Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second in a series. It's like a modern day Indiana jones-esqu story. I love the locked room feel of this one. Freya and Aunt Caroline are such a fun duo and I loved spending more time with them.

I'm OBSESSED with this author. They really know how to capture a multi dimensional cozy mystery. I would probably categorize this more as a traditional mystery blended with cozy mystery. It was such a fun read. I was not able to figure out the ending which was an exciting challenge. Lots of twists. I can't wait until C.L. Miller comes out with a third book! I ended up purchasing a copy to give to someone I loved it so much. I also really love the cover. It's vintage and really cool.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. My opinion is 100% my own.

We pick up the story in this next entry when a painting is stolen from a maritime museum, and a dead body found nearby. Freya and her flamboyant Aunt Carole are asked to investigate.

And pretty soon, Freya realizes this theft has something to do with her dead mentor Arthur's activities, and the painting likely provides a clue to a dangerous art trafficking ring he was investigating. Freya not only inherited Arthur's antique store, but also Arthur's secret journals, which encouraged her to establish the Lockwood Antique Hunter's Agency.

Freya is eager to pursue her lead to a cruise full of antiques enthusiasts and collectors, and likely people involved in the art trafficking ring, especially The Collector, a near-mythical individual Arthur and the authorities have been on the hunt for for years.

Like the first book, the pacing is on the slow side, but it works for this book, as author C.L. Miller carefully establishes details about the art trafficking ring, and provides the suspects, many of whom are on the cruise (which travels to Egypt and Jordan).

There are several individuals whose veracity and identities are suspect, and each time Freya and Carole make a little progress forward, it seems someone else gets hurt or dies.

The mystery is compelling, particularly as I was eager to find out who the Collector really was. There were a couple of likely suspects, one of whom I mistrusted as soon as they appeared on the page.

There's also an FBI agent undercover on board, and he's also on the hunt for the Collector, though his search is rather more revenge-fuelled than strictly for his organization, as The Collector murdered his mentor at the Bureau.

This was an enjoyable story, and I look forward to what Freya, and Carole, get up to next with their Agency. There's also the hint of developing romance for Freya, and maybe that will progress further in a coming instalment?

Thank you to Netgalley and to Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This is book 2 in the Antique Hunter's guide to murder series. C.L. Miller does a good job of catching you up from book 1 in Chapter 1. When a painting vanishes from a maritime museum and a dead body is found nearby, the newly established Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency, Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole, are called to investigate.
Following a lead that takes them aboard a glamorous antiques cruise sailing toward the Red Sea in Jordan, they quickly discover that the ships art gallery is filled with stolen antiquities. Each antique is also listed in Freya’s late mentor’s journals that detail unsolved cases. In chasing a murderer with a stolen painting, they may have found something more sinister than they could’ve imagined…
Their hunt soon turns deadly when they learn the enigmatic and dangerous art trafficker named The Collector could be on board. But on a ship full of antiques enthusiasts—plus some unexpected familiar faces—will Freya and Carole be able to discover the Collector’s identity and stop his murderous plans before the ship docks? Or will the killer strike again?

Freya Lockwood and Aunt Carole are back in action this time on the high seas. I love the mishaps and adventures of these two. I was hoping for more Bella and more romance, but I'll take what I can get. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. These cozy mysteries hit the right spot of a light fun read.

The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea is a dazzling, suspenseful mystery that sweeps readers into a glittering world of priceless antiques, stolen secrets, and deadly deception — all aboard a cruise ship shimmering with danger. Freya Lockwood and her indomitable Aunt Carole are the perfect sleuthing duo: sharp, witty, and utterly fearless as they navigate glamorous halls hiding some very dark corners.

From the moment a stolen painting and a chilling murder intertwine, the tension crackles through every scene. You can practically feel the ship's polished decks sway beneath your feet, hear the clink of champagne glasses masking whispered conspiracies, and see the shadowy figures slipping between the art displays, hiding secrets worth killing for. The hunt is layered and clever — every antique has a story, and every story peels back another layer of the sinister world Freya’s late mentor was desperate to expose.

The looming specter of "The Collector" ratchets the suspense to a delicious fever pitch, as Freya and Carole race against time to unmask a villain who could be hiding in plain sight. The luxurious cruise setting only heightens the stakes — an isolated, closed environment where anyone could be the next target and escape is impossible until the ship reaches port.

Brimming with high-stakes twists, charming banter, and rich historical intrigue, The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea is a pure delight for mystery lovers. It’s an irresistible blend of danger and sophistication, with heart, humor, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last breathtaking reveal.

I am a sucker for a mystery series, and I want to start by saying that I am glad to have another series to look forward to consistently. Keep 'em coming!

That said, I did not love this book quiiiiiite as much as I loved the first one, though I do adore the relationship between Freya and Aunt Carole just as much. The plot was solid and kept a good pace which I do feel like is a sticking point for a lot of mysteries. A couple of the twists felt a bit predictable, but I do have a high bar for being caught off guard I think.

If you liked the first book, if you like cozy mysteries, if you're looking for something to read by the pool or on a cruise this summer, this just might be the book for you.

I was excited to see there would be a sequel to “The Antique Hunter..”. Although I preferred the first novel, this one was still a good read!
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoy this series and this has been one of my favorite characters to come out of reading. I’m always intrigued to see what the next adventure is going to hold if you’re looking for a good cozy crime book the series is for you.

This cozy mystery novel unfortunately didn't hold my attention like I hoped it would, but I am walking away with some new learnings on antique and vintage collectibles (looking at you, shipwreck ceramics and Georg Jensen neck rings).

My biggest gripe here is a lack of accessibility for first-time readers, both in terms of the story and the world of antiques.
It would certainly be helpful and highly recommended to read the first in the series before reading this, but did I do that? No of course not, that would make too much sense.
That said, this story needed so much more exposition!! More re-introduction to established characters and their context in the series would be helpful to all readers, I think.
Also, the author mentions particular antique items and expects readers to be familiar with them already rather than describing them, which I didn't love. Antiques may be niche, but they don't need to be inaccessible to readers here.

Now I'm off to eBay to look at vintage Georg Jensen neck rings.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance review copy.

The suspense was quite interesting in the beginning, and the author has done a wonderful job tying it up with the history of the artifacts. However, I just couldn't keep up with the storyline - it felt a bit cluttered with too many characters and an overload of information. The characters felt out of depth, and it was frustrating to see them repeat the same mistakes over and over.

Two thumbs up for this cozy antique themed spy thriller. I enjoyed the first book in this series but the second has really turned it up! It was much more a spy thriller. Lots of fast paced action as Freya and Carole once again join forces with Phil the CIA agent on the hunt for stolen antiquities and figuring out who the illusive, shady "Collector" is.

Freya and her aunt Carole make a great team. They have taken up the challenge of finding stolen art and antiques from Arthur Crockleford. He has left them clues in the form of journals as well as some hidden clues in other formats. This time the mystery takes them aboard an antique themed cruise where apparently the next "Collector" will chosen as the current one retires.

I loved the locations they visited and the spy thriller scenes in the museums and historic locations. Lots of twists and turns, unexpected allies, and shady characters keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc. A recommended read.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the free ARC ebook of The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea. Although I received an ARC of this book, I ended up checking it out from the library once it was published as I didn’t want to read it on my phone and it was only available via the NetGalley app.

Freya and Aunt Carole are back for another mystery. This story follows their adventures as they set out for antique hunting on the red sea but their trip gets complicated when someone is found dead on their ship. They are such a fun team as they work together to solve the crime.

I am really enjoying this series. I love when an author balances humor and suspense well. There are also a few great twists! If you enjoy mysteries, fun, adventures, history, and treasure hunting - then this is the book for you!

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. This is the second book in a series about an antique dealer/sleuth hunting down stolen artifacts and returning them, I enjoyed the story line and all the facts thrown in about different antiques. I would definitely recommend

4.5 stars

Antiques expert Freya Lockwood is back again in a second installment of 'The Antique Hunter's' novels. Freya, along with her Aunt Carole in their newly developed antiques detective agency and several new acquaintances, are ready to keep hunting the mysterious antiques for which her mentor, Arthur, left a mass of confusing clues and details. This time they are determined to attend an antiques cruise that Freya had been invited to as a professional speaker. Arthur had warned that The Collector, a figure of legend in the field of stolen antiquities, would be on this cruise, and this might be the opportunity to finally unmask them. Freya and Carole were initially told that Freya's presence was no longer necessary, but when contacting the cruise line directly, were informed that THEY were the ones who had apparently cancelled her appearance. Hmmmm...what exactly was going on and who was trying to keep Freya from attending this cruise?

A super enjoyable read, and easy to get through. There are quite a few of the same interesting characters from the first book, but the story being set on a glamorous cruise was great for adding some additional fun characters and locations. I'm definitely recommending a read!

Thanks to NetGalley, author C. L. Miller, and Atria Books for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

I had the chance to read “The Antiques Hunter: Death on the Red Sea,” the second installment in this series. While I enjoyed the book, it didn’t captivate me as much as the first one did. I suspect this might be due to the character development, which I felt needed to be stronger in this sequel. Despite this, I still liked the book overall, but it didn’t quite match the impact of the original.

An absolutely fantastic second instalment in this newer series!!
One thing I think the author does exceptionally well is the "jumping heads" while also utilizing first person POV for only one character - Freya. This keeps Freya as the main character, but allows us to get the different perspectives of other characters, if only for a short period of time. It lets us get into the motivations of others, building sympathy for some and intrigue for others.

The mystery itself is detailed and layered, and not always as it seems, which we see via Freya's point of view as the original reason for being on the cruise (to get a painting back) becomes just a small mystery in a bigger scheme.

I found that when I got to the big conclusion of whodunnit, it was a long on ramp and then a sudden rapid closure. The follow-up of what happened to the culprit(s) was very quick - just a few paragraphs - and it felt abrupt. I would have liked to have seen it drawn out a bit so that it didn't feel like it ended so quickly and also to savour all of the work put into building the mystery, Freya and others figuring out what was happening, etc.

I really liked the very end, with five of the characters coming together and setting the stage for a group of antique hunters (I hope!) - people who have chosen to trust each other in pursuit of justice.

I will happily keep reading this series!

Thanks to Atria for the eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

I loved the characters, and felt that this book started out great.

However, the middle of this book was slow and seemed meandering. It was hard to keep reading at this point, and I honestly had a hard time caring about the sinister secret society.

I liked the characters, and the unique hook. I also liked learning about antiques, especially ship wreck ceramics. However, it was hard to slog through the midsection of this book.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

Loved the mystery and suspense! The second book in the series finds Freya and Aunt Carole on a cruise with antiques and murder. Loved how some familiar characters re-appear and the potential romance? A fun series with antiques, adventure and coming into her own story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Freya Lockwood and Aunt Carol are on the hunt again in the newest book of the Antique Hunter's series. When a painting vanishes in a museum where a body was found, the clues lead to an antique cruise where Freya was supposed to be an expert speaker. As they work on finding the stolen painting, they learn of a dangerous art trafficker known as the Collector. Freya and Carol will have to work with friends both new and old, to help identify the collector and solve their first case.

I loved the first book in the Antique Hunters series and enjoyed this new cozy mystery. It was fun to see Freya taking over for her previous mentor and figure out her way of antique hunting while she solves her first case. I was excited to see familiar characters from the previous book make an appearance especially Carol and Phill. I hope to see Phill and Freya's relationship evolve in the next book. Overall, this was an exciting mystery in the antique world and would highly recommend this book for readers who enjoyed The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea. All thoughts and opinions are my own.