I like the original setting for this cosy mystery, which has plenty of suspects and twists as auctioneer Felicia and the local police detective attempt to find the killer of the rival antique dealer whose body reveals itself at the end of the auction. There is a cast of quirky characters, a twisty mystery, family drama, friendships and an increasing body count, giving this all requirements for an engaging cosy crime tale. I like the location in Stamford, which is well-described and adds authenticity to the story. The cast of characters is varied, believable, and vividly brought to life by the author. The auction room and antique dealing setting give the tale its uniqueness, and I look forward to the next Stamford mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Stamford Mysteries Book 1

When an accident forces Felica Grant back to her family's auction house in Stamford, she vows it will only be a flying visit. But as the gavel falls on the final lot, a hidden secret is revealed = the body of her father's business rival, murdered during the packed sale! Soon. Felicia is swept into a mystery that has everyone in the community as a potential suspect - including her.

When a body is discovered in a wardrobe at the auction house, Felica Grant, along with everyone else at the auction, becomes a suspect. So, Felicia decides she must investigate. The characters are well rounded, likeable, and believable. The pace is steady throughout. Life gets more complicated for Felicia in this cosy murder mystery. There are a few red herrings and some clues along the way. This is a great start to a new murder mystery series. I'm already looking forward to the next book.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #ECBateman for my ARC of #MurderAtTheAuction in exchange for an honest review.

I quite enjoyed this mystery. The world of auctions was new to me as was the town of Stamford. The mystery was compelling and kept me guessing!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s U.K, One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a great mystery read centered around an auction house. This was a sweet cozy mystery and I read it quickly. I got involved in the characters and story very quickly. Highly recommend this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review..

A fun start to what I hope becomes a long-lasting cosy crime series.

Felicia Grant is reluctantly helping out with the family auction house, swearing never to do it again, and then a body turns up in a wardrobe, right in the middle of an auction. Everyone's a suspect, even her self, even though she was visible the whole time - so clearly Felicia has no choice but to stick her beak in and do a little investigating on her own...

I enjoyed the way into this crime - the body in the middle of a busy room - the large cast of characters, the little niggles they had with one another, the voice of the author.

The mystery itself kept me guessing (though the resolution for me was just okay) and it had just enough page-turnery quality to propel me full the pages.

I felt like I was reading a story in a full, real world. And I'd like to return again one day!

EXCERPT: The staircase ended at a door. Nudging it open, Felicia poked her head around, eyes widening. Moonlight spilled through the tall sash windows, casting the room in a silvery, chequered pattern. Pale cream paneling lined the walls, finely moulded with a frieze of fruiting vines. High above their heads, an enormous crystal chandelier sprouted from the centre of an intricate plaster ceiling rose. The floor space was dominated in the centre by a colossal four poster bed, heavy tapestry curtains hanging loose.

They certainly weren't in the servants' quarters now.

'A hidden door,' Dexter surveyed the doorway they'd just passed through, the front of which was decorated to match the wall that surrounded it. He let it go and it closed soundlessly, melting seamlessly back into the plaster. Unless you knew where to look, the joins were almost impossible to see. 'Very neat.'

'Dexter, look.' Advancing into the room, Felicia pointed at the fire, the coals of which still glowed faintly in the grate. 'Someone's been here recently.'

'Well, they're not here now.' Dexter strolled over to the high wing-backed armchair, which faced the fire. 'So we might as well . . .'

Surprised at the way he broke off, Felicia turned to see him staring down at the chair, eyes wide in shock. Her heart jolted.

'Dexter?' she rasped, suddenly finding that her throat was tight with fear. 'What . . . what is it?'

ABOUT 'DEATH AT THE AUCTION': Murder stalks the cobbles in England’s finest Georgian town…

When an accident forces Felicia Grant back to her family’s auction house in Stamford, she vows it’ll only be a flying visit. But as the gavel falls on the final lot, a hidden secret is revealed—the body of her father’s business rival, murdered during the packed sale!

Soon, Felicia is swept into a mystery that has everyone in the community as a potential suspect―including her.

As the body count rises and with the people she loves under threat, Felicia takes matters into her own hands. But even the most picturesque place has its secrets…

MY THOUGHTS: I love British murder mysteries, and if this is the start of a new series, it's going to be a good one.

Felicia and Dexter are recently divorced and she has returned home to Stamford with their twelve year old son Algernon to help out after her father breaks his leg. Imagine her surprise when a body falls out of the final lot - a Jacobean cupboard. Felicia and Dexter, who turns up just as the body makes its impromptu appearance, instantly become the main suspects.

Algernon is the pick of the characters. He's a very observant twelve year old and has an enquiring nature. He's also just getting to that age where he's not going to take any nonsense from his parents.

The other main character is the detective, Pettifer, who has a face which looks like it's been repeatedly hit by a shovel and who is somewhat enchanted by Felicia, giving her far more leeway in the investigation than should be allowed.

This is an intelligent rather than a 'cute' cosy mystery with good character development, an excellent setting and a solid murder mystery to be solved. There are several subplots and numerous red herrings culminating in a surprising revelation. The characters private lives are almost as interesting as the murder mystery making this an all round good read that I hope will be developed into a series.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#DeathattheAuction #NetGalley

I: @harpercollinsuk @onemorechapterhc

T: @HarperCollinsUK @OneMoreChapter

#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #familydrama #murdermystery #smalltownfiction

THE AUTHOR: E.C. Bateman is a novelist and antique jewellery specialist. Having made the questionable decision to marry an auctioneer, she moved to Stamford and dreamt up the idea for this series whilst living in a converted Georgian flat overlooking St. Mary’s Church in the heart of town. They’ve since decamped to the surrounding countryside with their baby daughter, but can still be spotted around the cobbled streets on a regular basis, usually being dragged along by their effervescent cocker spaniel, Audrey.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley, for providing a digital ARC of Death at the Auction by E.C. Bateman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

A cosy mystery set in Stamford , based around an auction house and the people running it.
Felicia‘s father owns an auction house in Stamford , he has broken his leg and Felicia returns home to take care of him .
This is where the fun begins , a body is found in a piece of furniture in the auction that Felicia is in charge of .
What follows after this is a story full of red herrings , plenty of twists and turns and a story that moves on at a fair pace with an ending I didn’t envisage.
The characters all have their own quirks and foibles and some are more amiable than others but put together they make the perfect framework for this enjoyable story.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK .

I was sure that I was going to love 'Death at the Auction' to death. (pun intended)

The premise was amazing, the setting of the book was interesting and different (murder in an auction) and I hoped that when I read it I will love it the way I love almost all murder mysteries.

But that was not the case. The characters were forgettable to a ridiculous extent, I was not moved by the plot line which we usually have in all mysteries and it was not different at all.

The plot twists were predictable to me and I had a vague idea of what the twists will contain from a specific point in the book.

The only thing that I liked was the epilogue which was what gave me a reaction to the whole story.

Thank you again to NetGalley for an ARC.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Felicia is woken up one morning by her best friend Cassie. Felicia’s father has had a bad fall and it’s up to her to handle the next auction. She does so brilliantly until her ex shows up, opens the door of a wardrobe about to be sold and a dead man comes out.

I loved the setting of this so very much, Stamford is beautiful and home to the gorgeous Burghley House and it was easy to picture the town here. I’m not sure I liked the main cast of characters, very sharp and harsh, they reminded me of Agatha Raisin (not in a good way) but the writing is very solid and the setting of an auction house perfect for a mystery series.

Felicia and her young son Algernon return to Stamford after her father has an accident and a replacement auctioneer is required. She starts getting back into the swing of things until a dead body falls out of the final lot, an old wardrobe.
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery, the author brings Stamford to life - although I haven't visited this town it sounds very similar to others that I have visited such as Ludlow. Felicia comes across as very feisty, the police sergeant as a mixture of very efficient, whilst being compassionate. Little clues are given as the story develops, but I didn't know who the murdererwas until right at the end when it was all explained. There is also a hint of another book to follow. If you enjoy cosy mysteries I'm sure that you'll love this one.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Years after arguing with her father, Felicia Grant left the family’s auction business she loved so much. But when her father has an accident on an auction day Felicia is the only one who can take over. One auction, that’s all she has to do. But then the last lot of the day wasn’t supposed to include a dead body.

What a debut E. C. Bateman! This is just so original for a “cozy”—in the sense that we have a character who truly is a “reluctant amateur detective”. Cleverly plotted, filled with humor, characters that are engaging and endearing. The vivid detail brings Stamford to life. And with it’s subplots and many red herrings, it has a very solid mystery!

Loved it! Want to read the next installment now!

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter.

“Death at the Auction” (The Stamford Mysteries#1) by E.C. Bateman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Mystery. Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. Time: April/Present.

“A calculated, audacious murder on a sunny Saturday in the middle of a packed auction room…”

When her estranged father breaks his leg, Felicia Grant returns home
from London to run his Saturday auction-the business she left 8 years ago. During her 1st time auctioneering in many years, the dead body of her father’s business rival tumbles out of a Jacobean oak cupboard. Another death follows, and suddenly Felicia and her ex-husband Derek are the main suspects. Luckily, gruff but kindly Sargeant Pettifer doesn’t think they did it. But with Pettifer’s boss pushing for a quick conviction, Felicia better get busy and find the real killer or killers.

Author Bateman creates a wide variety of cozy mystery characters. There’s the precocious 12 year old, the fluffy grandma who bakes, the elegant 90 year old widow, the recluse in his crumbling mansion, the odd couple, the scheming businessman, the egotistical tv star. She adds twists and turns galore-if you enjoy Agatha Christie (the mother of red herrings), you’ll appreciate this.

Bateman also gives us an Agatha Christie-worthy English town she calls “..a provincial pocket of middle England.” and “..one of England’s bastions of old-fashioned gentility.” There are lovely, detailed descriptions of a real town. You can look it up online and see photos of the exact streets and parks she describes. A map in the book would have been nice. Although the occasional description might be a bit much (“…slammed it against the wall with a peevish lack of nominative determinism.”), overall the prose is just right for its genre.

E.C. Bateman is not just a novelist. She’s also an antique jewelry specialist married to an auctioneer, so you can rest assured the book is well researched. If you enjoy M.C. Beaton, Richard Osman, or Agatha Christie, I’m betting you’ll like E.C. Bateman. I like all of them, and now I like her as well so it’s 4 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️ Thank you to NetGalley and EC Bateman for the early copy.

Death at the Auction by E. C. Bateman is the first book in the Stamford Mysteries, and it's a good one! 🔎

I'm a sucker for a British murder mystery. This one is set in an auction house in historic Samford, England. Beautifully descriptive, from the historic homes to the scenery and rare antiques, the author drops you right into the charming setting just as a shocking death occurs.

Cleverly plotted, the mix of humor, good character development, and a solid mystery make this a compelling read. Multiple subplots, red herrings, and some twists kept me guessing. I was impressed with the dialogue and writing. No spoilers, but the MC, Felicia, has some complicated family situations, and it was interesting to see the family dynamics play out alongside the investigative aspects. While this is a cozy mystery, it isn't a "cute" cozy, but rather an intelligent whodunnit. If you enjoy British murder mysteries, you'll want to add this one to your tbr! I can't wait for the next one, and I'll keep this author on my radar!

Thank you to @netgalley @harpercollinsuk @onemorechapterhc and @ecbatemanbooks for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having worked in an auction house, I may be biased, but I loved the setting of this book!

Between the headstrong and competent Felicia and her charming and intelligent son, the mystery is a fun one to follow.

I wish there was more background on some of the characters throughout since they’re so unique and at times quite eccentric.

I loved the twists and turns of the mystery and the family dynamics of the Grants. An enjoyable mystery novel in small-town England.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK and #OneMoreChapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

If you prefer Richard Osman then you need to read this book! So cozy! It was a phenomenal read. It would be perfect with a blanket and a cup of tea. Will be recommending this to the mystery book club.

"A brilliant whodunnit mystery perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton and Richard Osman!

Murder stalks the cobbles in England’s finest Georgian town...

When an accident forces Felicia Grant back to her family's auction house in Stamford, she vows it'll only be a flying visit. But as the gavel falls on the final lot, a hidden secret is revealed - the body of her father's business rival, murdered during the packed sale!

Soon, Felicia is swept into a mystery that has everyone in the community as a potential suspect - including her.

As the body count rises and with the people she loves under threat, Felicia takes matters into her own hands. But even the most picturesque place has its secrets..."

Small towns, auctions, and murder scream Midsomer Murders to me, and that's a very good thing.

When her auctioneer father falls and breaks his leg, Felicia Grant is forced to step up to the lectern at their biggest Saturday sale. But as her gavel falls on the final lot, and the body of her father’s rival reveals he’s met his final end, Felicia is swept into a mystery that has every citizen of Stamford as a potential suspect—including her!
I enjoyed this mystery, characters and settings. Overall I will be coming back for another adventure.

#DeathattheAuction#Netgalley

What a delightful story, even if it does centre around murder. Typical folk, all with backgrounds and foibles, living in a perfect setting, beautifully described, then someone's body is found at an auction.
A well written tale that had me glued from start to finish

A quick, easy, cute and cosy murder mystery that is well written with a cast of well developed characters and a compelling storyline. The book is full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery and it made me want to jump in the pages and help solve the mystery

Delectably descriptive Stamford, England, is the setting for this downright superbly witty cozy mystery. Reading it gave me so much joy as I chuckled here and there at the sheer cleverness and cunning writing, eager to absorb every single word. Author E. C. Bateman certainly has a splendid way of describing things from flowers to houses to food to quirky characters, very insightful and humorous. How thrilling that this is the first in a new series!

The gift of the gab runs in the Grant family. When Felicia's father has an accident and cannot fulfill auctioneer duties at a sale she returns to where she used to live to fill in on short notice. A dead body sparks excitement and unease, the suspect list is as long as a piece of string and Felicia is on it. A blast from the past arrives at the scene adding to the mix. You can't throw a brick without hitting a red herring. Sergeant Pettifer and Algernon are endearing and marvellous and even Peter has his moments.

Death at the Auction will satiate your craving for a brilliant mystery on a different sphere altogether. It is not trite but instead full of creative originality which I practically chomp at the bit for. It reminds me of Richard Osman with snippets of P. G. Wodehouse, one of my favourite authors of all time. In other words, this one is unmissable for any Cozy Mystery genre fan as well as those who are unsure about the cliched coziness in cozies. It has oomph and isn't all roses and sunshine. I also enjoyed learning more about auctions.

My sincere thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this stellar book. Hopefully the second in the series will be available instanter!