Larceny and Old Lace

Abigail Timberlake is recently divorced (and only a little bit bitter -- kind of like the ocean is a little bit salty) and owns an antique store. She's a member of an association of antique dealers that was started by her great-aunt Eulonia Wiggins, but the group is much more embarrassed by Eulonia now than grateful to her for having blazed the trail for them. Her store and her appearance have degenerated into a hodge-podge of used and broken items that are better suited to a flea market than an upscale antique district. In fact, at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Selwyn Avenue Antique Dealers Association, several of Abigail's fellow members are fairly vocal about wanting Eulonia and her junk store gone, no matter what it took. So, show more when Eulonia is found later that day dead in her own store, strangled by an antique bellpull that is finer than anything she'd have been likely to have in that shop, the finger of blame could be pointed at any one of the members of that illustrious group. Abigail is willing to let the police hunt down the murderer until she realizes that Aunt Eulonia's priceless lace collection is missing and someone is threatening Abigail's son, Charlie. It might be a little bit harder than she thought, though, to worm any information out of the handsome police detective assigned to the case, but when her kids are on the line, Abigail won't let anything stop her from getting to the truth.

I'm also reading another series by Tamar Myers (the Amish Bed & Breakfast series) so thought I'd give this one a try. I have to say that while the writing style is, of course, much the same, the tone of this series is completely different. I got just a tad tired of reading about what a scumbag Abbie's ex-husband was, but I have to admit that I laughed out loud several times when the dialog was between Abbie and her mother. The characters were well-drawn, so even though the mystery was a bit weak, I'll read more in this series. show less

When Eulonia Wiggins is found strangled by a 19th century bell pull, her niece Abigail Timberlake knows something is odd. As the owner of the Den of Antiquity, Abigail knows antiques. And Abigail knows Eulonia didn't have the taste to acquire such a handsome antique. Eulonia's own antique store tended towards tacky garage sale cast-offs. But when investigations discover Eulonia's lace collection has disappeared, and Abigail starts receiving threats against her son's life, Abigail decides she must become involved. Abigail's wry sense of blunt honesty provides interesting insights into all the characters in her Charlotte, North Carolina community and her very Southern family. The newest Den of Antiquity mystery, The Glass Is Always show more Greener, is due to be released in February 2011. show less

I was hoping to find a new mystery series I could enjoy, but it was not to be. This takes place in the South, and some of the details of mannerisms and places are interesting. I was hoping, that since the parties involved owned antique shops there might be more of those details involved, or perhaps, an intricate plot. I had read the author's book, "The Witch Doctor's Wife," which is why I hoped for good writing and plot. Sadly, the one weakness in that book, the dialogues, was a huge weakness in this. The characters did not behave as people would, it seemed like so much hyperbole. The denouement in this made me downright angry, it was so lame.
All that being said, I suppose there are lots of folks who might enjoy this, as it seems like a show more typical "cozy" mystery to me. I won't be reading any more of this series, though. show less

First in the series. My parents had given me part of these and then I went to a local bookstore and tried to fill in the gaps. Was a nice start to the series and introduction to some of the characters and how they first all meet up.

The series involves an antique dealer and each of the books as the names imply involves an antique in some way or another. This one involves some antique lace which leads to her Aunt's death.

As with the other books in this series is a light fun read, quick and enjoyable. Tamar Myers find new and quirky ways to bring antiques into her books. This one even mentions the Kovels for those in the antique trade it will be instant recognition. With me being slightly removed from being a dealer myself it took a show more second, but then had that aha moment. show less

Not one of my favorites in this series (which is not one of my favorite series) but entertaining.

When her eccentric aunt Eulonia is surprisingly murdered, antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake wonders about the murder weapon--an exquisite bell pull--and her aunt's missing lace collection, and is horrified when her own son is threatened. Original.

Great start, to a great series