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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Organization and murder, November 15, 2007
Charlotte Adams has returned home to Woodbridge, NY, to set up shop as a professional organizer. She's just dumped her cheating ex-fiance, and although her closets are organized, her life is anything but.
When Miss Helen "Hellfire" Henley calls to hire her to organize Henley House, she accepts against her friend's protests because she made Charlotte's life a living hell back in high school at St. Jude's. When Charlotte arrives, she discovers Miss Henley wants her to find some important documents in the accumulated junk left. So instead of just tossing the junk, she's going to have to sort through each and every piece.
That night Miss Henley calls summoning her to Henley House. Charlotte does not go as she's busy. The next day Miss Henley is found murdered at the house. Charlotte feels responsible and begins investigating.
Plus Detective Sergeant Pepper Monahan was the lead. She was Charlotte's best friend in school, but they've had a falling out and Pepper has it in for her.
Can Charlotte make sense of the mess at Henley House while keeping Pepper from putting her in jail?
This is the first book I've read by this author. It won't be the last. This is a fabulous cozy series that is a fast, easy read. The characters are fun. I enjoyed the organizing tips because they were blended into the story wonderfully. The strife between Pepper and Charlotte added to the intensity.
I highly recommend this book.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun New Series, November 24, 2007
This was a fun new series with an interesting cast of characters and a plot that left you guessing until the end.
I only had two complaints -- there were a number of errors in the book (mainly words being left out of sentences and spelling), and I don't feel like the animosity between Charlotte and Pepper was really ever explained. But I guess that's for later books.
Looking forward to the next installment!
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
first rate whodunit, May 2, 2007
After dumping her two-timing fiancé and throwing his ring into the river, Charlotte Adams leaves the city to return to her hometown Woodbridge, New York. She sets up shop as a free lance "Professional organizer", who straightens out other people's messes at home and in businesses. She is shocked when Miss Helen "Hellfire" Henley hires her to clean up Henley House in order to find some missing documents. Miss Henley made Charlotte's student life a living hell when she was her teacher at St. Jude's.
At Henley House, Charlotte learns that the last resident was Randolph Henley. She and Helen come to an agreement and a check is provided. That night Helen demands Charlotte go see her at Henley House, but the organizer says no. The next morning Charlotte finds Helen dead. The police determine a murder occurred and Pepper, once Charlotte's best friend, thinks Charlotte is the prime suspect. Feeling guilty, Charlotte investigates starting with a visit to Miss Olivia, Helen's wealthy brain damaged sister. Her good intentions go astray as the cops wonder if Charlotte is a deranged killer.
This is the first book in a new series that is fun to read. The story line focuses on the murder investigation predominantly that of the amateur sleuth but also interweaves into the plot organizing tips in the tone of observations by the heroine. Charlotte is a strong person who tries to help people and is bold enough to play cat and mouse with a killer if that also helps people. Mary Jane Maffini provides a first rate well organized whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
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