Antiques Foe

Vivian Borne has been receiving threatening letters in the mail, she knows the letters are being sent locally but doesn't recognize the handwriting. But thoughts of threats are quickly swept aside when a famous podcaster reaches out to let Vivian know she's coming to Serenity to do a podcast on Vivian's amateur sleuthing and the oddly high murder rate in the small midwestern town. Unfortunately the podcaster has ulterior motives and when she turns up dead from a blow to the head Vivian is the one who seems most likely to want her dead.

This series is so much fun! I love the back-and-forth between Vivian and Brandy, how they each tell part of the story and how they play off one another using each others skills and eccentricities to solve the crime while also making the story very funny. Some characters we don't often see (and have never seen before) make appearances here, including Peggy Sue, Brandy's sister/mother; the Senator, Brandy's brother-in-law/father; and Otto, Vivian's brother.

Another thing I also love about this series is how they reference their other books (calling them true crime), recalling past adventures- which never fails to make me go "oh man, I really want to read that book again!"

This book gets a bit emotional and they tip you off right away about what's going to happen later in the book so you're kind of on your guard. I won't spoil it for you because everyone needs to read this book! I recommend this series even to people who don't normally read cozy mysteries because it's so funny I think most anyone who enjoys light, humorous books would really enjoy this. I don't know what happened that their American publishers stopped printing the series but their new publishers were brilliant (both American and British meaning) to have picked up the series to continue.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

When Vivian is arrested for the murder of a popular Podcaster, Vivian and her daughter Brandy have no choice but to find the real murderer to clear her name. Told in dual narratives by mother and daughter, this was another enjoyable light hearted and fun read in the Trash and Treasure series. 4/5 stars.

Messy Threads..
The seventeenth outing for the Trash ‘n Treasures mystery series finds Vivian on the wrong side of the law again, this time on the wrong side of the bars, when a popular podcaster is discovered very dead indeed. Luckily, Brandy is on hand to untangle the messy threads and help Vivian before the real killer strikes again. With a dual narrative, huge dollops of unadulterated humour and a puzzle at its very heart, this is another engaging and entertaining instalment in this fun and frothy series.

This series keeps you guessing and laughing. It's also likely to have you frequently shaking your head in an effort to drive away the sense of whiplash as the main characters bicker back and forth and the story veers from investigating a murder to recipes and random comments on grammar and, well, such things as the often confused usage of the words farthest and further and comments sent to their book editors. You just never quite know what is going to come out of the back-and-forth banter between Brandy and Vivian. You'll even find recipes interspersed here-and-there, so eat before reading. Grin.

Between the dueling narrative and occasionally dueling dual main characters .... Vivian would like my fancy word choices here .... you'll get to spend some time in jail with Vivian. Unfortunately, it isn't her first ball game, as she'd probably say, even if the younger inmates are frequently clueless on what she's talking about as she shows off her crime show vocabulary. You'll also get to see how a podcast can swerve off the rail in the blink of an eye. Oh, okay, enough ol' cliche driven phrases. It's a podcast that becomes accusatory that instigates things after Vivian explodes on camera at accusations. Then the podcast host is murdered. Guess who discovers the body? Vivian. From there on, things only become worst for her, made all the more whiplash inducing as she devises a scheme to entrap the killer. Brandy even spends some time in the hospital in a medically induced coma after being attacked. The news she receives when she wakes up is shocking.

Nope. Not sharing any more of the plot. Danger exists but the story's overall lighthearted tone makes is a fun, quick read. Both Brandy and Vivian manage to drop the names of previous books, not to mention a quick blurb on each, making me realize I've missed a few along the line. Of course, there's some serious moments, too, including Brandy and Tony's relationship (despite the fact Tony seems to have unlimited patience) and issues with Brandy's son Jake. Overall, however, the tone remains light and downright funny at times, making it a fun read. Thanks #NetGalley and #SevernHouse for letting me drop into their antique-filled world to marvel at the obvious love beneath the banter. If you enjoy cozies with more than a touch of human and quirky characters, this is the book for you. And, hey, there's a dog, too. Sushi the Shih Tzu.

A delight of a read! The seventeenth Trash 'n Treasures mystery series. I just love this series! Yes Vivian is very dramatic but doesn't she remind you that there are drama queens in all our lives! A good story with characters that are fun and likeable. Thanks #Netgalley and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Vivian and her daughter Brandy alternately tell this tale of what happens after Vivian is arrested for the murder of Nicole, a pod caster who just accused them of murdering some of the people whose cases they've solved! Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books and focus on the repartee between these two. Vivian is a bit of a diva and she's got some strong commentary while Brandy is more centered. Know that you might come across a recipe or two in the midst of the rest. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read for cozy fans.

Barbara Allan's mysteries are always a lot of fun as her MCs are larger than life and humorous. This is another good addition to this series and I enjoyed the story and the solid mystery.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was my first time reading anything from this author and I found it to be enjoyable. A little annoying at times, as “Mother” can be a bit melodramatic and annoying. Overall it was a quick and enjoyable read. I will read from this series in the future.