Ellen Curtis - professional declutterer, amateur sleuth and woman of a certain age - investigates the puzzling death of a TV personality who's past his primeProfessional declutterer Ellen Curtis doesn't need to like her clients to help them sort their homes out. Aging TV personality and curmudgeon Humphrey Carter might have a chip on his shoulder the size of England about the decline of his career, but a job's a job.But when Ellen arrives the morning after Humph's eightieth birthday party, primed and ready to tackle his study - no matter his protests - she gets the shock of her life. Humph's dead . . . and all signs point to him having taken his own life.Did the egotistical chat show host really die by suicide? His wife is adamant he's been murdered, and the more Ellen looks, the more dirt on Humph she digs up . . . and the more suspects she uncovers. Can she track down a killer - if there even is one? And, just as importantly, can she keep herself from killing not only her own infuriating mother, but also her two grown-up children, who all seem determined to destroy her peace of mind?This thoroughly engaging contemporary mystery is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and M.C. Beaton.

サイモン・ブレットが描く本作の真髄は、整理収納アドバイザーという主人公の職業が、そのまま「人生の澱」を暴き出す装置として機能している点にあります。物理的な乱雑さを整理する過程で、人間の虚栄心や確執を剥き出しにする構成は圧巻です。毒気を含んだユーモアと鋭い観察眼が、単なる謎解きを超えた重層的な魅力を放っています。 また、身勝手な家族に翻弄される彼女の等身大の苦悩が、事件と鮮やかに交錯する点も見逃せません。真実という「最後の整理」に向き合う姿には、現代を生きる我々への共感が込められています。日常の歪みを洗練されたミステリへと昇華させた、英国本格派の技が光る至高の一冊です。