"I'd love to have Charlotte LaRue as my cleaning lady. Great mystery"

This is the first book in the Charlotte LaRue Mystery series. Charlotte LaRue owns a cleaning business. She lives near and works in the Garden District of New Orleans.

Charlotte's client Jeanne Dubuisson lives in a ninetheenth- century Greek Revival mansion with her husband Jackson, and her mother Clarice.

Hank, Charlotte's son who is a doctor, talks Charlotte into going to the Zoo To Do event with him and his friend Carol Jones. At the event Charlotte sees Jackson Dubuisson dancing close with Sydney Marriott. When Charlotte was at the Dubuisson's house that day, Jackson had called and told Jeanne that he had to work late that night. Sydney's husband Tony (Jackson's business partner) shows up and verbally attacks Jackson and leaves with Sydney. Jackson Dubuisson is found murdered in his study.

Charlotte's niece Judith Monroe is a detective with the New Orleans Police Department and she and her attractive partner Louis Thibodeaux have been assigned to this case. With Charlotte's connection with her niece, she is able to find out some details that would otherwise not have been at her disposal. Charlotte begins to discreetly gather information.

Charlotte is definitely the type of maid I'd want if I had one. She is thorough but yet down to earth, with an enjoyable personality. I enjoyed seeing Charlotte performing her cleaning duties and the older woman, Clarice, confiding in her. Then Charlotte has to decide whether Clarice is truly confiding, a senile old woman, or is trying to divert her attention.

I liked the setting of New Orleans as well. The author brings forth the flavor of the area.

This is a great first mystery and I can't wait for the next in the series.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted October 20, 2002