Book Info:

Classification: Mystery
Author: Jane K. Cleland
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Copyright: 2006

Review #1

Reviewer: Nancy
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: First time novelist Cleland does a creditable job with antiques dealer Josie Prescott, who lost her job in the auction-house scandal but has gone on to create a successful business in New Hampshire. Everything is going well for Josie until she finds herself the chief suspect in the murder of an elderly potential client who, it turns out, had paintings stolen during the Nazi regime. A little heavy on the advice from Josie's deceased parents, and not quite enough detail about antiques, but a good read nevertheless. I'll look forward to Cleland's next.

Review #2

Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Josie Precott has left New York and opened her own antiques auction house in a small New Hampshire coastal town. She is thrilled with the possible contract for the contents of a huge old house full of beautiful and valuable antiques. But when she goes to sign the final contract, no one answers the door. This turns out to be least of Josies' problems as she learns that the owner is dead -murdered- and Josies' is the last name is his appointment book. The police chief, whom Josie has noticed is a superbly eligible bachelor, considers her the prime suspect, so Josie feels she must somehow solve the crime and maybe, just maybe, even manage to secure the auction contract after all. Then, of course, there's also the attraction to the police chief. All in all, this is a great first novel with interesting characters, well drawn plot and lots of antique description. You'll enjoy it, especially if you like antiques.