Freya Lockwood hasn’t been back
to her hometown of Little Meddington in 20 years but that changes when her Aunt
Carole calls to tell her that her dear friend and Freya’s former mentor in the
antiques trade, Arthur Crockleford, has died under suspicious circumstances. Freya
had cut all contact with Arthur since an “incident” 20 years prior so is
reluctant to answer her aunt’s request for help in proving he was murdered. This
“incident” is mentioned often in the first part of the book but the facts are a
long time coming. I’m sure this is meant to build the suspense but I found it
irritating.
Arthur owned an antique store but
his real work was as an antique hunter, tracking down stolen antiques and
returning them to their rightful owner. The reader meets him in the prologue as
he is preparing for his eventual murder. He leaves a series of clues for Carole
and Freya which lead them to an Antiques Enthusiast Retreat, planned by Arthur
who warns his betrayer will be watching their every move.
At Copthorn Manor where the event
takes Freya is sure the antiques in the house are reproductions and senses that
Arthur had his reasons for sending her there – reasons connected to the events
that led to her rift with Arthur.
Freya and her “woo is me” attitude
was tiring but resolves itself by the end of the book. The most interesting character was eccentric
Aunt Carole, a former actress. Both will return in the second book in the
series, Death on the Red Sea, due out in February 2025.
The author is the daughter of the
late Judith Miller, a former expert on “Antiques Roadshow” and served as an
editorial assistant for Miller’s Antiques Price Guide.
3.5 stars on Goodreads, 4.0 on Amazon
This book is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians
to get it for you from an area library.
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