A Disorganised Death

Decluttering Mysteries #5

by Simon Brett

Ellen Curtis – professional declutterer, amateur sleuth and woman of a certain age – hunts for a missing will with a killer bequest in this gripping mystery from the original king of British cosy crime, Simon Brett.

Professional declutterer Ellen Curtis doesn’t do house clearances. So when Tamara Nicklin, owner of a local gastropub, asks Ellen to clear her late father’s house, she’s not interested . . . even when Tamara admits that the real reason she wants to hire Ellen is to find his missing will.

Then Ellen discovers Tamara’s husband has plans for the house. Plans Tamara doesn’t know about. And it’s clear to Ellen that this is the right job for her, after all.

Ellen dives in, and what she finds in the dead man’s house soon makes her wonder if Tamara’s father really fell down the stairs, or if he was pushed. Can she sort through the secrets and lies to find not just the missing will – but the truth?

This thoroughly engaging contemporary mystery, packed with red-herrings, is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and M.C. Beaton.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

192 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Simon Brett, OBE, FRSL is a prolific British writer of whodunnits.

He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.

He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.

After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.

He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen Curtis, the decluttering expert in charge of the Space Woman agency, investigates two suspicious deaths in this fifth entry in this funny, relatable series. Ellen’s prickly daughter Jules is working for her mother’s business and is clearing out the flat of the kind-hearted hoarder who lives above her in Herne Hill, London, but he ends up being crushed by his unopened Amazon boxes. At the same time, Ellen is summoned to clear out the clutter of the owner of a pub who died at a time very convenient for his daughter and philandering son-in-law.

Author Simon Brett (he reads the audiobook, as well) has plotted two excellent mysteries; that said, even more interesting is the evolution of Ellen’s relationship with daughter Jules and the travails of her deeply, deeply depressed son Ben. Another wonderful read!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Disorganised Death (hardcover) by Simon Brett.

S.B. is one of my favorite authors who I look forward to reading as soon as he has a new book out. This story was no exception. Let me begin by saying the underlying issue in this book and this series as well is depression and suicide in the family. Ellen Curtis, the professional declutterer, has this first and foremost in her mind when dealing with her family.
Ellen has two decluttering jobs at hand and both deal with finding a Will. At this same time Ellen is getting acquainted with her daughter Jools' new love interest. What is he all about? This Tariq is focused on money, money and more money. And just above Jools' apartment lives a generous recluse who has helped Jools when the going got tough.
Ellen begins her decluttering work at hand and at the same time her investigation into the whereabouts of these Wills.
S.B. delves deep into depression and suicide and caused me (and hopefully other readers) to develop empathy towards others.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Disorganised Death is the fifth book in the decluttering mystery series by Simon Brett. Released 7th April 2026 by Severn House, it's 192 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in Oct 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

The author writes entertainingly and well. All the parts (and they are varied and numerous) fit together and do precisely what they're meant to do. The characters are (mostly) believable and well rendered. Although this series isn't fluffy enough to fit firmly into the cozy mold, it's not terribly gritty, either. In short, it's a modern British murder mystery with a well plotted story arc, some not-too-graphic crimes, some humour, and an interesting/edgy denouement and resolution.

A fair bit of the book does revolve around mental illness (expectedly since the protagonist is a de-clutterer and works with professional local social services to help clients, many of whom are battling illnesses). The author manages to treat the subjects sensitively, but some readers could conceivably find some of the subject matter and situations triggering. This book also delves quite deeply into depression and bipolar cycling with a strong element of suicidal ideation and attempts as well as series back history (the MCs husband passed away from suicide years earlier).

North American readers should be aware that it's written in British vernacular (wellies, lift, flat, etc), but this shouldn't pose any problems in context.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 6 hours and is narrated by the author himself. He has a well modulated RP accent and does a pretty good job of the various regional accents, but during the read he *often* has a sort of ingressive vocalisation (an odd emphasis sound with an inhalation whilst reading - almost a tongue/tooth click). Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. The male voice narrating the female PoVs isn't distracting, but the odd vocalisations are.


Three and a half stars. With five books currently extant in the series and with such a prolific author, this would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read. Recommended for fans of not-terribly-fluffy modern cozies. Fans of M.C. Beaton, G.M. Malliet, and Anthony Horowitz will likely enjoy these also.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. Quite disjointed and mediocre.

I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media Audible Audio. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

" A Disorganized Death (The Decluttering Mysteries Book 5)" by Simon Brett is two mysteries in one. Trigger warning though, suicide and mental health struggles are prominent in this book.

I listened to the audiobook and it is narrated by the author. I eventually got past that it's a female POV being narrated by a man but it was a bit distracting and unexpected. The narrator also had a tendency to do deep sucks of breath every so often which was also very disruptive.

Ellen Curtis gets hired to help a publican with clearing out her deceased dad's house. She mostly just needs a help find a will that may be buried in the mess. However, things start to get weird when things don't add up.

While she's dealing with that job, her daughter is in the middle of running their London side of the business. She has a big contract with a rich eccentric man who live above her. When showing off all she's accomplished decluttering one of his flats, they discover he has passed. Then things get odd with his will too and the daughter's boyfriend thinks something is seriously off about the man's wife who showed up out of nowhere.

Ellen and her daughter investigate both situations around dealing when Ellen's narcissistic mother. They also are sort of trying with Ellen's bi-polar son. Ellen is hands off on parenting her child as much as she claims her mother was overly nosey parenting her. Neither is really that great of a mom, Ellen being a smidge better.

Overall, an interesting read. I think the audiobook would have been better with a female narrator. Not the worst male narrator doing female characters I've heard though.

[RoosBookReviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book 5 of a series and i absolutely could not read it as a standalone. i ended up getting book 1 from the library for some backstory as i couldn't make sense of what was going on without it. To start, the author is his own narrator, which is fine, but the main character is a woman (which o didn't realize without book 1) and the author was not. books with a female main character are definitely helped by a female narrator. Additionally the author seemed to have a cold and sniffed quite a bit during the narration which was irksome.
the story itself is a slow paced cozy mystery. I found that we spent more time focusing on the family of the main character instead of the murder itself. While there may be many fans of this author I do not think he is for me.

thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Dreamscape media for my ARC of this audiobook.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting [yet at moments, deeply sad] adventure with Ellen Curtis and the crazy cast of characters that accompany her in each of these delightful books.

This book finds Ellen visiting her daughter in London [where Jools has set up a second "shop" of SpaceWoman, Ellen's decluttering company] and in the midst of Jools showing her mom how much she has accomplished in cleaning a hoarders house out, they find a very dead body and the story just takes off from there [there is a side story about another house that needs cleaned out and a missing will, but to be honest, I was confused for much of that and still am unsure what really happened there *SHRUG*].

It was a good story and a good mystery [though I had guessed some of it] and tackles some very real issues that people deal with on a daily basis - the author handles these sticky and sensitive situations with a deft hand and I really appreciated that. It also has a very good end; a little hope and happiness is always a good thing.

Simon Brett does a good job narrating this book [I have listened to him before and truly have enjoyed his previous narrations]; he tells the story well, and none of his "voices" are jarring and obnoxious [a very welcome change from some I have had to listen to]. My only complaint is that that he sniffed audibly throughout the whole book, though to be honest, I found I quickly adapted to that and by the end, I barely noticed it. Overall, it was a really well-done audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Brett, Severn House, and Dreamscape Media for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun series! The declutterer books were my first introduction to Simon Brett, but they've definitely spurred me on to more of his series, and I'm loving them all. The writing is crisp and clear with just enough snarky dialogue (and monologue) to lighten things even when they get dark (there is a fair bit of depression in these pages, and it can be tough to read at times).

The murders are cleverly plotted out and the mixing of the small business, family drama, mental health, and mysterious murders creates a unique storyline each and every time. This latest installment continues with the character development that has been a central part of the series, and it is rewarding to see the relationships between Ellen and her children play out. I have also been surprisingly interested in the concept of decluttering and enjoy learning how that is used to help people reclaim their lives and homes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Marianne]

rating and review when I've read the ebook

[Holly Gilchrist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got me out of my book slump

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Curtis is just trying to declutter people’s houses and instead keeps uncovering secrets, lies, and the occasional corpse like she’s the world’s most emotionally exhausted raccoon digging through other people’s trauma. And honestly? Respect. Couldn’t be me. The second I found a suspicious will situation I’d simply pass away and let the authorities handle it.

So A Disorganised Death drops us into Ellen’s world where she absolutely does not do house clearances… except of course she does, because the second someone says “missing will” she’s like a bloodhound in sensible shoes. Enter Tamara, dead dad, suspicious fall down the stairs, and a husband who is already mentally redecorating the house like he’s on HGTV: Probate Edition.

Meanwhile, because this book said “why have one mystery when you can emotionally spiral through two,” Ellen’s daughter Jools is out here finding another dead man buried under his own Amazon purchases, which is both tragic and also the most modern way to go imaginable. And now we’ve got TWO messy inheritance situations, TWO suspicious deaths, and approximately ZERO people making emotionally stable decisions.

And here’s the thing… I was into it. I love a cozy mystery that’s like “let’s gossip, but make it criminal.” The red herrings were doing cardio, the suspects were suspicious in that very British, politely unhinged way, and the whole “follow the will” angle? Delicious. Nothing reveals a family’s true colors faster than money and paperwork. Suddenly everyone’s like “well actually I deserve everything,” and you’re just sitting there like… wow, okay, noted.

But then this book quietly pulls a bait and switch and goes, “Hey bestie, while you’re having fun… here’s some deeply real stuff about depression, grief, and complicated family dynamics.” And I’m sorry, I did not emotionally prepare for that. Ellen’s son Ben is struggling in a way that feels very grounded and heavy, and it adds this undercurrent of sadness that kind of hums beneath everything.

Which makes the whole vibe feel like you’re watching Midsomer Murders but occasionally someone turns to camera and delivers a gut-punch monologue about mental health. Like… okay. We’re laughing, we’re crying, we’re emotionally confused.

Also Ellen’s family? Messy. Not fun messy. Not “haha quirky sitcom” messy. More like “we all need therapy but instead we’re going to passive-aggressively exist around each other” messy. And I kind of loved that it didn’t try to tidy that up. It felt real, but also sometimes I was like… can someone in this household please hug each other or is that illegal here?

Now. We need to talk about the audiobook because WOW.

Simon Brett narrating Ellen… is a choice. A bold, chaotic, slightly unhinged choice. And listen, his voice is lovely. Warm. Comforting. Very “sit down, I will tell you a story.” But the story is “I am a middle-aged woman navigating my life,” and my brain simply refused to accept that reality.

Every time Ellen spoke, I had to do mental gymnastics like I was training for the Olympics. “This is her voice. This is her voice. This is her voice.” Meanwhile my brain is like, “No it is not.” Add in the occasional breathing sounds, the little audio quirks, and suddenly I’m hyper-aware of every inhale like I’ve been personally victimized by a microphone.

And yet… there’s something weirdly charming about it too? Like he KNOWS these characters. There’s an ease to it. It feels intimate. It just also feels like your dad reading your diary out loud and you’re like, “I hate this but I can’t look away.”

The pacing is a little chaotic, not gonna lie. There’s so much going on that sometimes it feels like the book is speed-running its own plotlines. We’ve got two mysteries, multiple family arcs, relationship drama, emotional trauma, and a sprinkle of social commentary, and occasionally it feels like the story is juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle.

BUT. The ending? She pulls it together. The reveals hit. The will drama pays off in that satisfying, “oh you sneaky little genius” way. And I do love that classic cozy wrap-up where everyone basically gathers and the truth gets laid out like a dramatic group chat expose.

So yeah, this is a 3.5 star experience for me. Entertaining, clever, a little overcrowded, emotionally sneakier than expected, and an audiobook that had me questioning reality at least twice per chapter.

Would I continue the series? Yes. Would I maybe read it with my eyes next time? Also yes. Protect your peace.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side-Eye Every Single Will Like It’s a Loaded Weapon

And thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC, truly an experience that kept me guessing… and occasionally adjusting my headphones like they personally offended me.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love series fiction. I’m sure I love it for the reasons many others love it – the deep and extended look at characters we grow to love as readers. Some we love so much they seem real, to the point where when a series character is occasionally killed off, readers revolt and grieve, as though the characters actually were real, not fictional. Simon Brett has written several series (Charles Paris, Mrs. Pargeter, Feathering) but I am hooked on this one.

This series follows Ellen and her family – she’s a widow with two twenty something children and an irritating and self-involved mother, Fleur. By book five they are now old friends I am happy to reunite with, though Brett writes in such a way that a reader could enjoy the books in any order. Ellen works as a home declutterer – often helping hoarders come to terms with their reasons for hoarding and letting go of some of their stuff.

In each book, Ellen also seems to function as a defacto social worker slash therapist as she gently takes people through their lives, as reflected in their accumulations. Of course, into this heaven, a little rain must fall, and as these are mystery novels, the rain comes in the form of murder.

There are two households Ellen works with in this novel. One is the home of a now deceased and retired pub owner whose death came after a fall down the stairs. His daughter and son in law have taken over (and fancied up) the comfortable old pub and want to live in the attached house. Ellen says repeatedly she doesn’t do house clearance, but when the daughter assures her she’s also looking for her father’s missing will, Ellen can’t resist the mystery and dives in.

The other household is directly above her daughter Jools’ flat. Jools lives in London with her boyfriend and has recently joined her mother’s company She’s started her work in her upstairs neighbor’s apartment but when she and Ellen go to take a look at her progress, with the assurances that the neighbor is in one of his other apartments for the night, they find him on his bed, smothered by the Amazon packages he ordered – so many that he had to hire Jools to deal with them.

Are either of these deaths accidents, or are they more deliberate? In each case there’s a missing or contested will and there’s some classic scenes in a solicitor’s office as well as some true detective work on Ellen’s part. These are gentle stories told in a seemingly casual manner, but like all golden age style writers, Brett includes no detail that is not relevant. You may be enjoying your read, but pay attention!

The not so gentle portion of the books lies in Ellen’s family life. Her husband died by suicide, and Ellen’s son, Ben, suffers from depression. He’s in a bad state at the moment, living in Ellen’s house in his old childhood bedroom. The depiction of Ben’s depression and his shifting moods are heartbreakingly authentic. It lends an undertone of sadness to the novels. In this particular novel, Ellen’s daughter is having some possible relationship issues which play into the plot. Her problems aren’t as serious as Ben’s, but Ellen is still dealing with two grown children in a believable way.

The mystery has a nice golden age style wrap up in a solicitor’s office, as well as a settling of some of Ellen’s personal issues. These books are so nicely written, so well plotted, and so full of characters I’m happy to revisit that my wait for the next book always seems like a long one. The 80-year-old Brett shows no signs of slowing down – he’s just begun another series. Write on!

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it covered a very serious subject for a cozy mystery. Yes I know murders are serious but I am talking about depression and suicide, which I wasn't expecting with a cozy or such a light hearted looking cover. Don't get me wrong I didn't mind and it didn't detract from the story, as it provided the characters with an unusual background, it's just it can be a difficult subject for some. This is book five in the series and I am sure the depression is covered more in the previous books but this is my first adventure into the world of decluttering, so I can say the series does work as standalone mysteries, with the back story easy to catch up on.

I liked the characters and Ellen's job made for a great reason for her to be caught up in mysteries. As for the mystery, Ellen finds herself caught up in two investigations involving wills one she is hired to do and the other hits a little closer to home. I liked how they played out and I wasn't expecting the results. Definitely a series I will be joining again.

When the original owner of a local pub dies his daughter and her husband hired her. She is reluctant to take the job but when the husband and wife tell her there different plans for the house behind the pub, things become interesting. With a missing will involved the job becomes less dumping things and more looking for things, which is right up Ellen's street. However when the will turns up easily enough Ellen wonders if someone is leading up the garden path and there is something more to the old man's death. As the same time Ellen's daughter stumbles over her own dead body when her client is found at the bottom of a pile of boxes. The estranged ex wife suddenly comes out of the wood work and even Ellen own daughters boyfriend is acting strange both insisting there should be a will. Can Ellen declutter the clues to get to the truth of both deaths? Especially with her son in such a fragile state.
I liked the narrator. With the author also being the narrator, I think it helps the story flow because he can make the characters in his head match the characters he created on the page, which just brings them to life like a normal narrator can't do.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly – a trigger warning. The protagonist’s family have been afflicted by suicide and another family member suffers from severe depression. For this reason, you may wish to give this series and this book a miss.

I’ve grown fond of Ellen over the previous four books. She is of a certain age – and more importantly, she acts like it. I get a tad tired of supposedly mature women behaving like giddy teenagers or conflicted twenty-somethings. In this story, there are two suspicious deaths that Ellen and her daughter, Jools, find themselves confronting. There is the usual back and forth – checking out suspects, looking for vital documents.

During all this, we also get a slice of Ellen’s family life. She has the mother from Hell – a former actress, who is constantly thirsty for attention and will use all sorts of manipulation to get it. She is also advancing in years, so Ellen as the only child, feel obligated to keep in touch and ensure she is keeping well. In addition, Ellen’s twenty-something son, Ben, is currently living with her as he is coping with a prolonged bout of depression. I found it refreshing to read a fictional story where the protagonist is confronted with the daily problem of trying to help someone suffering with this difficult illness, but at times – it also makes this a somewhat poignant read.

That said, there’s plenty going on on the investigative front too, and while Ellen is clearly at full stretch, she is a person with plenty of resilience and strength. I was also intrigued to see this book examine the morality of investigative behaviour. Brett raises the question for these keen amateur sleuths – when does looking for clues tip into intrusive stalking? I enjoyed the investigations and appreciated the unexpected twists. As ever, I powered through the book far too fast and was left wanting more. Which is always the sign of a thoroughly enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of crime that treads the line between gritty bleakness and unrealistic cosiness with Brett’s typical deftness. While I obtained an arc of A Disorganised Death from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10

[riya.reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2 / 5 stars
I received an ALC of A Disorganised Death by NetGalley, narrated by the author himself.

Unfortunately, this audiobook didn’t work for me. The narration was difficult to get into — the accent took some time to adjust to, but what really distracted me was the constant “sniffing” sound throughout the entire recording. It broke the immersion completely and made it hard to focus on the story. It also took me a while to realize that the main character was female, which felt confusing given the male narration choice.

As for the story itself, I struggled to stay interested. The premise revolves around several elderly people dying under suspicious circumstances — maybe murder, maybe not — with questions about forged wills and inheritance. While it had potential for a fun, cozy mystery setup, it just didn’t hook me. The pacing dragged, and the plot never built the tension or charm I was hoping for.

The characters didn’t help much either. Most relationships in the book felt toxic or frustrating. The couple who hired Ellis were insufferable, Jules and his boyfriend had an unpleasant dynamic, and Ellis’s relationship with her mother was tense and unrewarding. The one bright spot was Ben, who seemed genuinely kind but was underdeveloped, and the small mid-life connection between Ellis and Neville — which I actually found sweet and wish had been explored more.

By the end, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the mysteries were flat and the characters unlikable. If this hadn’t been an ALC, I probably would’ve DNF’d it.

Final thoughts: The idea had promise, but between the narration issues and lackluster story, this one wasn’t for me. There are definitely better cozy mysteries out there.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Disorganised Death is another delightful entry in Simon Brett’s wonderfully comforting brand of British cozy crime. Ellen Curtis—professional declutterer, reluctant sleuth, and all‑round relatable heroine—once again finds herself knee‑deep in other people’s messes, both literal and emotional. And honestly, watching her navigate it all with wit and quiet determination is half the joy.

Ellen’s refusal to take on house clearances doesn’t last long once Tamara Nicklin appears with a plea that’s far more complicated than it first seems. The missing will, the suspiciously convenient “accidental” death, and the husband with plans he definitely shouldn’t have… it all makes for a deliciously tangled setup. Brett sprinkles in red herrings with a light hand, keeping the mystery playful without ever losing its intrigue.

What really makes the story shine is Ellen herself. She’s warm, grounded, and wonderfully observant, and her perspective brings a gentle humour to even the darker moments. The domestic details, the small‑town dynamics, and the subtle emotional beats give the book a lovely lived‑in feel. It’s the kind of mystery that feels like settling into a comfy chair with a cup of tea.

The plot moves at an easy, engaging pace, and the final reveal is satisfying without being overly dramatic—exactly what you want from a cozy crime novel. Fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett, and M.C. Beaton will feel right at home here.

Overall, A Disorganised Death is warm, witty, and thoroughly enjoyable—a perfect pick for readers who love their mysteries with charm, character, and just the right amount of chaos.

My thanks to Simon Brett, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[RobbyReadsActually · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Simon Brett for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Book rating: 2.5
Audio rating: 1
Total: 2
Release Date: 4/7/2026

My thoughts on the book:
I requested this book because I really like a good cozy mystery, especially British cozy mystery. The concept of an expert declutterer and amateur sleuth trying to solve a murder was intriguing. Unfortunately, I did DNF this book at the 25% mark. My reason to DNF had more to do with the audio production than the book content itself (see my thoughts on the audiobook further down).

My thoughts on the Audio:
This book is narrated by the author himself, Simon Brett. I had a really difficult time with the audio production. There were a lot of extra mouth sounds and sniffing that was extremely grating and distracting. At around the 12% mark I started to notice an issue with the audio quality itself. The audio became muddy at parts and the only way I can describe it is it sounded like the narrator was under water. There was also some echoing and static that accompanied this. In addition, the main character is a middle-aged woman, and I felt that the narrator's voice just did not match this at all. This is a rare instance where I would recommend reading the physical book over listening to the audiobook.

Best for those who enjoy cozy mystery and contemporary British crime mystery

[Carol Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Disorganised Death is the fifth book in the of the Decluttering Mysteries, and I haven’t/won’t read any of the others. I actually disliked this one. The set-up is fine. Ellen is a widow who declutters clients’ houses, but doesn’t handle house clearances. Her daughter, Jools, runs the London branch of the company, and in this installment, they’re both dealing with jobs that involve wills, in addition to the decluttering.

I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author. And while yes, I do think it’s possible for authors to be great narrators and for men to narrate books told from a woman’s first-person point of view, but neither worked here. Ellen is a 50-something woman who sounded like an 80-year old man. It’s distracting.

Ellen has two adult children. Jools, her daughter, is running her own branch of the decluttering company. She lives with her boyfriend in London. Ellen and Jools don’t seem close, but they get along. Jools boyfriend is red flag central.

Ben, Ellen’s son, has bipolar depression and is currently living with her. I found this whole storyline just too serious for a cozy. Their relationship and Ellen’s worries felt real, it’s just not what I was looking for and there was no hint in the blurb regarding suicide or depression.

There were two deaths, two wills, two locations, and two mysteries, which left it feeling a bit disjointed. And one of the solutions was maybe clever, but mostly just annoying.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Disorganised Death is book #5 in The Decluttering Mysteries by Simon Brett. Narrated by Simon Brett.

Ellen Curtis is a professional declutterer who has two children, a son that lives at home and a daughter that she has a strained relationship with. Ellen is asked to empty out a woman’s late father‘s home. She is reluctant to do it as she does not empty out homes. The lady was quite insistent that she needed her help, including finding a missing will. She takes the job and it has some unexpected twists. There was another death and will storyline as well. This was the first book I listened to or read in the series and I was able to follow along fine. I enjoyed it, but it was a little heavier than most cozy mysteries as there were several mentions of Ellen’s husband’s death by suicide. Her son is bipolar and struggling with his mental health. For the narration, I thought the author did a good job narrating. It was a little surprising at first since the main character is a female, but I quickly got used to it and enjoyed the story.

Thank you to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[CPE · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Disorganised Death is the fifth book in Simon Brett’s series of Decluttering Mysteries, although I confess that I haven’t read any of its predecessors. Ellen is a widow who declutters clients’ houses, but doesn’t handle house clearances. Her daughter, Jools, runs the London end of the company. Ellen’s son, Ben, lives at home with Ellen; is depressed; and spends most days in bed. Ellen is approached by a couple (Tamara and Nicky) who run a local pub, asking her to find Tamara’s late father’s will while Jools declutters the flat above her, belonging to a recluse, Perry Driscoll.

Apart from Ellen, who struck me as a wuss; and her solicitor friend, Neville, I found the other main characters mostly unlikeable or mentally fragile and requiring careful handling. I expected a plot-twist that pulled the two clients’ tales together, but I felt they could have been in separate books without any real impact. There are certainly moments of humour, but I didn’t feel the book rewarded the time I devoted to reading it. I love Simon Brett’s Mrs Pargeter books, so I know how enjoyable his books can be, but this book and I just weren’t suited – sorry!

#ADisorganisedDeath #NetGalley

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the joy of listening to the audiobook of “A Disorganized Death” is that Simon Brett, the author, narrates the book himself. And what a wonderful job he does. Brett’s voice is so soothing and reassuring. It is like listening to a wise older gentleman that you can’t wait to sit, listen to them tell a tale, and teach you about life. Seriously, what a joy.

Simon Brett knows how to write a good cozy mystery. These truly do lean into the golden age of mysteries. In particular, we are past an hour and a half by the time the body shows up. Instead, we learn about characters and situations. Not in a rush. Not with a “prologue” where we are at the end of a story with someone covered in blood and “not sure how they got there” kind of cliched story telling. No. This is old school and enjoyable. Picture strolling with your grandmother and hearing her say, “Let’s take a stroll and let me tell you about a time I discovered a body.”

The mystery is good. The narration (as I have said) is a joy to listen to. The ending is satisfying. In other words, a perfect audiobook of a perfect cozy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

In A Disorganised Death, Ellen is a professional declutterer…and an amateur detective. Just like a hammer always seeing a nail, Ellen sees two suspicious deaths among her decluttering jobs.

The daughter of a recently deceased pub owner asks Ellen to declutter his house but really wants Ellen to locate his will. The longer that Ellen works in the house, the more she is suspicious of his death. Had he simply fallen down the stairs to his death, or was he pushed?

Ellen’s daughter Jools works for Ellen’s company. Her client is found dead in his bed beneath a landslide of clutter. Was it an accident, or had his relatives found a convenient way to inherit his substantial estate sooner rather than later?

A Disorganised Death is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. The mysteries are relatively easy to solve leading to a non stressful reading experience. In addition, Ellen’s personal life is examined more in this book than the others in this series. This gives the book a more family oriented drama viewpoint, and a rather darker feel, than a strictly mystery book. 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Gaynor Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a great fan of Simon Brett. His books, while they will never win the Booker Prize, are well written and reading or listening to them is a very pleasant way to while away a few hours. I love listening to the Charles Paris books (which are very well read by the author himself), but I do also enjoy his other series of books, including the Decluttering Mysteries.
Ellen Curtis is a professional declutterer, running her own business with her daughter, who looks after the "London branch". She does not do house clearances, but one particular request piques her intrigue and she finds herself engaged to sort through the effects of a deceased man and find his will. At the same time, her daughter discovers the body of a hoarder buried under part of his hoard - an accident or murder? Ellen has enough to keep her busy, and her family - daughter, son, and mother - are as demanding as ever. But might she also find time for a little romance..?
These books are the definition of cozy crime, and I did enjoy this instalment. I wonder what is next for Ellen?
Thank you to the publishers for letting me have a copy, via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.

[Martin Southard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously enjoyed many of Simon Brett’s other books, I was intrigued to see how this series would compare. It’s certainly more reflective in tone, with Ellen Curtis juggling her business alongside some fairly weighty family concerns. The mystery itself centres on a missing will and a death that may not have been quite as accidental as it first appeared, which provides a nice thread of intrigue throughout.

What I particularly liked was the insight into the decluttering profession — it adds an unusual angle and gives Ellen a believable reason to start asking awkward questions. The village setting and tangled relationships create plenty of suspects, and although the pace is gentle, it keeps you guessing. At times the emotional themes overshadow the investigation slightly, but overall it’s an engaging, well-crafted cosy crime with more depth than you might expect. A satisfying read for fans of character-driven mysteries.

Many thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy

[Kelly - Words We Love By · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love A Disorganised Death by Simon Brett because the premise had so much potential. A professional declutterer uncovering secrets while searching for a missing will? That sounds right up my alley.
Unfortunately, the audiobook just didn’t work for me.
Simon Brett narrates his own book, and since the main character is a woman, the narration felt a little too distracting for me to fully settle into the story. Instead of getting lost in the mystery, I kept getting pulled out of it, which made it hard to connect with Ellen or really enjoy the flow of the book.
From what I did listen to, the storyline itself seemed interesting enough, and I do think there’s a solid cozy mystery underneath it all. But sadly, the narration completely took me out of the experience, and I ended up not finishing it.
I might try picking this one up in print someday to see if it lands better for me that way… but for now, this one was a miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the opportunity to try this audiobook.

[zoe Hitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen has a decluttering business and her daughter works along side her .
Ellen is contacted by Tamara the owner of a local pub , she wants Ellen to clear her father’s house.
Ellen is not a house clearance service and relays that to Tamara , who still wants Ellen’s services and she also wants her to find her father’s missing will .
Tamara and her husband are a very strange couple !
Meanwhile Jools has her own problems with a will and her boyfriend .
Ellen has her own worries too her son has mental health issues and she is concerned what he may do .
Along with this she has her mother who is not a nice character at all , she is attention seeking and is always bringing Ellen down .
This story is an easy read and an entertaining one too .
It makes a change to read a story highlighting mental health issues.
I enjoy all Simon Brett’s writing and this book didn’t disappoint.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House .

[Marty Doskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book in the Decluttering Mysteries series by Simon Brett. I have been reading/listening to his Fethering series, so when I saw this come up on NetGalley, I decided to take a chance. In case you were wondering if you have to read the rest of the series first, I don't that's necessary. There seemed to be a few references to events that had occurred in previous books, but nothing that was that critical or needed to be understood to enjoy this book.

This classic British cozy mystery involves two different wills with different scenarios regarding the demise of the testators. And professional declutterer Ellen Curtis has to put her amateur sleuthing skills to the test. The characters are well-developed and the plot moves along at a good pace. Plus, my pet peeve, a quick wrap-up ending, doesn't happen.

Also, since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention the narrator, author Simon Brett himself. I usually like when an author narrates their own audiobook because they know in their head what the character should sound like. Mr. Brett does a good job on this narration with all of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen is annoyed when she is called in by the owners of a local gastropub as she is a declutterer rather than someone who does house clearances. However she takes on the job promising herself that she will get her revenge by billing at the higher end of her quote. Whilst there she discovers the last will of the previous owner and this leads to a question of whether he died a natural death. Definitely not dying a natural death was the neighbour and friend of her daughter. A recluse, he died in his flat surrounded by his hoarded belongings. When his estranged wife sudden;y appears Ellen and her daughter are suspicious that he may well have changed his will.
This is a perfectly pleasant enjoyable read. It's nothing earth-shattering and is quite low-key but it pootles along nicely and entertains. There are some big issues here around reclusiveness and mental health but they are not developed in depth as this would not suit the style of the book.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the next book in the Decluttering Mystery series, A DISORGANIZED DEATH by Simon Brett, Ellen Curtis is a widow who runs a declutterring company. Ellen takes on a pub owner, Tamara Nicklin, as a client. Tamara wants Ellen to sort through her father’s belongings that are left in his house located behind the pub.

This book may be the fifth in a series, but I feel right at home with these quirky characters. I especially like Fleur Bonnier, Ellen’s mother. The novel can definitely be read as a standalone. I enjoy Simon Brett’s writing and look forward to reading other books written by him. Thank you, Severn House and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of A DISORGANIZED DEATH.

[Beata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been following the series for quite some time, so in a way I knew what I would read. The story revolving around the search for a will makes only a part of the book, with problems Ellen faces as a mother and a friend being the background for the mystery. The genre a cozy mystery describes this offering by Mr Brett well, nevertheless there are some serious mental health issues mentioned which place A Disorganised Death rather away from the coziness you might expect.
Mr Brett enjoys reading his books, however, I would welcome a nice middle-aged woman's voice. That would definitely add to the general reception of the book.
*Many thanks to Simon Brett, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*