Cover Image: A Killer Keepsake

A Killer Keepsake

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A Killer Keepsake by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs is the sixth book in An Antiques and Collectibles Mystery series. I enjoy visiting Molly Appleby to find out what antique she is researching in each new book and what mystery she will find herself embroiled in this time. Our regular characters are back (Matt, Tony, Sean Murphy, Clara) as we return to Burlington, Vermont. Molly has grown since the series began and I am curious how her sleuthing will tie in with married life. I thought the story contained good writing and steady pacing. A Killer Keepsake can be read on its own if you are new to this series (or if you have missed a couple of books). I was slightly overwhelmed by the number of people introduced in this book (Forget Me Not Doll Club members, Sierra’s father, Miranda’s assistant, a nurse, estranged hubby, etc.). It is hard to keep track of all the characters. I thought the mystery was interesting with it involving an 80 year old German bisque doll that is supposedly haunted. We get to find out more about the doll and how Sierra came to own it (we dive back in history to the late 1930s). Molly is brought on a consultant for her antique and collectible knowledge. We must suspend our disbelief about this as well as Molly questioning suspects without a detective present (it’s fiction). I had no difficulty pinpointing the guilty party early in the tale. There are good clues to help readers solve the whodunit before the reveal. I am glad that Molly is not having to keep her promise to give up sleuthing. I knew the writers would find a way around it. The ending of A Killer Keepsake was so sweet. A Killer Keepsake is a cute cozy mystery with a disturbing doll with a haunting history, a romantic relationship, a motivated murderer, and a collector correspondent as a cop consultant.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series. There are two timelines happening in the story. The story in the past of this book revolves around a woman who is being physically abused by her husband in 1937. They are heading back to America after living in Germany and are flying home on the Hindenburg. She has decided to leave her husband once she is back home and she is given a doll, Emma, that is supposed to keep her safe and perhaps exact revenge as well. The story in the present revolves around a group of doll collectors belonging to a club. One of them has Emma and has heard the story about the doll. Another member wants the doll and will not give up trying to buy it. When Emma is stolen and turns up at a murder scene, she is the prime suspect. Antique and Collectibles reporter, Molly Appleby is present when the body is discovered and despite promising both her husband and mother that she will give up sleuthing, she agrees to consult with the police where the doll club is concerned.

Molly is a excellent, likable sleuth with a gift for finding clues and suspects. I enjoy learning about the various collectable pieces she researches. The element of the doll's history, along with the suspicious murder adds a great deal of suspense to the story. I loved the different elements of antiques, well crafted characters and clues and how they were woven together in the story. This story grabbed my attention from the first page and Held me captive until the end. It is a bit darker than most cozies, with the abuse, but it is still a very good story. One test of a good cozy for me is not being able to figure out the culprit to early and how believable the motive is, this book gets points for both. This book is an excellent read and a great addition to the series .

Was this review helpful?

I just enjoyed this book and the storyline the characters are amazing this a very well written series

Was this review helpful?

Molly Appleby has finished her article on the Forget Me Not Doll Club for Collector’s Weekly and shortly after meeting with the club members to deliver copies of the magazine, one of the club members is found murdered, and a stolen antique doll—supposedly haunted—is found in the victim’s house. Researching the background of the doll, carries Molly deeper and deeper into the murder investigation.

I loved the details of the history behind the special doll and how she protected her owners. Could dolls have a real life that we can't see, maybe?

Was this review helpful?

Yeah right! However there are many ways to define sleuthing and reasons why to do it. Great Book!

Was this review helpful?

A KILLER KEEPSAKE was an excellent story. This doesn't surprise me. I've never read a bad book by author Ellery Adams. I'm so happy I added this title to my reading list!

Was this review helpful?

This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the way that this series is progressing. Each book is stronger and has allowed to characters to continue to grow. The characters are believable (with their flaws) and likable in spite of the flaws.

Although I don't normally care for books with a historical narrative woven throughout the book, I felt that the authors did a great job of placing the 'old' story into the new. I also appreciated that it was clear that you were reading history.

Was this review helpful?

Princess Fuzzypants here:
When reporter Molly delivers copies of the article she has written to the people she interviewed, she had no idea of the intrigues that would perplex her. There is a doll named Emma. She is a beautiful heirloom but is she haunted. Does she exact revenge on men who wrong their women? Is she an avenging angel or just an ordinary doll?
One of the collectors in the group wants Emma in the worst way and it seems she will go to any means to get her. She believes Emma will help her get what she wants in a divorce settlement. What she gets however is dead. And when Molly discovers the corpse, Emma is seated in the bedroom. How did she get there and what does she have to do with the murder and an attempted murder of another member of the group.?
Despite the fact that Molly has promised to give up sleuthing, the local cop enlists her help in getting to the bottom of the mystery. He wants to use her reportorial skills and her connection with the suspects to find the killer. I hate when a character goes off half cocked on their own almost in competition with the police. This is an organic attachment that makes sense so it heightens the suspense.
It is a good story with well defined and interesting characters and a good mystery too. There were just enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

Was this review helpful?

A delightful addition to the Antique and Collectibles mystery series by Ellery Adams.. This is a great cozy series that I highly recommend
Our protagonist Molly Appleby is involved in writing a article for a antique doll collectible group when a theft of a antique doll occurs and a murder is discovered. Molly is drawn into the mystery when she discovers the doll is rumored to be haunted. The element of the doll along with the suspicious murder adds a great suspense as the dolls history enters into solving the murder. Molly is a excellent sleuth with a gift for finding clues and suspects as a brilliant protagonist with a history of solving complex murders.
. I found this a highly enjoyable read and love the entire series. This book is pure mystery delight as it is reminiscent of Agatha Christie with all the clues that occur . As a reader . I loved the different elements of antiques, well crafted characters and many clues. . I look forward with anticipation to the next in series. Thank you to the publisher and author for the advance reading copy with gratitude. Very well done to the author ! This is a excellent read and a great addition to the series .

Was this review helpful?

"A Killer Keepsake" written by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs is book six in the Antiques & Collectibles Mystery series. Molly Appleby, the protagonist is a fun, down to earth character, who is an investigative reporter who on occasion aides the police to solve crimes in her hometown makes the story line come to life in this book. to read. The author uses such the novel idea of using haunted dolls which makes for a delightful fun read!
Molly has just finished an article on the Forget Me Not Doll Club for the Collector’s Weekly, finds out that even before the magazine even hits the newsstands, one of the club members is found murdered, and a stolen antique doll, called Emma, who belongs to Sierra—purportedly haunted—is found in the victim’s house. Police discover that some of the peculiar club members mourn the deceased, and some of them have more motives than their alibis. Molly is asked to assist Detective Lombardi on the case and as an investigative journalist, she can't resist!
I don't want to give away all of this wonderful books secrets, you will have to read them for yourselves. If you love cozy mysteries you will love this book, I promise. I was given this book for review purposes by Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs are the authors of A Killer Keepsake, book six in the Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries series. This was the the second book from the series that I have read, but it could stand on its own. Molly has written an article about the Forget Me Not Doll Club. However, before the article can be officially published, one of the club members is found dead. Molly is asked by Dectective Lombardi to help with the case. The plot was a bit darker than the usual cozy mystery as it dealt with domestic violence. I did enjoy the hints at haunted dolls. This book includes a story from the past that relates to the present story. The backstory was just as interesting as the main story.

Was this review helpful?

I love Ellery Adams' books. She writes wonderful cozy's that are fun to read with great characters and locals that you want to visit. This is book 6 of the Collectible Mystery series and it's enjoyable even if you've not read any of the previous stories. Molly and Mike are happily married and living in cold snowy New England while he is doing his surgical residency and Molly is still the star writer for the collectible magazine. Her story on the local doll collecting club is due out in the next issue and but before it's released one of the club is dead and one has survived a gun shot. Molly agrees to help interview the club members and it all seems to center on a haunted doll. A very interesting back story on the doll is interspersed with the murder mystery. Enjoy.

Was this review helpful?

Freelance writer Molly Appleby's assignment for Collector's Weekly is to interview doll club members for an article. Now with the article in print, she attends a meeting to present copies to the club members. There's Rita Garrett and her goth daughter-in-law Eliza, estranged couple Luke and Vanessa Kearns, senior citizen Lamar Aldridge, doll dealer Sierra Davis and HBIC Miranda Perry. The bickering turns to a new topic. Miranda wants to buy Sierra's doll Emma, reputed to be haunted, because she thinks the doll will help her gain a better divorce settlement from her soon-to-be-ex-husband. Sierra refuses, but Miranda harangues. The plot of A Killer Keepsake is intricate and complicated and the reader better pay attention to even the smallest details in order to solve the mystery or mysteries, as there are several.

Was this review helpful?

This has all of the elements I love about cozy mysteries, including an an intriguing series of events and the ability to vicariously enjoy someone else's hobby. And did I mention that there's a haunted doll and a truly chilling backstory that unfolds over the course of the book, explaining her history? I bought the first book in this series a while back, but haven't read it yet. After reading A Killer Keepsake (because of course I'm going to read the one with the haunted doll first) I'm moving that one closer to the top of my to-read-soon pile.

Was this review helpful?

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 6 in the series.

I only recently discovered this series, and I haven't read all of the books yet, but it is safe to start here. I always think you should start with book 1 in a good series, but you wouldn't be lost if you read this first.

This is my favorite book, so far, in the series. The characters are well developed and likeable. Molly just can't keep away from solving murders, especially when she finds the body. I liked that this book had two story-lines running simultaneously, one present, one past. Both story-lines were well meshed, so neither felt forced, instead each added to the other.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. I liked the characters. Molly is cute and fun. She is smart but just ends up in some dangerous situations. The are plenty of suspects, all the doll club members. There is a story inside the story which is kind of fun as well. I would like to read more of this series so I can learn about Molly's family and previous adventures.

Was this review helpful?

Clever mystery. It is mostly a cozy with a murder, along with the darker element of spousal abuse. Intriguing switch between past and present. Enjoyed the hints along the way to the surprising ending. Not sure I have read any of the others in this series. I must do so.

Was this review helpful?

I finished A Killer Keepsake by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs yesterday. This story had some really interesting elements. The mysteries were good and well entangled. I struggled with the subject matter of the horrible abuse suffered by some of the characters in the book and even though it is a cozy story with a cozy feeling ending, for me honestly it felt darker than most of the cozy mysteries that I am used to reading. I found I could not put it down however and was enchanted by the side story of the haunted doll. A Killer Keepsake is not your everyday cozy, it is however very, very good.

Was this review helpful?

Molly Appleby and her new husband, Matt are ensconced in their new Vermont location and pursuing and enjoying their careers. Matt is completing his residency in medicine, and Molly is the star reporter for an antique and collectable magazine. On the side she's still solving murders. In this adventure, Molly is tying up loose ends on her story about collectable dolls, when one of the members of the doll club is murdered. She's on the case which turns out to be more involved than anticipated. Really enjoyed the transport back in time involving the history of the doll, Emma, who played a pivotal role in the story. Good book, looking forward to the next one. Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

I've read all the Antique & Collectible Mystery series and this one I finished in one evening. Loved it! This book was fast paced and Molly Appleby is a delightful character, along with her husband and mom. She is drawn into all the murders helping Detective Lombardi as a consultant. Looking forward to reading the next installment.

Was this review helpful?