Kristina A. reviewed on 6/1/2020 + 1528 more book reviews

The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett is the 1st book in A Decluttering Mystery series. Ellen Curtis is a widow with two children. Her eldest is off living in London while her son, Ben is attending Nottingham Trent University studying graphic design. Ellen owns SpaceWoman which is a decluttering business plus she helps people change their cluttering habits. The book is set in Chichester, which is a cathedral city in West Sussex, England. The story does contain British spelling, words, and slang (just so you are aware). I could tell from the writing, that this book was written by a man. I wish someone had pointed out to the author that some lines are inappropriate and come across offensive. I cringed at how the author portrayed Ellen's current stage of life and the differences between social classes. Some things are described in detail (like the make and model of cars) and overdone. The reason for the death of Ellen's husband was quite lengthy, but finding a body was over in a page. The book lacked a good flow and ease which would have made it easier to read. The pacing and my interest picked up near the end of the book (the last twenty percent). The whodunit was the best part of The Clutter Corpse. The mystery has a couple of suspects along with a red herring or two. The clues are there to help you solve the mystery if you pay close attention. The Clutter Corpse has mild foul language as well as talk about intimate relations, depression, and suicide. A short book never felt so long. It needed more of the cozy element as well as humor. While The Clutter Corpse was not my cup of tea, I suggest you obtain a sample to see if it is the right fit for you. The Clutter Corpse is a unique British mystery with clusters of clutter, a perplexing puzzle, challenging clients, and a missing murderer.

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