Waste of a Life is the third book in the decluttering mystery series by Simon Brett. Released 6th Dec 2022 by Severn House, it's 192 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's
worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of
contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of
ebooks with interactive formats lately.
The author writes entertainingly and
well. All the parts (and they are varied and numerous) fit together and
do precisely what they're meant to do. The characters are believable and
well rendered. The dialogue works and is never clunky or awkward. Although this series isn't fluffy enough (in my
estimation) to fit firmly into the cozy mold, it's not at all
gritty, either. In short, it's a modern British murder mystery with a
well plotted story arc, some not-too-graphic crimes, some humour, and a
satisfying denouement and resolution. For readers who enjoy modern amateur sleuths without paranormal aspects, talking cats, telepathy, and crystals, this series is blessedly free of them.
A fair bit of the book does revolve
around mental illness (expectedly since the protagonist is a de-clutterer and works with professional local social services to help clients). The author manages to treat
the subjects sensitively, but some readers could conceivably find some
of the subject matter and situations triggering.
I found it a delightful read and despite the potentially serious subplot
elements, Mr. Brett manages to imbue the whole with enough humour to
make it an entertaining and quick read. North American readers should be
aware that it's written in British vernacular (faffing around, lift, flat, etc), but this shouldn't pose any problems in context.
Four stars. Really well done. With three books currently extant in the series and such a prolific author, this would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read. Recommended for fans of not-terribly-fluffy modern cozies. Fans of M.C. Beaton, G.M. Malliet, and Anthony Horowitz will likely enjoy these also.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
No comments:
Post a Comment