I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but it couldn't quite settle down to being either the lighthearted (but with serious moments) tale the title implies or the nuanced examination (but with lighter moments) of a woman reclaiming her old self/meeting her new self after child-rearing and divorce. As a result it did both okay, but neither well.

There was clearly research and interest behind the antiques game, and some welcome snippets of information about the various artifacts and other treasures encountered. That will be enough to keep some readers entertained.

The main character sounded intriguing and I'm all for giving women a fresh start at an exciting life after divorce. But this one was, well, mopey for longer than the mystery needed her to be. Both she and her aunt had fascinating back stories that were dribbled out in flavourless mentions, like stale supermarket olive oil on a salad, rather than bursts of full-bodied memory or flashbacks like a dash of aged raspberry balsamic. Several successive chapters came to us in different characters' heads - some of whom died before we got much about them, and others seemingly random bystanders whose observational scenes added little to our understanding of the main characters or the mystery plot - and the jumping around made settling into the protagonist's mindset and goals more difficult.

Hopefully those are teething pains of a new series and not hallmarks of this one going forward. I'll check back in a couple of books (if it keeps going) to see how they settled out.

3.5 stars.
Arthur Crockleford, antique dealer and mentor to Freya Lockwood (the main character), is murdered in the novel's opening. Freya is shocked and bereft, but also nurses lingering feelings of anger for Arthur, who shut her out of her antiques hunting and authentication career years earlier after a violent incident.

Freya is even more shocked when she receives a letter from Arthur, asking her to investigate his murder. With her free-spirited and exuberant aunt Carole, Freya travels to a manor house for an special weekend for antiques enthusiasts.

Though Freya's skills are rusty, she soon finds that her instincts are on point. There are other dealers and enthusiasts there, and Freya gets the distinct feeling that something strange, and possibly criminal is going on, as the antiques on view are poorly made reproductions, everyone seems to have secrets, and there seems to be possiblly underhanded dealings occurring using the stated event as cover.

Freya is also processing the trauma of the incident years ago that sent her away from Arthur and the life she loved. We do get to see what happened, and why Freya bears so much pain. But she's still sharp enough to deduce what is happening, and to solve Arthur's murder.

Author C.L. Miller clearly has a great feel for this industry, as her descriptions of pieces and the attitudes at play in the field have the ring of authenticity. The mystery is enjoyable as we follow in Freya's footsteps as she slowly gets past her pain and begins to really use that analytical side of her brain to cut through the lies and fakes.

I liked her interactions with the other characters, though Carole seemed a little over the top at times. I'll let that pass, as I think C.L. Miller has set the stage for an interesting series.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I struggled to get into this book. The premise had a lot of potential. but I found the story to be very slow and dragged on which made it difficult for me to get excited to pick it up. The characters were interesting with many indications that they have fun back stories, but they are still not being shown almost halfway through the book and that was one of the reasons I was still reading this book. In the end I DNF'd this book after chapter 23 (44%). I might go back to finish later, but right now I have a lot of other books I am far more interested in that I would like to spend my time with.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder was a fun take on the classic who done it! The beginning was a bit tough to get into, but right around the middle mark it really picked up and had me flipping page after page until the end. I did enjoy that there were many characters who I was suspicious of and I genuinely didn’t guess who done it until the very end! However some POV changes and changing between the first and third person at times did get slightly confusing!
Overall, I thought this was a quick and enjoyable read and I would interested in reading other future works from the author

3.5 stars.
This was an interesting book. It was like a cozy mystery on a bigger scale crossed with a murder mystery game.
I couldn’t really like any of the characters and it kind of dragged in a few spots but overall it was a good story.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book overall. It kept me engrossed start to finish. There were a few components I didn’t love -I thought the relationship with ex husband and daughter was not well thought out and I understood the phone calls were to give some character building to our main fmc but they felt unnecessary. I didn’t love the ending wrap up either. I was expecting something grander I think and felt too many loose ends. Overall pretty good for a debut novel!

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book, but the storyline was a little too slow for my liking. I feel like the clues dragged and that it was very Agatha Christie leaning in which our main character tells you what happened at the end to the room full of suspects. I think I enjoyed the antiques part the most, in which the main character uses her knowledge to figure out who the murderer was, as well as things about her past.
Overall, just a mid book.

A delightful murder mystery! Great pacing, and an authentic antiques POV (given he author's background and experience).

Explores loss and the "what ifs" of life, reclaiming your sense of identity and self worth. And how paying attention to those little details, even when others may not care, pays off.

Super fun read and I'd definitely read another from Miller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a advanced copy of this novel!

2.5 stars

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller  is a mystery novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When Freya Lockwood was 12 years old, she lost her parents in a fire, and went to live with her Aunt Carole in a quaint English village.  From her aunt's close friend Arthur Crockleford, she learned about antiques, and developed her passion.  Arthur's side business of finding stolen artifacts and returning them to their real owners may have caught up with him.

It's been 20 years since Freya has been back in town, but when her estranged mentor dies, she is called back by her Aunt Carole.  It was due to Arthur's betrayal that Freya could no longer work in the antique business, but in his death, he is trying to correct things.  But Freya may have to put her life on the line to follow his clues.  Once again, Freya is on the hunt, this time with her Aunt Carole by her side.

 
My Opinions:
I fear that this is the start of another series, and I'm not sure I want another one.  However, the premise of an antique hunter as the protagonist is definitely unique.

However, I'm not sure I like the characters.  Freya is finding her strengths again, after 20 years of being a doormouse, so she may grow on me.  Carole is too into herself, and must always be the center of attention.  I would have loved Arthur.

The plot was quite good, but there was so much repetition as they tried to work things out, that it got boring.  As well, the overall pacing fell short, and it lacked excitement.  The actual perpetrator seemed obvious (to me, anyway).  I did, however, learn quite a bit about the world of antiques - the shadier side.  The author does know her subject matter, and was able to explain things quite well.

Overall, this one just missed the mark for me, and at this point I am unsure whether I would read a second in this series.

I was a bit let down by this one. The pacing and writing were just not for me, which is disappointing because the plot and idea were so promising. If you can get past the writing style, it’s an enjoyable story, but the way it was written really made it difficult for me to feel invested.

Freya once again enters the world of antique hunting and repatriating art, a life she swore she'd leave behind, by attending an antiques enthusiast's weekend with her aunt Carole at the request of her estranged mentor who recently died under mysterious circumstances. What ensues reminds me of an antiques roadshow styled version of the game clue. An excellent closed-room style murder mystery with tidbits about antique art and collectibles.
I truly enjoyed this debut novel by C. L. Miller, and wonder what she might have in store for us next!

The premise for this book was exciting, but the execution was a miss for me.

I found this book to be a bit cheesy, and everything worked out too well with not a lot of evidence. Mainly, it was the main character “solving” the mystery by deciding what happened, not because she found evidence to support her claims.

The writing style of the author wasn’t for me, but I think it would be very entertaining for others.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

What an adorable cozy mystery! We are following along Freya as she navigates her divorce, losing her home, her daughter living across the pond and trying to figure out her next move, when she is landed back in the midst of a dangerous world of hunting down stolen antiques. Her elderly aunt Carole is along for the ride and offers funny antidotes, good advice, and always a cup of tea,

If you want a fun detective story putting together the pieces then this book is for you. It's not too scary or thrilling but has the makes of a solid fun story as we solve not one, not two, but three murders. Freya is clever and all her past education comes flooding back to as she needs to rely on long forgotten skills.

The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder by CL Miller is a cozy murder mystery set in the picturesque English country side.

When Freyas mentor, Arthur, mysteriously dies, she returns home and joins forces with her elderly Aunt to solve the mystery of what happened....luckily he has left some clues behind.

A delightful read that is a cross better Antiques Roadshow and an Agatha Christie type mystery.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to my favourite bookstore, The Bookshelf, for a paper copy!

Years ago, an incident pushed Freya away from her mentor, Arthur, and the world of antiques. But suddenly, her aunt Carole calls her to let her know that Arthur has passed away and that the circumstances seem odd. Combine that with an ominous letter sent by Arthur just before his passing, and we’ve got ourselves a mystery on our hands. Freya attends an antiquing enthusiast’s weekend with Carole to figure out what is happening here!

I’ve been reading a lot of fast-paced thrillers lately to get my mystery fix in. But I think this cozier, piece-the-clues-together approach was just what I needed. The clues are hidden and provided throughout the book, so it is possible to solve the mystery, which I thought was fun! And there are two mysteries that you get to witness unravel. The first is what happened 20 years ago in Cairo to push Freya away from Arthur, the second being what is happening in the world of antiquing that is causing death and chaos in the present day.

I loved Carole. You can’t help but pay attention to her big personality. Every scene with her lit up for me. In contrast, Freya is quieter and trying to figure things out in her own controlled way. The pairing was perfect, and I think most readers can relate to one or the other. All the side characters felt straight out of a whodunnit. There weren’t cliches, which I appreciated, but every side character is suspicious in their own way.

Between the characters, setting and mystery this is a great book to curl up on the couch with after grabbing tea and getting cozy. I highly recommend it!

“𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞.”

Hearing that C.L. Miller's mother was Judith Miller of Antiques Roadshow and that she assisted her mother, I knew that this story would combine mystery and expert knowledge of antiques.

This story is a delight from start to finish. I found myself invested in the central mystery of why Freya's estranged grandfather-like figure, Arthur, was killed and how it linked to Freya's antique hunting past. Freya's relationship with her aunt Carole is lovely; they compliment each other in the protectiveness and care they have for each other, and Carole is the perfect funny foil to Freya and her serious nature. The clues and riddles that Arthur left behind were fun to try and solve alongside our amateur sleuths, and Miller creates an adventerous narrative that has the hallmarks of a classic mystery: a creepy crumbling manor, fake antiques being passed off as authentic, shady characters, and an evening storm that knocks out power creating a sense of dread. I was reminded of another favourite series, Finlay Donovan by Elle Cosimano: with a sense of mystery combined with adventure, humour (especially with the main character's sidekick) and a hunky potential love interest who wants to support and protect. I did think a piece of the solution did seem to come slightly from left field due to a holding back of key infomation, but it was still overall satisfying.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is a story of rediscovery, plans, having faith in yourself, courage, and regret. It seems like we have a set up for a series - I’d gladly reunite with Freya, Carole and Phil again! Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Antique Hunter’s Guide To Murder by C.L. Miller is perfect if you love a cozy, closed room mystery. This multi-narrator story follows Freya and her Aunt Carole following the untimely death of their antique dealer friend and mentor Arthur. Arthur and Freya have been estranged for years following a time working together, and Carole has lost her closest friend. Upon his death, Arthur leaves a number of clues for Freya and Carole including an invitation to attend an antiques weekend organized by Arthur with a warning to be careful. With a cast of unsavoury characters, no one can be trusted, and Freya must rely on the skills from her long-ago past to solve more than one mystery. Learning about Freya’s past and the business of repatriating antiques was fascinating and it was really touching to learn that the author’s own Mother was consulted on this book before her death as the author of antique guides and an Antiques Roadshow expert. This book leaves a few loose ends which hopefully means there will be more adventures to come. This story is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett, and Robert Thorogood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder is an addictive and fabulous cozy murder mystery.

I love a good whodunit murder mystery, and C.L. Miller really knocks this one right out of the ballpark. She created a unique mystery with characters that are intriguing and really well-developed. She has created this twisty game of secrets that has you trying to guess who the murderer is and where they are after. This book is great for those who like their mysteries on the lighter, less gruesome side. If you are a fan of British murder mystery shows like Father Brown or Midsummer Murders, then I think you will enjoy this book. It has those cozier murder mysteries with an antique twist to it. The story itself unfolds at a perfect pace. C.L. Miller knows when to throw in a twist or when to give her readers a clue. She leads her readers on this really clever journey, and I found myself so invested in the story that I couldn’t put this book down. The beginning of the book has a slightly slower pace; the author introduces us to the characters and the setting in a manner that allows us to get our bearings before we dive deeper into the mystery. The build-up to the climax at the end was perfect, and the final reveal had me at the edge of my seat. It really had this Clue-like feel to it.

The characters are wonderful and complex. I loved Aunt Carole; she comes off as this one-dimensional, flighty character, but she is not. She is clever and smart and knows how to work in a crowd. I loved watching them interact with the setting and other characters. She knows what her strengths are and uses them to help Freya solve the mystery of who killed Arthur. Aunt Carole is also a hoot and had me giggling at times. She was just so wonderful, developed, and complex. Freya was interesting. When we first meet her, she is lost and a shell of her former self. Her ex-husband really took that spark that made her expectational and crushed it. Freya’s growth in this story took the form of her remembering who she used to be. Freya is smart, clever, and capable of taking care of herself and solving mysteries, whether hunting down stolen antiques or solving murders.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder is a well-crafted mystery that will remind you why you love to read.


Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Turns out you don’t need to know anything about antiques in order to enjoy this delightful cozy mystery! An unlikely heroine and her aunt with larger than life personality get thrown into an unexpected murder mystery! Let me tell you - all of us need an aunt Carole in our lives! She was by far my favorite thing about this story and I hope we get to see much more of her in future books.

Freya’s sleuthing instincts combined with a letter left by her estranged former mentor Arthur, give her midlife crisis a new direction! I really enjoyed the fact that the main character is experiencing a sort of midlife identity crisis. And a small English town seemed like the perfect setting for this story. Past and current timeline brought us two mysteries. And maybe it’s just me but I love wintertime cozy mystery reading - especially combined with a nice cup of tea and a reading blanket.

This read like a promising start of a fresh new cozy mystery series. I will definitely be on the lookout for more Freya/aunt Carole adventures! And hints of possible things to come left me wanting more for sure!

Super grateful to NetGalley & Simon Schuster Canada and even more so to C.L. Miller for sending me a finished copy which is now prominently displayed on my shelves!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was fun! Basically Indiana Jones meets antiques. Which is already a premise I can get behind. Sometimes when you read a book you think “ hmm this would work really well as a movie?” The Antique hunter Guide to Murder” by CL Miller would make a great movie. Mostly because movie is a lot of show and not a lot of tell and I found this book very showy, but lacked that integral tell factor.

Unfortunately after the first 10 chapters and my initial excitement died down I found the dialogue a bit of a slog to get through, sometimes I found a bit of gaps for example: Freya our protagonist is portrayed as someone very observant all the time but she misses key points, this is fine but her being observant is so integral to her character that when something is missed it just seems like the point of her character was forgotten. There are no explanations to why this was missed either, which leads me to believe that it was forgotten.

The pacing also was a bit strange I thought we were reaching the conclusion but we were only at the middle end of the story. We also get transported to a manor for the end of the book and I really missed the small town feel that was in the first half of the book! Moving to another place felt ingenious and meeting all the new characters at the manor house was difficult because there was a lot to keep track of.

I kind of suspected the culprit of this who-dun-it mystery so when the big reveal happened I wasn’t too surprised.

I think this was a solid debut from CL Miller and I’m looking forward to the sequel ( and maybe a bit more polishing?).