I must admit that I didn't quite like this book as much as the first one which was a big shame as I was really looking forward to it as i felt the author had made a good start with a new series,

The story on paper sounds perfect and ticked all the boxes for me - a dynamic and comedy duo (mainly Aunt Carole) trying to solve a murder and theft of valuable antiquities and set on a boat, which I always adore. Win win for me. Unfortunately it all just fell a little bit flat and I lost track of who was who during the middle. I felt as though it dragged on and I lost concentration and patience, especially with Freya who I'm amazed is actually still alive!

Just didn't quite hit the mark for me sadly.

For many years Arthur had been chasing an expert antiques thief called the Collector, after his death Freya Lockwood picks up the chase. Called in after a painting is stolen from a seaside art gallery, Freya (and Aunt Carole) finds herself on a luxury antiques cruise to Jordan but this is a cruise with a difference. On board are millions of pounds worth of stolen antiques and a group of competing criminals, all aiming to become the next Collector.
Whilst this is a fun cosy crime caper, I found is very confusing in parts. There are lots of references to the first novel in the series and the first chapter is virtually impenetrable if one hasn't read that. The plot is rather convoluted and it's difficult to track several of the characters and their motivations. Having said all that, this is a pacy enough story with some really great vignettes.

Having really enjoyed the first book in this series, I was delighted to receive a copy from NetGalley and the publisher Pan MacMillan in exchange for a review. I listened to the fantastic audio version of the first book and as I read this one I couldn’t help but have Emilia Fox’s voice ring out for Freya. I thoroughly enjoyed being back with Freya, Carole and a few other familiar faces as the Antique Agency took on their first case. A cruise ship on the Red Sea, a mysterious Collector, several stolen artefacts and antiquities, and a bountiful cast of devious characters all made for another great mystery. This had me turning the pages deep into the night and gasping at many a moment. All in all, for me it was a great second book, a super mystery and I look forward to reading more about our antique hunters in the future.

Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole have just picked up their first case at the Lockwood Antique Hunter's Agency. A painting has been stolen from a maritime museum, and the women quickly realise that they will need to join a glamorous antiques cruise along the red sea in order to investigate properly. Boarding the cruise, Freya realises that the ship's gallery is filled with stolen antiques, and their case is much bigger than first anticipated.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so jumped at the chance to read the follow up when invited by Pan Macmillan.

I found this one started out at a great pace, with Freya launching straight in to her next mystery. Within the first few chapters Freya and Carole are on the cruise and on the hunt for the missing painting. I lost my way a little in the middle, I think because there was a lot of characters to keep track of in this one and I was getting a little confused with who was who. Everything came together at the end though, and Miller gave us a sure sign that the series will continue on.

Character wise I think Carole is my favourite. I would love to be like her when I'm older, living life to its absoute fullest! Having Phil and Bella back as regular characters was great too. I wasn't a big fan of Bella in the first book but she grew on me in this one. I'm looking forward to seeing where the group's adventures take them.

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, just because I got a bit bogged down in the middle, but it's still a good read and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more in the series. I think Miller has set up a solid premise now, and with having the four core characters to follow there's some investment building.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book a good go and got a bit more than half way through but I just didn't want to read on. I got bored of the characters and didn't really like them.

The book starts slowly with some improbable circumstances and unusual naivety to get Freya and Carole onboard the cruise ship. There are twists, turns, and a fair bit of humour involved. With some 'will they/won't they' romance thrown in, this book continues the faintly Agatha Christieesque vibe from the first book.

I didn't find it as good as the first but there's more than enough to keep me reading if another book in the series is published.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This review is entirely my own thoughts and feelings.

An entertaining mystery sleuth series book two. For ‘antiques’ read danger. Freya and her aunt are once again in the midst of intrigue. A murder and theft from a local maritime museum piques their interest. But surely shouldn’t be as frightening as their previous antique search. But that would suppose the villainous Collector and his acquaintances were once again up to their tricks. It’s good that Freya and her Aunt have wit, style, panache, a superb knowledge of antiques and that Freya also has a never let go vibe once she’s started. Thank you to Pan McMillan and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

A fun and easy read perfect for disappearing into over a cold and wet weekend.
I love the concept of these books (this is the second I've read) with murder mysteries wrapped up in the antiques trade, but I'm sadly somewhat irritated by the lead character, Freya, who while clearly an intelligent woman displays a serious lack of smart judgement, for some reason refusing to acknowledge any sensible suggestions simply because a man has made them "and she'll never let a man tell her what to do again" after her divorce. She's like the lone woman who.hears a noise outside the isolates cabin in the woods after dark, and goes outside to investigate. It might help the plot along but it makes for much audience face-palming. I adore her aunt, Carole, however. Although am I alone in hearing Lilian from The Archers whenever she speaks?

I was so excited to have another mystery with these characters and couldn't wait to pick it up. Following Freya and her aunt Carole several months after the conclusion of the first book we see them trying to solve another antiques mystery this time on a cruise.

I was so happy to see some familiar faces back for the second installment and enjoyed some new characters. I found the mystery compelling and didn't know who we could trust of the new characters.

I felt this book was slightly slower in the middle as the action of the final third was set up but this did not detract from my enjoyment.

I can't wait to see how the characters develop going forward.

“Ready for the next fox hunt then?”

A painting has vanished from a maritime museum and there's a body nearby. Antique hunter Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole are called in to investigate. The investigation leads them onto a glamorous antiques cruise sailing toward the Red Sea in Jordan.

Thank you to Panmacmillan for inviting me to read this over on NetGalley. I read the first book in this series An Antique Hunters Guide to Murder last year as an arc and loved it.

The Antique Hunters Death on the Red Sea was just as good if not better. I loved reuniting with Freya and Aunt Carol she is just so much fun. The mystery was strong throughout and I loved the setting.

It's started to give me National Treasure vibes and I can't wait to see what they go in search of next!

Freya and Carole are back and this time on the case of a missing painting from Lowestoft museum this leads them onto a cruise where Arthur used to be guest speaker. They seem to have got in over their heads with stolen antiques and a mysterious “collector” who has the antiques he wants stolen. Freya is determined to prove herself regardless of the dangers.

THE ANTIQUE HUNTER’S GUIDE TO MURDER: DEATH ON THE RED SEA

The second book in, The Antique Hunter’s Guide To Murder series, having read the fist book; which I’d found to be a fantastic start to this series I had high hopes for this second book.

I found Death On The Red Sea flowed nicely from its predecessor “The Antique Hunter’s Guide To Murder” again with C.L.Miller’s strong descriptive pros, again continuing to metaphorically paint detailed descriptions of both characters and scenery, really placing the reader into the story.

However one difference I found between the two novels was the velocity of the story.

I found …Death On The Red Sea to be more inconsistent with a much slower pace, which I found was hindered by the vast amount of characters.

Unfortunately halfway through I found my concentration was ebbing and I found that I was becoming bored and was wishing the book to end.

With immense thanks to #Netgalley, Pan Macmillian publishers and the author C.L. Miller for my eArc copy of
#THEANTIQUEHUNTER’SGUIDETOMURDERDEATHONTHEREDSEA in change for my honest review.

Freya Lockwood and her aunt Carole are asked to investigate when a body is found in a museum and a painting goes missing. After finding leads that point to an antiques cruise ship, they find themselves onboard. They soon find something darker at play than first expected. Will they solve the mystery?

This is the follow up book to the author’s first book An Antique Hunter’s Guide To Murder, which I have yet to read. I found that this can be read as a standalone, however I felt that a lot of the build up to the situation and characters were developed in the first book, so felt that I was missing something. Saying that, I did enjoy the characters and their connections with one another. Although due to a large cast of them, I sometimes found myself a bit confused. I also liked that there was some humour and light hearted moments within the story.

I was interested straight away, finding the antiques aspect intriguing and original. I was keen to see where it would go, however I found the story started to hinder as it reached the mid way point and my interest started to wane due to the slow pace. Overall this was a well written, compelling cosy crime mystery… I just wish I had read the first book prior, something that I will now look at doing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

The Antique Hunter’s Death On The Red Sea by C L Miller is the next book in the escapades of The Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency. Freya and Carol once again follow the clues that Freya’s Uncle Arthur leaves within the stolen, to aid the pair to success. Obviously it’s a dangerous game they play in, and along the way they meet unpleasant characters but they are a very powerful duo!!
They find allies along the way, some new and some old. This helps them in their quest to win!!!
This time, they’re chasing after a stolen painting and a grey vase, but this leads to a much bigger case.
It was good. I’ve read all of the books in The Antique Hunters series, but I’m afraid I found it a little flat.
Many thanks to Pam MacMillan for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #PanMacmillan, #CLMillerWriter.

Having really enjoyed the first in this series, I couldn't wait to get stuck into the second!

When a painting vanishes from a local museum, Freya doesn't believe the curator that it's not of value; the very fact that the late Arthur Crockleford is enough to set her internal alarm bells ringing. Getting a lead indicating that there are nefarious dealings on a cruise ship heading for the Red Sea, Freya and her aunt Carole race to join the ship and see if they can get to the bottom of things.

I don't know anything about the shady world of stolen art and I loved learning all about the dodgy deals in both books in this series. Freya and Carole are being immersed into a dangerous world and it makes for riveting reading! With a fine cast of characters, all beautifully crafted, this is one which kept me firmly focused from start to finish - and I would never have guessed who was behind it all! A cracking read and one easily meriting a full house of stars and my recommendation. *****

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

The 2nd book in this series, we're back with Freya and her aunt Carole. A painting vanishes from a museum, a dead body found nearby. Freya has launched her new agency, Lockwood Antique Hunters Agency and her and Carole start to investigate. Ending up on board an antiques cruise sailing to Jordan. A gallery of stolen antiquities, chasing a murderer, there's more to this case than initially thought - 'The Collector' could be on board... can they reveal who it is and stop the crime.
In the style of old school detective fiction, Agatha Christie, 'cosy crime', this is a great story. It very much builds on the 1st book so l'd recommend reading in order to know the back story. The setting here was evocative & fun, lots of details. The story stalled a little for me in the middle, but picked back up and I enjoyed the ending.
Can't wait for the next instalment in their adventures in the world of antique hunting!

A cosy mystery reminiscent of the Queen of Crime herself.

There is a great cast of characters, eccentrics, shady Antiques folk and of course, Freya and Aunt Carole. What was supposed to be a mix of holiday and sleuthing has turned into a full fledged investigation. Freya has managed to hold onto her naivety which can sometimes lead her astray - she needs to take a big dose of cynicism! Her Aunt Carole is as wacky as ever and brought a lot of comic relief to the story.

The storyline is confined mostly to the boat on the Nile, so it's almost like a "locked room" mystery afloat. I really enjoyed my trip down the Nile and learning more about history and antiques in general. A fab modern take on the vintage mystery!

A welcome return for Freya and Carole, I think this could be read as a standalone novel but it’s probably better to read in order for a richer experience. Freya and Carole have decided to revive the antique hunting business previously run by Freya and her uncle. Most of the action takes place aboard a luxury cruise ship between Cyprus and Jordan with the tension ramping up as the cruise progresses. Another great outing for the intrepid duo which I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 3*
Characters: 4*

I took my sweet time with this one and I think it improved my enjoyment. I was thrown right back into the mix of characters I knew and loved from the first one, the few new additions thrown onto the cruise ship were equally as good too. I love that each can be read as a standalone, but with each book theres some backstory to keep your interest piqued and I cannot wait to see where book 3 (is there one?) will take us.
For fans of Richard Osman.

This is the second book in this series and, as the characters and indeed storyline are a bit interconnected and complicated, I would definitely recommend you read book one first. You'll definitely have a better time knowing all their back stories and how certain people connect.
We start with a missing painting, taken from a maritime museum, leaving a dead body nearby. Newly formed Lockwood's Antique Hunter's Agency - made up of Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole - are called in to assist. Mainly cos of the connection with Arthur, Freya's mentor, whose murder was solved in book one.
This event turns out to be the catalyst that sees out duo joining a cruise ship on its way to the Red Sea where they find not only the painting in question, but a whole load of other stolen antiques - remember the journals? As well as these, they also find a few familiar faces (see you really do need to read book one) including potential love interest FBI Phil! And then the murders start...
This book is all things convoluted and interconnected. I would definitely recommend you dedicate huge chunks of time to reading it if you can rather than just dipping in for a couple pages/chapters. It gets a bit busy in places and I also found it handy to write me a cast list to try and keep things straight in my head! Keep your wits about you and you will be better able to manage all the threads as they meander around and about before they all, well most, come together at the, mostly satisfying, end.
The characters are all cracking, as long as you can keep them straight. I especially love Freya and Phil and I think everyone should have a Carole in their lives! Pacing is a wee bit hit and miss though, and there is occasionally a bit too much information that distracts rather than progressing the narrative.
All in all, a worthy follow up to what was a solid series opener. Roll on book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.