Decluttering Books in Order
How to Read the Decluttering series
Standalone stories, but characters and relationships develop across the series.
The Decluttering Mystery series is best read in its intended chronological order. While each book presents a self-contained puzzle with a satisfying resolution, recurring elements—Ellen's personal life, her family relationships, her business growth, and subtle ongoing character arcs—build progressively. Sequential reading enhances the enjoyment of seeing Ellen evolve, deepen her friendships, and navigate recurring community figures, without feeling repetitive or requiring prior knowledge for individual enjoyment.
About the Decluttering series
Series Premise
At its core, the premise follows Ellen Curtis, a capable, middle-aged professional declutterer who runs her own business, SpaceWoman, helping overwhelmed clients sort through possessions, reclaim space, and often confront emotional baggage. In the course of her work—entering homes filled with decades of accumulated items, family heirlooms, or chaotic disorder—Ellen frequently stumbles upon darker discoveries: suspicious deaths, foul play, or long-buried secrets that the clutter has concealed. Using her sharp eye for detail (honed from spotting what others overlook in piles of belongings), empathy for her clients, and quiet persistence, she becomes an unlikely but effective amateur investigator. The mysteries often revolve around how objects reveal character, past traumas, family dynamics, or motives for murder, blending the practical art of organization with the unraveling of human mysteries.
Main Characters
• Ellen Curtis — The warm, pragmatic protagonist and amateur sleuth; widowed, practical, and insightful, she excels at organizing chaos while quietly piecing together clues from overlooked details. Independent yet compassionate, she balances her career with family concerns and a growing knack for detection.
• Her Children — Ellen's grown offspring (including a daughter and son) who provide personal grounding, occasional worry, and light familial humor; they reflect her life stage and add emotional depth to her character.
• Jude (or similar close friend/confidante) — A recurring ally who offers support, sharp observations, and friendship; often a sounding board for Ellen's theories and a source of wry commentary.
• Police Contacts — Local investigators who initially view Ellen's involvement with skepticism but come to appreciate her insights; they represent official authority while allowing her amateur role to shine.
Setting
The setting is contemporary Chichester and the surrounding West Sussex area in southern England—a genteel, historic cathedral city with charming streets, suburban homes, village outskirts, and the occasional grand estate. Ellen's work takes her into diverse households: cluttered family homes, upscale residences hiding dysfunction, isolated cottages, or apartments bursting with memorabilia. The English backdrop adds cozy familiarity—tea breaks, local gossip, community connections—while the intimate, domestic scale of the investigations contrasts effectively with the darker discoveries amid everyday belongings.
Tone & Themes
Tonally, the series is light-hearted, wryly humorous, and warmly observant, delivering classic cozy mystery comfort with Brett's trademark dry wit and understated British charm. The prose is elegant yet accessible, laced with gentle irony about human quirks and the absurdities of modern life. Central themes include the emotional weight of possessions (how "stuff" reflects identity, grief, or denial), the hidden stories behind closed doors, resilience in middle age, the value of listening and empathy, the tension between privacy and intrusion, and the satisfaction of bringing order—literal and figurative—to chaos. The mysteries highlight how decluttering exposes truths, both mundane and sinister, while celebrating quiet competence over flashy heroics.
In the end, the Decluttering Mystery series is a delightful, thoughtful cozy escape that proves even the most ordinary professions can uncover extraordinary secrets. Simon Brett masterfully transforms the simple act of tidying into a lens for examining human nature, where every discarded item or misplaced memento might hold the key to truth. These stories offer the quiet pleasure of a well-ordered puzzle, the warmth of relatable characters, and the gentle reminder that sometimes clearing away the clutter—literal or emotional—reveals not just space, but clarity, justice, and a bit of hope. For readers who savor intelligent, low-key mysteries with heart and humor, Ellen Curtis's world is an inviting one to settle into, one sorted room—and solved crime—at a time.
FAQ
5 books
No new book in the series is currently scheduled. The latest book, A Disorganised Death, was published in April 2026.
A Disorganised Death was published in April 2026.
The first book in the series is The Clutter Corpse, published in June 2020.
The series primarily falls into the Cozy Mystery genre.
It’s best to read the series in order. Each book has its own story, but ongoing character arcs and relationships develop across the series.
At its core, the premise follows Ellen Curtis, a capable, middle-aged professional declutterer who runs her own business, SpaceWoman, helping overwhelmed clients sort through possessions, reclaim space, and often confront emotional baggage. In the course of her work—entering homes filled with decades of accumulated items, family heirlooms, or chaotic disorder—Ellen frequently stumbles upon darker discoveries: suspicious deaths, foul play, or long-buried secrets that the clutter has concealed. Using her sharp eye for detail (honed from spotting what others overlook in piles of belongings), empathy for her clients, and quiet persistence, she becomes an unlikely but effective amateur investigator. The mysteries often revolve around how objects reveal character, past traumas, family dynamics, or motives for murder, blending the practical art of organization with the unraveling of human mysteries.
The series does not currently have a new book scheduled.