if it is murder. A few twists and turns and some family drama make this an engaging read,
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC and offer my opinion in the same.

While this is not my favorite of Simon Brett's series, it is starting to grow on me. The main character, Ellen, working as a declutterer is rather timely, though I always wish there was more actual decluttering worked into these novels. She is a mother of adult children, and her whole family is connected in some way to the entertainment industry, which is fun. Her kids deal with mental health issues that she is trying to deal with, and her husband committed suicide after dealing with mental illness for years, so this series does a nice job of incorporating mental health awareness into each story. Ellen is a bit annoying, always trying to maintain more of an active role in her kids' lives, often violating their privacy without anticipating that this might make her kids less likely to ever want to tell her more than the bare minimum about their lives. But, I know enough real people like this that it at least works. I still have yet to really like any of the characters in this series, which is probably why I like it so much less than the Fethering, Mrs. Pargeter and Charles Paris books.. Still, for a fast fun read, this is a good book.

A fun and fast read! Love the premise of a decluttering company (Space Woman). Some depth here with Ellen's fraught relationship with her two kids. Lots of subplots keep this one moving.

Wry Humour..
A new Simon Brett, in any of the series that the author has penned, is always a joy. This is the fourth outing in the Decluttering series of mysteries and, this time, Ellen is tasked with helping a somewhat unlikeable and past his prime television personality. Unfortunately for Ellen, when she arrives at his home she finds the client very dead indeed. With everything pointing to a suicide and the wife proclaiming murder, Ellen begins to dig. Another enjoyable instalment to the series with a well drawn cast of eclectic characters, a narrative laced with wry humour and a solid mystery at its heart.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
This is my favorite Simon Brett series, I love Ellen and her decluttering business. Her daughter is working with her now and she will hopefully stay.
Her son Ben is in Hollywood, a success, and dating a well-known actress. But unfortunately, her relationship with both children is still difficult. I wish they'd appreciate her more!
This time one of her declutter clients is a has-been television star and writer, who's arrogance hasn't abated a bit. He seems to have committed suicide on his 80th birthday, but Ellen is suspicious and decides to take a closer look at the death.
Another highly enjoyable read and, as usual, I can't wait for the next installment!

This felt so chaotic at first, too many different storylines playing out all at once. Too many mentions of people that didn't seem relevant to the storyline.
However by 50% through I was hooked and everything came together really nicely in the end and I could see why certain people were mentioned etc.
A nice cosy murder mystery!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Simon Brett always writes cozy, readable mysteries. Series fans won't be disappointed.