I adore the mysteries that talks about ancient tradition and show how the small town is not always a paradise where there's not pettyness and and malicious gossip.
In this second novel Bella is involved in the murder Mary, a woman who lives in the town and wants to sell her house. Mary is being terrified and feel watched and there will be a tragic turn.
Bell is involved and want to understand if Mary was frightened to dead or what happened.
There's plenty of twists in this novel, plenty of secrets and surprises. I enjoyed it and had fun.
It's a bit slow at times but it always kept my attention and turning pages.
Can't wait to read the next novel in this series, this one is delightful
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Spring has come to Hope Eaton, Shropshire, and there's another case for vintage enthusiast and antique dealer Bella Winter. Partaking in the local village May Day custom of walking to the local spring at dawn with offerings, she spots one of the offerings is a doll formed to look like school secretary Mary Roberts.

But there are rumours that Mary is no longer of sound mind, exhibiting strange behaviour and seeing strange things.

Mary is later found dead in her home, and Bella is determined to find out what happened, suspecting the death is not the natural causes recorded by the authorities.

Bella enlists the help of her friends to prove that Mary's fears, while based on local legends and folklore, were based on the more mundane behaviours of people that had something to gain from Mary's decline and death.

Unpicking one mystery reveals more secrets to investigate, and as the daughter of a detective, Bella won't give up until she has answers.

I'm really enjoying this new series from Clare Chase. In this second novel in the series, we get to know the villagers a little better, but also begin to learn more about Bella herself, and how she found herself back in Hope Eaton. Chase knows how to write a gripping tale with warmth and humanity, weaving traditional but spooky folklore with a classic cosy mystery.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel for review.

Once again, we find ourselves at the charming small town of Hope Eaton with antique dealer Bella. I found that the introduction of a myth around May Day hooked me into the story.

There were a lot of different things happening in this novel, and many side stories were introduced, so I really had to pay attention to each page. I also found it hard to remember all of the characters. I think this was because some of them came alive more than others.

The rapport between Bella and her friend/employee John stood out for me. I wanted to see more of them working together as a detective duo. I thought the ending was where things really picked up pace with exciting scenes.

I wanted to see more of this action level throughout the book as, for a while, it felt like we were going around in circles, slightly losing the main thread. I could picture the town, Bella, and her antique shop vividly. I loved some of the themes of this book and hope to see more of Bella’s character in book three.

Bella Winter is an antique shop owner and also an amateur sleuth.
Mary Roberts lives in Hope Eaton too and there is a tradition on May Day to visit St Agnes’ Spring , whilst Mary is there she sees an effigy of herself filled with pins which shocks her and leaves her frightened .
Mary has also had other strange occurrences and Bella begins to look into who can be trying to scare Mary and why?
This book has plenty to keep the readers interest from the start to finish .
It’s full of interesting characters and an intriguing story .
An enjoyable cosy mystery .
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture.

I enjoyed the series opener - The Antique Store Detective - when I read it a while ago - and I was very intrigued as to what direction this followup would take. And would it become as dear to me as her series featuring Obituary Writer, Eve Mallow? To be honest, It's not quite there yet for me. I am not as taken by Bella as I am with Eve, but it's nothing that can't be ironed out as I get to know her better.
In this, her second outing, after her successful sleuthing in her first, she has actually set herself up as an amateur detective, with a sideline in antiques! So everywhere she goes, her senses are on high alert. Which is handy when she spots something happening during the village May Day celebratory visit to Sweet Agnes' Spring. Someone has placed what looks like a voodoo doll of one of the villagers, Mary Roberts, complete with pins! I know...! Long story short, Mary is found dead. It's officially ruled as heart attack, natural causes, but there is just too much that doesn't add up and Bella is hell bent on figuring out what happened to her...
I think, as well as not quite gelling with Bella (yet) I found that the pacing was a little hit and miss. It was also a wee bit convoluted at times and I found myself having to hold onto quite a bit of confusion along the way. It did all come very good at the end and was well worth the effort.
Characters are all brilliant as usual and the author did a great job of bringing village living to life. I do miss the village I used to live in, I now live in a big city and it's really not the same.
The story was well crafted, if a little too much on occasion. There were definitely enough secrets and lies to cut through and more than sufficient obfuscation to keep the reader on their toes throughout.
All in all, a decent enough read that kept me out of trouble and entertained, I look forward to seeing what's next for Bella in book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I read Book 1 to prepare for this ARC and I am glad that I did. I would have missed a lot of the backstory and been a bit lost. I am now a fan of Bella Winter and her pals! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series.

#TheAntiqueStoreDetectiveandtheMayDayMurder
#NetGalley

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Clare Chase for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder coming out January 17, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this series! Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. I really enjoyed the characters. I think May Day is an interesting holiday to center the plot around. It definitely had a cozy setting. I love the small town vibes. I would love a little more romance and action in the next book. I would definitely read more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

It is a lovely to be back with Bella Winter and the Jenks' family! Bella is an antique store owner with help from John Jenks in a small town called Hope Eaton near Shrewsbury. On a very early May Day, Bella is talked into joining the Jenks' family in an annual tradition for Sweet Agnes' spring along with the towns people! We meet new characters and learn their history and how they play a part in what is going to happen. Once again, Bella cannot resist putting her amateur sleuthing skills to investigate the mysterious murder. The story was fast paced with plenty of twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown in. It was entertaining with a surprising ending.

A quick cozy mystery that is a bit slow and repetitive sometimes but the vibes fit well for a cozy mystery. It is the second book of a serie but can be read as a standalone.
The only problem I had with this book was the important number od characters and i had trouble to remember who was who so was a bit confusing at time

The second installment in this series, a cosy style mystery. Slightly repetitive at times with the constant rehashing of the evidence found but still enjoyable and well worth reading. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder is a charming and suspenseful cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of a quaint antique store, the book skillfully blends quirky characters, intriguing historical details, and a tightly woven murder mystery. The protagonist’s wit and resourcefulness shine as they untangle clues connected to a local May Day celebration. A delightful read for fans of clever puzzles and small-town secrets!

I had been looking forward to this second installment since I finished reading the first one last year, and I'm glad to report I really enjoyed following Bella Winter's new investigations.
This time, the victim seems to have been scared to death, and Bella has witnessed or heard of several suspicious events that give her a list of suspects. How could she refrain from engaging in some sleuthing again?
Now I'm sure I'll need another reminder of who's who in the Jenks family (Bella's friends, including her employee at the antique store, her neighbour and others) next time, but of course I already count that future book 3 as not to be missed.

** “The old adage came to her: if you want something done well, do it yourself. Though here it was a case of if you want something done at all.” **

Clare Chase offers another fun cozy mystery with “The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder.”

As Bella Winter continues to settle into Hope Eaton, still operating her antique shop Vintage Winter, the town is celebrating its annual May Day festivities. But when high school secretary Mary Roberts is traumatized, and eventually found dead, Bella and her assistant John jump into figuring out how Mary died.

As other strange events occur in the town, they must attempt to figure out how the situations are connected, and just who is responsible.

Once again, Chase does a great job of creating a series of clues that keep circling around, leaving the reader guessing until the end — who did it, why and which situations are related. She also develops a quirky cast of characters readers will truly enjoy, including John’s large and fun family.

Chase also fills the story with several great themes, like “doing wrong only leads to misery”; find the connections; dealing with the consequences of wrongdoing; lies only lead to trouble; the power of regret; and the impact of blotting out pain.

Fans of cozy mysteries and novels like Nita Prose’s “The Maid” and C.L. Miller’s “The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder” will love “The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder,” which is due out Jan. 17.

Five stars out of five.

Bookouture provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Everyone in Hope Eaton climbs the hill to Sweet Agnes’ Spring on May Day, to greet the dawn and leave tokens among the flowers. Antique store owner Bella Winter grumbles about the early start, but she has to admit that watching the sun rise over the flower-strewn grove is worth it. And her interest deepens when she sees that one of the offerings this year is a little doll stuck all over with pins a perfect replica of Mary Roberts, who lives nearby. Bella dives into a murky mess of strange events. Mary’s house is up for sale, but someone’s trying to wreck the deal, leaving rotting weeds on her front step. And Mary claims she’s seen a cloaked figure watching her from the woods. Then Mary is found dead, her prized carving of the spring stolen from her dresser. The police say it was a heart attack, but was she literally scared to death?
The second outing for Bella who has returned to her childhood town where her father was the local bobby, she runs Vintage Winter an antiques store with her Assistant John Jenks. I love Bella who is like a terrier with a bone once she gets het teeth into a case, she’s ably assisted by John, his family & her godfather Tony. Bella loves to dress in vintage clothes & cuts quite a figure. There are plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings & not everyone is who they seem. A thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery which I read in a couple of sittings. I must say I would have been far more worried about who & why someone was trying to ruin my business
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A nice cozy mystery that while slower paced fit well into the cozy genre. Our FMC is not the normal character one would expect investigating a murder but as a cop's daughter dials into her community, she does a nice job. I seem to being stuck on the word nice because this book was OK but a little slower than I prefer and while advertised as you can read stand alone, it is better to read book 1. There is a plethora of characters to keep track of and book one helps to get the lay of the character map. Bella's friends play a pivotal role in helping her gather information. This book takes us from clue 1 a doll that looks a lot like Mary full of pins through multiple red herrings to a satisfying conclusion.
We have a good premise and a nice cast of characters but I wish the pacing were a little stronger. Perhaps when this series fully finds it feet it will pick up a bit. I would suggest reading book 1 first and then book 2. For me this book is a solid nice story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is the second book in the series though I feel that it can be read as a standalone.
Owner of an antique store, Bella Winter, is back in to investigating a strange occurrence going on on May Day in her small village.
Can Bella find answers? Will doing so put her in danger?
I enjoyed following Bella and her friends as the try to figure out why this crime happened. And, who did it.
Good mystery with some twists and turns along the way that kept me intrigued.
Perfect series for those fans of a cozy mystery.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bella Winter is an engaging character! She is my type of unconventional sleuth. She is very impulsive and clever, a great combination though she was mostly too quick for me. I don't mind because after a while I fortunately did get it. I thought the setting was gorgeous as well, and I am totally curious about her developing relationship with Matt -- I did think that might have progressed more in this second installment of the series :) I mean t this rate they will both be 110 before any sparks fly. If you are after a cozy mystery in a gorgeous setting, with a story that keeps you on your toes, this one is for you. The reason I m giving it 4 stars is that I thought it was a good read, just a tad complicated.
Thank you, Bookouture for providing The Cream Tea Killer for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Bella's determined to figure out who killed Mary. This British cozy set in the village of Hope Eaton will be familiar has lots of red herrings-and characters. It's the second in a series about Bella, who moved back from London to open her own antique store but who seems to spend most of her time solving crimes-and it will be fine as a standalone. There's more to Mary's story than Bella knows at first but there's also more to Hope Eaton. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This is book 2 in the series and I hadn't read book 1. I didn't feel like I knew much about Bella other than her father's job or the characters about her but that would probably be a result of not having read book one. The mystery is twisty and there are quite a few red herrings involved as well. The reveal and conclusion are good and everything concludes well. However the Antique store didn't seem to feature much considering the title suggests things should resolve around that. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Nice enough!

Hope Eaton, the cozy little town, is all geared up for May Day to climb the hill to Sweet Agnes’ Spring and watch the first days of sunlight bless their land. Bella Winters, the owner of the new antique store, joins the group and feels the effort was worth it. She also sees one of the residents, Mary Roberts bullied by a young man. Mary seems to take the legends seriously even if Bella thinks it is all nonsense.
However, the threat is real when Mary is found dead in her home, the cottage she was ready to sell. A statue of Sweet Agnes is missing from her home. Bella decides to investigate since the police are too busy. There is no lack of suspects after all! Soon, Bella realizes there’s a lot she needs to find out before the clues lead her to the killer.
The story comes in Bella’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone but it might help to read the first one as well (there are too many characters to track).
In some ways, the book is good. The mystery is twisted and has many threads. There are quite a few red herrings, too. The reveal and conclusion are solid. They make sense and bring everything together.
However, what I loved in the first book was missing here. The FMC does run her shop, but we get very little detail about the antique pieces or sales. Moreover, she is more worried about the case than her livelihood. She may be her father’s daughter (her dad was a sergeant) but even she needs money to live and that wouldn’t come if she had to shut the store. A bit of balance would have helped.
The slow pacing continues but I got better at reading the writing style. Still, I wish it was a bit lighter and flows faster. I like dark cozies but this is just heavy in text and not really dark.
The side characters are a part of the series. John seems to be a little better. Matt has a bit more space in this one, and I hope we get to see him more. He does sound like an interesting guy, never mind the FMC’s judgmental tone whenever she thinks/ talks of him.
I did enjoy the conversations with the DI. It is frustrating for the character but fun in a twisted way, especially since… no spoilers!

To summarize, The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder is a slow-paced cozy mystery with many red herrings and twists. While I liked it enough, I can’t say I love it. That said, I’ll read the next book to see how things go.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.