This is a perfectly cosy mystery but a bit trite and, unrealistically, everything that happens has a bearing on the main plot. There are no moments of the characters just being people.

The primary viewpoint is constantly re-evaluating her attitude to life, antique-hunting and her ex-husband. It feels like the author is leading us by the hand through every step of her character development, rather than establishing who she is at the beginning and trusting us to pick up on the changes.

Also, I understand that an amateur sleuth needs personal stakes to get involved in an investigation but surely her mentor and adopted grandfather being murdered is sufficient?
A fork in the protagonist's life 20 years before could've been a second plot for the reader to unravel, it didn't need to be built into the main mystery.

To me, the most suspension-of-disbelief problems were a) the victim managed to set up this Da Vinci Code conspiracy of clues and none of it got disrupted by the murderer or chance; and b) the finding of a phone with no named contacts, a silent call from an unknown number is suspicious (rather than robo-dial telemarketing) and a person under 60 trying to conceal a mobile but not putting it on silent.

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes convoluted investigations that conceal simple solutions or anyone who likes amateur sleuth mysteries where the authorities don't exist.

Antiques Roadshow this is not!
Honestly. Antiques bore me a tad, but i love histoy, so thought I would 'give this one a go'
I opened my bidding at a 50/50 chance of it being any good and won the auction because i loved this book!

Really enjoyed the premise of this murder mystery,an ex antique hunter whom after a failed marriage and the potential of her house being sold out from her and her daughter flying the nest to boot, our main charecter is pulled into a bid to find lost artifacts, a suspicious murder and find out some details from a past life that she thought she knew, but seemingly, it was not as she thought.

Very Cryptic!

I actually really enjoyed the inclusion of the antiques, especially as some were not as they seemed.

Eagerly awaiting the next one.

THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO MURDER is the first in a series of mysteries in the antique world that explores both the personal value and economic value of objects.

It was very interesting to get a glimpse into the shadowy sides of the antiques world, where forgeries and black market trades happen. I tend to think of antiques as big markets where most items have little value or auction houses where the items with monetary value go. This book brought danger and different forms of value into the world, linking it into many aspects of crime.

The book is mainly told from Freya's perspective, but the other characters get chapters here and there to show what's happening to them - characters on all sides of the mystery. I particularly loved hearing Carol's take on things as she's so vivacious and flamboyant.

The audiobook is narrated by Emilia Fox, who does a a fab job with the many characters' voices. I enjoyed the interview at the end between the author and narrator where the inspirations behind the voices were discussed. It was really nice to get that behind the scenes look at how these voices get put together for an audiobook.

This is the first in series and the next book is another mystery set aboard a cruise ship!

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller

I received a review copy for free thanks to Pan Macmillan and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

What antique would you kill for?

Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.

Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?

My Opinion

Usually when it takes me two weeks to finish a book it is because I am not enjoying it, in this case it was because I wanted to take my time with this lovely book. Freya Lockwood left the world of antiques but returns when her Aunt Carole informs her of the death of her former mentor. Freya must use all of her knowledge of antiques to work out who was behind the murder.

This was such an enjoyable read, written in such a lovely style. My attempt to read this slowly worked well until I read the last 100 pages in one sitting as I just couldn't dream of putting own the book. Now it looks like I have a long wait until book 2 is out....

Rating 5/5

We all know the antiques world can be worth a fortune, but is it enough to commit murder for? With forgeries, past histories and murders to solve, it all seems to fall down to Freya and she finds herself embedded in a situation she couldn’t possibly have foreseen… it all starts with the death of Arthur Crockleford, the grandfatherly figure who started Freya’s passion into the antiques world. She’s subsequently launched into a tale of thievery, liars and mystery.

I was intrigued by the name and the premise of the story and knew it was worth a dive. And it so was! I was completely into it and it flew.

And with Emilia Fox as narrator for the audiobook was an added boon. She really is an amazing actress and the perfect narrator for this book. It was really entertaining and so easy to keep coming back to. I loved Freya Lockwood’s character and everyone needs a quirky Aunt Carol in their lives!

Fantastic story, brilliant writing, wonderful audiobook and an enticing story. And there’s another!! Hell yes. I can’t wait.

A really enjoyable romp through grief, antiques and murder. A book for a wet weekend with a good strong cuppa and a roaring fire

CL Miller draws on her expertise in antiques for her debut crime mystery featuring Freya Lockwood, who is acutely feeling empty nest syndrome with her daughter having left for university in the US. She is facing the unhappy situation of now having her home being sold by her ex-husband. I listened to this on audio, just a little over 11 hours long, delightfully and ably narrated by the actor Emilia Fox, an example of where the narration truly lifts the story, particularly when the writing drops below par, a novel I would have otherwise rated as 3 stars. Freya had left behind her previous exciting career as a skilful antique hunter, estranged from her mentor Arthur Crockleford, so is surprised to receive a strange letter from him, just days before his death, asking her to investigate.

This has her returning to the Suffolk village and the life she had left behind, joining forces with her offbeat, attention grabbing, glamorous Aunt Carole, who had been Arthur's best friend, the pair of them making their way to an old manor house for an antiques weekend where nothing and no-one is as they seem. Freya is thrown back to a time of great unhappiness and grief in Cairo, Egypt, where she is accompanied by Arthur on a dangerous antique hunting mission in which she lost the man who had meant everything to her. She learns that although her previous skills and abilities are a little rusty, she has not forgotten them, and she is going to need them. Her suspicions are aroused at the manor when she sees the antiques on show are copies, and who exactly are Phil, 'the gardener', Giles and Amy, Clare and Bella?

Freya finds a new light is thrown on her understanding of the trauma of her past and what really happened in Cairo all those years ago as she follows leads. It concludes with her settling into her new, if familiar life, with a real zest for the change in direction that her return to Suffolk brings. Overall, this is an enjoyable, engaging and entertaining murder mystery, I appreciated the detailed antiques information, although there is a tad too much repetition for my liking, and there are occasions when Aunt Carole is rather on the irritating side. I can wholeheartedly highly recommend the audio which enhances the narrative greatly. Many thanks to the publisher for the ALC.