Scrub-a-Dub Dead

by: Barbara Colley

Published by: Kensington

Reviewed by Yuka Mizushima

Charlotte LaRue returns in her sixth mystery in the Maid-for-a-Day series that is set in New Orleans.

In Scrub-a-Dub Dead, Charlotte has agreed to help a friend by cleaning rooms at the Jazzy Hotel. The Red Scarf Sorority (socially elite women in their forties) is staying at this historic Garden District mansion.

Charlotte is tidying up the room of Tessa Morgan when Tessa returns to her room. Tessa is very upset and threatens to have Charlotte fired, claiming that Charlotte ignored the Do-Not-Disturb sign. Tessa's Red Scarf sisters comfort her, and we learn that Tessa is upset because her estranged husband's mistress (Lisa) has announced their engagement.

To cheer Tessa up, some of the women joke that Lisa needs to disappear permanently. Charlotte leaves the room and bumps into an old friend who is also Tessa's stepfather.

The next day, Charlotte learns that Lisa has been murdered, and Tessa is the prime suspect. Lisa was strangled to death by a red scarf, similar to the ones in Tessa's room. While Tessa may have a motive, Charlotte believes that the real killer is still on the loose. Lisa has made a lot of enemies and everyone seems to be hiding something.

Charlotte is very likeable, she reminds me of Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote. She's a nice lady who struggles with minding her own business and doing the right thing.

Charlotte is a big fan of mysteries and crime dramas. She has learned how to carefully and methodically collect clues to piece together the evidence. Her family and friends are torn between being proud of Charlotte's amateur detective skills and worrying for her safety.

I read this when we had a NO power for three days caused by a winter storm in the Northwest. This was a great way to spend the time since the book really engages the reader and the story keeps moving forward. I was able to guess some things, but there are enough twists to give it a surprise ending.

Armchair Interviews says: A great read.

Author's Web site: http://www.eclectics.com/barbaracolley-annelogan