Waste of a Life (Decluttering mysteries)

Declutterer Ellen Curtis has been working to bring order to the life of elderly recluse Cedric Waites when on one of her regular visits, Ellen finds the old man dead. Sad, but unsurprising, until the police reveal he was poisoned! The cause seems be something he ate, and as Ellen cleared away the old man's food containers, she is under suspicion!

Reviews

Brett layers the old-fashioned puzzle with deep psychological insights . . . Not to be missed * Booklist Starred Review *
Witty and amusing feelgood fiction -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *
This book is pure pleasure * Publishers Weekly *
Brett's brisk descriptions, pacing, and juggling of subplots temper the sadness of the victim's recovered biography * Kirkus Reviews *
A prolific and sharp-eyed observer of the British middle class's crimes and misdemeanours * Kirkus Reviews on The Clutter Corpse *

As usual, Brett is brilliant at creating settings that reflect character
* Booklist Starred Review of An Untidy Death *
Peppered with wry wit, the story unfurls smoothly and swiftly * Publishers Weekly on The Killer in the Choir *
The manner of murder is as satisfyingly bizarre and complicated as any Golden Age puzzler . This may just be the best Brett novel yet * Booklist Starred Review of The Liar in the Library *
Brett is brilliant at showing how throwaway comments and casual snubs intensify cruelty to outsiders. This is an especially incisive Fethering adventure, with a shocker of an ending * Booklist Starred Review of Guilt at the Garage *
An edgy cozy, filled with dry wit and deft plot twists * Booklist on Death and the Decorator *