I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Atria Books. 

This tickled the itch for a cozy mystery. Set in the backdrop of a Manor House it was the perfect place for the world of antiques meets murder.

Freya has been estranged from Arthur for 20 years after an incident in Cairo when they were antique hunting together. Now she’s been left the trail to catch his murder and get her career back after it was railroaded. We do discover why Arthur betrayed Freya and now she has the chance to not only understand but fix what happened all those years ago.

There were points where I would have liked more from some characters and less from others. There were many POV’s and I feel it would have benefitted from the less is more on this. I loved Freya and Carole, they worked so well as a duo, a story of family reunions with a murder mystery at the heart of the story. I was very impressed with how everything came together. Overall a lovely read which I am really pleased I was offered.

What a super debut cosy crime that is set to be the beginning of a great series!
I don’t know much about antiques at all but I am intrigued by the hidden stories behind them and love listening to these whenever I visit National Trust properties and I love a cosy murder mystery, so put these together and I was hooked.

Freya used to love antique hunting with Arthur, but gave that up many years ago following a tragic incident that changed the course of her life and saw her become estranged from Arthur. However, when Arthur is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Freya finds herself drawn back into the dark world of counterfeit antiques as she seeks to find the truth behind Arthur’s death. Along with her rather eccentric aunt Carole, Freya follows Arthur’s clues as she once again sharpens up her hunting skills and instincts. But can the two women solve the mystery in time?
Freya is a wonderful protagonist: mum of a grown up daughter who has lost her sense of self, it is great to watch her rediscover what has simply been hibernating inside her throughout the course of the book. Aunt Carole is simply spectacular! Added to our leading ladies is comprehensive list of suspects and a country house setting and a plot line that kept me guessing throughout!

All in all this is a really engaging story which really would make a terrific movie or TV series! I look forward to Freya and Carole’s next adventure!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Pan McMillan for an arc in exchange for a review.

A debut cosy mystery that’s enjoyable to read and passed a few hours pleasantly without ever really catching alight.

It’s not taxing, it’s relatively easy reading and is set in a world I’ve not encountered and has huge potential for a series.

I found some of it a little pedestrian and in my opinion it lacked in red herrings or shocks and was something of an A to B read.

That said it has its charms, the characters are likeable and as I have mentioned, I feel the antique world has masses of potential for mystery thrillers and with an author who clearly knows this world, it’s a promising debut and I’ll certainly look to read the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for my approval to read and review this book.

This book is enchanting with brilliant descriptions of people and places. The story flows through different people, locations and time lines! We are taken into a world of searchig for missing antiques and returning them to their original owners. At the start of plot, Arthur has a feeling that something will happen to him so he prepares an envelope for Freya and Carole. We are taken from the leafy countryside of England to Egypt! The why, how, who and what will be found out through Freya's and Carole's investigating, you will only discover by reading this book. I adored Freya and Carole's family bond and how adventurous they are! I will be recommending this book!!

An entertaining cosy crime with some lovely details about antiques and history thrown in for good measure. An easy read with some lovely wow moments.

3,5 upped to 4
I had fun and enjoyed the story as there's some very funny moments and Aunt Carole is a great character.
I wasn't a big fun of Freya and I found the dialogue with her abusive ex husband quite disturbing and a sort of mood damper.
It would have worked in a crime thriller but this is a cosy, or so I thought.
The plot is slow burning and very fast paced in the second part.
I liked the mystery that kept me guessing and loved the part about the antiques.
You feel that author know what they're talking about and they love antiques. It was quite informative even if a bit too specialistic at times.
Entertaining, some small changed would turn it into a 5* novel
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rated 4.5/5

The writing lured me in and kept me guessing. There were quite a few little bits going on which did confuse me at times, but by the end everything tied together well.

I liked that the story opened with a gripping prologue before launching into the story properly where it was then written from a few different character viewpoints. There was however clearly still a main character. It was always clear which viewpoint you were reading from by the chapter having the character's name at the beginning.

Each chapter had an illustration of a magnifying glass, a quote and if necessary the name of the character whose viewpoint we were reading from. The picture and the quote was a fun way to introduce what you were about to read.

The chapters weren't overly long so you were able to move through the story and the different viewpoints fairly quickly. The shorter chapters allowed for more character viewpoints without slowing the story down.

The characters were great. I loved all the different personalities and how they all came together to create the mystery. The different personalities kept me guessing as to how everyone fitted together and how the story would end. I also enjoyed reading about the main character's personal journey alongside the mystery.

Lastly the settings. There was light description of the surroundings which enhanced the story well. At some points the settings were an integral part to the story which was good.

Overall an enjoyable mystery. I definitely want to hear more from the main character and her aunt in the future.

Antique shop owner Arthur Crockleford knows he is likely to die soon, because he knows too much. His death looks accidental, but why did he break the vases? That is the question that his oldest and best friend, Carole, poses to her niece, Freya. Twenty years ago, she had been Arthur’s antique hunting assistant and by that I mean that she and he had worked for insurance companies, and law enforcement agencies to track down and recover stolen antiques and antiquities. She had loved the work and showed great talent in the field, but a catastrophe in Cairo had ruined their relationship. Reeling from the after effects of this, Freya had blamed Arthur for wrecking her career, bounced into an unsuitable marriage, and a quick pregnancy. Now she is divorced, her daughter is off at University in the States, and her home is about to be sold. Her only anchor is her aunt Carole, and she is asking her to help investigate Arthur’s death, which means returning to the shop and the village and addressing her fixation about Arthur’s role in destroying her career and , by extension, her life. But still she loves Carole, and her hunting skills, long dormant, are starting to wake up and smell a crime that needs solving. Arthur has left some clues, starting with those vases, which lead Carole and Freya to an isolated manor house where regular meetings take place to verify, value, buy, sell but most importantly store, antiques, and antiquities. Arthur has been the verifier and valuer at these events and his will has nominated Freya as a replacement. And what she and Carole find exposes a major international crime, but also unravels her past. And, of course, there are murders.
The author’s background provides the underpinning basis for the plot, but knowing about some specialised information doesn’t drive a plot; it enhances the background, provides motives, makes the story more realistic, but without a suitably twisted plot, and a cast of solid characters, it isn’t enough. Here we have a traditional “Marple” story, a house full of suspects, an amateur investigator (only Freya, Carole is light relief), a bit of jeopardy, everyone behaving a bit oddly, a final exposition of the evidence and unveiling of the guilty party. Unfortunately, it isn’t very complicated, and is far too repetitive – Freya keeps repeating details as if the reader will struggle to remember otherwise. Flashbacks to Cairo are relevant and there is some excuse for repeating bits of some of them, but not to this extent. Flying across those bit does speed up the story, so if you want a fast read without brain strain it serves the purpose. If you read murder mysteries for the puzzle then you will be underwhelmed.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Freya was an antique hunter before she married and had her daughter. The man who taught her everything she knew, Arthur, was now her sworn enemy and best friend of her aunt, Carole. But now Arthur is dead, and Carole is sure he was murdered. And Arthur isn’t quite finished with Freya and her hunting career just yet. Except now, Freya is hunting for a killer.

This is a debut book from this author, and it was very good. It was well written, showing the authors extensive knowledge of the antiques world. The characters were also well written, and completely believable. Carole was by far my favourite, her wit and humour was great. It was fast paced, and quite the page turner with many red herrings along the way. This is a great first novel to step foot into the cosy crime genre with.

The Antiques Roadshow with added murder and mystery, what's not to like ! A Midsommer Murders type vibe from someone who actually knows a lot about antiques. We loved it.

Freya is estranged from Arthur, they worked together in the antique business until something affected their relationship. This is something that will make itself known during the story. The only problem is that Arthur has just died. He fell down the stairs of his antique shop. But his best friend Carole is suspicious and mentions this to her niece Freya.

The story gradually emerges that Arthur has left a series of clues, and has things in place just in case something does happen to him. Good job he did because there is definitely something amiss as Freya and Carole attend an antiques weekend, it is not something that the general public would be invited to or even aware of, but Arthur has arranged for the women to be there.

I really enjoyed the twisted and devious way the author has brought together several characters. The book definitely has a whodunnit feel as Freaya starts to follow clues, leads and hunches. Carole helps her, but Carole is a bit dramatic, she was once an actress. But, it does have its advantages.

With several characters being introduced gradually it was easy to keep up with who was who. I will say that not all of them are nice, some are needy, aloof or just very unlikeable. Like most murder mysteries, there has to be a few twists and this book certainly has plenty of them. Some things emerge quite quickly but the vast majority fall into place later. With the final pieces being answered in a grand finale.

This does have the feel of a Marple-style mystery and I enjoyed it. It was a fun read with some danger and plenty of adventure for our daring do of Freya and Carole. I liked these two and there is an interesting development that would make this the ideal opportunity to make another book or series. I do hope that this is something that happens because I really enjoyed this one.

This is for fans of murder mysteries, crime, sleuthing and whodunnits. I enjoyed it and would happily recommend it.

I liked the book and the writing. The main characters were enjoyable too. I am hoping this will become a series.

I do love a cosy mystery .. and this one is so much more!

Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer, dies suddenly but he knew his death was imminent and sent a letter to Freya Lockwood, his one time protegee begging her to finish what he started. For twenty years, Freya has avoided Arthur and everything to do with the antique business and she has no intention of getting caught up in it all again. However, her Aunt Carole, by way of wearing her down, convinces her to at least take the first step and from there on in, she just HAS to find out what's been going on. Was Arthur's death really an accident, or is something more sinister going on?

This is just fabulous! A very different sort of mystery and one which caught my imagination from the very first. Wandering into a world I know very little about, it has been cleverly crafted and beautifully written and held me in it's thrall right to the very end. Interesting, exciting and so very enjoyable, I really, really hope that there is more to follow. A smashing read and one which I'm very happy to give an easy five stars and my recommendation to all lovers of a grand mystery!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Wow I just couldn’t put this down. Well done CL Miller, what an amazing debut. What a page turner full of twists and turns from every corner. A murder mystery at its finest. Can’t wait for more.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 4*
Pace: 3*
Characters: 4*

I'm currently well invested in the muder mystery genre and this is a wonderful fresh take on it. Antiques, hidden clues, a big stately home. YES PLEASE.
The characters were great, even from beyond the grave, and hearing there is going to be a sequel direct from the author herself has made me extreemly happy to read more about them!
If you like The Thursday Muder Club series, or are a traditional Agatha fan, you will love this modern day story.
Out in feb!!!

A Cosy mystery pairing Agatha Christie-esque murder with antiques and antique hunting written by Judith Miller’s daughter
(Miller’s Antiques Guide) who has obviously absorbed a great deal of information. Lots of fun and suspense mostly set in an isolated manor house in Suffolk, providing a tension filled background. It makes for an enjoyable read, fast and furious in places and it looks as if it will become a series; starring the lead protagonists Freya and her Aunt Carole. Slightly OTT but it was an easy read with interesting details. (Impossible not to look up Martin Brothers ‘Wally Birds’!)

I think this book was interesting the plot concept was what initially drew me into the book but the writing style I think is just not for me, unfortunately.

A very enjoyable book. It is a murder mystery set around the antique crime trade. Freya returns to her aunt, Carole when Carole's best friend Arthur is found dead. Arthur once mentored Freya on the dubious trade of stolen and fake items. Arthur leaves Freya a cryptic letter with clues, but not what she is searching for. Miller tidies up most of the loose ends but leaves enough for a sequel, the fate of the solicitor being one of them. It was only after I finished the book that I looked up Martin Brothers birds to discover that they are real.
I look forward to the next one if there is a sequel.

I like a murder mystery or thriller so I was excited to read this. I liked the premise of “what would drive an antiques expert to murder”, especially when the introduction said that the author grew up with antiques experts, her mother featuring on The Antiques Roadshow. This was clear in the descriptions of the antiques world, and I enjoyed looking up the Martin’s Brothers Birds, and I can’t help but agree - they’re ugly!

I found the characters hard to connect with and they didn’t have much to redeem them. Aunt Carole in particular drove me nuts! I found her characteristics conflicting, one moment she was exceptionally perceptive, the next her stubborn refusal to see anything from a point of view other than her own. Her steadfast belief in Arthur without caring to listen to a word her 'beloed niece' had to say about how he was responsible for the death of her true love. One moment she’s not speaking to Freya, the next all is forgiven and she doesn’t want to hear a word on the matter...let the poor woman have her say and some closure for crying out loud!!

Freya wasn’t much better. I found I couldn’t really care about her ex-husband selling the house, or come to a conclusion about what I thought of the daughter, she went from panicking about her mother to, okay that’s fine in an instant.

The story seemed to drag in places, and I found myself getting distracted. It was a good introduction to the antiques world with a great premise but, for me, it was forgettable and underwhelming.

An enjoyable and entertaining cosy crime novel, I’m intrigued to see where the author is going to go with this as I believe there’s going to be a sequel.
I liked Cassie but I really liked the dynamic between her and her aunt, Carole. The cast were all both plausible as the baddie, yet mostly likeable nonetheless.
There were some interesting descriptions and observations about the world of antiques, and I imagine it’s going to be a rich source for future stories.