Dorothy Cannell: Spring Cleaning Murders (USA 2017)

From the Publisher:
Dust mops are deadly in this "irresistible" (Minneapolis Star Tribune) and "wickedly witty" (Chicago Sun-Times) cozy mystery featuring the beloved Ellie Haskell-the signature heroine of Agatha Award nominee Dorothy Cannell.

When the ever-scrupulous and ever-caustic Mrs. Roxie Malloy leaves her employ in tears, Ellie Haskell-busy mother of twins-is forced to find another cleaning person. As she searches for someone who can at least aspire to taking Mrs. Malloy's place, Ellie turns the household topsy-turvy, overcome with spring-cleaning fever. But when members of the Chitterton Fells Charwomen's Association (C.F.C.W.A.) start biting the dust, Ellie swaps scrubbing for sleuthing to find out what dark secrets have been swept under the rug.

With the help of her husband, Ben, her feckless cousin Freddy, and an assortment of homemade cleaning solutions, Ellie joins the C.F.C.W.A.'s roster and embarks on a brief stint as a mercenary maid-just long enough to snoop through her neighbors' things and find out which one has more than dust bunnies and dirty dishes to hide.

Dorothy Cannell: Spring Cleaning Murders. An Ellie Haskell Mystery. Random House Publishing Group, ISBN: 9780399180392 (May, 2017), eBook, 1 MB (ca. 287 p.), $4.99.

Dorothy Cannell: Spring Cleaning Murders (USA 1999)

From the Publisher:
For thirteen years, Dorothy Cannell, the award-winning author of The Thin Woman and The Widows' Club, has enchanted readers who relish Nancy Atherton, Carolyn Hart, and Diane Mott Davidson. Now she brings us her inimitable Ellie Haskell - heroine of the weight-loss wars and busy mother of twins - in a mystery that fizzes with deadly wit. Spring cleaning fever has Ellie nearly scrubbing the Merlin's Court chandeliers with a toothbrush. But when yet another member of the Chitteron Fells Charwomen's Association bites the dust, Ellie swaps scrubbing for sleuthing to find out who has more than dust bunnies and dirty dishes to hide. With Ellie and a madcap cast that includes her handsome husband Bentley, her feckless cousin Freddy, and caustic home helper Mrs. Malloy, The Spring Cleaning Murders is Cannell at her best.

Dorothy Cannell: Spring Cleaning Murders. An Ellie Haskell Mystery. Penguin, ISBN: 0140276157 (June, 1999), 290 p., $6.99.

Dorothy Cannell: Spring Cleaning Murders (USA 1998)

From the Publisher:
"If there's anybody funnier than Dorothy Cannell," says Nancy Pickard, "I don't want to meet her until my sides stop aching."
In spring a young woman's fancy turns lightly to thoughts of... furniture polish and dust mops? Spring cleaning fever almost has the inimitable Ellie Haskell -- heroine of the weight-loss wars -- scrubbing the Merlin's Court chandeliers with a toothbrush, turning the entire household topsy-turvy. Her husband Bentley's restaurant is being picketed by a cadre of vengeful vegetarians; her beloved, if truculent, gardener, Jonas Phipps, is looking much too peaked for Ellie's taste; the ever-caustic Mrs. Malloy has given notice and gone off to London to look after her new granddaughter; and Ellie herself is swept by the urge to redecorate all of Merlin's Court. But when members of the Chitterton Fells Charwomen's Association (C.F.C.W.A.) start biting the dust, Ellie must drop everything to discover what dark secrets the victims had swept under the carpet.

All in the service of her investigation, Ellie pledges to abide by the rules of the Magna Char and becomes an honorary member of the C.F.C.W.A. With the help of Bentley, her feckless cousin Freddy, and an assortment of homemade cleaning solutions derived from Abigail Grantham's diary, Ellie embarks on a brief, ill-fated stint cleaning her neighbors' houses -- and snooping through their things. As Ellie seeks to uncover the skeletons in the closets of both friends and strangers alike, she must ask herself: Which was a motive for murder? And will she find out before the murderer decides to rub her out as well?

Fizzing with deadly wit, a wonderfully madcap cast, and one of her most touching stories ever, The Spring Cleaning Murders is Cannell at her best.

Dorothy Cannell's eight mysteries include The Thin Woman, Down the Garden Path, and the Agatha Award nominee, The Widows Club. Born in Nottingham, England, she now lives in Peoria, Illinois.

Dorothy Cannell: Spring Cleaning Murders. An Ellie Haskell Mystery. Viking, ISBN: 0670875716 (May, 1999), 275 p., $21.95.