LoveReading Says
After 20 years away from the world of antiques, Freya Lockwood finds herself pulled back into it when her former mentor is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in his antique shop. Joined by her glamourous Aunt Carole, Freya must find the murderer and herself.
“The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder” by debut author C.L. Miller is both a cosy crime mystery, to solve the murder of Freya’s mentor Arthur Crockleford, and also a treasure hunt at a historic manor house in Suffolk. Like any good Agatha Christie, there is a large cast of characters, where every character looks suspicious. Arthur has left a few clues for Freya and Carole (who is very fond of her cups of tea), and it’s up to them to find the murderer. Freya had once been Arthur’s partner in looking for stolen antiquities and fakes, but hasn’t spoken to him in 20 years after a job went awry in Egypt. During the course of the book, we find out what went wrong and also why that derailed Freya’s career. Now a divorcee and an empty nester, she needs to find the woman she once was.
Miller, who is the daughter of Antiques Roadshow expert Judith Miller, clearly knows the world of antiques and peppers the book throughout with interesting objects and artifacts.
This cosy crime mystery deftly combines interesting characters with antiques galore. It is the first in a series, so there will be more adventures with Freya and Carole in the future.
Maureen Stapleton
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The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder Synopsis
What antique would you kill for?
Freya, it’s down to you to finish what I started . . .
Freya Lockwood has avoided the quaint English village in which she grew up for the last 20 years. That is until news arrives that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and Freya’s estranged mentor, has died – and the circumstances seem suspicious.
You will uncover an invitation, I implore you to attend . . .
But when a letter from Arthur is delivered, sent just days before his death, and an ordinary pine chest concealing Arthur’s journals are revealed, Freya finds herself sucked back into a life she’d sworn to leave behind.
But beware, trust no-one. Your life depends on it . . .
Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Arthur’s staunch best friend, Freya follows both clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an ‘antiques enthusiasts weekend’. But not is all as it seems; the antiques are bad reproductions and the guests all have something to hide.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781035021826 |
| Publication date: |
26th September 2024 |
| Author: |
C L Miller |
| Publisher: |
Pan Books an imprint of Pan Macmillan |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
336 pages |
| Series: |
The Antique Hunters |
| Primary Genre |
Humorous Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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C L Miller Press Reviews
It’s a delicious read - packed with fascinating details in a picture-perfect setting. Who could resist a treasure hunt with murder at its core? - SJ Bennett
The perfect cosy crime read for antique hunters everywhere!' - Katherine Blake
Brilliantly fun, fast-paced mystery set against the murkier side of the antiques world - where everyone has a price and no one is who they say they are. Freya Lockwood for the new James Bond! - Jessica Bull
Irresistible, immersive and completely unputdownable, think the Antiques Roadshow meets Miss Marple with a deliciously OTT cast of characters and twist after twist after twist. - Ellery Lloyd
What a unique and very enjoyable take on the classic whodunnit! - Jo Silva
What a treat! A unique and compelling debut by an outstanding author - I couldn't stop turning the pages! The fabulously drawn characters leapt from the page and drew me into this engrossing murder mystery. - Kathryn Croft
A perfect indulgence and an absolute joy to read. It's as much about the antiques you might kill for as the joy of second chances, with enough eccentric characters pretending to be someone else to populate a Wodehouse novel. - Nicki Thornton
Every now and then a crime series lands that grabs the attention and holds it tight - this is one of those series. It's a rare jewel of a book with exceptional provenance and one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. - Kate Wells
Intrigue, enigma and murder in a quaint Suffolk village - antiques have never been so much fun. - Holly Hepburn
It's a delight! - Katie Fforde
An utterly charming mystery rich with detail and thrumming with intrigue. C.L. Miller’s connection to the world of antiques shines through in her writing. - Robyn Harding
A fresh voice and a new take on the crime fiction genre, C.L Miller’s debut is authentic, knowledgeable and intriguing. I have a feeling this one will be huge. - Mari Hannah
A charming tale for the whodunit lover - warm and wise. Go Freya! Go Auntie Carole! - Orlando Murrin
C.L. Miller delivers a fun, fascinating, and satisfying read in a giddy and compelling take on an old manor mystery featuring a reluctant detective—and her dazzling elderly aunt—struggling to find herself while tracking a killer. The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder combines charm and depth with two fantastic female leads who will deeply delight fans of Sue Grafton and Agatha Christie. - Amber Cowie
A whodunnit meets treasure hunt sprinkled with antiques - what’s not to love? Polished to a gleam, there’s not a speck of dust on this one. Page-turning, full of fascinating nuggets about the antiques world, and enormous fun to read. A real treat. - Eve Chase
One of my favourite reads of the summer. Part cosy crime, part international conspiracy thriller, it is brilliantly plotted, gripping until the end, with a main character readers will love. - Michelle Davies
It takes a lot of talent and skill to write both a pulse-pounding and laugh-out-loud mystery, and C.L Miller has brilliantly accomplished that. Set in the surprisingly cutthroat, dangerous world of antiques, this novel has it all: a cast of suspicious and utterly entertaining characters, a relatable heroine and her plucky sidekick, and tension that builds chapter by chapter. The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder is delightful, sharp, and absolutely irresistible. A fascinating read! - Samantha Bailey
A work of art worthy of its objets d'art theme. Page-turning, adventurous, full of antiques and vivid characters. - Rachel Louise Driscoll
A precious gem of a book. I loved following Freya and Aunt Carole on this atmospheric and entertaining journey through the world of priceless artifacts and convincing fakes. - Jessa Maxwell
