The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder

The Antique Hunters Begin
A review of the NetGalley eBook ARC of the Atria Books hardcover/eBook/audiobook released February 6, 2024.

I had an odd introduction to antique hunters Freya Lockwood and her aunt Carole. Only 6 days before the release of book #3 [book:The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle|235992331] I was offered a NetGalley bundle deal of all 3 books in the series. That short time frame didn't allow for reading the earlier books if I was going to meet #3's publication deadline of March 17, 2026.

That meant I read #3 as a standalone and often felt lost when incidents in #1 and #2 were referenced throughout. Now I'm doing a catchup in order to fill in the backstory.

So Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder introduces us to show more antiques appraiser and shop owner Arthur Crockleford shortly before his death. Freya and Carole Lockwood inherit his antiques shop and follow a trail of clues that leads them to a secret set of journals that Arthur kept which record stolen antiques which he had been searching for. Freya had worked with Arthur 20 years ago, but they had become estranged for reasons that are eventually explained. Freya and Carole follow the clues to Copthorn Manor where they uncover a family cabal of antique thieves. They also connect with undercover agents of the FBI Art Crimes team.

I thought it was a little odd that it was the American FBI who become the erstwhile partners with the Lockwoods (this continues in the later books). This is British-centric mystery after all. Where is Scotland Yard in all this?

This is solidly in the cozy mystery world with people keeping secrets from each others, teasing possible future romantic liaisons, a slightly wacky older partner to bring comic relief, villainous crime organizations and surprise reveals. Much of my satisfaction here came from filling in the missing gaps.

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this retroactive ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.

Trivia and Links
Cara Miller is the author of the Antique Hunter's (2024-ongoing) series of cozy mystery novels, of which the first [book:The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder|176450518] (2024) is currently the most popular on Goodreads. Her knowledge of antiques comes through the connection of her mother [author:Judith H. Miller|312171] (1951-2023) for whom she worked as editorial assistant on various editions of the [book:Antiques Price Guide 2008|2260354] and as a researcher for the Judith Miller Antiques Hunter's Guide to Europe (2001). show less

Freya Lockwood is entering a time of change in her life. Her daughter has gone off to college in the US and her ex-husband is pressing her to sell the family home. Then she receives a letter from Arthur Crockleford, her estranged mentor from the time she worked with him as an antiques hunter, which brings her back to the village and life she led more than twenty years earlier.

When Arthur dies in what looks like an accident in his antiques shop, Freya is called back home to support her Aunt Carole in her grief and maybe get a glimpse of what her new future will be. She is immediately involved in Arthur's business and soon becomes convinced that his death was not the accident it seemed.

She and Carole are given a letter Arthur left in show more case of his death which contains clues that the two of them can decipher to find out what happened and what secrets Arthur was holding. They find themselves attending an antiques weekend at a local manor and find themselves mixing with a variety of suspicious characters.

Since the story is told from multiple viewpoints, we have the opportunity to know more about each character's agenda than Freya and Carole do. However, the viewpoints are obscure enough that the reader isn't sure who the good guys and the bad guys are or even if there are any good guys.

As Freya unravels the clues to a tragic episode in her past, she is also reclaiming it and paving the way for her new future. It was intriguing watching a woman who let her husband belittle her and damage her self-esteem find her way to reclaim it as she solves Arthur's murder.

This is a first novel and has some strong and weak points. I was engaged with Freya's characters and her struggles and was glad to see a smart and adventurous woman rebuilding herself. show less

In the Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, Freya is struggling with empty nest syndrome and a dull life. Her Aunt Carole raised her and called her home to Suffolk after the death of local antiques dealer, Arthur Crockleford. Although like a grandfather to Freya, she was estranged from him for many years after an antique hunt adventure turned bad. Luckily, Arthur has left clues to his murderer, if only Freya and Carole can figure them out.

This is one of the best mysteries that I have read lately. Carole is hilarious and sassy. Freya is braver and smarter than she thinks. It is nice to see her confidence start to bloom. There are several potential suspects, and no one is who they seem to be. Add in a twenty year old murder that may hold show more the key to the current one, heists, forgeries, international criminals, antiques, old manor houses and secret vaults, and this is a lot of fun.

Thank you to GoodReads and the publisher for the ARC. show less

Freya, an antique hunter, investigates the death of her mentor. She is aided by her glamorous, eccentric aunt. The story got a bit bogged down in details and characters and became a challenge to follow. I was looking forward to reading this, because it sounded like fun. Although the premise is good Miller couldn’t quite pull it off.

If Arthur Crockleford had been a normal antiques dealer, then perhaps this night would never have arrived. Arthur hunched over his desk making his preparations. He had just finished gluing the last photograph into his journal when he heard the rumble of tires on the cobbles behind his antiques shop. He checked the time on his Georgia longcase clock - he adored that clock; it was one of the first antiques he'd ever bought, from a dealer on Portobello Road - the brass hands showed twenty-eight minutes past one in the morning. Out of the coal-black corridor a figure emerged. Arthur strained his eyes. "You weren't who I was expecting," Arthur said.

I picked this up in a library shelves browse, and hoped it might be something along the lines of the Thursday Murder Club series. Well, no. The main difference being Osman can write, and Miller tries hard. The characters have characteristics, rather than personalities; the author doesn't trust the reader to remember that Carole is Freya's aunt or that Arthur committed some horrid betrayal decades ago which cannot be forgiven (nor revealed to the reader). So many repetitions in 40 pages...it was enough already.

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is C.L. Miller's wonderful debut novel.
The cover immediately caught my eye. It promised a great read - and it delivered. I've become addicted to cozy murder tales lately.

I liked that Miller introduced the book herself. I'm always curious about how a plot is devised. Miller has lots of background herself in the antique world and that adds a great deal to the book.

What is the plot you ask? From the publisher "...a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artifacts."

Ahh, an isolated manor in England? Perfect setting of course. A wealth of characters to choose from for the 'culprit'. Check. (And I show more admit, I had picked wrongly for final reveal! Freya is a lead character you'll quite like. Her personal life is tied to the past - will she take her life back? Her Aunt Carole is a great choice for the supporting role. Her acting skills and personality are fun.

The premise is a good one, the setting is perfect for this tale, it's a wonderful debut and I would be quite happy to see Freya again! Or another book from Miller. show less