By C.L. Miller
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Summary (taken from Goodreads):
Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.
Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?
Review:
Ok, this is a good book! But it just wasn’t what I was looking for or what I was expecting when I first cracked open the spine. Here is how I saw the book.
The characters are simple and very lovable. You can easily connect with the characters and empathize with them.
There is nothing too fancy or extravagant with the setting. However it did remain grounded – you know where you are and you never get lost. It feels real and tangible.
That being said, the writing style is over all is nothing extravagant – very simple actually, and there is nothing wrong with tat. Some readers do prefer it and if you are one of those readers, then this is for you.
HOWEVER! A big however, comes in the plot. I really do think that there are very loosely wound plot points – these are not loose-ends that make you question “what happened to that one story” rather it makes you question “that’s it?”. For the beginner readers, I don’t think this would be much of a problem, but for the more advanced reader, it can be an issue. It feels like I received the shorter end of the stick. And example is the heavy focus on the antiques and significance to history and personal history, and then this idea sort of just faltered at the end of the book. I prefer it to be of equal importance to the very end of the book.
It does feel like a missed opportunity.
Reflection:
Listen: as a mood and vibe reader, I was definitely looking forward to this book because the title in itself tickles my fancy; it really does. And as I was reading it, I was continuously looking for that spark that will hit my brain and say that it “hit the spot”. Now, what is that spot?
It is that spot that makes my mind melt and say “my god! That was the thing!”.
I was looking for more of antique content than the book actually gave and I was found heavily yearning. Like I wanted to know more of the importance of the antique more than anything. I love the characters though! Really well, written characters!
I really thought that I was getting more of “The Mummy” kind of antique storytelling: the antique is something that carried more of the story and it becamse the sole focus of the narration. But it really felt short.
UGH! I expected more.
BUT!!!!!! I am still reading the next book!