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Charlotte Adams #1
Organize Your Corpses
Fans of Marie Kondo and mysteries will love this series!
Professional organizer Charlotte Adams finds herself caught up in a very messy murder . . .
After freeing herself from a cheating fiancé and the other useless clutter in her life, Charlotte Adams moves back to her hometown in Upstate New York to make a fresh start as a professional organizer. But she’s about to learn that foul play can creep into even the most well-ordered life.
Eager to get her new career started, Charlotte agrees to take on a job from the former high school teacher who filled all her students’ lives with chaos and confusion. But no sooner does Charlotte begin digging through years of accumulated junk than she finds her first client dead—and herself named as the main suspect.
While any number of the victim’s former students had a motive for murder, Charlotte knows that death is rarely that tidy, and she can’t help meddling in the investigation to prove herself innocent and repair her sullied reputation. But the killer has a to-do list of their own, and the first item is to clean up a little mess named Charlotte Adams . . .
Organizing Tips Included!
Professional organizer Charlotte Adams finds herself caught up in a very messy murder . . .
After freeing herself from a cheating fiancé and the other useless clutter in her life, Charlotte Adams moves back to her hometown in Upstate New York to make a fresh start as a professional organizer. But she’s about to learn that foul play can creep into even the most well-ordered life.
Eager to get her new career started, Charlotte agrees to take on a job from the former high school teacher who filled all her students’ lives with chaos and confusion. But no sooner does Charlotte begin digging through years of accumulated junk than she finds her first client dead—and herself named as the main suspect.
While any number of the victim’s former students had a motive for murder, Charlotte knows that death is rarely that tidy, and she can’t help meddling in the investigation to prove herself innocent and repair her sullied reputation. But the killer has a to-do list of their own, and the first item is to clean up a little mess named Charlotte Adams . . .
Organizing Tips Included!
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
33 people are currently reading
1052 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Maffini
31 books162 followersAka Victoria Abbott with her daughter Victoria Maffini.
Mary Jane Maffini was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries such as The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, the ghost of her beloved Corgoid Smudge, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
Mary Jane Maffini was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries such as The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, the ghost of her beloved Corgoid Smudge, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
September 6, 2022
Charlotte Adams moves back to her hometown in Upstate New York after her life implodes. She wants to start over, establish her career as a professional organizer and just re-focus. But chaos follows her. She discovers her first client dead, squashed by clutter in an old family mansion.
This first book in the Charlotte Adams Mystery series is entertaining and enjoyable. I like the basic premise, the characters and the setting. My favorite characters? Charlotte's two dachshunds, of course! The plot moves along at a nice pace. There is plenty of investigation, clues and surprises! Charlotte isn't a bad amateur sleuth. The side characters are fun, especially Jack. Sally is a bit annoying....but I get the idea she is supposed to be a bit much. Overall, a nice start to a cozy mystery series. I liked the sprinkling of humor -- not too much....just the right amount.
Mary Jane Maffini also writes as Victoria Abbott (with her daughter Victoria).
I will definitely be reading more of this series!
This first book in the Charlotte Adams Mystery series is entertaining and enjoyable. I like the basic premise, the characters and the setting. My favorite characters? Charlotte's two dachshunds, of course! The plot moves along at a nice pace. There is plenty of investigation, clues and surprises! Charlotte isn't a bad amateur sleuth. The side characters are fun, especially Jack. Sally is a bit annoying....but I get the idea she is supposed to be a bit much. Overall, a nice start to a cozy mystery series. I liked the sprinkling of humor -- not too much....just the right amount.
Mary Jane Maffini also writes as Victoria Abbott (with her daughter Victoria).
I will definitely be reading more of this series!
December 21, 2016
Organize Your Corpses by Mary Jane Maffini is the first book of the Charlotte Adams cozy mystery series set in contemporary upstate New York. Charlotte moved back home to small town Woodbridge after her fiancé cheated on her. She's a professional organizer. Tough to believe, when her life is a complete mess; you must completely suspend rational thought to follow this plot. Her first client in her home town is a hated teacher from high school, who inherited property and needs it cleaned out - but only after a thorough search for critical paperwork. Charlotte finds her client dead on their planned second meeting, and suddenly becomes the prime suspect, because she had left her favorite pen behind at the first meeting, and it is discovered under the corpse (oh please). She's a spunky protagonist, way too impulsive for her own good. The story has an enjoyable balance of humor. Each chapter begins with a helpful tip to get organized.
June 22, 2019
Nothing like ending a series with book #1! Finally got to see how it all started. This was a really good story and I never would have guessed the resolution. Nice intro to the characters as well.
May 27, 2021
Organize Your Corpses by Mary Jane Maffini is the first book in A Charlotte Adams Mystery series. I liked the premise of this series. It has potential for many interesting scenarios. The reality, though, was disappointing. You must suspend all logical thoughts when reading this tale. Some things are farfetched. I ended up not liking any of the characters (not even the dogs). Charlotte Adams is a “professional organizer” whose life is a mess. She is a plucky woman, but I found her too impetuous. Charlotte goes to a client meeting with two unruly dogs (that made no sense whatsoever). I also wondered how she kept getting jobs when she failed to complete any of them. The mystery was interesting. I like solving unique mysteries. Unfortunately, the whodunit was not the focus of the book. Charlotte’s friends seem to do more investigating than Charlotte. For the resolution, you must suspend your disbelief. At the end, we are left with many unanswered questions (what happened between Pepper and Charlotte for example). Avid cozy mystery readers only need to a couple of pieces of information to solve it. I wondered what year this book was set in. It did not seem to be set in the present day (not within the last three years at least). Organize Your Corpses had too much wackiness and cliché elements for my tastes. I did enjoy the organizing tips before each chapter. My favorite tip was, “Keep an interesting book with you in case you find yourself in a boring place with time on your hands.” While Organize Your Corpses was not my cup of tea, I suggest you obtain a sample to see if it suits you. Organize Your Corpses is an offbeat cozy mystery with a disarranged dwelling, a vile victim, a dogged detective, a kindly landlord, a frenzied family, and a perplexing puzzle.
July 28, 2021
This book is the first in a new (to me) series! I love starting at the beginning and looking forward to many more books. But, this book is a little special. I have more books to look forward to!
I enjoyed this book immensely! An organizer finding a body is new to me. Charlotte was an interesting character and her pets really contributed to my enjoyment! I found myself wrapped up in the story from beginning to end! And I didn't guess the ending! I'm sure I will be enjoying more books from this author.
Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I enjoyed this book immensely! An organizer finding a body is new to me. Charlotte was an interesting character and her pets really contributed to my enjoyment! I found myself wrapped up in the story from beginning to end! And I didn't guess the ending! I'm sure I will be enjoying more books from this author.
Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 1, 2015
I really enjoyed this book! However, if you want to read about how Charlotte organizes houses, better find a different story. While she is a professional organizer, her completed jobs were never...well, completed as far as the reader knew.
Still, the mystery was clever and I did not see the outcome. Actually, I figured it completely wrong. But that is what kept the story interesting!
Will read the next in this fun series. Recommend.
Still, the mystery was clever and I did not see the outcome. Actually, I figured it completely wrong. But that is what kept the story interesting!
Will read the next in this fun series. Recommend.
May 9, 2021
I originally read this series when it published in 2007. I enjoyed reading this book again, Charlotte Adams is a fantastic character, and her devotion to organization is amazing.
Charlotte needs to expand her organization business, so when a potential client reaches out, Charlotte is ready to get to work.
Unfortunately, her new client is none other than a retired teacher, one who enjoyed being a bully towards everyone that crossed her path.
A gruesome murder then sets the stage for a whirlwind investigation, which exposes secrets someone wants ti keep quiet.
I forgot how much I loved this series, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books.
#OrganizeYourCorpses #NetGalley
Charlotte needs to expand her organization business, so when a potential client reaches out, Charlotte is ready to get to work.
Unfortunately, her new client is none other than a retired teacher, one who enjoyed being a bully towards everyone that crossed her path.
A gruesome murder then sets the stage for a whirlwind investigation, which exposes secrets someone wants ti keep quiet.
I forgot how much I loved this series, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books.
#OrganizeYourCorpses #NetGalley
May 13, 2021
It is never a good sign when the nickname of a potential client is Hellfire and she was definitely trouble. Charlotte Adams, professional organizer, should have listened to her friends when Helen "Hellfire" Henley wanted to hire her and Charlotte's friends said do not even consider the job. Now she finds herself in more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
This story has some interesting characters and a nice touch of humor. I also liked the helpful hints at the beginning of each chapter. Especially the one involving music and chocolate. The best thing was the surprise ending. Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This story has some interesting characters and a nice touch of humor. I also liked the helpful hints at the beginning of each chapter. Especially the one involving music and chocolate. The best thing was the surprise ending. Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 14, 2013
Professional organizer Charlotte Adams can't afford to be picky about clients which is why she agrees to help teacher Helen "Hellfire" Henley with a project. Miss Henley made high school life miserable for many a student including Charlotte and her friends. Still, Charlotte takes her on as a client, hoping it will give her some much needed publicity. Sure enough, Charlotte gets a lot of publicity - the wrong kind - when she discovers Miss Henley's dead body and becomes the number one suspect in the murder. Charlotte works frantically to clear her name before she is sent to jail. She'll have her hands filled as the murderer has more than one trick up his/her sleeve.
"Organize Your Corpses" is a pretty good cozy mystery (the first in the Charlotte Adams series). Having Charlotte be a professional organizer is a good set up for a mystery series and author Mary Jane Maffini does a nice job with it, including giving organizing tips at the beginning of each chapter. The murder victim is an ex-teacher who made a lot of enemies which provides a lot of suspects and the reader will have fun trying to guess who the killer is. Maffini has some Agatha Christie like qualities in her writing that she uses quite skillfully - originally Miss Henley asks Charlotte to search for a missing document, a plot line that is Christie through and through although Maffini takes a delightful u-turn with that plot. Also like in Christie's books, there are plenty of red herrings and plot twists including a doozy of one that will shock readers. The characters are all well done including Charlotte who is a very unorganized professional organizer; her best friends Jack and Sally; and even her dogs Truffle and Sweet Marie. Part of what makes the characters work so well is that they've known each other for a long time, having gone to high school together. However, it's a bit disappointing that Maffini only hints at the reasons why policewoman Pepper and Charlotte, once best friends, are now enemies (I'd have liked a few more scenes with Charlotte and Pepper interacting). Charlotte's character can be a bit judgmental and I'd love to know Pepper's side of things.
"Organize Your Corpses" is a pretty good cozy mystery and I look forward to reading other books in the series.
"Organize Your Corpses" is a pretty good cozy mystery (the first in the Charlotte Adams series). Having Charlotte be a professional organizer is a good set up for a mystery series and author Mary Jane Maffini does a nice job with it, including giving organizing tips at the beginning of each chapter. The murder victim is an ex-teacher who made a lot of enemies which provides a lot of suspects and the reader will have fun trying to guess who the killer is. Maffini has some Agatha Christie like qualities in her writing that she uses quite skillfully - originally Miss Henley asks Charlotte to search for a missing document, a plot line that is Christie through and through although Maffini takes a delightful u-turn with that plot. Also like in Christie's books, there are plenty of red herrings and plot twists including a doozy of one that will shock readers. The characters are all well done including Charlotte who is a very unorganized professional organizer; her best friends Jack and Sally; and even her dogs Truffle and Sweet Marie. Part of what makes the characters work so well is that they've known each other for a long time, having gone to high school together. However, it's a bit disappointing that Maffini only hints at the reasons why policewoman Pepper and Charlotte, once best friends, are now enemies (I'd have liked a few more scenes with Charlotte and Pepper interacting). Charlotte's character can be a bit judgmental and I'd love to know Pepper's side of things.
"Organize Your Corpses" is a pretty good cozy mystery and I look forward to reading other books in the series.
July 13, 2021
I love when a mystery has a twist and “whodunit” that I can’t see coming. My jaw was on the floor.
May 13, 2021
Clever cozy mystery. It kept me guessing to the end. I am so glad to see it is the start of a series. Charming and delightful characters that will be fun getting to know better. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.
June 3, 2021
Synopsis:
Fans of Marie Kondo and mysteries will love this series!
Professional organizer Charlotte Adams finds herself caught up in a very messy murder . . .
After freeing herself from a cheating fiancé and the other useless clutter in her life, Charlotte Adams moves back to her hometown in Upstate New York to make a fresh start as a professional organizer. But she’s about to learn that foul play can creep into even the most well-ordered life.
Eager to get her new career started, Charlotte agrees to take on a job from the former high school teacher who filled all her students’ lives with chaos and confusion. But no sooner does Charlotte begin digging through years of accumulated junk than she finds her first client dead—and herself named as the main suspect.
While any number of the victim’s former students had a motive for murder, Charlotte knows that death is rarely that tidy, and she can’t help meddling in the investigation to prove herself innocent and repair her sullied reputation. But the killer has a to-do list of their own, and the first item is to clean up a little mess named Charlotte Adams . . .
Organizing Tips Included!
Praise for the Books of Mary Jane Maffini:
“A comedic, murderous romp . . . Maffini is a relaxed, accomplished, and wickedly funny writer.” —The Montreal Gazette
“Mary Jane Maffini provides a first-rate, well-organized whodunit . . . A new series that is fun to read.” —Midwest Book Review
“Maffini’s new series . . . is off to a brilliant start with this fast-paced mystery!” —Romantic Times
“Deserves top marks for creating an entertaining, fast-paced
thriller filled with witty one-liners, snappy dialogue and crackling suspense.” —The Strand Magazine
“I’ll look forward to a long life for this series.” —Deadly Pleasures
“Plenty of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages until the last sentence.” —Dru’s Book Musings
“Maffini is a relaxed, accomplished and wickedly funny writer . . .” —The Times Colonist
About the Author:
Agatha and RT Award winner Mary Jane Maffini is the author of three and a half mystery series and two dozen short stories. Along with the Charlotte Adams professional organizer mysteries, she’s the author of the Camilla MacPhee Mysteries and the Fiona Silk comic capers. As Victoria Abbott, she collaborated on five collector mysteries with her daughter, Victoria. Mary Jane lives and plots in Manotick, Ontario, with a cluster of mischievous dachshunds at her feet. You can read more about her books and sign up for her newsletter at maryjanemaffini.com. (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded or well developed. Charlotte has come back home after finding out that her fiance has cheated. She decides to start a new career as a professional organizer. When she gets her first client, it is her former high school teacher, that not many people liked. And when the client is killed and Charlotte is a person of interest, she decides to figure out the real killer. She will need the help of her friends Sally and Jack, and her dogs Truffle and Sweet Marie, to find the culprit.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and had enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was really surprised at the identity of the killer and that was great.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
Fans of Marie Kondo and mysteries will love this series!
Professional organizer Charlotte Adams finds herself caught up in a very messy murder . . .
After freeing herself from a cheating fiancé and the other useless clutter in her life, Charlotte Adams moves back to her hometown in Upstate New York to make a fresh start as a professional organizer. But she’s about to learn that foul play can creep into even the most well-ordered life.
Eager to get her new career started, Charlotte agrees to take on a job from the former high school teacher who filled all her students’ lives with chaos and confusion. But no sooner does Charlotte begin digging through years of accumulated junk than she finds her first client dead—and herself named as the main suspect.
While any number of the victim’s former students had a motive for murder, Charlotte knows that death is rarely that tidy, and she can’t help meddling in the investigation to prove herself innocent and repair her sullied reputation. But the killer has a to-do list of their own, and the first item is to clean up a little mess named Charlotte Adams . . .
Organizing Tips Included!
Praise for the Books of Mary Jane Maffini:
“A comedic, murderous romp . . . Maffini is a relaxed, accomplished, and wickedly funny writer.” —The Montreal Gazette
“Mary Jane Maffini provides a first-rate, well-organized whodunit . . . A new series that is fun to read.” —Midwest Book Review
“Maffini’s new series . . . is off to a brilliant start with this fast-paced mystery!” —Romantic Times
“Deserves top marks for creating an entertaining, fast-paced
thriller filled with witty one-liners, snappy dialogue and crackling suspense.” —The Strand Magazine
“I’ll look forward to a long life for this series.” —Deadly Pleasures
“Plenty of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages until the last sentence.” —Dru’s Book Musings
“Maffini is a relaxed, accomplished and wickedly funny writer . . .” —The Times Colonist
About the Author:
Agatha and RT Award winner Mary Jane Maffini is the author of three and a half mystery series and two dozen short stories. Along with the Charlotte Adams professional organizer mysteries, she’s the author of the Camilla MacPhee Mysteries and the Fiona Silk comic capers. As Victoria Abbott, she collaborated on five collector mysteries with her daughter, Victoria. Mary Jane lives and plots in Manotick, Ontario, with a cluster of mischievous dachshunds at her feet. You can read more about her books and sign up for her newsletter at maryjanemaffini.com. (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded or well developed. Charlotte has come back home after finding out that her fiance has cheated. She decides to start a new career as a professional organizer. When she gets her first client, it is her former high school teacher, that not many people liked. And when the client is killed and Charlotte is a person of interest, she decides to figure out the real killer. She will need the help of her friends Sally and Jack, and her dogs Truffle and Sweet Marie, to find the culprit.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and had enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was really surprised at the identity of the killer and that was great.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
June 14, 2016
Charlotte Adams, a budding professional organizer, has found herself back in Woodbridge after dumping her cheating fiancé. Unable to be picky about her clients, she finds herself agreeing to take on none other than her former hellish teacher, Helen “Hellfire” Henley. After Hellfire turns up dead at the scene of her new job, Charlotte’s former good friend and current enemy is determined to stick her with the murder. It is up to Charlotte to find the real killer so that she can clear her name and put her former teacher to rest.
If you’re looking for a touching and light, cozy mystery, then you’ve come to the right place. Organize Your Corpses is a wonderful series opener that introduces us to the town and characters. Charlotte is relatable as the kind-hearted protagonist who tries to look at the best in people. She truly enjoys helping others even when they are not the nicest of people themselves. She’s also an animal lover, which leads to some goofy and relatable scenarios as her adorable dogs strike. Charlotte is determined to find out what happened to Hellfire to relieve her guilt and clear her name. She’s also trying to help her friends, strangers, and slowly dip her toes back into the dating world. She’s a kindhearted character that I relate to. She does a lot less organizing than I expected, but it is not something that is too noticeable because the story and the characters are incredibly compelling.
Jack and Sally are Charlotte’s entertaining best friends that double as her family. They are scandalized that she’s working with Hellfire, the teacher who tormented majority of the students that she taught. The pair are soon sucked into the gossip and mystery that surrounds Hellfire’s death and stick with Charlotte until the very end. Jack and Sally are not central characters; they are still relatable as we begin to see them more often throughout the story. I personally enjoyed Jack’s antics as Charlotte reentered the dating world, and Sally’s perpetual and untamed messiness. I can see why these three remain best friends and something close to a family long after their high school years.
While the characters and their lives are enjoyable, the mystery is also compelling. I still didn’t put two and two together until the big reveal. I was successfully duped! I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and I hope to find out what happened between Charlotte and Pepper soon.
If you’re looking for a touching and light, cozy mystery, then you’ve come to the right place. Organize Your Corpses is a wonderful series opener that introduces us to the town and characters. Charlotte is relatable as the kind-hearted protagonist who tries to look at the best in people. She truly enjoys helping others even when they are not the nicest of people themselves. She’s also an animal lover, which leads to some goofy and relatable scenarios as her adorable dogs strike. Charlotte is determined to find out what happened to Hellfire to relieve her guilt and clear her name. She’s also trying to help her friends, strangers, and slowly dip her toes back into the dating world. She’s a kindhearted character that I relate to. She does a lot less organizing than I expected, but it is not something that is too noticeable because the story and the characters are incredibly compelling.
Jack and Sally are Charlotte’s entertaining best friends that double as her family. They are scandalized that she’s working with Hellfire, the teacher who tormented majority of the students that she taught. The pair are soon sucked into the gossip and mystery that surrounds Hellfire’s death and stick with Charlotte until the very end. Jack and Sally are not central characters; they are still relatable as we begin to see them more often throughout the story. I personally enjoyed Jack’s antics as Charlotte reentered the dating world, and Sally’s perpetual and untamed messiness. I can see why these three remain best friends and something close to a family long after their high school years.
While the characters and their lives are enjoyable, the mystery is also compelling. I still didn’t put two and two together until the big reveal. I was successfully duped! I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and I hope to find out what happened between Charlotte and Pepper soon.
June 10, 2021
Organize Your Corpses is the début in a series by Mary Jane Maffini featuring Charlotte Adams. It was a very entertaining read with stacks of humour and I readily found myself chuckling away.
Professional organiser Charlotte was a marvellous protagonist whom I find to be compassionate and smart. Set in Upstate New York, Charlotte has moved back to her hometown after discovering that her fiancé was cheating. Charlotte's first job is at the home of her former high school teacher, Helen "Hellfire" Henley. Charlotte arrives at the address given by Miss Henley, a three-storey house on North Elm Street, to go through the ex-teachers requirements and prepare the contract for Helen's signature. Back at the home she is talking with her landlord Jack and tucking into a tub of ice cream when her phone rings, and it's Hellfire Henley calling to arrange another meeting, straightaway, but the line goes dead, so Charlotte reckons that Miss Henley hung up on her. The next morning Charlotte rings her but gets no answer so drives to her home in Woodbridge... and finds Miss Henley dead.
The book was well-crafted, swift-paced and thoroughly entertaining. The mystery was very engaging and I was kept guessing until the end of this lively tale. I am already looking forward to catching up with Charlotte, her landlord Jack and all of the rescue animals in the next instalment, 'The Cluttered Corpse'. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Professional organiser Charlotte was a marvellous protagonist whom I find to be compassionate and smart. Set in Upstate New York, Charlotte has moved back to her hometown after discovering that her fiancé was cheating. Charlotte's first job is at the home of her former high school teacher, Helen "Hellfire" Henley. Charlotte arrives at the address given by Miss Henley, a three-storey house on North Elm Street, to go through the ex-teachers requirements and prepare the contract for Helen's signature. Back at the home she is talking with her landlord Jack and tucking into a tub of ice cream when her phone rings, and it's Hellfire Henley calling to arrange another meeting, straightaway, but the line goes dead, so Charlotte reckons that Miss Henley hung up on her. The next morning Charlotte rings her but gets no answer so drives to her home in Woodbridge... and finds Miss Henley dead.
The book was well-crafted, swift-paced and thoroughly entertaining. The mystery was very engaging and I was kept guessing until the end of this lively tale. I am already looking forward to catching up with Charlotte, her landlord Jack and all of the rescue animals in the next instalment, 'The Cluttered Corpse'. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 27, 2009
I have to say, there was a lot less organizing than I was expecting. I'm fairly certain Charlotte didn't finish a single job during the book! Of course, one job was suspended because of the mystery, so I can forgive that. But, she was also helping other clients and they never actually finished the jobs. How odd! There are plenty of organizational tips thrown in though, so it's not a big deal. It just struck me as funny that Charlotte never actually finished a job during the book. Anyway, I enjoyed this book. For the most part, I liked the dialogue, the characters, and how they interacted with one another. I think the author waited a little too long before really diving into the reveal and I don't think we were given enough clues along the way to see how Charlotte figured it out. The reveal also requires one to suspend a lot of disbelief, in my opinion. That said, I still enjoyed the book enough to want to continue with the series. Perhaps Charlotte will be able to finish a job in the next book? Ha ha!
May 17, 2019
There were a couple of things that Charlotte said and did that irked me, but overall it was a good book. The twist at the end definitely came out of nowhere for me, which was so nice. A little convoluted, but still good.
Charlotte is a back to her hometown girl trying to start up her own business helping people organize their lives. The resident hated teacher needs her to find some documents in her pack rat brother's house after he has passed away. Everyone tells her to stay away, but she needs the money. The next day, after not being able to get in touch with "Hellfire" Henley, she shows up at the house to see if she is there, and instead, finds her dead. The local detective, who used to be Charlotte's best friend, now enemy, thinks that she is the culprit and Charlotte must try to change that.
Overall, it was a good story. Had some intrigue with other story lines, and I definitely will read more of this series.
Charlotte is a back to her hometown girl trying to start up her own business helping people organize their lives. The resident hated teacher needs her to find some documents in her pack rat brother's house after he has passed away. Everyone tells her to stay away, but she needs the money. The next day, after not being able to get in touch with "Hellfire" Henley, she shows up at the house to see if she is there, and instead, finds her dead. The local detective, who used to be Charlotte's best friend, now enemy, thinks that she is the culprit and Charlotte must try to change that.
Overall, it was a good story. Had some intrigue with other story lines, and I definitely will read more of this series.
July 28, 2021
This was the second time I read this book (I requested from NetGalley before I realized I had already read it) and I enjoyed it much more the second time. Charlotte, the main character, is a professional organizer but her personal life is a mess. She's likeable enough, as are her friends, and the mystery, while parts were implausible (as is with some cozies), was much better than I remember. I raised the rating up to 3 stars for this rereading.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2018
I am a disorganized person in my own life but would love to organize other people. That having been said, I loved this book. Charlotte Adams is a professional organizer who has moved back to her home town in the Hudson Valley. She has reconnected with her childhood friends and is starting her business up when she is contacted by the town's meanest teacher, Helen "Hellfire" Henley. Hellfire gets murdered and there are many many suspects among the former students.
This was a fun read and I couldn't help but cast it in my mind for a Hallmark Mystery series. Can't wait to read the next one !!!
This was a fun read and I couldn't help but cast it in my mind for a Hallmark Mystery series. Can't wait to read the next one !!!
June 18, 2010
I loved this book. The sleuth was likable from the very first page. Her kookie friends were sincere and realistic. Even one that is somewhat estranged...that happens in real life.
The career of Charlotte Adams is one that is popular and lends itself to all sorts of locations. I see many future books coming.
The crime was amazing and I was not sure until the ending of whom the bell would toll....
If you enjoy a good solid mystery with bouts of laughing out load, treat yourself to this great series.
I'm off to read the next one!
The career of Charlotte Adams is one that is popular and lends itself to all sorts of locations. I see many future books coming.
The crime was amazing and I was not sure until the ending of whom the bell would toll....
If you enjoy a good solid mystery with bouts of laughing out load, treat yourself to this great series.
I'm off to read the next one!
July 18, 2016
Loved this book, the twists and turns in the plot had me as baffled as Charlotte as to who the murderer was. Charlotte was an excellent sleuth and I loved how she pieced it all together.
Another author to add to my reading list. Mary Jane Maffini is a new author to me, look forward to reading her again.
Another author to add to my reading list. Mary Jane Maffini is a new author to me, look forward to reading her again.
August 23, 2011
This was a terrific cozy with a totally unpredictable ending! I'm definitely going to read the remaining books in this series ~
May 18, 2021
4.5 stars
This is the 1st book in the Charlotte Adams series by Mary Jane Maffini.
I thought this was pretty good. I enjoyed the whole organization aspect and wished there had been more of that. I totally need help in that area.
The mystery was fun to follow even though some of the plot devices were pretty obvious. But that didn’t keep me from enjoying this book. Man, there is this big plot twist at the end that you definitely won’t see coming. I know I was mind blown. Don’t stop reading before the end because you will really miss the crazy big reveal.
I enjoyed getting to know the people in this community. I wonder how many will navigate to book two. Just so many possibilities with this series. I am excited for the author. Now that book one is under her belt, book two will be slam bam amazing, I am sure!
Highly recommended. If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.
This is the 1st book in the Charlotte Adams series by Mary Jane Maffini.
I thought this was pretty good. I enjoyed the whole organization aspect and wished there had been more of that. I totally need help in that area.
The mystery was fun to follow even though some of the plot devices were pretty obvious. But that didn’t keep me from enjoying this book. Man, there is this big plot twist at the end that you definitely won’t see coming. I know I was mind blown. Don’t stop reading before the end because you will really miss the crazy big reveal.
I enjoyed getting to know the people in this community. I wonder how many will navigate to book two. Just so many possibilities with this series. I am excited for the author. Now that book one is under her belt, book two will be slam bam amazing, I am sure!
Highly recommended. If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.
May 7, 2021
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of ORGANIZE YOUR CORPSES (Book 1 of the Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mysteries) by Mary Jane Maffini in exchange for an honest review. Charlotte Adams moves back to her hometown to start anew. In order to start her organization business, she accepts a big job sifting through, storing, and eventually discarding the hoard recently inherited by the town meanie. However, before Charlotte can start the job, the woman is found dead and buried in the clutter. Since the town sheriff bears a longtime grudge against Charlotte, Charlotte finds herself publicly accused of the murder. Even though Charlotte’s worried about the damage the bad publicity is doing her fledgling business, she’s even more worried about going to jail for the murder. As time goes by, Charlotte realizes that the murderer is doing their best to frame her, that law enforcement is eager to accept the frame at face-value, and that Charlotte will have to be the one to bring the real killer to justice. If Charlotte isn’t careful, she may find herself framed for her own death.
I liked this book and thought it was a good start to a new series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, new beginnings, homecoming, mean teachers, judgmental townspeople, law officers with grudges, biased reporting, dogs, and true friends.
#OrganizeYourCorpses #NetGalley
I liked this book and thought it was a good start to a new series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, new beginnings, homecoming, mean teachers, judgmental townspeople, law officers with grudges, biased reporting, dogs, and true friends.
#OrganizeYourCorpses #NetGalley
May 6, 2021
Nothing pleases Charlotte Adams more than having a perfectly organised life. She is so good at achieving this that she has returned to her home town and set up her own business, Organised for Success. Worryingly her first client is Helen 'Hellfire' Henley, the hated and hateful high school teacher from her childhood. Determined to be the better person, and against the advice of best friends Jack and Sally, Charlotte swallows her doubts and takes on Helen's organising nightmare looking for legal documents in the home of her late hording cousin, Randolph. Unfortunately her first discovery isn't documentation but the body of her client.
One of the problems of returning home is the realisation that some old arguments still continue to fester. In Charlotte's case her ex best friend Pepper definitely still holds a grudge and as a local police detective has no hesitation in setting her sights on finding the evidence to charge Charlotte with murder.
This is the first book in a series which is being re-released as a television series is to follow. I enjoyed the storyline although Charlotte's friend Sally grated from the start. The investigation however was original and well written and I will give the rest of the series a chance because of that.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an enjoyable and easy read.
One of the problems of returning home is the realisation that some old arguments still continue to fester. In Charlotte's case her ex best friend Pepper definitely still holds a grudge and as a local police detective has no hesitation in setting her sights on finding the evidence to charge Charlotte with murder.
This is the first book in a series which is being re-released as a television series is to follow. I enjoyed the storyline although Charlotte's friend Sally grated from the start. The investigation however was original and well written and I will give the rest of the series a chance because of that.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an enjoyable and easy read.
May 11, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was instantly drawn to the main character, Charlotte Adams. She has just moved back to her hometown to start an organizing business. An old teacher that no one liked hires her to help organize the family home. Two of her friends from high school try to talk her out of it. When the retired teacher is murdered and Charlotte is the main suspect, she decides that she must find the killer before her ex-friend arrests her for the murder. The story grabbed my attention and held it all the way. There were several side characters that kept me guessing as to what role they played in the mystery. This is the first book by Mary Jane Maffini that I have read and I will definitely be reading more. This is the first book in the series. I can't wait to read the others to find out more about this group of friends and see what kind of mischief they get into.
August 16, 2019
As I am a mood reader, I felt like picking up a cozy mystery. On my TBR shelf, I have a couple of them and looking for them. I decided to pick up Organize Your Corpses.
The truth until the end of the book, I like when the plot and the author are doing it because it keeps you turning the pages.
There are a lot of crazy characters, each one with its backstory. There are a lot of threads that I believe will get tied together on the next installments of the series. I want to find out what black cat passed between Charlotte and the police investigator that once were best friends.
I picked this book from our second-hand book shop, and I will try to look for other books on the series.
The truth until the end of the book, I like when the plot and the author are doing it because it keeps you turning the pages.
There are a lot of crazy characters, each one with its backstory. There are a lot of threads that I believe will get tied together on the next installments of the series. I want to find out what black cat passed between Charlotte and the police investigator that once were best friends.
I picked this book from our second-hand book shop, and I will try to look for other books on the series.
May 18, 2021
I dislike being a downer but this story is akin to a dumpster fire. Charlotte Adams is supposed to be a professional organizer but you wouldn't know it by how she acts in Organize Your Corpses.
She has a sort of savior complex, she is obsessed with Miss Henley's death, and she makes so many dumb decisions that the initial portrayal of her as smart and organized is completely wiped out during the progression of the book.
I was very much on my way to giving this 2 stars when the murderer reveal ended up being a clever twist.
The ending did feel abrupt. Charlotte suspected by the police of murder. The book doesn't address how things went down after the real culprit was caught. And really, the twist can't be that Charlotte was the murderer because she is the main character and sleuth. It just wouldn't do in a cozy mystery setting.
I think you will have to judge for yourself. For me Charlotte is not likely to be a favorite cozy mystery character. Several things about her grate on my nerves.
However, I am happy to have a chance to review pre-release copies of books. Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page books.
She has a sort of savior complex, she is obsessed with Miss Henley's death, and she makes so many dumb decisions that the initial portrayal of her as smart and organized is completely wiped out during the progression of the book.
I was very much on my way to giving this 2 stars when the murderer reveal ended up being a clever twist.
The ending did feel abrupt. Charlotte suspected by the police of murder. The book doesn't address how things went down after the real culprit was caught. And really, the twist can't be that Charlotte was the murderer because she is the main character and sleuth. It just wouldn't do in a cozy mystery setting.
I think you will have to judge for yourself. For me Charlotte is not likely to be a favorite cozy mystery character. Several things about her grate on my nerves.
However, I am happy to have a chance to review pre-release copies of books. Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page books.
November 8, 2019
Ridiculous and preposterous surprise ending drops this from 3 stars to 2. The killer was physically incapable of performing the many complex activities and schemes involved in the multiple murders and of setting up the alibi. On the other had, the heroine Charlotte Adams is unlikable and takes advantage of the many townspeople who seem more than happy to help her for some reason. She treats her friend Jack like a slave and takes it for granted that he will do anything for her, which he does. The supposed feud with policewoman Pepper is not explained although it seems to be a major basis for Charlotte's problems. Otherwise all of the elements of a cozy mystery are present: attractive woman moves from big city to rural town to start a business after a bad relationship ends, many friends help her, including older woman who provides wise advice, two male suitors, and an unfriendly cop who is the foil.
July 31, 2021
The interactions among the majority of the characters is classic Returns To Small Town Where One Grew Up. Been there, done that. But it seems a lot funnier in fiction! Charlotte went from a high powered job in NYC and a scum fiance to her own business and former friends in the hometown. One of her first jobs as a professional organizer is for the teacher voted most hated by all her students, but Charlotte and her beautiful dachshunds are the ones who find her body. Then Charlotte discovers a new aspect of herself in an obsession to find who Done The Deed. Lots of laughs, and the sleuthing isn't bad. I really enjoyed the read!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thanks!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thanks!
September 2, 2020
So I got this book because I accidentally got the second book first and though oh dear I have to read them in order. Then after reading this book I realize it is from a different mystery series than the book 2 I own. So I need to get a different book 1. Apparently it is the book town mysteries and not Charlotte Adams series. I also accidentally have the bibliophile mysteries. Reading is hard.
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