Collecting Can Be Murder

Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries #1

by Jennifer S. Alderson

Coming out of retirement can be deadly…

After tragedy struck three years earlier, art sleuth Carmen De Luca vowed to never work in the field again. But fifty is too young to fill her days with water aerobics and bingo, so when her former partner calls and begs for her help, Carmen gladly agrees.

Yet after their first assignment – the recovery of a rare medieval prayer book from an eccentric collector living in rural France – goes horribly wrong, Carmen ends up in the crosshairs of both the local police and a murderer!

With her target dead and the stolen book missing, she and her partner will have to pull out all of the stops to sleuth out the true killer’s identity – before their stay in France becomes permanent.

Introducing Carmen De Luca, an art sleuth with a nose for mystery and the job of locating valuable artwork stolen from museums around the world. If you love strong and resourceful heroines, puzzling mysteries, and a dash of art history, pick up Collecting Can Be Murder now!

Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth
Collecting Can Be Murder
A Statue To Die For
Forgeries and Fatalities
A Killer Inheritance

These mysteries contain no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

*** Chosen by ManyBooks's readers as Best Mystery & Thriller of September 2023 ***
*** Finalist in the 2023 Cozy Mystery Tribe Awards ***

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2023

About the author

Hi! I am an American expat currently living in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, I moved to Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands. When not writing, you can find me in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning my next research trip.

My love of travel, art, and culture inspires my award-winning Zelda Richardson Art Mystery series, Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries.

Connect with me here on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, or my website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Reviews

[Darlene C Robold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amateurish. Too much gut feelings and not enough 51 year old seasoned agent. Sometimes Carmen seemed more like someone in her twenties and too much like a loose cannon. Using her “winning smile” and asking so many questions of perfect strangers-expecting answers as if she were a police agent-was off putting and frankly silly. Red herrings by the roomful. I’m going to pass on this series

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Following the death of her husband Carmen De Luca retired from being a fine arts and antique recovery specialist but lately her life has become stagnant so when her former partner, Lady Sophie asks her to help with a few cases Carmen quickly agrees.

The first assignment is in rural France and they are searching for a rare medieval prayer book that had disappeared several years ago and was recently purchased by a collector. Lady Sophia was able to get an invite to a party the man is hosting to show off a large collection of valuable books. Using the cover of being a reporter Carmen has persuaded the man to give her an interview but before it can be completed the collector is dead and Carmen was almost killed too. With a storm raging outside all the attendees of the party are forbidden to leave until the authorities arrive. This gives Carmen time to find the book to fulfill their quest and maybe even find the killer.

_____

What a great debut for this series!

I really like Carmen. She can think on her feet and strives to complete the mission. Lady Sophie wasn’t as open with Carmen as I thought she should be. Carmen takes a few wrong steps that wouldn’t have happened if Sophie had given her all the details and changes that had occurred since Carmen retired. Our victim was a dastardly character. He manipulated everyone with his money and his treasured books. The author did an excellent job fleshing out all the characters and gave enough of a backstory for each to understand their motives and situations.

The mystery was like a classic closed-room mystery. The killer had to be among the attendees of the party or part of the staff. A key piece of evidence reveals a twist but there are plenty more twists and turns following that. I had a great time trying to fit the clues together right along with Carmen.

I really enjoy getting to know about the different antique prayer books. The author’s descriptions really piqued my interest so I had to hit the internet to see them with my own eyes. I always enjoy learning new things when I am reading.

Collecting Can Be Murder was an interesting and entertaining cozy mystery. I am excited to see what Ms. Alderson has in store for her characters next. We do know where they are headed and I am sure it will be quite an adventure.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unknown suspect. In the library. With the bookcase.

The Clue vibes are delightfully strong in Collecting Can Be Murder, a “locked house” mystery with a nostalgic Agatha Christie influence as well. The owner of a French villa is murdered during a party to celebrate his large collection of medieval prayer books, and a bad storm means no one could have gotten in or out other than the people already there. The guest list is full of quirky (and wealthy) characters with loud presences who look out for their own interests above all else… ergo, a whole host of suspects, not to mention the deceased’s rather odious – and self-centered – family members. Sure enough, there was a culprit among the people I didn’t trust… however, since I didn’t trust anybody that’s not saying a whole lot about my sleuthing skills haha!

Carmen De Luca is an intriguing heroine, having previously gone into retirement from her work with the Rosewood Agency after her husband’s death while undercover for the same organization. But now she’s back on a freelance basis with her old partner, (secretly) helping them once again track down stolen art and facilitate its recovery. I liked Carmen’s personality and the stealthy nature of her work, and the added mystery surrounding her husband’s missing body has my mind whirring with possibilities. Carmen’s partner, “the Baroness”, is an intriguing character in her own right, a wealthy patron of the arts who uses her connections to help the Rosewood Agency but must carefully guard her cover. One thing that makes their partnership so unique is that they aren’t the best of friends and some of the undertones between them make me think the Baroness is hiding something… so I’ve got my eye on her!

Bottom Line: Collecting Can Be Murder by Jennifer S. Alderson kicks off a brand new series with fascinating treasures, a house full of suspects, and a likable protagonist with an intriguing job. The mystery is full of layers and feels like ‘Clue meets And Then There Were None‘ in all the best ways. Alderson’s writing voice is always engaging and easy to read, and I’m already looking forward to where she takes Carmen’s character from here.

(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read via Kindle Unlimited.)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terrible story, but it felt amateur to me. Seems Carmen repeats the same info over and over, particularly in explaining her back story, to the point I wondered "Why?" What is so lacking in the plot that all this extraneous material is needed.

Nothing is particularly lacking in the plot. It's not sophisticated at all, but it's not lacking. The whole thing just fell flat in my mind.

[Koni · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! It was like the game "Clue" meets a Murder Mystery event! So much fun!!!! I received an advanced reader's copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This book was great from the start, and it didn't disappoint. I enjoyed all of the characters, and the author was fantastic about providing just enough information to keep all of the many characters straight. This was the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last!!!! It was just so good! Add this author to your list of suggested reading. You won't be disappointed! This is a light, sometimes comical mystery complete with all that a reader wants in a good mystery. I can't wait for the next in this series - as I'm HOOKED!!!!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of wealthy business associates gather at Villa Saint Marie, the French country estate of rare book collector Harold Moreau for an auction of his prized medieval prayer books. Also present are his wife, adult children, and Carmen De Luca and Lady Sophie Rutherford--undercover employees from the Rosewood Agency specializing in the recovery of stolen art objects. Amidst a raging major storm on the Breton coast, Harold is killed in his library by a toppling bookcase and his copy of the Avron Book of Hours goes missing. Carmen and Sophie believe this valuable manuscript was originally stolen from an Ohio museum and are on assignment to retrieve it. Where is the book now? But more importantly, who killed Harold and why?

The murder suspects are dramatic and plentiful, as are the possible motives of greed, jealousy, desperation, and betrayal. It is up to Carmen to investigate until the police can physically reach the remote location days later--and she's a bit rusty after three years away from this type of surveillance and reconnaissance work following the tragic death of her husband while on a similar assignment. Can she identify the killer among them without suffering a similar fate and recover the rare tome without blowing her cover?

Collecting Can Be Murder is Agatha Christie-esque in its locked-room setting and cast of characters. The protagonist, Carmen De Luca, is a vibrant, intelligent art professional ready to re-embrace life after personal loss and return to the field she loves. She is steadfast and likable, and her work relationship with Lady Sophie--her polar opposite--creates an entertaining vibe and scenario. Having successfully navigated her re-entry into art sleuthing, Carmen is ready for further assignments, the next of which will be in Belgium. I'm ready to join Carmen in her future exploits, because reading a Jennifer S. Alderson novel guarantees an intriguing mystery and armchair travel to appealing locales.

Note: I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaaren Scanio · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok

IT WAS ENTERTAINING WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE UNITED LOUNGE YESTERDAY. THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY ABOUT IT

[Michael Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join Carmen and her partner the Baroness as they go undercover to try to discover if a rare prayer book that has s in the possession of a collector is in fact a piece that was stolen from a museum 10 years ago. There job is to see the book and make sure it is the correct stolen piece and then report it to their bosses and leave the rest to them, pretty simple correct, you would think, but on this trip someone kills the owner of the books and steals 5 of the books from the set including the book they came to authenticate. So now there is a storm so bad outside that nobody from the viewing where they went to at the collector,s house can leave because all the roads are closed and no trains or buses are running because of downed trees and wires. Sines there is no way to leave the house, there is no way for the killer to escape or whoever took the books to get them out of the house. So now Carmen not only has to find the books and make sure they stay safe, but to do that she just might have to catch a killer also. Want to know how it all works out, I recommend you buy this book ASAP and read the whole story within, you will thank me in the end.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collecting Can Be Murder is the start of a new mystery series. Carmen De Luca is a widow who has gone back to work as an art sleuth with the help of her detecting partner, Sophie (the Baroness). While posing as a journalist, Carmen searches for an illustrated medieval prayer book after the book's owner is discovered dead.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries and I have enjoyed the Travel Can Be Murder mysteries I've read by Jennifer S. Alderson.

This was an enjoyable read and a strong start for a new series! Carmen is an intelligent and capable detective. I especially enjoyed the art history details of this mystery.

Collecting Can Be Murder reminds me of classic, old fashioned mysteries (in a good way!) - a remote estate, a varied cast of characters, a detective systematically solving the crime ...

The mystery aspects are very well done, with a number of strong suspects; this kept me guessing!

I recommend Collecting Can Be Murder for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for readers who enjoy art history.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I was expecting!

This is a good story that could be improved. Not going to tell you how, just that I know the story has good potential and could be better. The characters are quite interesting, the plot is easily followed, and the premise is finding out how the millionaire was killed and why. The answers are unsatisfactory, but too convincing to be wrong as far as the killer goes. Read the book. I don't think you will regret it.

[Juliet Minerva Swift · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dammit, I liked this in the novella format a lot more. The novella ended with me super enthusiastic about the story, while this one ended with me DNFing the series.
Carmen is in her 50s but acts so juvenile I kept thinking she was 19. She insisted many times about removing the book when Sophie had repeatedly told her not to, that they were there to only assess the situation. But Carmen doesn’t listen and ends up going to talk to the police and tell them things she shouldn’t, then complained about how Sophie didn’t tell her not to do stupid things but girl SHE DID!!! Many times, she kept telling you not to do things you insist on doing!!

The brogue plotline goes completely forgotten, and the ending relies on a detail that’s too small, adn things fall into place in a way that barely makes sense.

Adding in another possible mistake as in France you don’t need money to pay for cancer treatment, I just didn’t like my time with this book.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Read

This new series by Alderson is another good and interesting read. The art world is intriguing and the book brings us a duo who work together to bring stolen art back. The fact there is a murder makes the story even more intriguing and gives the work an even more interesting viewpoint. It takes place in France, so Alderson’s travel expertise is still in play. The book is interesting and well written. I look forward to the next in the series.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My degree in journalism was as fake as the Baroness’s pearl necklace.

In a classic locked room mystery art retrieval expert Carmen and her titled partner encounter more than they bargained for when a man ends up dead and Carmen becomes a suspect. Add a eccentric yet hilarious cast of suspects and an expertly woven storyline and you get a very entertaining read.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admire this author's background in the arts and her solid research of antiquities. This story it is about an ancient, rare book. Collecting Can be Murder, while fiction, is quite believable. It is a 'locked room' story, a diverse group of individuals are stranded in a mansion. The protagonist, Carman and her friend (a baroness) are undercover, looking to retrieve a stolen ancient book to return it to the rightful owner. There are plenty of twists and turns, just about everyone is a suspect. Solving the mystery as a reader wasn't easy. It is a hard to put down, entertaining read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and fun to learn about. The mystery was very well presented and he twists and turns were fun to follow. I'm quite impressed with this author and look forward to reading more of her books.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Bookish Murder

A promising new series by Jennifer s Alderson. Great fun, an intriguing mystery, and who wouldn't want to be friends with Carmen and the Baroness? This is my third series with Alderson, whom I highly recommend.

[Maureen Horswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

murder at its gentlest

Carmen has come out of retirement to attend a party and look at some extremely expensive rare books. Unfortunately a murder takes place, and she is suddenly one of the suspects.
Through logic, and attention she realises who the killer is, and really doesn’t want it to be them, but wishful thinking doesn’t help her understand why they murdered Harold.
She has solved the crime and is ready to restart her career.
Onwards and upwards, as they say.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Collecting Can Be Murder by Jennifer S. Alderson is a wonderfully plotted mystery with exciting characters and fabulous settings.

Will Carmen and the Baroness find the stolen books and the killer? Are they one and the same?

Carmen De Luca
Our sleuth is Carmen. However, she is actually a fine arts and antiques recovery specialist. Ya, my first thought was like a Robin Hood spy. Not wholly incorrect, but still not right. She retired after her husband's tragic death, but now she is back at it with her favorite partner Lady Sophie aka Baroness. We learn a lot about Carmen's upbringing and past, along with who her best friend is and her professional history. All of that made me like Carmen. She is realistic, intelligent and is trying almost too hard to complete this mission and come out of retirement permanently.

Lady Sophie Rutherford
Carmen's partner is Lady Sophie. Lady Sophie dropped Carmen as a friend after Carmen's husband disappeared. Baroness has a title and money that allow her to be part of the wealthy class that purchases the fine arts and antiques. Although Lady Sophie assists in the cases, she is cautious not to let anyone discover her actions for fear of being ostracised from society. I like Lady Sophie too, but she seems to be hiding something. However, that could be her personality.

The Case
Go to the Villa Saint Marie in France and confirm Mr. Moreau has the stolen prayer book. This whole fine art thing is a popular subject right now, at least in the last couple of books I have read. I am not an art critic, nor do I claim to know the differences between the masters. But there has to be a huge black market with the different countries' laws and how art is claimed. Value is deceiving at best; one man may pay way more than another that isn't impressed with the art piece. Anyway, Carmen is given a chance to see the prayer book in question, but before she can get it to safety, she is injured and the current owner killed. There are so many things moving this story forward. The red herrings are numerous, and all with good motives.

Our victim isn't an outstanding man. In fact, he is a putz who thinks only of himself. This man honestly shouldn't have had children. He uses his money to control other people and doesn't follow through with what he says. His word means nothing. He has always led a life of privilege and wants his name to stand out above the rest. However, he died as part of his collection.

Five Stars
My rating for Collecting Can Be Murder by Jennifer S. Alderson is five stars. Ms. Alderson brings it with this new series. I hope that she allows Carmen to uncover her husband's killer. I highly recommend Collecting Can Be Murder to all you cozy mystery fans.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Collecting Can Be Murder by Jennifer S. Alderson.

Until the next time,



This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Linnette Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Clever

A twisty cozy mystery with lots of suspects, clues it track and follow and a very interesting lady sleuth. A very enjoyable read in a good location with a party and snowstorm to keep everyone in place. It kept me guessing until the end!

[Cynthia Wasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers who are a fan of the “who dunnits all in one room” genre like Clue, Knives Out, or The Onion, then this book is for you! I haven’t read a Cozy about collectibles yet, so this was a different and fun career trope to dive into.

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collecting Can Be Murder Book 1

Carmen and the Duchess come to a castle to locate a missing prayer book. The night she meets with the collector she is pulled into his murder. Who could have had the best motive to do the deed? The wife, one of his three children or another art collector? A story filled with twists and turns and a storm that keeps the roads closed for the police to finally arrive.

[Adpa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new to me author; good whodunit mystery.
There were a lot of characters to get acquainted with as the book takes place during a house gathering for an auction that had been cancelled at the last minute. The story is well written and had me guessing until very close to the end of the story. I highly recommend this mystery.
I was provided with an ARC of the book by the author and this review is my honest opinion.

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmen De Luca vowed to never work again after the death of her husband. But she needs something to do and when her former partner calls for help, she agrees. Their first case back is to find a prayer book that was stolen at least ten years ago. But when Carmen wakes up from being attacked, the prayer book is missing and the host is dead, she has an even bigger case to solve. Can Carmen and the Baroness solve this case before the killer gets them or they get arrested?

[Karen L. Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has interesting characters and a complicated mystery to solve. I really enjoyed it. I was given this book free for an honest opur.

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

25% of this story could have been deleted

Yup. 25% of this story could have been deleted. I hate it when authors repeat things over and over as if readers are dumbbells.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cozy mystery! Excited to read the rest of the series.

[J Shu · Rating 2 out of 5]

9/23. Carmen DeLuca and partner Lady Sophie Rutherford aka The Baroness go to a party to determine whether a prized book owned by a presumed rich man, Harold, is really authenic and stolen from its true owner. While the two are at the party, Harold is murdered by a toppling bookcase, just as Carmen determines the book's authenticity. Carmen investigates and eventually solves the crime. This is not a bad book. I would have given it a higher rating if the background on the two women had been worked into the story at an earlier point in the book. I also didn't care much for any of the book's characters.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few twists

Carmen comes out of retirement to help her old partner identify a book that was stolen from its rightful owner ten years ago. What she didn't expect was for her host to be murdered, the book stolen, and her and her partner stuck in the home with a killer until the police arrive. Determined to find the book, and catch a killer, using her cover as a reporter, she and the Baroness start their own investigation.

Things start to click in my head about 80% of the way but still a good mystery putting it all together.

[Jerrilynne Evitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

collection Can Be Murder

I received this book as an Arc from the author and I’m writing a review because I want to. An art appraiser comes out of retirement to return to the job. A bookcase falls on a collector. A house full of guests ad terrible storm make the investigation complicated! It’s a very good story. Highly recommended!

[Emily Virden · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled to get through this, even though it was short. The book begins in the middle of the action and the exposition needed to bring readers up to speed detracts from the story. I wanted to like this, I thought the premise was interesting, but I was distracted by the delivery and never really warmed to the characters.