When Freya receives a mysterious letter from her old mentor Arthur after his death, she ends up back in her old village. Teaming up with her elderly Aunt, she must tap into her investigative skills and find out happened to Arthur and how it relates to the death a local Lord whose estate he was due to look at.

A cosy mystery with some great characters, I enjoyed this easy listen, which was well narrated by Emilia Fox.

Freya Lockwood has enough on her plate to deal with since her ex-husband insisted that the family home be sold. The last thing she needs is a phone call from her Aunt telling her that her old mentor, Arthur, has died under mysterious circumstances. Returning to her childhood home after twenty years brings back unpleasant memories and a hunt for a murderer.

Both the title and the cover of The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder are enough to grab your attention. When you add in the pedigree of author C. L. Miller you know you're in for something exciting.

This was such a fun audiobook to listen to. The way in which the story develops, including the numerous hints to events in Cairo twenty years ago, has you immediately thinking of an Indiana Jones type adventure. We learn that Arthur Crockleford was Freya's mentor, he taught her everything about tracking down antiques that had been stolen and returning them to their rightful owners. On one of their hunting trips, twenty years ago, something went disastrously wrong and they became estranged. The listener/reader is kept in the dark for quite a while as to the exact nature of what went wrong. This, along with Arthur's murder, adds another layer of mystery to the story.

The police are convinced that Arthur's death was an accident, but Freya and her aunt are suspicious. When Freya receives a posthumous letter from Arthur she knows that he was fearful for his life. The letter turns out to be a series of clues to help them solve the puzzle of who would want Arthur dead, and why.

The clues lead to an antiques event at a stately home filled with larger-than-life characters. No one is as they seem and absolutely no one can be trusted. My favourite character was Aunt Carole, an eccentric luvvie who thinks she can talk, or act, her way out of any situation.

I am convinced that this cosy murder mystery will be the start of a successful series featuring Freya and her aunt.

A cosy murder mystery in an isolated Manor house with the great cast of both suspects and villains and of course the antiques. Freya Lockwood is dragged back into her past when her former antique hunting mentor Arthur Crockleford dies in mysterious circumstances and he leaves her hidden clues to follow in order to solve his murder. This novel certainly has a number of wonderful characters including the flamboyant and eccentric Aunt Carol, who I just loved. There were many twists and turns that kept me guessing to the end and the promise of more in the series, which I will will definitely be looking out for. The wonderful Emilia Fox narrates the audio, and this is it is a deft and fully characterised performance. In fact I could see her as Freya in a TV adaptation should one be made. Overall a thoroughly entertaining read and listen, which I recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to the audio. of this book in return for an honest review.

I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in both ebook and audio formats in return for an honest review
The narration for the audio book is brilliant and very well done.
Each character is amazingly well done and has their own voice.

My one and only complaint is Freya keeps referring to " The Cairo incident" Like the reader should know what happened. This does get explained but it really feels like it should be it's own story

That aside its a wonderfully written mystery. The characters are fun and well developed . I adore Aunt Carole she is a brilliant character and so over the top you can't help but smile . Freya took me awhile to warm up too but she too is brilliant and resourceful.

All in all this is the perfect cozy mystery. I loved it from start to finish. I look forward to the next adventure with Carole and Fraya Lockwood.

Indiana Jones meets Miss Marple is not a book I expected to see, but it turns out that was what was missing in my life! Cosy crime isn’t my favourite genre, but this one was adorable.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder takes the reader and drops them into a murder mystery, providing them with various riddles and puzzles to solve as we join our heroine on her quest to solve a murder. Yes it’s little farfetched, but does it matter? Aunt Carole is my new favourite character and she jumped off the page until she was standing fully formed in front of me, berating me for not enunciating properly when I spoke.

But I digress…

Although this is a cosy mystery, the elements of Freya’s past make it a little more fast-paced and gripping, which is excellent. Readers are perhaps lulled into a little village murder, but actually there is a lot more at stake. That said, we also learn about antiques as we go, which is fascinating and shows us that an item’s worth is defined by what someone will pay for it if they really want it.

It is a little slow in places and readers will need to suspend reality towards the end, but the characters really are brilliant.

The book itself is probably more of a 3 star for me (as the proof I had was full of errors), but when Cara told me Emilia Fox was narrating it, I had to download the audiobook as well which completely elevates the reading experience.

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!

Emilia Fox is an absolutely terrific narrator. I loved how she explained how she’d ‘cast’’ the book for a film / TV show and imagined them as she brought them to life! She succeeded brilliantly. The interview between Emilia and Cara at the end was fascinating and I really enjoyed hearing how the book had come about, how Emilia went about the narrative process, and their interests in antiques.

All in all this is a really engaging story and 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.

The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder provides a new element to the cosy mystery genre. Freya used to be an antique hunter in another life until the day it all went wrong. Estranged from her mentor and friend Arthur, she is surprised to be contacted by him. His unexpected death brings her back to the village where Freya lived with her gregarious Aunt Carole. The antique hunt that follows is rife with danger, painful memories and unscrupulous characters, but she is driven to complete her mission and learns many life lessons as she does. Listening to this story as an audiobook is a rewarding experience. The narrator brings the characters to vibrant life. The plot has twists and multiple details about the antique world, which adds authenticity and depth to the story. It's easy listening with humour to lighten the darker aspects of this mystery. I like the engaging dialogue that makes the story entertaining and fast-paced, the antique world setting, and the believable dynamic between Freya and her aunt that gives this story its unique twist.

I received a copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio.

A good cosy crime debut. Emilia Fox is the narrator and she is generally very good with perhaps the exception of doing a Southern American drawl :) I enjoyed the story although I think it got a little lost in the middle. I was wondering why the mystery of what happened in Cairo was dragged out quite so long, but once I found out I was intrigued. I loved the eccentric Aunt Carol and I really liked the main character, Freya. I hope that there will be more from these two. I really enjoyed the informative sections about the antiques featured in the book. I felt like I wanted to look certain items up so I could really visualise them!

Overall a really promising debut and I am very much looking forward to reading more by C L Miller.

Synopsis———Freya, it’s down to you to finish what I started . . .

Freya Lockwood has avoided the quaint English village in which she grew up for the last 20 years. That is until news arrives that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and Freya’s estranged mentor, has died . . . and the circumstances seem suspicious.

You will uncover an invitation, I implore you to attend . . .

But when a letter from Arthur is delivered, sent just days before his death, and an ordinary pine chest concealing Arthur’s journals are revealed, Freya finds herself sucked back into a life she’d sworn to leave behind.

But beware, trust no-one. Your life depends on it . . .

Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Arthur’s staunch best friend, Freya follows both clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an ‘antiques enthusiasts weekend’. But not is all as it seems; the antiques are bad reproductions and the guests all have something to hide.

Can Freya and Carole solve the mystery and unearth the killer before they strike again?
#my thoughts If you like a cosy crime , then this is for you . Arthur has been murdered and although Freya’s relationship with him was fractured she returns to try and solve his demise , with written instructions from him. Freya and her Aunt begin the hunt . Set in the antique world of valuable pieces and fraud they all meet in a manor house for a talk and discuss antique everyone has their own agenda. Things are not all that they seem. A quote on every chapter by Arthur was a nice start . It was a quick easy read and if you like cosy easy crime then this would be for you .

This story unfortunately wasn't for me. I love the idea of it, but not the novel itself. The characters felt one-dimensional to me and I could never really believe their motivations. They're risking their lives and I think I need a bit more motivation for this to be believable. Arthur and his reasons rather annoyed me and there were a lot of repetitions when it came to why he wanted Freya out of her job. On the whole the plot dragged a bit and the novel could have been shorter.
The audiobook narrator did a great job though and I would recommend her.

Freya had been mentored by Arthur but they had a great falling out and not spoken for years, so she was shocked when she received an invitation from Arthur after his death. Together with her Aunt Carole they must follow his clues to find out how and why Arthur died and what really happened all those years ago in Cairo.

Beautifully written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). The narration brought some really good characters to life. I enjoyed the storyline and the twists and turns.

Highly recommend and do enjoy the chat between author and narrator at the end.

So this book sounded really interesting and a unique concept for a murder mystery but I just didn’t love it. It was really slow and i lost interest in the story.

I received this audiobook 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*
Narration: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!
The narration by Emilia Fox took me a little getting used to beacuse she speaks so dramatically, but the accents and theatrics of it all added to the story and I now can't imagine it working with anyone else.
If you like The Thursday Muder Club series, or are a traditional Agatha fan, you will love this modern day story.
Out in feb!!!

I really enjoyed listening to this and particularly liked the note from the author at the beginning, which really helped cement the knowledge about antiques and that it would be different to other books i have listened to recently. The story is enjoyable, with clues and intrigue along the way. The antiques element really sets the book apart from others.

First time reviewing an audiobook and I'm not sure if listening to it made it more enjoyable or not. Its definitely in the cosy crime novel box, which is not a bad thing so while it was enjoyable it's not entirely believable. The characters were warm and engaging although the constant references to the past and why Freya had decided to give up her life felt slightly too repetitive. Otherwise I had some lovely long dogwalks enjoying the story, enough that I shall read the next one in the series.

Narration was great although I had to speed it up slightly as I feel I need it to be spoken as quickly as I would normally read a book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder is a cozy mystery in the Richard Osman mould which I imagine will find an audience among fans of those books. The plot deals with a mysterious murder, forged antiques and organised crime in a country manor, all intersecting with an unsolved tragedy from the main character’s past.

You probably know exactly what this book is like. It is a competently written debut and setup for a new series. It’s fine.

The audiobook is narrated by experienced actress Emilia Fox (of Silent Witness fame.) She did a good job and a narrator with her name recognition and pedigree is a good indication of the faith the publisher has in this book. I think audio was a good way to experience the book as Fox is very listenable, even sped up (I know many people, including myself, like to listen to audios at higher speeds. I listened to this at 1.75x and it was perfect for me. 2x speed was very nearly as good.)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for early access to the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan UK Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook before release! I really enjoyed the narrator of the book, which is definitely an important aspect of whether or not you will enjoy the novel. An interesting concept of murder taking place over antiques, which could actually happen! The story focuses around Freya and Carol after the death of Arthur and they try to solve his death, was it murder? Freya used to look up to Arthur and the story unravels just what had happened to cause that drift between the two and how antiques played a part in their fall out. I would say this is definitely a cosy mystery that you could pick up between other books as a palette cleanser, funny and witty with a bit of grit. However, I will say the last 25% of the story seemed overly dragged out as though to hit a page mark and would have liked a bit more involved in it as it seemed too obvious from the get go.

Freya Lockwood finds herself back in the small village of Little Meddington, Suffolk where she grew up. Freya recently received a mysterious letter from her mentor Arthur Crockleford, after his death. The letter states that she needs to return and investigate his mysterious passing, along with her aunt Carol: Arthur’s wife.

A local man, Lord Metcalfe sadly died just one week before Arthur and Arthur was due to assess the Metcalfe Estate. Are these deaths somehow connected? Freya must learn to put the past behind her and reengage her investigative skills as she realises Arthur’s death is anything but ordinary.


A cosy murder mystery in a Manor House, but a little by the numbers for me. Carol is hilariously useless and has a flavour of an older Patsy from Ab Fab. There are some funny oddities, like Carol knowing Tae Kwondo. I did find it rather ironic how Freya’s father was a curator for the British Museum, one of the biggest hoarders of illegitimately obtained antiquities in the world, when her main aim is to repatriate stolen antiques! An entertaining read.


Emelia Fox does a great job of narrating, her character voicing makes this an immersive audiobook.

Only managed to read about 12% of this before I had to DNF. The concept of the book is intriguing and I do love the characters interactions with each other, however as an audiobook, I became bored. I felt like the narration was flat, with no excitement when needed and it didn't keep my attention for long.

I do like a light murder mystery story and, from the publisher's blurb, this promised to be a good listen or read for me, even though I am no fan of The Antiques Road Show. The narrator, Emilia Fox, is superb and easy to listen to, even at increased speeds. The plot is well-conceived, and with enough relevant backstory, but quite slow in places, and I did not especially take to any of the characters. For once, I guessed the murderer when they first appeared in the book, although I was kept in suspense up to the denouement when it proved to have been a lucky guess! From the conversation between the narrator and author at the end of the audiobook, it seems as though this could be the first in a series of cosy mystery stories, and I shall certainly be looking out for the next one.