Divorce, single parenting, an empty nest, and the subsequent sale of your home, are high on the stress inducing chart and Freya Lockwood has faced them all in the past twenty years. Then her mentor from a career she'd loved and reluctantly left two decades earlier dies suddenly and Freya finds herself returning to her childhood home, and the aunt who'd raised her, something she'd thought would never happen.

Arthur Crockleford was an antique hunter of high regard who followed the clues wherever they led him until his untimely death. Now all Freya and her Aunt Carole have left is his antique shop, a lifetime of memories and a cryptic last letter which sets them off on the trail of something which may well have cost Arthur his life. As gradually the two women get closer to deciphering Arthur’s message and what he needed from them the danger begins to creep ever closer. Can they fulfil his final instructions or will they too become collateral damage in a case which has been twenty years and thousands of miles in the making?

I was surprised to learn this is C L Miller's debut novel, it definitely doesn't read that way. Freya and her Aunt Carole are main protagonists who are easy to like and although the other main characters can easily be imagined in a decades earlier Poirot or Miss Marple plot they were never so stereotypical that they gave anything away ahead of time. My only grumble is that there were an awful lot of them! This is the beginning of a new series and with its antique led mysteries the world is now Freya and Carole's oyster as they hone their unique investigating skills.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan Macmillan, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this and will be on the lookout for book two. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Probably closer to a 2.5/5 to be honest.

If you like the idea of reading an origin story involving a female version of Lovejoy teamed up with an octogenarian Hyacinth Bucket; this might be the book for you!

It was not the book for me though, I'm afraid.

The issue I have with debut authors trying to roll out a series from the get-go is that there is so much pressure to build the backstory and motivation for the actions of the characters that the story currently being told is often tenuous at best.

I would prefer a more well-rounded story, even if I'm unaware as to why the protagonists are making certain choices, that can then be filled in in a later book should I decide to stay with the series.

This is not a series that I will be revisiting, although, fundamentally, I had no real issue with it. I just didn't find it engaging.

Although I finished Cara Miller’s The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder, I almost abandoned it after a few chapters. I’m afraid I just didn’t care for, nor was I interested in, any of the characters. Freya keeps bleating on about not forgiving Arthur after “what happened in Cairo” but by the time we find out what did happen, in Chapter 22, I no longer cared. Each chapter has a character’s name at the head, but while Freya’s are narrated in the first person, the others are written in the third person and simply focus upon that character, which puzzled me until I realised that the name at the chapter head is pretty irrelevant.

I’m happy to accept that the author knows a lot about antiques but, unfortunately, a novelist’s ability to breathe life into their characters is far more important than any amount of specialist knowledge. There are several holes in the plot and the characters are cardboard.

I won’t be reading any more in the series.
#TheAntiqueHuntersGuidetoMurder #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for sending on this advanced copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

It starts with a murder that will send Freya and Carole on a hunt to find the killer. Freya has been out of the antique business for over twenty years but now she is being pulled back in when her ex-mentor, Arthur dies. She arrives back in town to attend the funeral but her aunt, Carole is convinced that something is afoot. Reluctant and hurt by how things ended over two decades ago, Freya finds herself unable to turn away from the mysterious death and suspicious circumstances.

This book will have you turning the pages faster than your eyes can read as you try to piece together what happened alongside Freya and Carole.

This is perfect for people that love a good murder mystery and an adventure to find lost treasure. Read this if you love ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’, ‘Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers’, Indiana Jones and Glass Onion.

I really enjoyed this book, for me it had the right amount of mystery and intrigue but also really easy to read. I enjoyed the different antiques elements and learning more about the industry and different items. I absolutely loved Carole she is definitely a character I could engage with. I liked that the chapters are fairly short and to the point as the story can keep unfolding quickly and fully.

Enjoyed the quotes from Arthur in each chapter, don’t think the name tagging in some chapters (ie when very specifically about or by that person) is necessarily needed.

Looking forward to reading more in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for letting me have an advanced reading copy of the book.

The plot is as deep and dark as it gets, multi-layered with 'who knew what when?' as the strands come together and the finer details get filled in. This is an absolutely compelling, gripping book full of mystery and suspense. Only a few authors can write deeply involving psychological drama of the very highest quality.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Freya Lockwood grew up in a quaint English village with her eccentric Aunt Carole after her parents' passing. Growing up, Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and Carole’s best friend was Freya’s mentor, but they have been estranged for the last 20 years, and Freya has avoided returning to the village. Until she gets news that Arthur has died, and that the circumstances seem suspicious.

Reluctantly she returns, and starts to help her Aunt with all the funeral arrangements, moving past all the hurt and memories that being back home raise. Until a mysterious letter is delivered. It is a letter from Arthur, sent days before his death, which cryptically lead Freya and Carole to his hidden journals, and straight into the depths of an antiques mystery, and into a world that Freya thought she had long left behind, not entirely willingly.

Freya and Carole team up to unravel Arthurs clues, leading them to an old manor house, where Freya is listed, unbeknown to her, as a valuer at an ‘antiques enthusiasts weekend’. However, the antiques are all reproductions, the guests all seem to have something to hide, and then someone ends up dead. Freya needs to figure out fast what Arthur wants her to uncover.

I had a childhood similar to Freya, growing up surrounded by antiques. My father managed an auction room, so every day after school I was down in the premises, antiques and curios all around me. I developed a love and appreciation for these fusty old things that many would disregard, loving that they all had history, a story, quality, character, quirk and a past that I loved making up. Imagining who had owned the item, where it had come from. What fancy lady had stored her belongings in this mahogany dresser? What man had pinched snuff from this small pewter tin. What person had sat up and down in this armchair so many times, the wooden arms honed to a gleaming sheen by the repeated grip of hands? So when I saw this book I was intrigued. I looked forward to an adventure set in an unusual yet familiar setting.

I was not disappointed. I was treated to an entertaining murder mystery, whodunnit, while getting a side of nostalgia. Lovers of the Antique Roadshow will absolutely love this book, with the mix of detail, history and puzzling. While the story is fanciful and a tad farfetched, is that not why we read, to be entertained, brought along on fun and implausible journeys, and to love to turn the page as our heroes solve the mysteries that keep piling up, and get themselves out of tricky situations. I enjoyed this story, and sense there is more to come from Freya Lockwood and her background.

*I received this book from NetGalley for review but all opinions are my own.

Freya and her glitzy Auntie Carole try to solve Arthur's murder by chatting to everyone concerned, or 'find out their dirty little secrets' as Carole puts it. Arthur owned an antiques shop and was Freya's mentor. I loved the quotes from Arthur at the start of each chapter, which made him still part of the story despite his death. All this is a good distraction for Freya, who needs a project following the end of her marriage. A cosy mystery, a good start to a series.

Perfect cosy mystery that will keep you intrigued till the end!
The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder peaked my interest with the cover and title and I was not disappointed.
It is a slow burner but it is really well written and it has really great clues that will make sense at the end.
The plot was really interesting and I really enjoyed the characters. Some parts of the plot could have been less repetitive but overall I really enjoyed this read.
Would highly recommend to fans of cosy mysteries!
Thank you to NetGalley and To Pan MacMillan for this fantastic and enjoyable ARC

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
This is a very pedestrian National Treasure; in the cozy mystery vein. Unfortunately, the book was not for me - somewhere in there is the semblance of a plot, but the narrative is filled with two dimensional characters, many unnecessary repetitions of plot points, and not enough clever clues to really pique my interest.
I imagine this will attract a dedicated demographic who will find much joy in what appears to be the beginning of a series, but for someone who reads quite a lot of this genre unfortunately there are better offerings out there.

A perfect read for those cosy nights in when the weather is dreadful! The first book in a new series and I am looking forward to what comes next. This story is full of puzzle-solving and mystery whilst we follow Freya trying to find out what happened to her mentor. An easy-going read with good characterisation.

If you love a cosy who-dun-it then this book should definitely be on your tbr. Set against the backdrop of the antique world, we follow Freya Lockwood as she unravels the mystery of who killed her mentor and old friend. Family ties are broken, the line between genuine and reproduction blurred and you will, regardless of what you think, come to love Carole.

It is a 3.5 star read - entertaining, whimsical and fun.

This was a great murder mystery definetly gave Antiques Roadshow meets National Treasure vibes. I loved Freya's character and Aunty Carole was just a whole different level she was great!

I really liked the quotes from Arthur at the beginning of every chapter it kept his character alive ( even though he was dead) and gave you a real sense of his personality.

The first book in a new series I'm looking forward to see where the characters end up next.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel.

An easy-going fun cozy mystery based around antique hunting.

Seemed to sag a little, and the story could have been wrapped up a little quicker, but good characterisation and an engaging plot.

Maybe a little too 'cozy' for my tastes, but overall an enjoyable read.

What a fun read! Full of over-the-top characters, murder, secret rooms and dodgy dealings.

I was hooked from the start with the mysterious clues contained in a letter. Recently-deceased Arthur had gone to a great deal of trouble to get this to the intended recipient, Freya, who had fallen out with her mentor (Arthur) and her outrageous former actress aunt (Carole) over an incident in Cairo in which someone close to her died. This incident had caused Freya to leave her antique-hunting lifestyle and become a boring housewife and mother for 20 years, until she hears about Arthur's death. Then the hunt is on - to find a murderer, some missing valuables and most importantly the truth about what had really happened in Cairo.

The book is charming and an easy read. It is well set up as what will no doubt be the start of a delightful series.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for an advance copy of The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, the first novel to feature Freya Lockwood and her aunt, Carole, set in and around the villages of Dedham Vale.

Antiques expert Arthur Crockleford dies in mysterious circumstances with the police calling it an accident and his closest friend, Carole, calling it suspicious. Freya hasn’t talked to Arthur in twenty years, but Carole needs her support so she returns to the village where she was brought up,and soon finds herself drawn into an investigation by the dead man and a cryptic letter.

I liked the idea of The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, but I think it could do with some tightening up. I think that there could be more clarity in the explanation of the motive, which, while not baffling, has a few too many double crosses that require a starker delineation and it sags a bit in the middle. It didn’t really hold my attention.

The novel covers a few topics. It resolves why Freya and Arthur fell out twenty years ago and why Arthur has sent her and Carole on a mission to solve his death from his grave. Obviously, because it is a novel, it is all arranged in the form of cryptic clues that the ladies must solve to progress to the next step. It is also fairly interesting on the subject of antique theft.

Freya and Carole are two middle aged, middle class women becoming amateur sleuths. Where have I heard that before? I guess their USP is the antiquities and antiques angle. Freya interprets the clues, Carole does the distraction and people thing and together they solve more than one murder. It is well done, but I think it cried out for a humour that wasn’t there.

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder is a solid start to a projected series.

This was such a fun read!
It gave me vibes of Murder She Wrote!

Freya Lockwood lost her parents at a young age and was brought up by her father's sister Carole. This is how she met Arthur, her aunt's best friend and someone who became like a grandfather to her. He was an antiques dealer but that was not his only job; he would also hunt down stolen antiques and return them to their rightful owners. Freya started working with Arthur and soon she followed him into his covert second business of hunting down stolen pieces. She was in her element but then everything changed after a horrible incident in Cairo.
It was an incident that left her devastated and she broke off all contact with Arthur.
It is now years later, she's pushing fifty and living in London. Her life is going nowhere and then she gets a phone call from her aunt to tell her that Arthur died and that she needs Freya's help. When Freya arrives in Little Meddington she learns that her aunt is not sure Arthur's death was an accident.
Something is definitely off. Why were the vases in the shop moved around? Then they receive a letter with a riddle to solve and soon these two armchair sleuths are in the middle of a tangled web of lies. Will they be able to solve the mystery of Arthur's death and how is it tied into the events that took place in Cairo years before?

This is a classic murder mystery that entertains from beginning to end!
I loved Carole! She is such a fun character and someone you want to know IRL!

"All hunts begin with something that was lost or taken“
Thank you to Netgalley and PanMacmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Miss Marple meets Cluedo. A mystery and antique hunt in one funny easy going read.

Freya eventually finds her self again and starts to live her own life, with the help from one funny aunt.

The book really makes you think how many fakes there are about in the antique world?

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this novel.

As a lover of all things antique, and a murder mystery devotee, this hit the spot for me. A light hearted cosy crime novel that’s great to curl up with. Highly recommended.

This was a pretty good cozy mystery.

I liked how the author took her background in the antiques industry and made it the background to her story. I also would not have known this was a first time writer.

The cozy crime is a very popular type of book and with so much competition I wonder if this may struggle against better known series/authors.

I would certainly be interested in reading any follow up books if this was to be made into a series. This story whilst good could have benefited from some slightly tighter editing as, the story meandered for quite a while and sped up in the last quarter or so of the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.