It's twenty years since Freya Lockwood has been back to the English country village where she grew up. She's back now because of a request for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's former mentor and Carole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, to say the least. Arthur was the reason why Freya had not been back to the village: Arthur, she feels, let her down badly. Even though they were in business together as antique hunters, she has not felt able to be near the man or pursue the profession she loved. After the split, she worked in a cafe, met and married James (on the rebound from the love of her life, who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.

So, you might be wondering, what is an antique hunter? It's not someone who goes around, knocking on doors in the hope of finding an undiscovered Chippendale chair which the owner is willing to part with for a few pounds. The hunter is a professional who hunts down antiques which have been lost or stolen, usually from war-torn countries, and then returns them to where they belong. Freya found this very satisfying.

Arthur's death seems more suspicious when a letter from him is delivered to Freya and Carole some days after his death by the local cafe owner. Arthur knew that his life was in danger and he begged Freya to accept an invitation that would come her way. Freya - and Carole - are sucked back into a life that Freya had sworn to leave behind.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is well-written and engaging. Carole (a former actress) can be annoying but does give the story some lightness. There's an interesting cast of characters and there's a feeling of harking back to the golden age of crime fiction. I was happy to read it and I'll probably be equally happy to read the next in the series which is due to be published in 2025.

In addition to reading the book, I listened to an audio download (which I bought myself). It's narrated by Emilia Fox and is well done. Many of the characters are utterly over-the-top and Fox plays them for all they're worth. I'd happily listen to more from her.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy of the book to the Bookbag.

The book started well and I liked the way it was heading but then I began to find it a bit of a slog and the percentage of book read was slow to increase. I thought about giving up but I continued to read and I'm glad I did, I just found the middle of the book wasn't as engaging as either end.

Freya's life seems to be crumbling around her. Her beloved daughter has flown the nest & her ex is demanding she sells her home. She goes to stay with her Aunt Carole who brought her up after her parents' death. Arthur Crockleford, Carole's long time friend & Freya's one time mentor dies in suspicious circumstances. A letter sent just days before his death leads them to the discovery of Arthur's journals and an Antique Hunter's retreat . is murdered he leaves everything to the pair of them. When they arrive at the manor house things are not all it seems to be.

This was a fun read with some great characters. I loved Carole, wished we could have met Arthur & although I started off being very irritated by Freya, she grew on me. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This had a good premise but i found it difficult to get into or to care about the characters. dnf'd at 30%

Well written story that has you gripped and I would definitely recommend anybody to read this. It was a joyful read.

Thank you for the advance copy from netgalley and the publishers.

This was what I would classify as a cosy crime and it really fit the bill. I enjoyed the range of characters and telling the story from their different perspectives. While I would argue that some of the characters were typical of this type of genre and not anything completely new, I wouldn’t regard this as a negative thing, they fit with the genre and their familiarity are what made it feel like one of those perfect cosy novels that are perfect for the dreary weather. it’s not hard to imagine how the book could translate into a nice little tv show. The little quotes from Arthur at the start of the chapters was a nice way of brining his part in the story to the front.
Using the antiques world as a focal point felt a bit new and interesting but also wasn’t over complicated for someone that knows absolutely nothing about antiques.
The back of the book contains hints to the next story in the series and I look forward to seeing where it goes.
Overall I wouldn’t say that this was anything groundbreaking or anything that we haven’t seen before but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it and will likely pick up the next one when it’s released

I really liked the idea behind this - I was expecting a murder mystery with maybe a bit of adventure/chase thrown in - but the actual reality is not as much fun as that, and not as readable either. I think that it was just trying to do too many things and not executing any of them particularly well. The narrative switches around between so many people that you never really get a chance to get to know anyone, and it's all a little muddled and underdeveloped. For example, the way the heroine is dealing with the sale of her house (and her ex-husband) seems totally at odds with the way she behaves in the antiques world. And by the end of the book you're expected to believe that she's completely changed so that she's the antique person all the time but without you ever really seeing her deal with the ex or resolve her issues with her daughter staying away. The wealth of expert knowledge the author has about antiques didn't counteract the issues with the actual plot and pacing. Hey ho.

A good story, and the perfect launch pad for more adventures with Freya, our intrepid heroine who is rediscovering the woman she was meant to be after an oppressive marriage and two decades away from her first love, antiques hunting.
The characters are well drawn, with each one having depth and with traits you will no doubt recognise and relate to. I couldn't help but hear Lilian from the BBC Radio 4 soap, The Archers, whenever Freya's aunt speaks, which made me smile.
The plot line is complex, but not convoluted and keeps you held until the end.
I am looking forward to the next one!

A former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artefacts.

I read the blurb for this one and thought it would be right up my alley but unfortunately, I really didn’t like it. I found myself wanting a lot more from this book. The antiques were interesting, but I wanted to know more about them, for example, how to detect a fake vs a real one.

I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, it didn’t hold my attention as it didn’t find it engaging or have any interest in the characters as I felt like I barely knew them. I felt like there was no character development, which made it hard to like or care about the characters.

There were a few parts that I had repetition or it would point out something that had already been established previously, which felt unnecessary. It felt like a lot was unanswered and I didn’t like the conclusion but maybe the unanswered questions get answered in the second instalment in the series but I have decided not to continue with it.

⚠️ CWs: grief, murder, death, alcohol use, gun use, cursing; mentions blood and cheating ⚠️

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

I didn't really enjoy this book although that isn't to say that there aren't good things about it. I just somehow did not find myself getting very engaged with the main character Freya, and so found it hard to really care about what was going on in her life.

The book begins with a stressed Freya worrying about the impending sale of her house and missing her daughter, who has moved abroad to university. She hears that her aunt Carole has lost a close friend, Arthur, and agrees to go and spend some time with her to support her through the loss.

It's immediately clear that Freya and Arthur have a difficult history. Freya has not spoken to Arthur for years and finds it hard to hear any positive words spoken about him. Over the course of the book we learn that Freya and Arthur had once worked together, hunting down antiques to return them to their rightful homes, but a serious falling out put a stop to their work together.

Freya and Carole are interesting enough characters, and the idea of them essentially posing as two interfering women to solve crimes is a good one. Arthur has left them a series of clues that will help them uncover the background to his death and the book sees them trying to figure them out.

It's quite well paced and there's enough in the plot to keep a reader interested. I just felt that, for some reason, I didn't really connect enough with Freya as a character, and so subsequently wasn't as interested in the book. But this is probably a personal thing and doesn't really reflect on the novel, which others will probably enjoy!

If you love cozy murder mysteries then you will love this!

It was incredibly atmospheric, well written and completely enthralling. I couldn't put it down .

I enjoyed this and I loved that the research was so tight on this (author’s mother is an expert on BBC’s The Antiques Roadshow) so this provided great background. I did find that it was a slow start and pacing throughout needed work. But enjoyed it.

If you’re a cozy mystery fan, and THE ANTIQUE HUNTER’S GUIDE TO MURDER by @clmillerwriter will make a fantastic new entry to your shelves.

Investigating the death of her estranged mentor, Freya Lockwood and her aunt Carole are drawn into this fab story. Their pairing works like magic, but it’s Carole who stole the show for me. I loved watching Freya get back into her hunting things down groove, and cheered so hard when she stood up for herself at a point. Now it’s not all about the characters, the underlying themes of repatriation of cultural artifacts and their valuation depending on the stories behind them resonated with me so much.

There were some stumbles with the pacing and the exploration of her past but I write that off because this was simply charming, and I can’t wait for the next entry in this series. A very easy recommend from me. Full review on my blog.

Slightly clunky debut mystery, needs much more work to make it enjoyable.
Obvious who the killer was. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Freya returns to her home town after the death of her mentor Arthur Crockleford.
His death was a shock but the pair hadn’t been on good terms for the last twenty years and she had kept away from both her home town and the man who had learnt her all she had known about antiques.
Freya receives a letter sent days before Arthur’s death requesting that she investigate the mysterious circumstances of his death .
Freya comes together with her loveable and eccentric Aunt Carole and the pair embark on an investigation that puts them both in danger.
Freya learns the truth about a trauma in her past that led to her being estranged from Arthur.
The writing is good and the story was enjoyable.
I found it a bit slow in places but there was enough going on to keep my interest.
An interesting and different mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan.

This was a good first attempt at a mystery story. It had some surprises along the way The identity of the murderer was obvious either and came as a surprise. It was well set up as well for further books. Now for the not so good. The writing clearly said new writer it felt clunky stopping and starting as if unsure where to go and slow in places but promising for future books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this and if you're a 'cosy crime' genre fan you will too! Murder mystery. A great premise, setting, and engaging characters. At points the pacing felt a little clunky and perhaps somewhat predictable, but overall I really enjoyed it, and I'm hoping there's more to come in this series.
This is a debut novel from CL Miller, daughter of Judith Miller (Antiques Road show and Millers Antique Guides). Freya is a former antique hunter. Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer, her former mentor, and partner of her aunt Carole, has died under mysterious circumstances. Freya had received a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate. She is brought back into her old world of antiques and stolen artefacts, one she thought she left well behind with no intention to ever revisit.
Teaming up with Carole, they form an unlikely duo, following the trail Arthur left for them leading to an old manor house that is hosting an antiques enthusiasts weekend. Freya realises quickly that not all is what it appears in this old house and sets about trying to figure out why and how Arthur was involved, what killed him and stop it happening again.
With a feel of old crime novels, there’s various narrators, majority are either Freya or Carole which gives the story a good flow. A murder mystery with a side of antiques, I really enjoyed the various descriptions and items mentioned throughout the book. And I’m glad it appears to be set-up for a follow-on instalment…

This was a good story. Quite a few things took me by surprise: like the *gardener* - his identity and role in the entire operation and also the identity of the murderer. Not for a moment have I suspected that character of any wrong doing. I obviously cannot be more specific than this without the risk of revealing too much. Also a nice narrative to set the scene for a series of this little cosy mystery/crime novels, featuring Freya and Carole.

But the writing....uhhh cringe. When I think about the writing, I feel like saying the one could definitely say this was a debut novel..it needs work. A lot of work. First of all the hesitation: at first it felt like the author was not really sure where to take the story. Secondly: the repetition: how many time can one read the same lines about what ever happened back then and how it made Freya become a shell of herself without becoming frustrated?? Thirdly: the pace could have been a little bit more alert and the chapters a little bit longer. But I am sure the writing will improve with time and experience.

That being said, if time allows, I would mind reading another instalment and see Freya truly coming out of her shell.

This is a cracking murder mystery, written by an obviously very talented author. I absolutely loved it, devoured every word right up to an ending I just didn’t see coming. I would love to read the next book for obvious reasons. I am trying very hard not to give anything away but trust me it’s been difficult. If you like mysteries you will love this, it’s one of the highest quality. Highly recommended

Rather awkward debut

Freya Lockwood, 46 years old, has been divorced from her narcissistic husband for nine years but still keeps ruminating about her past, her multiple anxieties and self-doubts and stubbornly holds on to decade old grudges. When her estranged former partner in their joint antiques business dies under suspicious circumstances, she suddenly transmogrifies into a fearless Lara Croft and singlehandedly targets a gang of antiques frauds…The author obviously is an antiques expert, her parents having produced the famous Miller’s antiques guides, resulting in her rather awkward and at times patronising style of writing. Don‘t quit the day job!