This is book 2 in the series, though it could be read as a standalone. As a series purist myself, I highly recommend reading the first one first though. I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first one as the mystery was more interesting and we got to know the characters more.

In the small town of Hope Eaton, May Day is celebrated as the first day of Spring, but unfortunately for Mary Roberts, it brings death. Having previously enjoyed Clare Chase’s first book in her Bella Winter Antique Store Detective series, I was looking forward to the sequel, The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder: A totally gripping cozy murder mystery

We learn quite early in the story that Mary Roberts has a history of reporting trouble to her local police, and she has one juvenile in particular whom she considers to be a nuisance, if not a lawbreaker. However, the authorities seldom take her complaints seriously. Thus, when Bella finds her dead inside her home, the police do not suspect murder.

Bella has other ideas. She is her father’s daughter; that is, her late father was a cop, and she has his genes, apparently. She seems to spend more time snooping – I mean, investigating – than she does in her antique store. Her employee, John, is her fellow investigator, and they have a host of friends and acquaintances who are more than willing to get involved.

Was this a “totally gripping cozy murder mystery”? No. At times, I was curious and followed with interest. At other times, however, I felt that the dialogue was overdone, the red herrings too frequent and redundant, and at about the 60% mark, I was ready to be finished. In the end, however, the murder scene was cleverly done, but the process of getting to the finale was overly dramatic.

I received an ARC copy of The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder: A totally gripping cozy murder mysteryThe Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author.

This is a fun cozy mystery which would appeal to readers who like to be able to figure out the solution with clues planted throughout the story.
Though I had not read the first in the series, this book could stand on its own. I would recommend this to readers of classic English cozy mysteries.

This is a cosy, almost friendly, murder mystery, it has a sedate pace and characters that are pleasant stereotypes of village life. Bella investigates the affairs and uses her friends as help to uncover the blackmail and threatening actions against Mary, the solitary and almost reclusive villagers. The plot in interesting in a gentle way, and perfect if you fancy an unchallenging read.

This was a strong sequel in the Bella Winter Mystery series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall improvement from the first book to this. Clare Chase has a great writing style and was invested in the story. It had that mystery element that I wanted and was glad I read this. I hope there is more in this series and from Clare Chase.

Great premise, but the writing and the characters didn't work for me. I'd still like to check out more from this author, there is lots of potential here. Three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I couldn’t keep going with this unfortunately.

While I appreciate the cosy mystery vibes this book is clearly trying to evoke; the writing just wasn’t good enough in my opinion.

Conversations ended abruptly, a new scene would start just as quickly leaving an unfinished feeling.

I really like the concept and characters but the writing would need to improve for me to fully engage and continue reading.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for arc in exchange for honest review.

This was a light cozy mystery, clean reading that you can share with your mom or your daughter and not worry about any content.

Bella Winter lives in a charming small town where everyone knows everyone’s business sort of town. Her father, who has passed, was formerly a detective in Hope Eaton. As you would imagine, Bella has an innate level of curiosity as a detective’s daughter, so when a neighbor is found dead of natural causes she is suspicious.

At the start of the book you are introduced to several characters and townspeople, several that become Bella’s accomplices in her amateur sleuthing, while she tries to maintain her antique business that is also suffering from local gossiping.

The story is very much a string of Bella’s thoughts and conversations as she puzzles out the mysteries surrounding Hope Eaton. There’s a little lull about 2/3 the way through when it switches gears from all the puzzle pieces being laid out to Bella organizing them to the unfold, the last 1/3 unfolds quickly with it being a surprise to how it all is a tangled web leading back to one villain!