The beginning was a little overwhelming with the introduction of all the characters, but they clear up as the book goes on. It did take a while for the murder to come about, but I really enjoyed this author's style, and the characters. The murders were not grisly, as this is a cost mystery. I found I really began to love Ellie and her hodge podge family. There are a lot of humorous elements in this story, and I truly enjoyed reading it. I will check out this author's other books.

Spring cleaning is murder! I did not realize that the books are reissued titles by the author. I read so many books that it took me awhile to figure out why Rose is just being introduced in this book. It is okay...I so enjoy this series that I would happily read them again. Dorothy Cannell has a superb sense of humour and the books are a perfect blend of mystery and humour.

This book was okay, it was a quick read with great characters. My dislikes is that I figured out who the killer was half way through the book, which for me is a little disappointing. I would recommend this to anyone who likes great characters and doesn't mind if the mystery is revealed early.

The latest installment in the Ellie Haskell cozy series gives star billing to Mrs. Malloy, Ellie's cleaning lady and confidante. When Mrs. Malloy's fellow cleaning woman suffers an unfortunate accident, it is the beginning of a variety of nefarious events. A quick and light read for cozy lovers of this series.

The Spring Cleaning Murders
Author: Dorothy Cannell
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Alibi

Ellie Haskell has spring cleaning fever. She is besieged with problems like her housekeeper, Mrs. Malloy, giving notice and moving to London to take care of her infant granddaughter. Ellie searches for someone who can take Mrs. Malloy’s place, something that is not easy as everyone she hires ends up dead. Ellie is left with no alternative; she must investigate the murders and help make sure the last members of the Chitterton Fells Charwomen’s Association (C.F.C.W.A.) stay alive.

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Ellie is a great character who happens to be suffering from spring fever and gets involved in a crazy murder investigation. Someone is killing the local cleaning ladies after Ellie hires them to work for her. The fact that the main character is a stay at home mother who cares deeply for those around her and her family make the story relatable to many women in today’s world.

Jonas and Freddy are the best characters beside the wonderful Mrs. Malloy. They bring the situations to life while giving the reader something to laugh about. There is charm in the way Ms. Cannell describe the people and the issues, without making the story unbearably annoying.

Although this book is a reprint of the original published in 1998, it is not dated and is still fresh and entertaining. The story is not fast-paced but does not ramble, and there is just enough detail to keep the reader interested in the location and the characters. The ending is a bit predictable but not to the point of the reader being disappointed. This book and series of books are recommended for anyone who wants their mysteries without a lot of violence, or sexual content and who like wholesome, good characters.

Spring cleaning was in the air with Ellie Haskell determined to make her house sparkle from top to bottom. But of course with Ellie’s three year old twins, husband Ben, cousin Freddy and the elderly Jonas also under her roof, Ellie had her work cut out. And her housecleaner, Roxie Malloy had left in a hurry to babysit a new granddaughter. So Ellie’s search led her to the Chitterton Fells Charwomen’s Association – and her first visit to the home of the president had Ellie in shock when she discovered the body of one of the cleaning ladies at the base of a ladder…

But worse was to come when more of those intrepid ladies met a gruesome end – Ellie was devastated to say the least. She needed to turn her sights to finding the killer before more ladies bit the dust. Would her skills suffice? Or was she putting herself in danger by discovering things the killer didn’t want her to know?

The Spring Cleaning Murders is my first by Dorothy Cannell and I’m afraid I was disappointed. A cosy mystery – yes – but there really wasn’t much of a story to draw me in. The adult characters didn’t particularly hold my interest with the most likeable being the three year old twins. I had guessed the killer quite early in the piece as well. But I've also noticed others have rated this one highly, so it obviously just wasn't suited to me.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.

Set in England, Ellie Haskell, mother of two precocious imps has trouble hanging onto a cleaning woman....and it's time for a spring clean. The first left to care for a grandchild, the second, a strange one, is murdered.
Questions arise and Ellie is asked to check into it. Her natural nosiness gets her into trouble and she only makes it out alive due to her cleverness.
Family and friends help and interact to make a fun read.

The Spring Cleaning Murders by Dorothy Cannell is the 7th book in the Ellie Haskell mystery series, and is written as perfectly as the first 6 were. The Ellie Haskell stories are a personal favorite of mine, having first read The Thin Woman (book one) over 25 years ago. Ellie has found true love with her husband Ben and their 3-year-old twins Tam (Grantham) and Abbey (Abigail), and is happily living at Merlin's Court with them and Jonas (the caretaker) and Freddy (her cousin). Everything is going smoothly in Chitterton Fells until members of the CFCWA (Chitterton Fells Charwomans Association) start dying (and getting murdered) and Mrs. Malloy disappears. It's up to Ellie, Ben, and Freddy to discover who the murdering villain is. Ms. Cannell has such a gift with the written word, and this story is a perfect example. Witty, clever and fast-paced, and it left me a little misty-eyed at the end. Bravo!

A "cozy mystery" that I feel can stand alone, even though it is part of a series.

Small town, cleaning ladies being murdered, & a family mom to the rescue to solve it all! Somewhat reminded me of "Aunt Dimity" to a point (probably because of where the story takes place). Many characters to keep track of, but they all work together in the story. Enjoy~

Dorothy Cannell's cozies never disappoint. This one was a little convoluted, but fun.

I probably should have given this book 5 stars and I am actually not sure why I didn't. I was not really that excited about it but I really did like it and it was a very good book. It's not overly exciting, but it is very well written. It is the 7th book in the series but it was the first book that I have read and I was easily able to follow the story without feeling like I have missed anything. It would be nice sometime to go back and read the previous books. Ellie and all of the characters are well developed and described in detail. The town is an English seaside village that sounds lovely and the kind of place where everyone knows each other. There were many things to like about this book but I loved Ellie finding the notebook full of Abigail's home cleaning recipes and how they all pulled together to investigate the people they suspected could be a murderer. I would be interested to see if they really sell Abigail's cleaning supplies, it was nice to read how they all worked together on it. Overall, it was a good book.

This was an enjoyable entry in the Ellie Haskell mystery series. It was light and easy to read with likable characters living in a storybook English village who accidentally become involved in solving a series of murders. A fun cozy mystery.

I wish I had known about this series earlier, I will now be looking for the earlier ones in the series to read. From a mother's point of view I found this book totally relateable and enjoyed it immensely. Very very funny as Ellie goes through the joys of weight loss and being the mother of twins whilst trying to solve a murder. Very witty and a lot of suspense, would definitely recommend this book.

Ellie Haskell is a fun, quirky character.
In this story, Ellie loses Mrs. Mallory and this begins a tailspin of tragedy.
Cleaning ladies are dying and Ellie goes undercover to find the answers.
I can always count on Ellie, Jonas and the gang to make me laugh.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

Last night I finished Dorothy Cannell's The Spring Cleaning Murders. This is a first for me by this author and it was delightful. The british based cozy was lovely and a very unique story. The mysterious deaths of cleaning ladies in their circle known as the C.F.C.W.A, was nicely wound and suspicion shared beautifully among the characters. This is a mystery with heart and structure. Very difficult not to cry at the end. Lovely Mystery and one to pick up for sure. This one is out May 9th.

This is second book I have read by this author and I really do like the way she develops her characters. The story flows and I look forward to any book by this author. Thank you once again for the ARC.

Funny from the first page...so great! Ellie was a busy gal but made time for looking into why people are dying. As I read the book I could hear the British accent. That group of cleaning ladies were interesting and making rules as they went along. Mrs. H is a fabulous drama queen character, The town was full of interesting eccentric people that made me want to know more of their stories. I found this book very entertaining and I am glad I got the opportunity to read it.

I have read and enjoyed other Ellie Haskel stories by Dorothy Cannell , this one, The Spring Cleaning Murders, was just as enjoyable as the last. Maybe more so because I have now gotten to know the quirky characters like Roxie Malloy, the cleaning woman who dresses in cocktail dresses, or cousin Freddie who is always around to help out with Elli's twins. It is the epitome of cosy.

This cozy mystery is not my favorite but the author is known for her wit and ridiculous plots. The characters are likable, the situations funny and the characters are quirky, to say the least. A fun beach read.

Ellie and Ben are a happily married couple who have twins, a cousin who lives in the gatehouse as well as a wonderful elderly friend who is the gardener, but really more of a grandfather figure.
In this family there are always events. Ellie is in the midst of spring cleaning, Ben's restaurant is under assault and Mrs. Malloy, their intrepid house cleaner has announced she is leaving them for family reasons.
The twins are wonderful characters who add a great deal to the story. They actually behave like real live children. Ellie leads a wonderful inner life. Her thoughts are always right on point. And Cousin Freddy has a terrific warped sense of humor. Everything about this series is based on what could be considered relatively normal people. Except for the murders, of course.
When Mrs Malloy bows out of their lives, another woman is going to become a regular house cleaner for the family. But, that does not work out at all.
Because this is a small village, various friends and neighbors play large parts in daily life as well as the murder investigations.
Ms Cannell creates characters who draw the reader into the story. Whether main characters or secondary characters, each one adds to the texture of the story.
The plot moves forward quickly. There are well done secondary plots involving people important to the family.
This is a British cozy with a British sense of style. And it is lovely. Although this book is part of a series, it works well as a stand alone read.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.