If you have not read the first book, The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder, it would be helpful to do so, but not essential, to get the background on Freya Lockwood and her aunt Carole. They have inherited the antique shop from Arthur Crockleford, a respected stolen antiques hunter and antique shop owner.

Overnight a painting is discovered missing from a maritime museum in Lowestoft and a museum volunteer guide finds a dead body around the back of the building, near the bins.

After working with Arthur Crockleford recovering stolen antiques, Freya Lockwood and her aunt Carole have decided to continue this side of the business, as they love the thrill of finding the stolen artefacts and returning them to their rightful owners.

Their newly formed Lockwood Antique Hunter's Agency are called in to investigate the missing painting. This work is not for the faint-hearted as the two come across some extremely nasty people who are quite prepared to do whatever it takes to retain the valuables. At the centre of these crimes is The Collector, but who is this highly secretive character?

A disagreeable character called Bella from the first book, turns up in this one with some surprises, both bad and good in store for Freya and Carole.

The clues to this stolen painting take the pair on a cruise to the Red Sea with some particularly dreadful characters, turning up in the most unlikely of guises. Added to this, fun-loving Carole makes friends with some dubious people and tries to matchmake her niece, Freya, with the handsome FBI agent.

There is a lot more to this stolen painting than meets the eye and they find there are several other antiques of interest, which they discover on excursions to Petra. The clandestine meetings, shootings, amusing locals at the museums in and around Petra, all is not what it seems as one of the characters becomes ill and is presumed dead in suspicious circumstances. Plus, while they are away, Freya discovers that their trusty, clever assistant, Skye, is not quite who they thought she was.

Intrigue, mystery, detectives and antiques this is a well written novel with occasional use of jarring American words, perhaps to appeal to the US reader,  by an author with a background in antiques - see about The Author, below. Readers who enjoy watching the Antiques Roadshow, or have seen or read Lovejoy fans of Agatha Christie (nee Miller) and, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries are sure to enjoy this book.

I would not be surprised if this became a series of antique mysteries.



The Author

C L Miller started working life in publishing as an editorial assistant for her mother, Judith Miller, on the Miller’s Antique Price Guide, and as a researcher for the Antique Hunter’s Guide to Europe, and then went into hospitality and events. After she had children, she decided to follow her long held dream of becoming an author and began writing full-time. She was an Undiscovered Voices winner in 2022 and was showcased in the UV 2022 anthology. C L lives in a medieval cottage in Dedham Vale, Suffolk with her family.