Wiped Out

I enjoy this series' of (Charlotte LaRue) written by Barbara Colley. She writes about a middle-aged single woman who owns her own cleaning company and also works cleaning, too. These books are quick reading, but they contain mystery in everyday happenings, humor and also a little tweet of romance. These are great books for the empty nester woman.

I didn't care much for the last installment of this series, but this one was much better. A fun New Orleans setting and likable characters makes this quick, easy read a lot of fun!

Barbara Colley won a host of readers with the introduction of Charlotte LaRue in "Maid For Murder." Since then Charlotte, owner of a New Orleans cleaning service, has polished off a few criminals and gotten herself into hot water - much to the delight of fans. Charlotte's easy to like - she's low key, has short, "gray-streaked honey brown hair," and works hard to make a go of it as a single. Many of Charlotte's wealthy clients live in impressive homes in the upscale Garden District, and have been a bit irascible. But, she's never had a client like Mimi (soon to be the late Mimi). Now, it's not that Mimi will be greatly missed by some. She's a formidable woman, bent on getting the best of a neighbor who she says is poisoning her trees. The solution? Mimi will plant some plants that really smell badly along the fence separating their properties. Surely, she thinks, the odor will not only disturb her neighbor but also put an end to her noisome pool parties. In addition to seeking satisfaction, Mimi's also an amateur horticulturist and active in the Horticultural Heritage Society. She calls upon Charlotte to help at the next meeting which Mimi will host. Little did our heroine know the dirt that would be dug up at this gathering. There's whispering about Mimi's affair with the husband of her pal, Rita, and much to-do about the Society's election of officers. Mimi is elected president but the voting gives stuffing ballot boxes a new name. Whatever the case, Mimi doesn't serve out her term because she's found dead soon thereafter. "Wiped Out" doesn't offer Charlotte little to go on but a great deal in solving this one. Problem is there are too many suspects, all with good reasons for wanting to see Mimi make that final voyage. Another engaging and absorbing story in the Charlotte LaRue Mystery series. - Gail Cooke

"Wiped Out" is another in the Charlotte LaRue mystery series. Charlotte LaRue is a super sleuthing amateur detective. She owns Maid-for-a-Day, whose clients live in the prestigious Garden District of New Orleans. Charlotte is always finding herself deeply involved in a murder, even when she tries hard not to get involved. She keeps telling herself to mind her own business and not to get involved in the personal lives of her clients but has to go against her own principles for the sake of justice. She constantly faces these internal conflicts and then acts against her better judgment in the interest of solving the mystery but her decisions always turn out to be for the good in the end. These internal conflicts make the character of Charlotte LaRue true to life. All the other characters are likewise realistic. In this installment of the series, one of Charlotte's clients is murdered and, of course, there are many potential perpetrators. While reading "Wiped Out", I was constantly reminded of Jessica Fletcher, the super sleuthing mystery writer portrayed by Angela Lansbury in "Murder She Wrote". "Wiped Out" is easy reading and there were times when I neglected my duties because I couldn't put the book down. Almost every chapter ends with a cliffhanger and I just had to continue reading to see what was going to happen next. "Wiped Out" is a very good book and I highly recommend it to any one interested in who-done-its. I came in on the fourth book in the series and enjoyed it so much that I'm going to buy the other books in the series and read them also.

In New Orleans, Charlotte LaRue owns Maid for a Day but also works as a maid for certain clients in order to support herself and keep busy. However, when Mimi Adams hires her Charlotte has no idea what she has let herself in for. Mimi explains that she is getting even with her neighbor Sally for hosting noisy pool parties and poisoning her trees. When the Horticultural Heritage Society meets at Mimi's home, Charlotte learns that many of the attendees detest their hostess. Rita believes that Mimi had an affair with her husband; to get back at her, she runs for HHS president. When the secret ballot is tallied, Mimi wins, but Charlotte saw that her client's nosy friend June rigged the vote. Two other members want to start their own club. When Mimi suddenly dies, the coroner determines she was poisoned. Charlotte believes she knows who killed the odious Mimi, but lacks proof. WIPED OUT is a down home charming and entertaining southern cozy. Charlotte is a realistic amateur sleuth because she does not go searching for evidence, but does listen to conversations and observes behavior and events that lead to her on the verge of unmasking the culprit. Barbara Colley provides a pragmatic common sense heroine whose actions makes her seem real and her tales fun to read as fans can picture their neighbors in the role. Harriet Klausner