Not a frenetic page turner, at least not until late in the story, but as this is the first book in a series the characters are introduced in an unhurried way, resembling fiction, instead of a mystery. Like the plot, they are believable as is de-clutterer Ellen's connections with both murder victim and suspect.

Brett has an unerring ability to write authentic female characters just as well as he has created the louche Charles Paris. I enjoyed this a lot and looking forward to the next one in the series. ( )

Widow Ellen Curtis deals not only with clients who clutter but also her problematic family as she finds the murderer of the two corpses she’s discovered. Entertaining. ( )

I liked the characters and the concept of a professional de-clutterer as a business. I thought the protagonist, Ellen Curtis, aka Spacewoman (her business' name because she helps hoarding clients make space) more interesting after getting to know Ellen's backstory. Nicely interwoven into the storyline there is some explanation on the psychology of hoarding and also a bit about those who suffer with depression. To say more would be a spoiler; however, I found this aspect/s added to my interest. It's a good start to a new series, and I don't think I'd mind reading more of this series since it also has strong secondary characters--particularly her college student son, Ben, and a business associate with the intriguing name of Dodge. Fast pacing and plot twists enhanced the overall premise. ( )

I like other series (Charles Paris, Mrs. Pargeter, Fethering) by Simon Brett, so I thought I'd give this one a try. Unfortunately, I've never read the first entries in those series, so I don't know if they started off as slowly as this one has. Maybe I wouldn't like them as much if they had.

The Clutter Corpse is aptly named because the book is filled with verbal clutter. There is far too much exposition and not enough action. The rule of thumb for writers is, "Show, don't tell," but that rule is absent here. (I wonder if the editor was absent, as well.) Do we really need an itemized inventory of the boot of the protagonist's car? When the narrator's son calls her, do we need four pages of backstory to reveal that he's contemplating suicide -- again?

I wouldn't mind having other Brett books at home to re-read, but I'll declutter my life by returning this one to the library.

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. ( )