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

 

Title: The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder

Author: C.L. Miller

Narrated by:  Emilia Fox

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 3 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you @simonandschuster @BookClubFavorites #BookClubFavorites for the free books!

Do you collect antiques?  I love antiques and have enjoyed going to antique shops since I was a kid.  I live in a historic home now, so the gathering of antiques continues.

Freya Lockwood is a woman in her forties and an empty nester.  After a traumatic experience in her twenties, she put away her beloved career as an antique hunter to live a quiet nondramatic life in the background.  While she regrets her “safe” marriage, she doesn’t regret her beloved daughter.  After her mentor Arthur is murdered, she discovers that Arthur has left her a mysterious job assessing antiques.  Will this lead her to Arthur’s killer?

My thoughts on this delightful mystery:

·       I really enjoyed the unique angle of antique hunting that is tied in with the mystery. It made this book a lot of fun.

·       The characters are great.  I especially loved eccentric Aunt Carole.  She is a hoot!

·       The primary setting of this novel is at a remote English manor which gave this an Agatha Christie mixed with the Antiques Road Show vibe.

·       There were multiple viewpoints, but the main narrator is Freya throughout the novel.

·       I enjoyed that the two main leads were older ladies.  Although I feel pained saying older ladies as Freya is my contemporary!

·       I did not guess the ending of this mystery which is always enjoyable for me.

·       Emilia Fox is an excellent audiobook narrator.  I have enjoyed her narration in the past.

·       There is an interview with the author at the end of the audiobook that was very enjoyable.  The author’s mother is an expert with BBC’s Antique Roadshow.

·       I also was excited that in the interview, it was announced that there will be a follow-up to this book.  It did set up the ending perfectly to continue in the second book.

Overall, The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller is an enjoyable cozy mystery that has an Agatha Christie mixed with the Antiques Road Show vibe.  I loved the characters of Freya and Aunt Carole and I can’t wait for their next adventure!

Heart of Junk by Luke Geddes

Title:  Heart of Junk

Author:  Luke Geddes

Read by:  Samantha Desz, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Rebekkah Ross, and Jacques Roy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 7 hours and 43 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank-you!

The Heart of America is an antique mall in Wichita Kansas and the inhabitants are a motley crew whose personal possessions have taken an outsized roll in their lives.   Keith is one of the owners of the mall and he has its future hinging on Mark and Grant of “Pickin’ Fortunes” stopping by and showcasing the mall on his show.  The great recession has gripped America, and is leaving an impact on everyone.  His wife has squandered any money they had collecting pottery including the money saved for their daughter Ellie’s college education.  Ellie is attending the local community college, working at Heart of America, and dreaming of leaving Wichita.  When a local child beauty contest contestant goes missing, Mark and Grant’s trip may be cancelled.  Where is Lindy Bobo and how will the Heart of America tenants deal with this setback?

I loved the humor and quirkiness of this novel. It was dark humor and satire, and very different from other novels I’ve read, and I loved it.  It is not for everyone.  The various tenants narrated different chapters and the audiobook had a different voice narrator for each one.  It was perfect.  I come from a family of collectors that loves antique stores.  My mother has had an antique booth.  I understand the fever of collecting.  My weakness is collecting books.

Margaret collects glassware and is very strict about the rules of the antique mall while pining for her friend Pattie who has left the mall.  To make things even worse, a couple, Lee & Seymour have taken Pattie’s old booth, and have filled it full of knick knacks, some of which are vulgar and others that don’t follow the rules, like an M.C. Hammer doll.  Lee & Seymour have returned to Lee’s hometown after going bankrupt out east.  Lee was once in a boy band in the 70’s.  Besides their shared vinyl collection, the spark has been lost in their relationship.  Delores collects Barbies and they speak to her.  Ronald has lost his wife.  The Heart of America and his postcard collection are all he has left.  Will this motley crew find Lindy Bobo and maybe themselves?

Overall, The Heart of America is a unique audiobook filled with quirky charters.  I loved the dark humor.