Helpful Score: 3
This mystery could have been a novella or short story. Too many pages and not enough plot. The names of the "romantic" couple are too cutsey--Gilbert and Sullivan. Come on! Characters were likable enough for me to finish the book but not enough to read any more of the series.
Helpful Score: 2
Great little 'cozy' read. It lost momentum a couple of times, but still a nice light read.
Erin Gilbert has been hired to organize eccentric widow, Helen Walker, who has created a maze of bric-a-brac, papers, and just plain junk thta she won't throw out. Even worse after two bizarre deaths, Helen is convinced she is being stalked by a serial killer.
Erin Gilbert has been hired to organize eccentric widow, Helen Walker, who has created a maze of bric-a-brac, papers, and just plain junk thta she won't throw out. Even worse after two bizarre deaths, Helen is convinced she is being stalked by a serial killer.
Helpful Score: 1
Erin Gilbert has been hired to clear clutter out of a senior's home, only to find a murderer haunts this makeover.This is another "Domestic Bliss Mystery".
Enjoyed the book.
Enjoyed the book.
VERY entertaining! I read it in one night!
Not the best cozy series out there, but not the worst, either. It's a pretty quick read, and would be even quicker if all the unnecessary and unrelated filler material were taken out. But, I guess that's part the quirky appeal of the series.... short filler chapters that "round out" the characters of Erin Gilbert and her landlady while they discuss interior decorating subjects.
My pet peeve about these books is that the author leaves out important facts early on in the story, then just plops them in at the end and explains them with a sentence or two. (ex: Gilbert says, "I'm going down to Harlem." The author explains, "Harlem is the name given to a part if the city near downtown." --- Then, after Gilbert makes the statement about going there and the author explains where it is, Sullivan saves her by figuring out where she was going and showing up in the nick of time. Oops.... did I give away a major plot line? No, I didn't think so.)
My pet peeve about these books is that the author leaves out important facts early on in the story, then just plops them in at the end and explains them with a sentence or two. (ex: Gilbert says, "I'm going down to Harlem." The author explains, "Harlem is the name given to a part if the city near downtown." --- Then, after Gilbert makes the statement about going there and the author explains where it is, Sullivan saves her by figuring out where she was going and showing up in the nick of time. Oops.... did I give away a major plot line? No, I didn't think so.)
Mayhem and murder in the home of a little old lady whose niece wants to put her away because she insists that her sister was murdered and that someone keeps coming into her home while she is away. Many eccentic characters just walk into poor Helen's house and make themselves at home. Erin has enlisted the help of Steve, and vice versa, in decorating and clearing the clutter. This reminded me of a stage play like Noises Off when there are many people coming and going, each with his own quirkiness, while the main action stays with the main characters. A light and quick read, it was enjoyed.
I thought this was a good read. I started at #4 in the series, but it's pretty much a stand alone book. It was easy to catch up, the author does not make it difficult to figure out who is who in the cast of characters. I liked the premise of the book, having worked in interior design in the past. I thought it was over simplified at times, and then other times, the ideas Erin was working out were so complicated,it seemed the author just couldn't make up her mind.
But the story was plausible, and there were so many people coming and going, trying to figure out the killer was difficult.
The only thing I didn't like about the book, and found very distracting, is when Erin is at home with her landlady, Audrey. The typeset was different and the style of writing changed ever so slightly, so I was taken aback, and it took a bit to decide if there was any meaning whatsoever to changing things so abruptly. I didn't find any reason to at all, but it didn't take too much away from the book.
I liked it, and would read the others in the series.
But the story was plausible, and there were so many people coming and going, trying to figure out the killer was difficult.
The only thing I didn't like about the book, and found very distracting, is when Erin is at home with her landlady, Audrey. The typeset was different and the style of writing changed ever so slightly, so I was taken aback, and it took a bit to decide if there was any meaning whatsoever to changing things so abruptly. I didn't find any reason to at all, but it didn't take too much away from the book.
I liked it, and would read the others in the series.
Sandra (mycatscanread) -
A good mystery centering around Erin Gilbert, who has been hired by an eccentric older lady to clean out her very cluttered house. In with the clutter, a murderer lurks, along with a victim.
An enjoyable mystery.
An enjoyable mystery.
Enjoyed reading this book, would like to read more of Leslie Caine's books
Lynn P. (thecatsbooks) - , reviewed Killed by Clutter (Domestic Bliss, Bk 4) on + 3 more book reviews
Very Good love the series
A Domestic Bliss Mystery
