Number three in the Bella Winter Mystery series. I read and enjoyed the first book but somehow missed the second one. Bella runs an antique store and fancies herself as an amateur sleuth. When she gets involved with a family with serious issues and several deaths occur she begins her own investigation.

There are a lot of good things about this book but I was weighed down by the amount of speculation about who might have done the crimes. This is always part of a cosy mystery but in this case the discussions seriously outweighed the action in number of pages. I did enjoy the characters and the ending came as a surprise which I always like. Three stars from me for this one.

Bella has her suspicions that all is not well with Clemmie Crowe's death. When is confirmed that it was murder, Bella jumps at the chance to investigate the death.
This was the third book in the series and is an enjoyable addition to the collection. The character were somewhat eclectic and quite interesting. The plot flowed well with enough twists to produce a satisfying read.

When a local who was ill passes away, Bella begins to suspect foul play. Asked to value the estate Bella jumps at the chance to dig deeper into the death while completing the job. But will she finish the job before a killer finishes her?

The third entry in this series h is just as charming as the previous two. A jolly good mystery each time.

In the third instalment of this book series, Bella takes on a different role with going to value a house collection. I really liked this new turn the book took, which gave Bella the opportunity to go into full ameteur sleuth mode in this investigation. There were some very interesting characters and a strong set up to the storyline. As the story continued, I enjoyed seeing more of the very quaint Hope Eaton village, including the local pub.

The rapport between Bella and John for me is one of the highlights of the book. I think he could become more of a sidekick sleuth and be more present in the investigations.

I read this book a few pages a night and at times had to remind myself who the characters were and who did what, as the storyline veered off in different directions at times. Some of the characters were easier to picture than others, although things were cleared up at the end for me, and the killer’s motives all made sense. I also wanted to say that the writer creates a detailed picture of Bella’s life in each book, and the continuation of Bella’s personal story is one of the things I look forward to reading. The writer is getting stronger with each book. I look forward to any further sleuthing adventures Bella has.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Antique Store Detective And The Deadly Inheritance' by Clare Chase

What another absolutely brilliant addition to another addictive series by the extremely talented Clare Chase!! This book is the third book in Clare's absolutely fantastic, cosy and addictive 'Bella Winter' series but each book in this series can be read as a standalone.

If you have yet to read any books by this fantastic author and you are a lover of cosy crime then what on Earth are you waiting for!! This is the third book in this series that I have absolutely fallen in love with by Clare with the other series being her 'Eve Mallow Mystery' series. This is the third book in her epic 'Bella Winter' series but can be read as a standalone (as can her Eve Mallow series). I always recommend that you read books in a series in order but there is a silver lining. If you have not read the first two books in this series then after you have finished and fallen in love with this book you can go back and read it while you are waiting for Clare's next success to come out!! The good news is the next book in this series is available to preorder on Amazon now. It is called 'The Antique Store Detective And The Riverside Murders' and will be published on the 14th August 2026. I have no idea how I am going to manage to wait so long but it is good news if you are a newbie to Clare as it gives you pplenty of time to read all the previous books in this series as well as getting hooked in to her 'Eve Mallow Mystery' series while you are waiting If you manage to read the previous books before then I would highly recommend you go and meet Eve in Clare's Eve Mallow series while you are waiting!! I absolute LOVE Bella just as much as I do Eve. As I have come to expect with Clare her absolutely brilliant, evocative and emotive descriptions really brings the amazing setting of Hope Eaton, The Antique Store 'Vintage Winter', Bella and all the surroundings and characters to life ensuring the reader is really absorbed into the storyline seeing and feeling everything that Bella is seeing and feeling and trying to solve the mystery with her. This is one of those fantastic books, and series, that you can read anywhere and at any time as Clare will transport you to Hope Eaton and next to Bella at the turn of the page!! You need to clear your schedules before starting this as you will not be able to put it down. I was walking around with my kindle glued to my hands while attempting to multi task. Any time I promised myself I would just read one more chapter then get on with some work something happened to stop me!! In the end I absolutely devoured it in one sitting and standing of several hours and as always Clare left me wanting more!! The storyline takes us on a fun cosy mystery in stunning locations filled with clues, mystery, motives, suspects, red herrings, danger, history and much more!!! This book really is another addictive beauty by the very talented Clare!! One of the things I absolutely adore about Clare's books is that each and every time she creates stunning areas which come to life thanks to her fantastic evocative writing skills. This book is an absolutely fantastic addition to this brilliant series and I cannot wait to get stuck into the next book in this series 'The Antique Store Detective And The Riverside Murders' which promises to be just as addictive as this and the previous two books in this series!

Clear your schedules, grab a drink and get cosy as once you've picked this up you won't be able to put it down!!

These amazing characters are all realistic, strong and an eclectic bunch to say the least. It was really fun learning all of their different characteristics, personalities and backgrounds. I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know more about the regular characters as well as meeting new characters. I especially loved meeting Bella Winters again who I really liked and was completely invested in from the beginning. I also liked several of the other characters, many of which I have previously met in the first book. Again, Clare's brilliant descriptions bring each of them all to life and I cannot wait to discover more about them and go on another mystery with Bella in 'The Antique Store Detective And The Deadly Inheritance.

Congratulations to Clare Chase on yet another absolutely successful and addictive page turning murder mystery! This is why when I want an addictive cosy mystery which I can read anywhere I hunt your books down and why you are in my top 5 cosy mystery author list!. Here's to you're next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely compelling, addictive and page turning cosy mystery that will keep you hooked throughout!

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Clemmie Crowe has died in the local hospice, but there are a couple of questions surrounding her death the local sleuth Bella Winter is not happy with. When she is invited to value items in the home of the Powell family who used to own half of Hope Eaton but appear to have fallen on hard times. Clemmie was a relative of theirs and Althea, the wife of the current incumbent was devastated that she has died and would like to know who was responsibile.
Rory and Gregory, sons of Bernard, Althea's husband have possible motives, but proving it could be difficult.
In an interesting case, Bella has to tread lightly to find out the truth.

This is book three in the Bella Winter Mystery series & can easily be read as a standalone. This cozy crime book is set in a quaint village & Bella runs an antique store there. She, of course, has a sideline in investigating ne’er-do-wells.

Bella has been asked to surreptitiously value some bits & bobs by Althea Powell. The latter doesn’t want her husband to know what’s going on, as he is already bankrupting the family estate & she doesn’t want him to fritter away even more cash. The body count ticks over nicely, no blood & gore, & there is plenty of sleuthing for Bella to do. Especially, when a high value necklace is revealed & then almost immediately stolen.

The mystery itself is a twisting tale & at times a little confusing, but that being said, it is all straightened out in the end. Bella is a tenacious character, who relies on gut feel but I think she missed her calling to be a professional detective. An enjoyable read.

Clare Chase writes gripping and intriguing cozy mystery featuring strong and clever heroines. This series grew on me and it’s become a fav as I like Bella, the antique setting, and the solid mystery.
This is an excellent and very entertaining novel with enough twists and surprises to keep me turning pages and a clever plot that kept me guessing.
There’re classic whodunit elements, there’s a very entertaining plot and characters I was glad to catch up.
A good cozy to start the autum season, perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Clemmie Crowe’s death, due to her advanced age and serious illness, may have been expected. However, something she said in Bella Winter’s presence gives Bella pause, making her suspect foul play. Clemmie was in hospice and had been visited by several people, including Bella.

Bella, an amateur detective who enjoys her profession as an antiques dealer, is determined to solve the mystery of Clemmie’s death. As she was present when Clemmie passed away, Bella is heartbroken and seeks to uncover the truth. Curiously, before her death, Clemmie had requested the visit of a policeman, which only adds to Bella’s intrigue.

The possibility of a conspiracy and the secrets surrounding Clemmie’s death intensify Bella’s focus on finding her killer. The connection between Clemmie’s death and other suspicious deaths further fuels her determination. With the support of her friends, Bella remains resolute in her quest to uncover the truth.

Bella’s fun and engaging personality makes her a delightful protagonist. The inclusion of her antique store in the stories adds a touch of charm and familiarity. This third book by Clare Chase is a perfect fit for the series, and I eagerly anticipate reading book four.

Favorite Quotes:

She was adept at spotting lies and bluffs, thanks to being the oldest of four sisters and an antiques dealer to boot.

Bella always found other people’s emotion contagious. She couldn’t help imagining what they were feeling and feeling it too.

Tony grunted. ‘All right. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.’ Bella tried to imagine what that might be, and failed.

Then he’d asked if she had any idea how to get children to eat cabbage but Bella hadn’t replied. Her childcare knowledge had been hard-earned and it didn’t come for free. If he wouldn’t promise firm action on Gregory and Kevin Baker, she was withdrawing her services.

My Review:

This was a rather complicated mystery for a cozy; the little pea in my brain was dizzy from spinning in circles. I was starting to lose faith in Bella as this one just kept getting further away from her, with additional murders piling up and multiple relatives appearing guilty. The storylines were active, humorous, multi-layered, and chockablock full of odd and uniquely drawn characters. I would never have unraveled this one and had no idea Clare Chase could be so devious. She’s become quite the shifty minx.

A return to Hope Eaton and a catch up with Bella is always welcome...I would love to be the owner of an antique shop, I'm so jealous of Bella's 'Vintage Winter' shop!

An enjoyable inclusion to the Bella Winter Mystery series...Book three BTW...Deadly Inheritance has a ruby necklace as its focal point.

I love super sleuthing with Bella. While I don't always get it right I have great fun trying.

It's an entertaining read which I devoured in one sitting. It's well paced, has a plot laden with mystery and intrigue, and a great cast of characters, main and supporting.

Bella Winter is a smart sleuth that is always at the wrong place at the right time. Though there is a lot going on on the book, hang in there cause the bodies will continue to pop up and Bella's nosy antics really help her discover all the secrets that are surrounding Hope Eaton and its residents.
First, Clemmie Crowe is dead. She is a friend of the town, is related to Althea Powell, and has died under questionable circumstances. This unraveled our current story and situation.

I enjoyed Bella's character as she is very persistent and sometimes pushy but not in an annoying way. She is a very caring person and very perceptive to lies and manipulations. First time reading this author and series and enjoyed it a lot. It is a cozy and sweet murder mystery.

Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture, for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.

When Bella secretly appraises a house's contents for an acquaintance who needs to replenish the family funds, while allowing her pompous husband to save face, she discovers betrayal and possibly murderous intent. However, Bella soon realises that her suspicions are hard to prove and perhaps even dangerous. A lot is going on in this cosy crime mystery, which has a distinctly antique flavour and a well-meaning amateur sleuth, Bella, and her quirky friends, who all bring something to the investigation from their current lives or past occupations. The plot is complex, with many false leads and suspects, but Bella's relentless determination eventually prevails. It is detailed and a little repetitive, but this makes it realistic and allows the vibrant characters to shine. I like the village setting, the antique details that add depth and interest to the story and the cast of characters that you invest in. It has a delightful balance of humour, mystery, poignancy and even romance, which makes it an entertaining read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Bella Winter accompanies her assistant John to visit Clemmie Crowe in the hospice but Clemmie is agitated when Bella passes her the worry beads & Clemmie as asked a local policeman to call on her. But Clemmie dies later that day. Bella’s certain Clemmie knew something about her relatives, the powerful Powell family. They used to own half of Hope Eaton, but now they’re planning to sell what remains… Including the Steps Café, owned by Bella’s best friends. So when matriarch Althea Powell invites her to value their possessions, Bella jumps at the chance. She can find some gems, investigate Clemmie’s death, and stymie the sale all at once. It seems to be going swimmingly… until it’s proved that Clemmie was murdered, and Althea’s priceless ruby necklace vanishes. Then the body count rises.
The third book in the series & we once again have the bunch of friends investigating. I like Bella but must admit she grates on me at times. An interesting mystery with a select group of suspects that decreases as the story unfolds. There are twists, turns & red herrings before the climax where Bella is in danger & an unlikely character saves her. The pace is good although there’s quite a bit of internal thinking from Bella, the characters are well portrayed & I was kept guessing as to who the villain was
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This is the third in this rather quirky series featuring Bella Winter and, as with most series, it's best to start from book one and read in order. Although the main story is self contained herein, there's backstory and character development, knowledge of which will make your journey with this book richer.
So... Bella is being a wee bit naughty in this book. She is helping her friend Althea Powell value some of her husband's possessions. Mainly cos they are in need of cash as the "old money" is nearly gone and the estate is hemorrhaging money. Add in, a wayward son and, well, the family is in trouble.
But, this gives her the opportunity to investigate what she thinks is not a natural death. Even though Clemmie was very sick, there are things that just don't add up, and Bella thinks that answers lie with her family, the Powells.
And so begins a rather convoluted case, probably enhanced as such by Bella's obvious shortfalls in investigating but, that said, she still appears to be better at it than the local police! Aided by her friends they point fingers at plenty of suspects, eventually weeding them in or out until... well... you'll have to read the book to find out that! But boy do they do a LOT of speculating, and it does get a wee bit repetitive on occasion with all the backtracking. It's a wee bit convoluted in the middle third but the author does manage to just keep things on track.
But, all that said, when it finally all comes together, it does so with great satisfaction. With all questions answered and all threads coming together nicely.
Yes there are niggles, and the pacing is a wee bit off at times, but they are only minor things and the rest is just as good as expected. Ticking off everything I need from a book. I'm definitely looking forward to book four!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The pacing seemed a little strange at times, we were roughly a quarter of the way into the book before the necklace really showed up and that was after we'd had a murder and some investigations. Then, the focus very sharply narrowed to the necklace and all the trouble that happened after, almost at the expense of the first murder. Very little went into investigating her death itself, beyond thoughts returning to 'but how does that tie in to the woman who died'.

This was actually quite a dark plot, all things being said, for a cosy murder mystery. Some of the motives, the red herrings and of course the actual killer, are a step above what you would normally expect to find in these sorts of books. Not dark at all compared to a thriller, but within its genre, a surprise and a rather pleasant one at that.

The only thing keeping it from a four star was that I felt Bella's leaps of logic were a little too wide at times, the way she would manage to get bullseye every single time she confronted someone about something. (well, almost every time.) I couldn't even follow how she worked out what one of the brothers was doing.

All in all however, an entertaining entry into the genre, and with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the page until its done. I will be looking out for other books by this author.

This book is not for me. Bella strikes me as judgmental, and she jumps to conclusions based on very little evidence. The book is also repetitious—I don’t know how many times it mentioned that Clemmie wanted to talk to Adam, but she died before he got there. DNF ~30%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Bella Winters owns an antique shop in the English village of Hope Eaton and was with Clemmie when she passed from an illness or was it from the illness? Bella seen things that puts doubts in her mind, She decides to look into it, especially after some other shenanigans appear to be going on involving Clemmie's best friend, Althea. The family has hit hard times, and Althea wants Bella to price some of the family's heirlooms in secret without her husband knowing. The stepsons are definitely up to something and her husband trying to keep up appearances. Bella starts to wander if Clemmie's death has anything to do with Althea's family's situation. Bella and her shop assistant, John are on the case.

Every time I thought I knew what happened, a twist came in. I have not read the two previous installments so maybe I am off base, but I would like to learn a little bit more about John. I did enjoy the characters, especially John's family. I am looking forward to reading the next one. I thought the story drew you in and was engaging. It did have some slow spots but overall, I enjoyed it.

Would rate if 3-1/2 stars.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this book and give my opinion.

"The Antique Store Detective and the Deadly Inheritance” the 3rd instalment in The Bella Winter Mystery series by Clare Chase set in Hope Eaton, Shopshire England.

I really like how Bella and her circle of friends find out information and gather insights into the crime and the people involved. The story deals with greed, family dynamics, and the Hope Eaton community.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book 4!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Bookouture and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Welcome back Bella Winter, her Godfather, Tony, and the Jenks Family. Since moving to Hope Eaton, Bella has become something of an amateur sleuth. After a friend, Clemmie Crowe passes away, Bella thinks there's something iffy about the death and when Althea Powell's necklace goes missing then Bella is the hunt for the truth! Although, there are plans to sell off some of the Powell's properties and they join forces to stop this from happening. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns, which led to a surprising conclusion. More please.