This book pleasantly surprized me! While it was campy, the mystery did keep me interested - I found it wasn't all fluffy and predictable as I had expected! I feel like this could become a series.

3 stars!

This is a debut novel which takes place in a world of antiques & murder, very much à la Agatha Christie. I really thought the idea was interesting, however, the flow of the story needed some work. It felt a little awkward at times or confusing — or it just felt like it dragged on, especially to the half-point. The end felt a tad anticlimactic as well.

I did enjoy the spooky element of the book however; with it taking place in an Old English manor type of area. And the author clearly knows her way around the world of antiques and has a lot of knowledge. However, 3 stars because this has all the elements of a first novel; it’s clunky but with a really good idea, just needs more organization!

This was a cute murder mystery centered around the antique collecting community. A cozy mystery, perfect for holiday reading! Thank you so much for the advance copy. I'd recommend this to mystery lovers!

I love a good mystery set in the world of antiques and this debut novel by C.L. Miller doesn't disappoint.

When Freya was a young girl, her parents were killed and she was taken in by her Aunt Carole. Carole and her good friend Arthur help the young girl come out of her self imposed prison of guilt by interesting her in the world of antiques. Arthur was a dealer but he was also a hunter, someone who found and returned stolen antiques to their rightful owner. As a young woman Freya became his protege until something went terribly wrong in Cairo. Freya never spoke to Arthur again. We start the book years on with Arthur's death. Carole is convinced his death wasn't natural. Freya's on the cusp of some life changes and agrees to help Carole with Arthur's service and is eventually convinced by Carole that something is amiss. Arthur's clues lead Freya and Carole to an English country house. Mayhem ensues. Who's after what and how does it all lead back to that day long ago in Cairo?

This is an excellent debut novel in what I hope will be a series. It's clear Ms. Miller is more than familiar with the world of antiques. She's also an excellent writer. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to follow more of Freya and Carole's adventures in antiques.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller, published by Simon and Schuster Canada

This book was ok, it was easy to get into and follow along. The characters were interesting, and well described at the beginning. I liked the plot and how the main characters Freya and her Aunt Carole worked together to solve a murder
I found it lacked just a little something for me to love it, I was never 100% into the story. It picked up a bit half way through, too many characters were added at this point and I struggled to keep track of them, it could be because I already felt the story was dragging a bit. Freya is the main narrator of the story, but other characters pipe in every once in a while. We learn of Freya's past and her current relationship with her ex and her daughter but they are really part of the story

I'm giving the book a 3, probably rounded up from a 2.5
I would read more from this author.

This book was a 3.5 for me. It felt like a new Agatha Christie and I loved the main characters Freya and Carole - so much so that I'd read another mystery with them in a starring role. I enjoyed learning a bit about antiques and fakes and reproductions but found the middle of the book dragged a bit. The ending picked up resulting in a warm and worthwhile conclusion. Overall this is a cozy and enjoyable read.

"The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder" presents a promising blend of cozy mystery and historical fiction. The captivating start and intriguing concept set high expectations. However, the book falls short due to issues in writing quality, pacing, character development, and the integration of certain elements. The story feels somewhat weak and disjointed, missing the opportunity to fully realize its potential.

Despite these shortcomings, the pacing is a standout feature, maintaining high stakes throughout the book. Short chapters contribute to an engaging reading experience, enticing readers to keep coming back for more. The narrative, primarily from the perspective of the main character, skillfully incorporates other characters' points of view, adding layers of mystery and keeping readers guessing about their involvement and intentions.

In summary, while "The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder" offers a palette-cleansing mix of cozy mystery and historical fiction with commendable pacing, it ultimately falters in crucial aspects, resulting in a somewhat disappointing and underdeveloped narrative.

Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole set out to investigate the suspicious death of her former mentor during a retreat for antique enthusiasts.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder was the ultimate fun, cozy mystery. This book was full of charm and I loved how each chapter started with a little antidote from Arthur Crockleford, deceased antique hunter extraordinaire. Freya and her spunky Aunt Carole made the perfect pair of sleuths and Aunt Carole’s antics kept me laughing throughout the entire book. All of the guests at the weekend retreat seemed to have a motive for killing Arthur, which made for a fun reveal at the end. This was a great debut mystery book by C.L. Miller and I’m excited to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Be warned: reading this book may make you want to be an antique hunter. At least, that’s the effect it had on me. An absolute delight, “The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder” reads like a guilty pleasure that you’ll want to read in a single sitting or two or, alternately, you’ll want to take your time to savour every chapter for its craftiness.

Antique hunters search for stolen artworks and repatriate them to their owner and/or country. Maintaining a delicate balance between shady underworld dealings and staying within the law is no easy feat but it’s something that both Arthur and Freya had in common as they worked to bring justice and light back to the world of antiquing. Alas, Arthur and Freya had a falling out and twenty years later, Freya returns to resolve her feelings and the suspect death of Arthur. Thanks to Arthur’s foresight and guidance from the grave, Freya is given a much needed confidence boost to propel her back into the world of antiquities while looking for Arthur’s killer and bringing them to justice.

With “Knives Out” vibes, this book is a murder mystery where none of the characters seems trustworthy and everyone, save for Freya and Carole, is more than a little sketchy. I loved the main character, Freya who is a strong, dynamic woman with a knack for solving puzzles and identifying forgeries. And her aunt Carole’s quirky, warm-hearted enthusiastic nature help to boost Freya’s confidence as she return to her true self. I loved that I didn’t figure out all the details until the end reveal, really enjoying how Miller tied up the loose ends while leaving the possibility of a series going forward. And oh, I really hope this is a series!

Thank you to NetGalley as well as Simon & Schuster Canada for this advance digital review copy (#drc) to read. Available February 5, preorder today… you won’t be disappointed.

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3.5 stars

This is a debut novel by C.L. Miller which takes place in the world of antiques. Antiques, murder, sketchy characters, this novel has a sort of Agatha Christie-esque vibe to it. If this were made into a show, someone had suggested Emily Blunt as Freya and Dame Helen Miren as her elderly aunt, and I agree. I would most definitely tune in for it.

So now for the honest review of the writing part. Aside from the typos and grammar errors that need to be corrected, some of the plot needed to be spruced up to make the story flow better. The novel dragged on until the half way point, and although it picked up significantly after that,there were too many new characters and not enough back story to make me care. The humorous parts needed to contain actual humor, and overall this was a bit too dry and boring. I do think that this whole book would work better on screen, as a television series.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Relatively easy to get into this story. It took a couple chapters but once I was hooked it had a decent pace. Thought the story the protagonist develops and relearns her self worth, which contributes to the well roundedness of her character. I would've like to have delved into Freya's past more. I would've been intrigued to get more information about her backstory. Despite guessing who the murder was towards the beginning, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel and the shock of the twists.

This one was more of a slow burn than I anticipated. It was really good once it got going but took too long to get there

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

Upon the death of her former mentor Arthur, Freya Lockwood returns to her childhood home town and her aunt Carole. There, she discovers that Arthur’s death was murder. Freya also receives a cryptic note from Arthur, written shortly before his death, asking her to attend an antiques weekend on his behalf, and to recover a missing artifact.
When Freya and Carole arrive at the estate, they discover things are not what they seem. And as they follow the clues left by Arthur, they are led further down a dangerous path .

A little slow out of the gate but the story takes off once Freya and Carole start hunting clues.
A solid 3 1/2 stars.

A clever, rollicking adventure into the world of antiques! I really enjoyed the complex and likable characters of a 'certain age'. The storyline kept me turning the page to see what would happen next. I love a good mystery and this one had an interesting setting and a roomful of liars that kept me guessing - will there be a sequel? I am betting yes!

Reminds me of an Agatha Christie plot for sure. I can imagine enjoying this much more as a tv show or movie. The plot was good, but I tend to read stories for the characters and for me these characters fell a bit flat. However, as a debut I can imagine a future instalment being better.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy. The plot summary sounded perfectly up my alley and having finished it I still agree with that assessment. If you’re looking for some Knives Out / Only Murders in the Building vibes, this might really scratch that itch. I personally recommend The Marlow Murder Club more if you’re a character reader like I am, and if you’re looking for humour to be consistently present.

After a slightly chaotic beginning "The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder" settles in to quite a good read. So many characters with little or no back story confused me at first with mysteries of the past and present needing to be solved. It took about a third of the book for me to settle in and enjoy the read, but enjoy it I did. Not a heart pumping thriller but a cozy mystery to enjoy with that cup of tea.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the EARC
#TheAntiqueHuntersGuideToMurder

This is a great whodunit that will keep you guessing until the very end. A thoroughly entertaining read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“What antique would you kill for?”

A murder mystery set in an isolated English country manor with Antiques Roadshow vibes? Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? I loved BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and loved the idea of getting in on the start of a new series. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.

Freya Lockwood thinks she has put her past behind her until it comes knocking again…with an invitation. In addition to being her auntie’s best friend, Arthur Crockleford was Freya’s antique dealer mentor. When she hears of his death, she’s pulled back to the medieval village, not only by the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, but also by an invitation to attend an antique hunting weekend. Freya heads off with her eccentric Aunt Carole to the antiques convention in Suffolk hoping to get answers and soon discovers that everyone in attendance is suspect. Will time be on their side? Can the unlikely duo reveal the killer before he strikes again?

“Freya, it’s down to you to finish what I started.”

This former antique hunter held my interest as she attempted to repatriate stolen artifacts and investigate the death of her mentor. I also loved the chance to be an armchair detective for a few hours. I was lost in Miller’s world of secrets and shady dealers, struggling to put together the clues and entertained by the unlikely heroes as they solved a great mystery.

I smiled when I discovered that the author’s mother is an expert with BBC’s The Antiques Roadshow as Miller’s story came across as so authentic. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share that I struggled a bit with the pacing/flow and detractions of the descriptive prose and unique introductions to the chapters.

I’d read the next installment and watch it if the book was optioned for a mini-series.

I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book was a wonderful start for a potential new series, C.L. Miller pulled off the murder mystery vibe very well. I was engaged and found the main characters easy to follow. I can't wait to see what else C.L Miller has in store.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and I can't wait to share this read with the readers at Yooneek Books.

This book grabs you from the start and pulls you in with puzzle/ riddle clues — with many twists and turns — everyone’s a suspect and no one is who they seem to be! I think I enjoyed it mostly because I enjoyed the puzzles— the characters were interesting but not as much as the hunt or game of figuring out who and why. There are lots of characters but it helps to keep the tension in the story — if you like murder mystery games you’ll love this book — follow the clues and find the killer. I plowed through this book in a little over a day- a well-written, fast-paced, page-turner.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, Simon & Schuster for this ARC. This is my honest review.