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Organized #1
Organized for Murder
Organization expert Kate McKenzie is on track to make her new business, STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR, a hit in small-town Vermont. But when her first client, the wealthy Amelia Nethercutt, is found dead, the job takes a decidedly sinister turn.
Kate thought she and her family were making a fresh start in her husband's hometown, but she quickly learns that small towns can hold big secrets. When her first client is poisoned just after Kate leaves her mansion, she knows she's gotten off to a bad start. But things only get worse when the police find Kate's fingerprints on the murder weapon, suddenly putting her in the position of suspect number one. The stopwatch is ticking for Kate to prove she had nothing to do with the murder, and the odds are further stacked against her when items stolen from the Nethercutt mansion start showing up in the McKenzie home. Now, Kate must trust her methodical skills and expert eye to sort out who is trying to frame her and to find the real killer before she's organized right into a jail cell.
“Ritter writes like a seasoned veteran, and you will not believe how helpful these organizational tips are!”
- Gemma Halliday, New York Times Bestselling author
Kate thought she and her family were making a fresh start in her husband's hometown, but she quickly learns that small towns can hold big secrets. When her first client is poisoned just after Kate leaves her mansion, she knows she's gotten off to a bad start. But things only get worse when the police find Kate's fingerprints on the murder weapon, suddenly putting her in the position of suspect number one. The stopwatch is ticking for Kate to prove she had nothing to do with the murder, and the odds are further stacked against her when items stolen from the Nethercutt mansion start showing up in the McKenzie home. Now, Kate must trust her methodical skills and expert eye to sort out who is trying to frame her and to find the real killer before she's organized right into a jail cell.
“Ritter writes like a seasoned veteran, and you will not believe how helpful these organizational tips are!”
- Gemma Halliday, New York Times Bestselling author
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2014
353 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Ritter Ames
23 books679 followersRitter Ames is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Organized Mysteries series and the Bodies of Art Mysteries series. When she's not writing or brainstorming new mysteries Ritter is usually trying to get her favorite yellow Lab to stay out of the pond, or keep her grouchy black cat from trying to give the dog away on Freecycle. Ritter would love to live on a boat and write from far flung locations around the globe, but the dog would constantly have to be fished from the water, and her husband and cat would just complain endlessly about the dog's smell, so staying on land seems to be the only good option to keep her sanity and not get sidetracked from writing.
Ritter tries to blog regularly at http://ritterames.com/ and subscribe there to get the latest news about upcoming releases, and inside scoops on her characters and series. She uses her Pinterest boards at http://www.pinterest.com/ritterames/ to capture great places and ideas she wants to use in both series. Go to her website to subscribe to her newsletter and get the first alert about new books in her series.
Ritter tries to blog regularly at http://ritterames.com/ and subscribe there to get the latest news about upcoming releases, and inside scoops on her characters and series. She uses her Pinterest boards at http://www.pinterest.com/ritterames/ to capture great places and ideas she wants to use in both series. Go to her website to subscribe to her newsletter and get the first alert about new books in her series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
April 4, 2014
Organization expert Kate McKenzie is on track to make her new business, STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR, a hit in small-town Vermont. But when her first client, the wealthy Amelia Nethercutt, is found dead, the job takes a decidedly sinister turn.
Kate thought she and her family were making a fresh start in her husband’s hometown, but she quickly learns that small towns can hold big secrets. When her first client is poisoned just after Kate leaves her mansion, she knows she’s gotten off to a bad start. But things only get worse when the police find Kate’s fingerprints on the murder weapon, suddenly putting her in the position of suspect number one. The stopwatch is ticking for Kate to prove she had nothing to do with the murder, and the odds are further stacked against her when items stolen from the Nethercutt mansion start showing up in the McKenzie home. Now, Kate must trust her methodical skills and expert eye to sort out who is trying to frame her and to find the real killer before she’s organized right into a jail cell.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A nice start for this new series!
Kate is a very likeable protagonist. Her first organization job turns out to be huge and she needs to bring in her friend Eve and her nemesis Valerie as well to help her inventory the vast collections at the Nethercutt mansion. I enjoyed Eve and Kate friendly relationship and the way they dealt with Valerie, who was really there as a spy for Sophia, Amelia Nethercutt’s stepdaughter. The entire Nethercutt family are all very interesting characters. They all made viable suspects.
The plot was well paced and I enjoyed the way Kate followed the clues in a very organized fashion. The author added some great twists, I was surprised by the actual murderer.
I enjoyed all the organizational tips that started each chapter. They could easily be spun off into another book. Several will be introduced into my own household.
Kate thought she and her family were making a fresh start in her husband’s hometown, but she quickly learns that small towns can hold big secrets. When her first client is poisoned just after Kate leaves her mansion, she knows she’s gotten off to a bad start. But things only get worse when the police find Kate’s fingerprints on the murder weapon, suddenly putting her in the position of suspect number one. The stopwatch is ticking for Kate to prove she had nothing to do with the murder, and the odds are further stacked against her when items stolen from the Nethercutt mansion start showing up in the McKenzie home. Now, Kate must trust her methodical skills and expert eye to sort out who is trying to frame her and to find the real killer before she’s organized right into a jail cell.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A nice start for this new series!
Kate is a very likeable protagonist. Her first organization job turns out to be huge and she needs to bring in her friend Eve and her nemesis Valerie as well to help her inventory the vast collections at the Nethercutt mansion. I enjoyed Eve and Kate friendly relationship and the way they dealt with Valerie, who was really there as a spy for Sophia, Amelia Nethercutt’s stepdaughter. The entire Nethercutt family are all very interesting characters. They all made viable suspects.
The plot was well paced and I enjoyed the way Kate followed the clues in a very organized fashion. The author added some great twists, I was surprised by the actual murderer.
I enjoyed all the organizational tips that started each chapter. They could easily be spun off into another book. Several will be introduced into my own household.
February 11, 2014
Kate McKenzie 's new business, Stacked in Your Favor, has just signed a new rich client, but after looking over the inventory in the client's mansion, Kate is doubting the wisdom of accepting this job. And when the client is found murdered, Kate becomes one of the suspects. After the police clear her, she is surprised when the family's attorney hires her to complete the inventory listings on behalf of the estate. But when several items from the house mysteriously appear in Kate's possession, she decides she needs to find the identity of the murderer, or be framed for murder and theft. This is the start of a new series and was a delight to read. Not only is the book a cozy mystery, but the author also provides organization tips throughout the story. The characters were interesting and the murderer's identity kept one guessing until the end. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2014
Just finished Ritter Ames Organized For Murder. It was good. I enjoyed very much. The murderer was a surprise.
September 1, 2016
This is the first book that I have read by Ritter Ames and I am very glad that I offered to review it. It’s a very good mystery that kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. Each time I thought I knew who it was there was someone else that had reason to murder the woman. I liked the organizing tips she offers throughout the story, and how they did not distract me from the story itself. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Ames.
Kate McKenzie is working to get her organizing company up and running in the small town where her husband grew up in Vermont. Amelia Nethercutt is her first client, and absolutely nothing is organized. Kate has a lot of work ahead of her, but the job will not last as long as she thought.
Amelia is very wealthy, and collects anything that she likes. Someone poisoned her shortly after Kate left her home, and Kate’s fingerprints are the only ones found on the murder weapon making her a prime suspect. When items that were in the Nethercutt’s home start disappearing and somehow show up in Kate’s possession, and now she knows someone is setting her up to take the fall for the murder. With the help of her neighbor she decides to use her organizational skills to investigate in the hopes of finding out who really murdered Amelia and clear her name. Will she be able to clear her name off of the suspect list? Or will she get too close to solving the crime that she’ll put herself in danger?
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Kate McKenzie is working to get her organizing company up and running in the small town where her husband grew up in Vermont. Amelia Nethercutt is her first client, and absolutely nothing is organized. Kate has a lot of work ahead of her, but the job will not last as long as she thought.
Amelia is very wealthy, and collects anything that she likes. Someone poisoned her shortly after Kate left her home, and Kate’s fingerprints are the only ones found on the murder weapon making her a prime suspect. When items that were in the Nethercutt’s home start disappearing and somehow show up in Kate’s possession, and now she knows someone is setting her up to take the fall for the murder. With the help of her neighbor she decides to use her organizational skills to investigate in the hopes of finding out who really murdered Amelia and clear her name. Will she be able to clear her name off of the suspect list? Or will she get too close to solving the crime that she’ll put herself in danger?
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2014
This new cozy mystery was a wonderful quick read. New business woman Kate McKenzie, owner of Stacked in Your Favor, L.L.C. Has a pretty near perfectly organized life. Her husband Keith a retired hockey player, now sports radio personality,and her twin 6 year olds Samantha (Sam) and Suzanne (Suze).
Her business has it's first potential real customer, Mrs. Amelia Nethercutt. She meets with her to discuss her mission to organize her late husbands various "exotic" collections.
The action starts and grabbed my attention right away. The cast of characters Ms Ames has dreamed up is realistic from Kate's neighbor and partner in crime Meg to the nasty step-daughter, Sophia, and Kate's business rival, Valerie. There are lots of good misdirection that had me constantly guessing who the murder was.
I am new to the cozy mystery genre, having recently discovered Laura Childs and her three series. ( I personally call this potato chip reads, as I devour them pretty fast) I am happy to have found another author that has kept me up past my bedtime eating up this story. I can't wait for more!
I did receive an ARC for review.
Her business has it's first potential real customer, Mrs. Amelia Nethercutt. She meets with her to discuss her mission to organize her late husbands various "exotic" collections.
The action starts and grabbed my attention right away. The cast of characters Ms Ames has dreamed up is realistic from Kate's neighbor and partner in crime Meg to the nasty step-daughter, Sophia, and Kate's business rival, Valerie. There are lots of good misdirection that had me constantly guessing who the murder was.
I am new to the cozy mystery genre, having recently discovered Laura Childs and her three series. ( I personally call this potato chip reads, as I devour them pretty fast) I am happy to have found another author that has kept me up past my bedtime eating up this story. I can't wait for more!
I did receive an ARC for review.
February 7, 2014
Do you have issues with clutter? Not able to bring yourself to let go of some of those collectibles that are gathering dust? Kate McKenzie, organizer extraodinaire, can help you declutter your life and put some much needed space back into your life.
The first in a new series by Ritter Ames, Organized For Murder, introduces the reader to Kate McKenzie and her fledging business as an organizer and declutterer for both residential and business concerns. She never knew it would also introduce her to murder.
Thus begins a wonderful cozy mystery sure to delight readers. The murder of Kate's client puts her on the short list of suspects. Kate is determined to avoid the hoosegow by searching for the true culprit. Of course, this puts her into the path of the real killer.
The book was delightfully written with characters that were real in every way. The mystery aspect was well played out. I look forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend to those that love mysteries. Kudos to the author for a wonderful book.
The first in a new series by Ritter Ames, Organized For Murder, introduces the reader to Kate McKenzie and her fledging business as an organizer and declutterer for both residential and business concerns. She never knew it would also introduce her to murder.
Thus begins a wonderful cozy mystery sure to delight readers. The murder of Kate's client puts her on the short list of suspects. Kate is determined to avoid the hoosegow by searching for the true culprit. Of course, this puts her into the path of the real killer.
The book was delightfully written with characters that were real in every way. The mystery aspect was well played out. I look forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend to those that love mysteries. Kudos to the author for a wonderful book.
August 30, 2015
I will start by saying I don't normally ready murder/mystery books. But I did enjoy this one. It was not gruesome or horrible. Just a hint of humor.
This was more about Kate, a super organized woman, who just happened to be brought into the suspect line of her brand new employers murder.
Kate used her organizational skills not just for her home, but to also help get her name cleared.
You can actually get a lot of helpful hints from this book to get your life and home organized, if you wanted.
I really liked her friend Meg, she was the type of friend everyone needs. Especially Kate, new to the area and not having many friends in her lifetime.
Just when you think you might have figured out who was doing what, something else happens and you have to start thinking again. I will say I was surprised with the ending!
This was more about Kate, a super organized woman, who just happened to be brought into the suspect line of her brand new employers murder.
Kate used her organizational skills not just for her home, but to also help get her name cleared.
You can actually get a lot of helpful hints from this book to get your life and home organized, if you wanted.
I really liked her friend Meg, she was the type of friend everyone needs. Especially Kate, new to the area and not having many friends in her lifetime.
Just when you think you might have figured out who was doing what, something else happens and you have to start thinking again. I will say I was surprised with the ending!
February 21, 2014
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Ritter Ames and I have to say I am hooked and I hope there are lots more in this series. I loved all the organizational tidbits dispersed throughout the book. I am definitely considering implementing a few of the ideas in my new home.
As for the story it was very hard for me to put down and I finished it quite quickly. The story was fast paced and the murderer was definitely a mystery until the very end. My only complaint about the story is that I would have liked to see Kate and Meg actually become friends with Valerie at the end, since Valerie just came off as insecure (which Kate clearly knows something about) and not necessarily a complete jerk.
Highly recommended.
This is my first book by Ritter Ames and I have to say I am hooked and I hope there are lots more in this series. I loved all the organizational tidbits dispersed throughout the book. I am definitely considering implementing a few of the ideas in my new home.
As for the story it was very hard for me to put down and I finished it quite quickly. The story was fast paced and the murderer was definitely a mystery until the very end. My only complaint about the story is that I would have liked to see Kate and Meg actually become friends with Valerie at the end, since Valerie just came off as insecure (which Kate clearly knows something about) and not necessarily a complete jerk.
Highly recommended.
February 16, 2014
I liked this book. Kate has potential to become a really likable character. I found depth lacking in her personality. I wanted to know more about her and how she got to where she is, her backstory. Meg and Saree are great second characters in this story that pair nicely with Kate. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding her first client Amelia's death. The murder was not a surprise but why they did it was interesting. Good start to a new series. I look forward to reading how Kate will grow in her personal and professional lives.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2014
I am a huge lover of cozy mysteries and this by far is one of my favorites. I loved the premise of the main character Kate being an organizer and I loved all the organizational tips that I picked up throughout the story. Kate was a pretty likable character and I really adored her little twin girls. They were so cute and added to the story.The way this mystery unfolds was really enjoyable and different in that I really didn't see some of the things that happened along the way coming about the way they did.
As we continue with this story and Kate gets more into the mystery and trying to solve it I loved it more and more. The other characters in the story were a welcome addition to and I loved the way they all worked towards helping Kate solve the mystery. The author wrote a fast paced read and I flew threw this one with ease and was shocked at who the killer turned out to be.The author threw me for a loop and had me trying to think back to see if I should have seen the clues earlier and realized it. Overall this was a nice read and I look forward to more from this series.
As we continue with this story and Kate gets more into the mystery and trying to solve it I loved it more and more. The other characters in the story were a welcome addition to and I loved the way they all worked towards helping Kate solve the mystery. The author wrote a fast paced read and I flew threw this one with ease and was shocked at who the killer turned out to be.The author threw me for a loop and had me trying to think back to see if I should have seen the clues earlier and realized it. Overall this was a nice read and I look forward to more from this series.
February 23, 2014
Organized for Murder by Ritter Ames
When I started this book I must have read the first page 10 times before I finally got to move on to page 2. I kept getting interrupted and I was beginning to take that as a bad sign. I am very glad that I persevered! This is a wonderful book and I can't wait to see where they take the series from here! I kept looking to see when the next book would come out, and then I realized I was reading an ARC and THIS book hadn't come out yet!
Kate McKenzie is a married mother of twin daughters and the owner of Stacked in Your Favor, a company who helps you organize your home. She is hired by a rich widow to get her very cramped mansion organized. Kate hasn't even worked there a full day when the widow is murdered and someone is trying to pin it on Kate.
Don't miss this book. It is a definite 5-star winner!
When I started this book I must have read the first page 10 times before I finally got to move on to page 2. I kept getting interrupted and I was beginning to take that as a bad sign. I am very glad that I persevered! This is a wonderful book and I can't wait to see where they take the series from here! I kept looking to see when the next book would come out, and then I realized I was reading an ARC and THIS book hadn't come out yet!
Kate McKenzie is a married mother of twin daughters and the owner of Stacked in Your Favor, a company who helps you organize your home. She is hired by a rich widow to get her very cramped mansion organized. Kate hasn't even worked there a full day when the widow is murdered and someone is trying to pin it on Kate.
Don't miss this book. It is a definite 5-star winner!
February 8, 2014
Organized for Murder is an engaging cozy mystery about professional organizer, Kate McKenzie. Kate is hired to organize the exotic Collections of Amelia Nethercutt, but before she can begin, Amelia dies and Kate is under suspicion for her murder. She enlists the help of her neighbor, Meg to help clear her name. I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, with likable characters, a strong plot line, and the added bonus of helpful hints on how to be organized. I would recommend this book to everyone.
February 8, 2015
***** 5*'s!!!
I'm a huge fan of Ritter Ames from the Bodies of Art Mysteries: Counterfeit Conspiracies. Now with Kate & her Organizing business & books, I'm elevated to an avid fan. As we're introduced to a new set of memorable characters to include in our life, we even learn great life-lesson tips. I must say, I never guessed 'who dunnit' until the bitter end. I wished the book could have gone on another 100 pages as I was not ready to leave these characters. Next time, perhaps a double mystery? I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.
I'm a huge fan of Ritter Ames from the Bodies of Art Mysteries: Counterfeit Conspiracies. Now with Kate & her Organizing business & books, I'm elevated to an avid fan. As we're introduced to a new set of memorable characters to include in our life, we even learn great life-lesson tips. I must say, I never guessed 'who dunnit' until the bitter end. I wished the book could have gone on another 100 pages as I was not ready to leave these characters. Next time, perhaps a double mystery? I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.
February 8, 2014
This is a brand new series for Ritter Ames. Kate McKenzie, give you a exclusive resorts for uncluttering your life, while telling a take of a murder of a client ad trying to find out who did it. She is married to a fabulous ex pro hockey player that has also left Kate to being a suspicious detective on her own with a little help from a couple friends in a tiny close knit town in Vermont where she raises her two children.
February 19, 2014
Organized for Murder is about a professional organizer Kate McKenzi. When Kate's new client is found dead she is put on the suspect list. With the help of her neighbor Meg she is determined to clear her name.
The characters in this book are very likable. Organized for Murder is a cozy mystery with a hint of humor. It will have you guessing till the very end. As a added bonus you get very helpful hints for how to get more organized!!!
The characters in this book are very likable. Organized for Murder is a cozy mystery with a hint of humor. It will have you guessing till the very end. As a added bonus you get very helpful hints for how to get more organized!!!
February 17, 2014
It's like getting two books in one. Book 1 great mystery and book 2 organizational tips. I even highlighted certain organizational tips so I could refer to it later. As for the mystery part of the book, I would have never guessed the ending at all. I was completely wrong on who I suspected. I really enjoyed the different twist during the book..made me suspect different people. Right there with Agatha Christy mysteries. Highly recommend.
February 10, 2014
I just finished Organized for Murder and it was great! I kept trying to figure out who the murderer was and was I surprised. I love it when I'm kept in suspense until the very end. If you love a good mystery, you'll love Organized forMurder
February 19, 2014
Organized for Murder is great for those who already enjoy cozies and for those who are just getting into the genre. It is an entertaining read by an author who has proven that she knows her way around a good mystery. You will not be disappointed!
February 19, 2014
I really liked the story. Katie was a great character along with Meg. I did like how a little bit of Katie and Keith's history was added. I plan on trying out some of the organizational ideas with my family. I loved this book and want to read more! Great Job Ritter Ames!
August 11, 2016
This was a great start to a new series. Ritter Ames did an awesome job building the characters and setting the stage for both the current story line and the series. The story flows and I enjoyed the mix of solving the crime and organization tips. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 8, 2014
A who-done-it that actually kept me wondering who-did-it till the end. An enjoyable read even with the commercials(tips) at the beginning of the chapters.
February 21, 2014
A great mystery with plenty of humor and tips on organization. I really liked the friendship development.
April 3, 2021
It's not so organised when the client you've just begun working for drops dead. Even worse when the police suspect you had a hand in it. Kate McKenzie needs to find a murderer who's trying to frame her - and quickly!
Organized for Murder was a solid read. Ritter Ames' descriptions are so complete that you feel as though you could look up from the book and see exactly what is being described. I was quite immersed in the text and invested in Kate's safety.
Kate's tips for organising - which, for the most part, came at the start of each chapter - were incredibly helpful and even aided me in finally getting my taxes done. But, while extremely valuable, the hints did pull me out of the story as my mind went from following the creative flow to a more practical side. Occasionally, I'd need to return to the previous chapter to pick up what I'd missed or more firmly fix a new character in my mind. Furthermore, whenever Kate goes into "Organiser mode", she becomes preachy and not entirely likeable. Luckily, Kate has many facets to her personality and snaps back to being a sympathetic character fairly quickly.
Overall, it was a pleasure to make Kate's acquaintance and I hope to join her and the rest of her entourage in the next book. As for a recommendation, this is a fabulous cosy! The book is well-written and an extremely clean (no pun intended) read. If you're drawn to this genre, it could be the series for you!
Organized for Murder was a solid read. Ritter Ames' descriptions are so complete that you feel as though you could look up from the book and see exactly what is being described. I was quite immersed in the text and invested in Kate's safety.
Kate's tips for organising - which, for the most part, came at the start of each chapter - were incredibly helpful and even aided me in finally getting my taxes done. But, while extremely valuable, the hints did pull me out of the story as my mind went from following the creative flow to a more practical side. Occasionally, I'd need to return to the previous chapter to pick up what I'd missed or more firmly fix a new character in my mind. Furthermore, whenever Kate goes into "Organiser mode", she becomes preachy and not entirely likeable. Luckily, Kate has many facets to her personality and snaps back to being a sympathetic character fairly quickly.
Overall, it was a pleasure to make Kate's acquaintance and I hope to join her and the rest of her entourage in the next book. As for a recommendation, this is a fabulous cosy! The book is well-written and an extremely clean (no pun intended) read. If you're drawn to this genre, it could be the series for you!
February 4, 2021
Cute & cozy!
February 25, 2014
“Ritter writes like a seasoned veteran, and you will not believe how helpful these organizational tips are!” - Gemma Halliday, New York Times Bestselling author
"A delightful new cozy mystery series starring an intriguing heroine--Kate McKenzie. Twists and turns abound, entertaining the reader throughout! I loved it and look forward to the next installment. Ritter Ames is a new star on the cozy set!" - Michele Scott, author of the Wine Lovers Mystery Series, featuring Nikki Sands
Title: Organized for Murder, Book 1 (Organized Mysteries Series)
Author: Ritter Ames
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 283
Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing (February 21, 2014)
ASIN: B00ILBRNXC
About the Author: Ritter Ames writes mysteries and has two mystery series she’s writing. Organized for Murder, releases today, February 24, 2014 and is the first cozy in her Organized Mysteries series. Her second series, the Bodies of Art Mysteries, starts with Counterfeit Conspiracies. Both are published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. For further information relating to Ritter, link to her blog or Pininterest: http://ritterames.wordpress.com , www.pinterest.com/ritterames She uses Pininterest to capture great places and ideas she wants to use in both series.
About the Story: Kate McKenzie tries to make a go of it with her new company STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR, a company that will organize and unclutter life, in a small town in Vermont. She’s the outsider and finds it difficult to make friends. She’s been burnt enough times to avoid trusting anyone. But when she finds herself involved in a murder and is considered a prime suspect, she turns to her neighbor Meg to help her sort out what to do.
Using her organization skills, she very methodically tries to figure out who is trying to pin the murder on her. In the process, she gains a close friend and learns that things are not as they appear in this small town.
My Thoughts: The story started out benign enough, but you’ll find yourself chewing nails before it’s over. Kate McKenzie is a mother of 6-year-old twins who is an expert in organizing and de-clutter life.
Kate was scheduled to present a talk on organizing and ridding oneself of clutter. It was to be held at the local bookstore for local residence of the town. This threat runs throughout the story. Her first client, Amelia Nethercutt, gets murdered and evidence leads to Kate. To keep herself out of jail she uses her skills of organization making lists of questions in her casebook, that need answering to help her solve who did it. As the story moves forward, someone she thought may have done the crime, is found stabbed. Again, the evidence leads to Kate. Why is she being framed?
Meg and Kate discuss the murders thoroughly brainstorming who may have committed them which further engages the reader. We are able to follow all the possible reasons each of the possible suspects would want to murder Amelia and either agree with their conclusions or not.
The story, very cleverly put together, never tips the reader who actually kills Amelia. Ritter Ames keeps ratcheting the suspense until I started skipping sentences just to find out who murdered Amelia and another woman. It was thoroughly enjoyable with well-developed, 3-dimensional characters.
Each chapter is prefaced with a list of good organizational ideas, an added bonus to this cozy mystery. I liked some of the tips and plan using them myself. Certainly families with children will benefit even more from her tips.
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.
"A delightful new cozy mystery series starring an intriguing heroine--Kate McKenzie. Twists and turns abound, entertaining the reader throughout! I loved it and look forward to the next installment. Ritter Ames is a new star on the cozy set!" - Michele Scott, author of the Wine Lovers Mystery Series, featuring Nikki Sands
Title: Organized for Murder, Book 1 (Organized Mysteries Series)
Author: Ritter Ames
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 283
Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing (February 21, 2014)
ASIN: B00ILBRNXC
About the Author: Ritter Ames writes mysteries and has two mystery series she’s writing. Organized for Murder, releases today, February 24, 2014 and is the first cozy in her Organized Mysteries series. Her second series, the Bodies of Art Mysteries, starts with Counterfeit Conspiracies. Both are published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. For further information relating to Ritter, link to her blog or Pininterest: http://ritterames.wordpress.com , www.pinterest.com/ritterames She uses Pininterest to capture great places and ideas she wants to use in both series.
About the Story: Kate McKenzie tries to make a go of it with her new company STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR, a company that will organize and unclutter life, in a small town in Vermont. She’s the outsider and finds it difficult to make friends. She’s been burnt enough times to avoid trusting anyone. But when she finds herself involved in a murder and is considered a prime suspect, she turns to her neighbor Meg to help her sort out what to do.
Using her organization skills, she very methodically tries to figure out who is trying to pin the murder on her. In the process, she gains a close friend and learns that things are not as they appear in this small town.
My Thoughts: The story started out benign enough, but you’ll find yourself chewing nails before it’s over. Kate McKenzie is a mother of 6-year-old twins who is an expert in organizing and de-clutter life.
Kate was scheduled to present a talk on organizing and ridding oneself of clutter. It was to be held at the local bookstore for local residence of the town. This threat runs throughout the story. Her first client, Amelia Nethercutt, gets murdered and evidence leads to Kate. To keep herself out of jail she uses her skills of organization making lists of questions in her casebook, that need answering to help her solve who did it. As the story moves forward, someone she thought may have done the crime, is found stabbed. Again, the evidence leads to Kate. Why is she being framed?
Meg and Kate discuss the murders thoroughly brainstorming who may have committed them which further engages the reader. We are able to follow all the possible reasons each of the possible suspects would want to murder Amelia and either agree with their conclusions or not.
The story, very cleverly put together, never tips the reader who actually kills Amelia. Ritter Ames keeps ratcheting the suspense until I started skipping sentences just to find out who murdered Amelia and another woman. It was thoroughly enjoyable with well-developed, 3-dimensional characters.
Each chapter is prefaced with a list of good organizational ideas, an added bonus to this cozy mystery. I liked some of the tips and plan using them myself. Certainly families with children will benefit even more from her tips.
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.
KATE MCKENZIE'S 5-STEP ORGANIZATIONAL START METHOD
BEGIN ANY DE-CLUTTER PROJECT BY COLLECTING AND LABELING FIVE LARGE BOXES:
REJECT—items un-repairable, missing parts, past expiration, or like half-a-dozen others already in the house.
RECYCLE—gently used, unwanted items for charitable organizations or Freecycle.
RESELL—through consignment shops, tag sales, eBay, Craigslist, or newspaper ads.
RETURN—sporting goods, toys, books, tools, etc. that belong to family members, neighbors, or friends.
REVIEW—things requiring extra thought before fate is determined.
Completely unload the room or closet, distributing discarded items into correct boxes. Return only "keepers" to the target area.
April 7, 2014
Kate McKenzie is in over her head - professionally speaking. As the owner of Stacked in Your Favor, an organizing business, she has been tasked with organizing the Nethercutt mansion. Daniel Nethercutt has recently passed on and his widow, Amelia, has hired Kate to add a little order to her late husband's eclectic (and valuable) collections.
Kate has barely had time to get the regrettably daunting task underway when Amelia herself is found dead. Suspicious eyes are now looking in Kate's direction. The shock has barely set in when Kate finds one of the Nethercutt treasures hidden in her home. Suddenly, it seems Kate is being set up for murder and theft. When it seems like all of the evidence is stacked against her, Kate and her friend Meg swing into action to stack the deck in her favor once more.
Organized for Murder is the first book in the new Organized Mysteries series by Ritter Ames. It's the second novel by Ritter Ames that I have read. Both are splendid, each in its own way.
In Organized, Ames has created an all-American family in small town Vermont. Kate is down-to-earth and accessible to the reader. She's a mom to twin girls, married to a former hockey star, and an entrepreneur trying to get her business off the ground. Each chapter is headed with handy organizing tips, which I thought enhanced the book as a whole. (Especially given my own personal penchant for keeping home and office neat, tidy, and organized to the utmost degree. The tips and ideas spoke to my OCD soul.)
Ritter Ames crafted a clever plot for this cozy mystery, with a plethora of possible suspects, each with plausible motives for murder. My suspicions ping-ponged back and forth between a handful of Nethercutt family members, but never for a moment settled on the true culprit. (Brilliant!) Organized for Murder is a great read - engaging and full of memorable characters that leave the reader eager to return to Hazelton, Vermont for more mysteries (and tips) from Kate McKenzie.
Kate has barely had time to get the regrettably daunting task underway when Amelia herself is found dead. Suspicious eyes are now looking in Kate's direction. The shock has barely set in when Kate finds one of the Nethercutt treasures hidden in her home. Suddenly, it seems Kate is being set up for murder and theft. When it seems like all of the evidence is stacked against her, Kate and her friend Meg swing into action to stack the deck in her favor once more.
Organized for Murder is the first book in the new Organized Mysteries series by Ritter Ames. It's the second novel by Ritter Ames that I have read. Both are splendid, each in its own way.
In Organized, Ames has created an all-American family in small town Vermont. Kate is down-to-earth and accessible to the reader. She's a mom to twin girls, married to a former hockey star, and an entrepreneur trying to get her business off the ground. Each chapter is headed with handy organizing tips, which I thought enhanced the book as a whole. (Especially given my own personal penchant for keeping home and office neat, tidy, and organized to the utmost degree. The tips and ideas spoke to my OCD soul.)
Ritter Ames crafted a clever plot for this cozy mystery, with a plethora of possible suspects, each with plausible motives for murder. My suspicions ping-ponged back and forth between a handful of Nethercutt family members, but never for a moment settled on the true culprit. (Brilliant!) Organized for Murder is a great read - engaging and full of memorable characters that leave the reader eager to return to Hazelton, Vermont for more mysteries (and tips) from Kate McKenzie.
February 23, 2014
I received an ARC copy for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Ritter Ames and it most definitely won't be my last! This was a wonderful mystery with plenty of twists and turns as our heroine Kate, professional organizer, becomes an unwitting suspect in the murder of her client! Full of fun friendships, family and local competitors, follow Kate as she tries to prove her innocence by discovering who is trying to frame her for the murder! A cozy mystery that will keep you guessing! As a bonus, organizational tips are sprinkled throughout as well as more in detail at the end if the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and eagerly await the sequels to follow in this wonderful series! I highly recommend this author and this book!
Merged review:
I received an ARC copy for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Ritter Ames and it most definitely won't be my last! This was a wonderful mystery with plenty of twists and turns as our heroine Kate, professional organizer, becomes an unwitting suspect in the murder of her client! Full of fun friendships, family and local competitors, follow Kate as she tries to prove her innocence by discovering who is trying to frame her for the murder! A cozy mystery that will keep you guessing! As a bonus, organizational tips are sprinkled throughout as well as more in detail at the end if the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and eagerly await the sequels to follow in this wonderful series! I highly recommend this author and this book!
Merged review:
I received an ARC copy for an honest review. This is the first book I have read by Ritter Ames and it most definitely won't be my last! This was a wonderful mystery with plenty of twists and turns as our heroine Kate, professional organizer, becomes an unwitting suspect in the murder of her client! Full of fun friendships, family and local competitors, follow Kate as she tries to prove her innocence by discovering who is trying to frame her for the murder! A cozy mystery that will keep you guessing! As a bonus, organizational tips are sprinkled throughout as well as more in detail at the end if the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and eagerly await the sequels to follow in this wonderful series! I highly recommend this author and this book!
February 23, 2014
This review is from: Organized For Murder (Organized Mysteries #1) (Kindle Edition)
having already read and enjoyed Ritter Ames "Counterfeit Conspiracies" i was looking forward to this new series and Ritter did not disappoint - her main character Kate- is an organizational expert and her business- Stacked In Your Favor - just got a new client- Mrs Nethercutt - whose antiqued filled mansion is as cluttered as her life- Unfortunately for Kate before she and her friends can even start to organize this mess- Mrs. Amelia Nethercutt is murdered and Kate's fingerprints are found at the scene-- now Kate and her friends are working against time trying to figure out who did it- as the body count continues to rise.
This book was well written- kept me guessing at who the murderer was,- also had me laughing and giggling at times- shaking my head yes-"I can relate," - to some of the scenes that occur at home with her daughters- husband and neighbors .- I loved all the twists and turns we went through as clues left on the pages added up so we can follow how Kate figured out who did it- as well as guess ourselves--- and extra special part of this read- was all the tips that were scattered through the tale that we can use to organize our homes and lives -----i am looking forward to the next book in this series .
having already read and enjoyed Ritter Ames "Counterfeit Conspiracies" i was looking forward to this new series and Ritter did not disappoint - her main character Kate- is an organizational expert and her business- Stacked In Your Favor - just got a new client- Mrs Nethercutt - whose antiqued filled mansion is as cluttered as her life- Unfortunately for Kate before she and her friends can even start to organize this mess- Mrs. Amelia Nethercutt is murdered and Kate's fingerprints are found at the scene-- now Kate and her friends are working against time trying to figure out who did it- as the body count continues to rise.
This book was well written- kept me guessing at who the murderer was,- also had me laughing and giggling at times- shaking my head yes-"I can relate," - to some of the scenes that occur at home with her daughters- husband and neighbors .- I loved all the twists and turns we went through as clues left on the pages added up so we can follow how Kate figured out who did it- as well as guess ourselves--- and extra special part of this read- was all the tips that were scattered through the tale that we can use to organize our homes and lives -----i am looking forward to the next book in this series .
February 24, 2014
This book was a great murder mystery. It isn't dark and it has a vibe to it that hooked me from the beginning.
This review won't be to long because I don't want to give anything away. Kate is a wife and mother of twin girls. He husbands hockey career is over so she starts are company STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR (which I would totally hire. Her business is to help organize peoples homes. She gets a great job from the sounds of it for Amelia who is really really rich. But upon seeing the mansion and the contents she wants out.
Unfortunately she gets out but only because Amelia is murdered. She is on the suspect list as she was in the house on the day of the event. Kate then decides to use her organization skills to find the real murder.
What really worked for me with this was pace, and the fact that it kept me guessing. I suspected so many people throughout the book so that make getting to the end even better. The organization facts are awesome. I will be using some of them in my home so that was a surprising bonus.
The only thing that isn't bad but made things a little confusing is the amount of characters. It got a little hard to keep it all straight, but this book was great so it was not that big of an issue.
Highly recommend.
This review won't be to long because I don't want to give anything away. Kate is a wife and mother of twin girls. He husbands hockey career is over so she starts are company STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR (which I would totally hire. Her business is to help organize peoples homes. She gets a great job from the sounds of it for Amelia who is really really rich. But upon seeing the mansion and the contents she wants out.
Unfortunately she gets out but only because Amelia is murdered. She is on the suspect list as she was in the house on the day of the event. Kate then decides to use her organization skills to find the real murder.
What really worked for me with this was pace, and the fact that it kept me guessing. I suspected so many people throughout the book so that make getting to the end even better. The organization facts are awesome. I will be using some of them in my home so that was a surprising bonus.
The only thing that isn't bad but made things a little confusing is the amount of characters. It got a little hard to keep it all straight, but this book was great so it was not that big of an issue.
Highly recommend.
March 3, 2014
This debut mystery has everything going for it! Unique concept, good plot with twists to the end, likeable characters that you want to befriend, and a nicely unusual mystery. I've read one other "Professional Organizer" mystery series and Organized for Murder rates as good if not a bit better as I truly enjoyed Ritter's writing style. The story has a number of twists that keeps the reader a bit off balance which is great. The characters were well-rounded - the good, the not so good, & the evil murderer. Kate's actions and thoughts were well-organized and orchestrated with only one instance of "Huh, why didn't she do that?" but didn't detract from the overall plot flow. The organzational tips that started each chapter were spot-on in many cases & something I wanted to try myself. The editor, Gemma Halliday, certainly added a professional touch to the tightness of the plot and clean grammatical structure as Gemma's own mysteries are an excellent
read. Overall, a good strong debut in a series that I'll be looking forward to reading the next one. I recommend it to all cozy mystery readers. I'm now going to order Ritter's Counterfeit Conspiracies (Bodies of Art book #1) (Bodies of Art Mysteries) published in December 2013.
read. Overall, a good strong debut in a series that I'll be looking forward to reading the next one. I recommend it to all cozy mystery readers. I'm now going to order Ritter's Counterfeit Conspiracies (Bodies of Art book #1) (Bodies of Art Mysteries) published in December 2013.
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