Book Review of ‘Clutter Free’ by Jackie Layton

Happy Monday Bookworms!

I don't know what it is about when my kids start school, but every September my family and me end up getting sick, and this year is no exception. Our weekend was filled with lots of coughing, an excessive amount of Kleenex's were used, and each of us feel overall yucky. Mine has manifested the worst in my throat and chest, and it seems to be getting worse in my chest, so I'm assuming it's turning into bronchitis and a doctor's trip will be in my future. Oh the joys of the season!

One thing that has been keeping me occupied as I am practically bedridden has been a the nice, cozy mystery that I am featuring today. It is by an author that is new to me, and one that perfectly matched my mood. I hope you enjoy my thoughts and that you are faring better than I am! I am now going to go crawl back into bed...

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Clutter Free by Jackie Layton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Clutter Free
Series: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery #1
Author: Jackie Layton
Publisher: Level Best Books
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Genre: Clean Cozy Mystery

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Kate’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

My Review

A small-town cozy mystery, Clutter Free takes us on a journey with professional organizer Kate Sloan as she fights to clear her younger brother’s name and solve the mysterious murder of the woman that was falsely accusing him. Told solely through Kate’s eyes, the reader goes along with Kate, finding clues and trying to find out what exactly is going on in the small coastal town of Fox Island.

I have been struggling with an illness this week, so a nice, cozy mystery fit my mood and gave me a great escape. This is not a fast-paced novel, and there were parts that did seem repetitive and to drag a bit, but overall, it was pretty well paced. The characters kept it interesting, along with the whole ‘who done it’ as you try to solve the mystery in your own head.

Though there is a love story that brews between Kate and her old high school crush, Reid, this is by no means the focal point, but felt more like a side story. Reid was one of my favorite characters as he is one of those guys with a heart of gold and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Kate safe, which is one of my favorite hero troupes.

My favorite part of this novel was Kate’s occupation. All of the organizational talk fed my soul! I’ve seriously thought about a career in professional organization and reading about Let’s Get Organized amped up my curiosity even further. I also adored Kate’s partner, Bess. Her name alone gave Nancy Drew vibes, but so does her sidekick persona, and I am so here for it!

Clutter Free is the first novel in the Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series and it is a strong start indeed. It gives a firm foundation for the rest of the series and is quite entertaining. I thought I had the entire mystery figured out by the end, and for the most part I was right, but there was still a little surprise thrown in that was unexpected, and I loved it! I can’t wait to see what other organizational mysteries are in our future!

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her, because it might end up in a book.

Connect with Jackie by visiting jackielaytoncozyauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free and Weeding Out Lies, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and a polka dot shopping bag!

(1) additional winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 11, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!