Maid for Murder

Charlotte LaRue Mystery #1

by Barbara Colley

In New Orleans' historic Garden District, life is all about attending the right parties, impressing the right people, and making the right amount of money (a lot!) It's an attitude fifty-nine-year-old Charlotte La Rue has never really understood. She leads a quiet, simple, "practical" life--and it suits her just fine. Business is booming at her housecleaning service, Maid-for-a-Day--and in her down time, she loves reading mystery novels and hanging out with her parakeet, Sweety Boy. Everything's perfect. Well, "almost" everything. . .Charlotte doesn't mind polishing silver, scrubbing toilets, or dusting bookcases--but she can't stand dealing with her rich clients' dirty laundry. And when it comes to the much-talked-about Dubuisson family, there's an awful lot of it--especially since Jackson Dubuisson was found murdered in his study.

Now this exclusive enclave is abuzz with all kinds of gossip--and some very sinister speculation. A chatty socialite keeps hinting that Jackson's extra-marital affair may have been the death of him. His mother-in-law--who's quite possibly senile--has revealed more of the Dubuisson family's secrets than Charlotte ever wanted to know. And then there's his widow, Jeanne. Charlotte refuses to desert her in her time of need--but suspects she may have something to hide. One thing is certain: someone wanted Jackson dead--and that someone is not coming clean. . .

Surrounded by possible suspects and hounded by a tenacious police detective, Charlotte wishes she could stick to her own policy of staying out of clients' personal business. Problem is, she's never been able to walk away from a mess. And this is the biggest one she's ever seen. . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Chick Lit, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

264 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 2, 2002

About the author

Barbara Colley is an award-winning author whose books have been published in sixteen foreign languages. A native of Louisiana, she lives with her family in a suburb of New Orleans. Besides writing and sharing her stories, she loves strolling through the historical New Orleans French Quarter and Garden District, which inspired the setting for her Charlotte La Rue mystery series.

Reviews

[Lynne Tull · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, let me say...I picked this book up because I love mysteries and it takes place in New Orleans. Since Louisiana is my home state and I have been to New Orleans, I thought it might be interesting. I am also keeping in mind that this is the first book of a series. It was a little bit "boiler plate"/predictable. I got a little put off with the "poor-Jeanne" this and "poor-Jeanne" that. There were times when I thought the main/maid character might be real, but most of the time she appeared as if she was a character in a book placed there to solve the mystery. I will read the second book in the series hoping things will be better the second time around.

[Jacqi Bartlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got absolutely no sense of place and no feeling for the characters in this story.
I've been going through a phase of reading very light, easy reads, often books in a series. If anything is going to break me out of this and get me reading more challenging books again, this is it. It wasn't so dreadful that I didn't finish it but I wouldn't bother to read another one. Not a patch on Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series.

[Florence Witt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean.
Entertaining.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

My favourite part of this book was its cover. I disliked the main character very much. She's neither relatable nor fascinating. She's not a detective who's trying to solve the mystery, a victim, a suspect nor a witness of the murder scene. I couldn't quite understand why she's the one who narrates the story. A single murder not happening after a quarter of the book should be illegal. Too many unnecessary side stories that are not even interesting. My last straw was the little romance part at the end came out of nowhere.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, every once in a while you just need pure escape in a quick to read, I can solve that, mode with a main character who you can enjoy and relate to and that's when you can turn to Colley's Charlotte LaRue series. This maid of New Orleans (bad historical pun, but apt description) has yet to fail for cozy reading.

[Ford Prefect · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped 30 pages in because it was getting painful to read. The author was laying it on a little thick on how wonderful their MC was.

I enjoyed the title for the book more than the first 30 pages. At least the title was amusing.

PS:
No puns so far in the actual book. :-(

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
It wasn't outstanding, but I really liked it. This series is well worth reading.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in the A Squeaky Clean Charlotte LaRue cozy mystery series, it was a fast read and it kept my interest.

The story takes place in New Orlean's historic Garden District. Charlotte is 59 and owns her own cleaning business called Maid-for-a-Day. She cleans homes of well to do families. Her son, Hank, is a lawyer and her niece, Judith is a police officer. Hawk wants his mother to retire, she "works too hard". He wants to look after her, but what would she do all day with herself? I love the way Judith calls her aunt, auntie.

Upon cleaning the Dubuisson home, Charlotte finds Jackson Dubuisson dead at his desk in his home office. It's not long before it's discovered he was murdered. Who did it and why? And that's when Charlotte can't let it go and starts doing her own investigating into the matter.

Once Charlotte had figured out who had done it, she took on a new client and the way it was done, it seems this new family will be the next mystery in book 2, which I have since read and......I'm not telling. I'm about to write my review for that one right now.

[Scoats · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm on a mission to read all the books we own, which includes all my wife's "chick" books. I know some chick mysteries can be quite good - even great, such as Janet Evanovich, the pet sitter books, and the woman blacksmith books. So I'm ready to dig this book. Got the shovel in hand so to speak.

Got to page 10, which, as books usually go, is actually the second page. So I'm 1 and a half pages in...

"What the younger woman didn't realize, though, and what Charlotte knew from her own personal experience, was if a boy was given enough love and attention, he could grow up just fine without a father, especially a no-account father like Ricco" - Wow, judgemental much?

Just a few lines down, I get to "Janet said she was free, and Charlotte quickly gave her the address of the client's home" this sentence was so boring that I gave up right there.

Maybe I'm totally spoiled after reading Pete Dexter, but this is crap. Maybe it sucks less later, but I'm not finding out

[Lagniappe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and entertaining cozy. The plot was a tad predictable, but I loved that our crime solver was an over-50 female who worked in a low-prestige job. The cast of secondary characters were diverse and interesting, if a bit stereotypical at times. And as a lifelong New Orleanian I want to send thanks to Ms. Colley for getting the New Orleans setting right - a minor miracle for books set in NOLA. It lost a star for the aforementioned predictability, but I think it is a strong introduction to this series, and I look forward to reading the next one. Give this a try.

[Rissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

New author so yay new backlist!

That was interesting! I think I kinda knew from the beginning who did it and when we found out, I was excited, lol.

But props to the author for the misleading so that it kept me guessing! All the happenings with Lou were distracting and kinda veered you away from the major mystery.

Hoping to continue the series! :)

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series was recommended to me, so I thought I should start with the first book, and now I am not sure I will read anymore. Clever idea of the cleaning service mixing with a mystery, but something just didn't click.

[Clara Baker Baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this mainly because of the setting. I lived in New Orleans for five years and there are family connections.
Enjoyed getting to know the characters, but felt some loose ends on finishing. Maybe they will resurface later. Guess I’ll need to read #2 to find out.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte LaRue runs a home cleaning business in the Garden District of New Orleans. Business is good. ---but challenging when one of her clients is found murdered in his study. Of course Charlotte gets involved in solving the crime.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promising start to a new series. Fairly standard cozy formula, but the characters may turn out to be more interesting than some if she can keep it up. Based on her other books, I would give this one a thumbs up. Hope the next one keeps this goin. Fun.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

An ok story. Very obvious solution but the main character is likable enough. I may check into the next in the series

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a book I would normally read. Now I remember why.

[Miki Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice cosy murder mystery. No gruesome descriptions, no psychopaths. A nice palate cleanser before I read something more graphic!

[S.K. Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light mystery. I enjoyed the descriptions of New Orleans

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read

Nice easy read, twist at the end. Opens the reader to sequel . I will look for more from this author.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Different setting but typical cozy mystery.

[Stephanie Olson]

Mental health day.

[L.B. Holding · Rating 3 out of 5]

For research. She has a good series concept, and I bit.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still think of this book years after reading it. I may read ot again soon.

[Bertina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series - Great Cozy Mystery set in New Orleans Historic Garden District - Loved it looking forward to more in the series

[Kelle Herrng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this series

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer was kinda obvious. Absolutely hate Claire when she called Charlotte just a maid.

[Alex Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable, but entertaining.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think of Jessica Fletcher as a maid - that’s the light type of mystery. It was a fun book to read. I enjoyed it and will read others in the series.

[Kenla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very impressed with the realistic settings in New Orleans. Also, one of the bigger fundraisers is featured,too! This is the first book in the series and I will definitely read more. The heroine is an older woman, but still enjoys life to the fullest. I find myself wondering what will happen next in her personal life. It was well written as I didn't figure out the killer until the end. Lots clues to follow here. Will continue to read this series. I even found myself trying a couple of her cleaning tips.