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Charlotte Adams #3
Death Loves a Messy Desk
Nothing makes Charlotte Adams happier than freeing people from clutter—and she boasts a waiting list of sloppy clients. Her free time has been taken up solving fatally untidy cases. Her latest task: a woman has hired her to organize a coworker’s hopelessly cluttered desk. But when the miss behind the mess goes missing, workplace tempers rise. Now, Charlotte must open a brand-new folder—one she hopes won’t be filed under M for murder.
296 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Mary Jane Maffini
31 books164 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 75 reviews
January 18, 2011
I think I am on a cozy mystery streak, which gives me a chance to see what works and what doesn't.
What doesn't work here is how much disbelief we are asked to suspend. Nick, the worlds least competent cop, just cannot keep arresting the same innocent small business owner for every murder on his patch, not without a serious lawsuit against the police department. Even someone who's obsessed by murders cannot go around interrogating strangers -- and strangers cannot keep sharing their secrets with a random organizer.
I know that these are the tropes of the genre, but some authors make them work. In this book, they just annoy, as do the majority of the losers who populate the book.
What doesn't work here is how much disbelief we are asked to suspend. Nick, the worlds least competent cop, just cannot keep arresting the same innocent small business owner for every murder on his patch, not without a serious lawsuit against the police department. Even someone who's obsessed by murders cannot go around interrogating strangers -- and strangers cannot keep sharing their secrets with a random organizer.
I know that these are the tropes of the genre, but some authors make them work. In this book, they just annoy, as do the majority of the losers who populate the book.
December 10, 2021
5 Stars
This is the third book in the Charlotte Adams Organizer series by Mary Jane Maffini.
This was a great book. I felt like Mary Jane was my writing twin. I could totally see myself saying so many of the things Charlotte said in this book. I would love to be as organized as she is and i love all the tips to get your clutter under control.
They bring Charlotte into an office office and before she can even get there she is run of road and the gal she is supposed to be organizing for is fleeing from the space. A lot is going on behind the scenes here. I am still flummoxed as so why Jack was so out of touch with Charlotte during most of the book. I know Mary Jane explains it but dang, I needed some Jack love in this book. Give a girl a mercy call once in awhile Jack.
Overall this mystery really kept my attention and I loved how it kept surprising me over and over. So much love for this series. A definitely new favorite for sure.
If you love a 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 third book in the Charlotte Adams Organizer series by Mary Jane Maffini.
This was a great book. I felt like Mary Jane was my writing twin. I could totally see myself saying so many of the things Charlotte said in this book. I would love to be as organized as she is and i love all the tips to get your clutter under control.
They bring Charlotte into an office office and before she can even get there she is run of road and the gal she is supposed to be organizing for is fleeing from the space. A lot is going on behind the scenes here. I am still flummoxed as so why Jack was so out of touch with Charlotte during most of the book. I know Mary Jane explains it but dang, I needed some Jack love in this book. Give a girl a mercy call once in awhile Jack.
Overall this mystery really kept my attention and I loved how it kept surprising me over and over. So much love for this series. A definitely new favorite for sure.
If you love a 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.
July 31, 2021
This is the third Charlotte Adams mystery by cozy author Mary Jane Maffini. I enjoy this series for its charming charcters and fun sleuthing . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.
Charlotte Adams is a professional organizer. She has a popular business and is pushy enough to do well and book her clients months ahead. She has a new client that has hired her to clean a co workers messy work area. When the co worker disappears Charlotte investigates . With the media on her case following her in their love hate relationship Charlotte is determined to push her way through the clues and people she needs to question to get to the truth.
Charlotte is a different protagnist. She is pushy, rude and very vain. A lot of people do not like her for her abrasive personality but it works in her favor and I like it when authors portray strong women that stand on their own two feet. She knows how to solve a mystery and is good at getting people to talk. Its a fun series that I enjoy reading . The organizing tips are fun and are in each book in the series.
Charlotte Adams is a professional organizer. She has a popular business and is pushy enough to do well and book her clients months ahead. She has a new client that has hired her to clean a co workers messy work area. When the co worker disappears Charlotte investigates . With the media on her case following her in their love hate relationship Charlotte is determined to push her way through the clues and people she needs to question to get to the truth.
Charlotte is a different protagnist. She is pushy, rude and very vain. A lot of people do not like her for her abrasive personality but it works in her favor and I like it when authors portray strong women that stand on their own two feet. She knows how to solve a mystery and is good at getting people to talk. Its a fun series that I enjoy reading . The organizing tips are fun and are in each book in the series.
January 7, 2022
I love a cozy mystery especially during a snow storm and quarantining. Yes it was cheesy & unrealistic, but it was also entertaining, light, witty, with a touch of suspense. The ‘organizing tips’ at the beginning of each chapter made me chuckle. I found this one for just a few dollars at a used book store, I’m looking forward to reading more Charlotte Adam mysteries.
March 5, 2018
This was a fun book with lots of twists. Totally didn't see the ending coming. Charlotte gets a lot more than she bargained for when hired to organize a messy desk in an office.
July 3, 2021
If you've read the first two books in the series, you know what to expect with Charlotte. She's an opinionated know it all who gets invested in something and doesn't give up despite what others think or tell her. It can come off as a tad obnoxious, maybe a smidge more so in this one. She is super self absorbed in the guise of helping people.
The mystery in this one was quite involved which was a plus. The reader is kept guessing about what's happening and who the bad person is. I don't think we ultimately end up with answers to everything that is brought up though.
I think the biggest negative to this book is that the work environment and staff at Quovadicon don't make sense. I have worked at some dysfunctional places, but this one takes the cake.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The mystery in this one was quite involved which was a plus. The reader is kept guessing about what's happening and who the bad person is. I don't think we ultimately end up with answers to everything that is brought up though.
I think the biggest negative to this book is that the work environment and staff at Quovadicon don't make sense. I have worked at some dysfunctional places, but this one takes the cake.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2021
This was my favorite in the series so far. I liked the office setting (as opposed to a client's home) but I was a little upset Jack wasn't in this one as much. In the beginning, he does finally stand up to Charlotte and tell her she's bossy, which she needed to hear, but then he was gone. Still, it gave Margaret and Sally more time to shine and enjoyed learning more about them. All in all, this was a good mystery with a little more "meat", a little darker than usual cozies, but definitely worth reading.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#DeathLovesAMessyDesk #NetGalley
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#DeathLovesAMessyDesk #NetGalley
April 8, 2024
Book 3 in the Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mystery series by Mary Jane Maffini finds our organizer extraordinaire hired by the manager of a local company to help organize one of their employee’s desks. When that employee goes missing at the same time a man is found dead in the trunk of a car, Charlotte suspects skulduggery and when the police seem oblivious, launches her own investigation.
I like Charlotte. Yes she’s a meddling busy body but isn’t every cozy mystery heroine? She doesn’t take herself terribly serious and her internal musing are always humorous. The usual cast of secondary characters are equally likeable, each with evolving life circumstance that add interest to the story. I also really liked the pace of the story, it moved along really quick. The mystery itself is great. The culprit is well disguised and the ending a complete surprise. The premise behind the crime is completely believable as is the dialogue.
The one thing I didn’t find at all plausible is Charolette’s motivation for becoming so completely entangled in the investigation. She hadn’t even met the woman who went missing, let alone had any sort of relationship with her. The company’s other employees were very unpleasant (can you say toxic work environment) and that alone should have discouraged further involvement.
There are a few other things I disliked, like her constantly involving her police detective friend who’s off work due to a difficult pregnancy, that she actually earns a living considering she never really works and the dog training piece intwined throughout the story which became very monotonous very quickly.
Overall, I liked this book. If you’ve read the other books in the series you know what you’re in for. It’s not genius, but is an easy, fun, contemporary read.
I like Charlotte. Yes she’s a meddling busy body but isn’t every cozy mystery heroine? She doesn’t take herself terribly serious and her internal musing are always humorous. The usual cast of secondary characters are equally likeable, each with evolving life circumstance that add interest to the story. I also really liked the pace of the story, it moved along really quick. The mystery itself is great. The culprit is well disguised and the ending a complete surprise. The premise behind the crime is completely believable as is the dialogue.
The one thing I didn’t find at all plausible is Charolette’s motivation for becoming so completely entangled in the investigation. She hadn’t even met the woman who went missing, let alone had any sort of relationship with her. The company’s other employees were very unpleasant (can you say toxic work environment) and that alone should have discouraged further involvement.
There are a few other things I disliked, like her constantly involving her police detective friend who’s off work due to a difficult pregnancy, that she actually earns a living considering she never really works and the dog training piece intwined throughout the story which became very monotonous very quickly.
Overall, I liked this book. If you’ve read the other books in the series you know what you’re in for. It’s not genius, but is an easy, fun, contemporary read.
June 21, 2021
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEATH LOVES A MESSY DESK (Book 3 of the Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mysteries) by Mary Jane Maffini in exchange for an honest review. Since Charlotte has been publicly suspected of murder and cleared of the charges on two separate occasions, her organizing business has boomed. However, the danger she faced during those cases has made her a bit jumpy, so she’s looking for an extra-curricular activity to fill her time and lift her spirits. When Charlotte attends a charity recruitment affair, she becomes intrigued with the charity that brings animals to visit the ill and the elderly. As she leaves the booth, someone offers Charlotte a job fixing an office problem with a messy desk. With all of Charlotte’s friends seemingly too busy for her, Charlotte agrees to take the job in order to avoid her loneliness. However, on the way to the first client meeting, Charlotte is nearly killed by a hit-and-run driver. When Charlotte actually arrives, she’s greeted with the nasty personalities of a very hostile workplace. As Charlotte starts her work, it becomes clear that the messy-desk owner has disappeared under suspicious circumstances. After Charlotte starts asking questions, another company employee is murdered, and Charlotte is attacked. Soon, Charlotte realizes she must find out what happened to the missing woman in order to preserve her own life and those of the other company employees.
I like this book and enjoy the series, so far. I recommend this book to fans of the series and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring missing persons, murder, professional organizers, hostile work environments, office politics, nepotism, car chases, and friend abandonment.
#DeathLovesaMessyDesk #NetGalley
I like this book and enjoy the series, so far. I recommend this book to fans of the series and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring missing persons, murder, professional organizers, hostile work environments, office politics, nepotism, car chases, and friend abandonment.
#DeathLovesaMessyDesk #NetGalley
June 24, 2021
Charlotte Adams is feeling a bit jumpy after her last client got her caught up in another murder investigation so being asked to deal with one messy desk should be a breeze, right? Maybe for anyone else but before she's even arrived at the company concerned Charlotte has been put in danger once again and is determined to find out why.
With her heart leaping at every unusual sound Charlotte tries to get one of her friends to go with her or at least have her back but everyone is busy with their own stuff. So, against her better judgement, she's going it alone, after all lightening won't strike a third time will it? Then she finds a body!
I have to admit I am getting quite fond of Charlotte Adams and her little gang of friends although how she keeps her business afloat is still a mystery. In this third book the author has moved past the original introductory feel of the main protagonists and they are all comfortingly familiar with evolving back stories which enhance the whole book. Once again the original client brief leads to something far more complicated and dangerous than it seemed at the outset and I enjoyed every word.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed this installment of what is rapidly becoming a favourite series of mine.
With her heart leaping at every unusual sound Charlotte tries to get one of her friends to go with her or at least have her back but everyone is busy with their own stuff. So, against her better judgement, she's going it alone, after all lightening won't strike a third time will it? Then she finds a body!
I have to admit I am getting quite fond of Charlotte Adams and her little gang of friends although how she keeps her business afloat is still a mystery. In this third book the author has moved past the original introductory feel of the main protagonists and they are all comfortingly familiar with evolving back stories which enhance the whole book. Once again the original client brief leads to something far more complicated and dangerous than it seemed at the outset and I enjoyed every word.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed this installment of what is rapidly becoming a favourite series of mine.
July 22, 2021
The mystery in Death Loves a Messy Desk is pretty good.
The big reveal took me completely by surprise — I didn’t suspect that person at all, and I like how the reveal of their identity also peeled back some layers into their true personality. There were also some surprising reveals throughout the story, especially once Charlotte digs deeper into Barb’s background, and I found that the minor twists kept the story engaging.
That being said, as an intro to a series, Messy Desk left me somewhat underwhelmed. Charlotte was a pretty good series lead. I think her job in organizing people’s spaces sounds awesome. I also liked the subplot about training her dogs to be therapy dogs, and I’m only disappointed that plot thread was dropped pretty quickly. But Charlotte also came off as whiny and needy with her friends, which at times turned irritating. For example, she kept interrupting her best friend Margaret’s sexytimes, often to insult Margaret’s choice of lover, or to complain about her friend Jack never being around anymore. At one point, Margaret sets a very understandable boundary and demands that since she’s busy, she can only talk to Charlotte about matters that are actually urgent. In response, Charlotte insists on talking about Jack, and because Margaret is such a good friend, she takes a break from her night with her lover to give Charlotte advice.
Full review on my blog: https://literarytreats.com/2021/07/21...
The big reveal took me completely by surprise — I didn’t suspect that person at all, and I like how the reveal of their identity also peeled back some layers into their true personality. There were also some surprising reveals throughout the story, especially once Charlotte digs deeper into Barb’s background, and I found that the minor twists kept the story engaging.
That being said, as an intro to a series, Messy Desk left me somewhat underwhelmed. Charlotte was a pretty good series lead. I think her job in organizing people’s spaces sounds awesome. I also liked the subplot about training her dogs to be therapy dogs, and I’m only disappointed that plot thread was dropped pretty quickly. But Charlotte also came off as whiny and needy with her friends, which at times turned irritating. For example, she kept interrupting her best friend Margaret’s sexytimes, often to insult Margaret’s choice of lover, or to complain about her friend Jack never being around anymore. At one point, Margaret sets a very understandable boundary and demands that since she’s busy, she can only talk to Charlotte about matters that are actually urgent. In response, Charlotte insists on talking about Jack, and because Margaret is such a good friend, she takes a break from her night with her lover to give Charlotte advice.
Full review on my blog: https://literarytreats.com/2021/07/21...
August 18, 2021
Another wonderful story in this series!
There is trouble in Woodbridge for Charlotte Adams. Some people believe that she brings it on herself. (And at times I would have to agree.) But this time it's more than solving or preventing a crime. This time it would seem that Charlotte has to do this all on her own with little or no help from friends.
Charlotte is asked to come work at a company that is having a personel problem. One valued employee has a desk that looks like a pig sty! Charlotte needs to find a way to help this person without hurting her feelings. But on the way to her first meeting, she is almost killed by a crazed woman driver. And so it begins.....
Charlotte has to work on relationships within the company as well as in her own personal life.
As for bringing problems on herself, after being framed for one murder, she willfully, knowing full well what she is doing, repeats her previous actions instead of just letting the police take care of it. Have you ever noticed that this is a recurring theme in cozy mysteries? The protagonist is told over and over again, "stay out of this, let the police do their job" and yet she never does? Charlotte is just as bad and that does have me screaming at the book sometimes, but let's face it, I love every minute of the book.
Lookifn forward to number 4 in the series "Closet Confidential"
There is trouble in Woodbridge for Charlotte Adams. Some people believe that she brings it on herself. (And at times I would have to agree.) But this time it's more than solving or preventing a crime. This time it would seem that Charlotte has to do this all on her own with little or no help from friends.
Charlotte is asked to come work at a company that is having a personel problem. One valued employee has a desk that looks like a pig sty! Charlotte needs to find a way to help this person without hurting her feelings. But on the way to her first meeting, she is almost killed by a crazed woman driver. And so it begins.....
Charlotte has to work on relationships within the company as well as in her own personal life.
As for bringing problems on herself, after being framed for one murder, she willfully, knowing full well what she is doing, repeats her previous actions instead of just letting the police take care of it. Have you ever noticed that this is a recurring theme in cozy mysteries? The protagonist is told over and over again, "stay out of this, let the police do their job" and yet she never does? Charlotte is just as bad and that does have me screaming at the book sometimes, but let's face it, I love every minute of the book.
Lookifn forward to number 4 in the series "Closet Confidential"
July 7, 2019
I've read the last of Mary Jane Maffini's Charlotte Adams series: Death Loves a Messy Desk, Closet Confidential, and The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder. If you enjoy tongue-in-cheek, you will enjoy these. Charlotte Adams is an enduring, endearing nitwit who ought to consider it a wonder she and her friends are still alive after all her blunders - no, that's not a spoiler!
And here's the riveting, wholly unpredictable plot twist - I'm going to start recommending these to people who want a gentle glimpse at the organizing process - Maffini's portrayal is just about as faithful as the "how-to" tomes of the best of us, and more intimate. Someone in terror of calling in an Organizer might find Death Loves a Messy Desk and Closet Confidential in particular to be enlightening. Maffini's boxes-on-the-ground view is on-target.
Now, me, sample of one in my guise of Casual Uncluttering Organizer-in-Chief, I DO NOT wear high heels and leather jackets on the job, nor do I make lists every night, nor do I shop big-box-store-which-shall-not-be-named on a regular basis just for fun. But Organizers come in all sorts of personalities. You can absolutely find someone to fit your needs. We aren't even slightly one-size-fits-all.
And here's the riveting, wholly unpredictable plot twist - I'm going to start recommending these to people who want a gentle glimpse at the organizing process - Maffini's portrayal is just about as faithful as the "how-to" tomes of the best of us, and more intimate. Someone in terror of calling in an Organizer might find Death Loves a Messy Desk and Closet Confidential in particular to be enlightening. Maffini's boxes-on-the-ground view is on-target.
Now, me, sample of one in my guise of Casual Uncluttering Organizer-in-Chief, I DO NOT wear high heels and leather jackets on the job, nor do I make lists every night, nor do I shop big-box-store-which-shall-not-be-named on a regular basis just for fun. But Organizers come in all sorts of personalities. You can absolutely find someone to fit your needs. We aren't even slightly one-size-fits-all.
June 23, 2021
I love the premise behind this cozy mystery series... a professional organizer sleuth. So different! Charlotte Adams gets a request to organize the offices at Quovadicon, specifically one messy desk. Sounds safe and easy. Wrong! There is a missing women, a number of dead bodies and Charlotte feels a need to solve this mystery. As usual her friends back her up, most of the time. All of her friends except for Jack. Wonder why Jack hasn't been around... I really liked all the action in this book. The unraveling of the mystery was fun to read.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
March 18, 2018
I enjoy humorous genre mysteries, so Mary Jane Maffini's organization expert/snooper Charlotte Adams mysteries are fun. Charlotte is a bit whiney and a little shallow, but she has a good heart. After discovering her cheating fiancé, she returns to her hometown and reconnects with all her old school friends, who sometimes help her figure out a problem or bail her out when she gets into one. Light reading, great for a quiet weekend.
June 26, 2021
Loved the mystery portion of the book, but really did not like Charlotte; she just seemed very whiny and entitled. A lot of whining about her friends and that the police weren’t listening to her. Of course they wouldn’t, she’s a civilian! The mystery portion was great though; lots of good clues and red herrings, and she worked through everything and actually detected.
September 10, 2021
I like the main character and the clever humor, but this plot is just way too convoluted and over the top for me. Everything from the ridiculous desk pile to Robbie's annoying personality was just too much. It was kind of exhausting to read--for me.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2021
This is a super cute, cozy mystery. An easy read, with fairly good characters. It definitely kept me in my toes, I could not figure out who the bad guys were. The main character was a little over powering to me, too many thoughts in too many directions. All in all, a cute book though.
May 10, 2023
This is the only book from this series I have read.
I was happy that some of the secondary characters were likeable because the main character Charlotte wasn’t. Her training her dogs got tiresome.
The storyline was good but I doubt I will read more of this series
I was happy that some of the secondary characters were likeable because the main character Charlotte wasn’t. Her training her dogs got tiresome.
The storyline was good but I doubt I will read more of this series
January 13, 2024
Death Loves a Messy Desk.
Another Charlotte Adams adventure. Charlotte is called in to a job that is organizing a messy desk. Her friends all seem too busy to hang out with but she still gets into some funny scrapes. Cadavers showing up everywhere. Who is behind these killings?.
Another Charlotte Adams adventure. Charlotte is called in to a job that is organizing a messy desk. Her friends all seem too busy to hang out with but she still gets into some funny scrapes. Cadavers showing up everywhere. Who is behind these killings?.
July 18, 2017
3.5 I'd read more of the series. The only part that I didn't like was the whiny side that the main character would pull when her friends. Almost gave up on the book but glad I didn't and fortunately the whininess was only a small part Of the overall character.
August 22, 2018
I love this series. It is fun and the characters are lovable and so are the dogs.
Read
August 31, 2020donated to DPL August 2020
July 31, 2021
This book was written in 2009 and updated in 2021.
September 24, 2021
would like to give book 3.5 - held my interest
July 15, 2025
A decent little mystery. Good for younger kids.
July 10, 2021
Charlotte Adams and her organization skills are back to help organize the desk of a very messy new employee. Some of the other employees are complaining about the mess and Charlotte is called in to resolve the issue and ease workplace tension. When she gets to the office, the messy employ is not there to meet. She has some other ideas to help organize the company and ease other office tensions. Soon they discover that the messy employ is missing and Charlotte is quickly becoming the main suspect. Can she find the missing employee or will she be convicted for a crime that she didn't commit or winds up a victim? This is another book by Mary Jane Maffini that I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait to read more.
July 13, 2021
Charlotte has a quiet life with two mini dachshunds, a couple of long-time friends, and an organizing business. She likes to dress with a certain flair, loves shoes, and drives a little Miata sports car.
As a favor, she takes on an unusual organizing project at a local shipping business; it centers around an incredibly messy desk. But that's where strange events and dynamics just begin--like the epicenter of an earthquake. Charlotte doesn't miss corporate life, but she never worked in an office with such bizarre behavior.
On the home front, she offered to help her best friend Jack on a committee to raise money for a dog rescue, but she has been barred from helping. At all. And suddenly, Jack is too busy to talk or return her calls. And when she needs help--as lone detectives often do--Jack is strangely absent.
Add all of this to her recent traumatic experience (in the previous book), which has left her fearful and jumpy, and Charlotte isn't sure whether to trust her instincts. This is a terrible time to wonder whether her friends still care. Because she can't stop looking for the missing woman or asking intrusive questions. Talent or curse, Charlotte is tenacious. And everyone--friend and foe--wants Charlotte to stop putting her nose where it doesn't belong.
I can't say that I liked Charlotte. She wants lot of attention; thinking things like "But what about me?"...she's whiny. And she leans heavily on ice cream for emotional comforting. I suppose she's a "realistically flawed character" as some people love to say.
What I like about Charlotte is that despite her fears and obvious insecurities, she goes out and gets things done. She is threatened by an unbalanced man, but tries to understand his perspective. And she assumes the best about people until evidence shows otherwise. This can lead to trouble, but she doesn't regret her positive assumptions. It's refreshing.
I enjoyed this story and laughed in the appropriate places. Some situations were convoluted, but I'm beginning to suspect that many real-life situations and crimes are as well.
I plan to read other books in the series, and hope Charlotte's character matures.
This book may require a little more attention to detail than a murder at an inn, but it's a fun read, and some of the tips that head each chapter are pretty helpful!
4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the pleasure of previewing this ebook!
#DeathLovesAMessyDesk #NetGalley
As a favor, she takes on an unusual organizing project at a local shipping business; it centers around an incredibly messy desk. But that's where strange events and dynamics just begin--like the epicenter of an earthquake. Charlotte doesn't miss corporate life, but she never worked in an office with such bizarre behavior.
On the home front, she offered to help her best friend Jack on a committee to raise money for a dog rescue, but she has been barred from helping. At all. And suddenly, Jack is too busy to talk or return her calls. And when she needs help--as lone detectives often do--Jack is strangely absent.
Add all of this to her recent traumatic experience (in the previous book), which has left her fearful and jumpy, and Charlotte isn't sure whether to trust her instincts. This is a terrible time to wonder whether her friends still care. Because she can't stop looking for the missing woman or asking intrusive questions. Talent or curse, Charlotte is tenacious. And everyone--friend and foe--wants Charlotte to stop putting her nose where it doesn't belong.
I can't say that I liked Charlotte. She wants lot of attention; thinking things like "But what about me?"...she's whiny. And she leans heavily on ice cream for emotional comforting. I suppose she's a "realistically flawed character" as some people love to say.
What I like about Charlotte is that despite her fears and obvious insecurities, she goes out and gets things done. She is threatened by an unbalanced man, but tries to understand his perspective. And she assumes the best about people until evidence shows otherwise. This can lead to trouble, but she doesn't regret her positive assumptions. It's refreshing.
I enjoyed this story and laughed in the appropriate places. Some situations were convoluted, but I'm beginning to suspect that many real-life situations and crimes are as well.
I plan to read other books in the series, and hope Charlotte's character matures.
This book may require a little more attention to detail than a murder at an inn, but it's a fun read, and some of the tips that head each chapter are pretty helpful!
4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the pleasure of previewing this ebook!
#DeathLovesAMessyDesk #NetGalley
April 8, 2012
Death Loves a Messy Desk
~Berkley
(12)
Charlotte Adams Organizer & sleuth, January 4, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport
This review is from: Death Loves a Messy Desk (Charlotte Adams, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is my 3rd book in the Charlotte Adams series. This author already made my fave list with her first 2 books, so I was looking forward to getting reacquainted with Charlotte's team.
The aspects of this book that I enjoy the most are Mona, the busybody emergency operator, Ramona-the librarian with know how, Rose & Lilith (from the first 2 books), Jack-neighbor and friend, and believe it or not-Pepper & Nick.
Pepper, Charlotte's long time friend from school days but not so much at the present, is enduring a difficult pregnancy but seems to be easier going on Charlotte. (compared to the previous books). At first I found it a bit hard to swallow that such an efficient police woman could put up with a dunce/playboy of a husband...that is until I realized I know a couple just like that. In this book their realtionship evolves to another level and they are actually communicating.
That's more than I can say for Charlotte and Jack. I like the two of them and I was happy about how they came together at the end of the book. I did not enjoy Jack being a do nothing guy when it came to ignoring Charlotte and having the wool pulled over his eyes by some new fling. Not so much.
I loved how charlotte was actually trying to train her Dachshunds, Truffle & Sweet Marie. I have 2 Dachshunds and they know only a very few commands...if they choose to even listen to them. Love those dogs.
I missed not having Rose & Lilith in the story and hope they come back with the next book. (which I already have in my tbr stack)
All in all I found this 3rd addition to the charlotte Adams series a bit of a slow started compared to the first 2 books...but the last several chapters were terrific. All loose ends were tied nicely in place in Maffini's usual chaotic fashion. I did have my eye on the murderer before hand, but that's ok.
I will continue reading this series and recommend it to cozy readers.
Ellen
July 18, 2009
I gave this a four since I love funny cozy mysteries and feng shui/ interior decorating mysteries. They are in a class all by themselves. I also read Maffini's "The Cluttered Corpse," but think this one is much funnier.
In this book, the main character Charlotte is trying to relax after recovering from solving a murder, The Cluttered Corpse. She signs up to train her two miniature "weiner" dogs to become certified therapy dogs in a volunteer program and meets another volunteer, Fredelle, who hires her on the spot to organize her work office and especially the untidy, unsightly desk of a new coworker, Barbara.
Charlotte runs her own business as an organizer in a small town and is well known. She has to deal with crazy office politics in the company, Quovadicon, to do this new job. Trying to help tidy Barbara's desk becomes a task when coworkers clash and Barbara disappears.
Charlotte, however, is too organized to let this job go and just drop it, even when she is fired by Fredelle, who had hired her in the first place. She snoops as any serious amateur detective would, and gets herself into trouble. Attempts on her life and on Quovadicon employees, including the self-effacing son of the owner, doesn't get Charlotte much sympathy from her closest friends until she is over her head in trouble and the bodies start to pile up, about three in all.
The plot is good, though I guessed the mystery behind Barbara's disappearance about two-thirds of the way through. The culprits were a big surprise tho.
If you love cute, disbedient dogs who are averse to training, long girlfriend talks (some of which could have been easily cut from the book), plus a lot of humor in a good cozy mystery plot, you'll like Death Loves a Messy Desk.
In this book, the main character Charlotte is trying to relax after recovering from solving a murder, The Cluttered Corpse. She signs up to train her two miniature "weiner" dogs to become certified therapy dogs in a volunteer program and meets another volunteer, Fredelle, who hires her on the spot to organize her work office and especially the untidy, unsightly desk of a new coworker, Barbara.
Charlotte runs her own business as an organizer in a small town and is well known. She has to deal with crazy office politics in the company, Quovadicon, to do this new job. Trying to help tidy Barbara's desk becomes a task when coworkers clash and Barbara disappears.
Charlotte, however, is too organized to let this job go and just drop it, even when she is fired by Fredelle, who had hired her in the first place. She snoops as any serious amateur detective would, and gets herself into trouble. Attempts on her life and on Quovadicon employees, including the self-effacing son of the owner, doesn't get Charlotte much sympathy from her closest friends until she is over her head in trouble and the bodies start to pile up, about three in all.
The plot is good, though I guessed the mystery behind Barbara's disappearance about two-thirds of the way through. The culprits were a big surprise tho.
If you love cute, disbedient dogs who are averse to training, long girlfriend talks (some of which could have been easily cut from the book), plus a lot of humor in a good cozy mystery plot, you'll like Death Loves a Messy Desk.
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