The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder: A Novel (Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, 1)

No doubt there are many fans of The Antiques Roadshow who also like to read mysteries, and they’ll find this debut novel appealing (even more so, if they watch the British version). Freya Lockwood was once an adept antiques dealer, sent by her mentor, Arthur, to hunt down and authenticate potential purchases. But a break in their friendship means she hasn’t seen him in decades, her daughter has grown and left home, and her husband has found someone new.

Now Arthur is dead, murdered in his own shop, and Freya must team up with her spirited Aunt Carole to determine who done the deed and why. (I actually found Carole a more appealing character than Freya and would have welcomed more chapters from her point of view.) Following clues that Arthur has left behind, the two women travel to village tearooms and remote manors in search of the truth.

Crammed as full of suspects as an over-crowded emporium, readers might find a treasure or two in these pages.