Antiques Foe

A Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery #17

by Barbara Allan

Eccentric antiques dealer and amateur sleuth Vivian Borne finds herself in jail - again! - when a podcast star is found dead in her hotel room in this new Trash 'n' Treasures cozy mystery - "one of the funniest cozy series going" (Ellery Queen Magazine)
When popular podcaster Nicole Chatterton wants an interview for Killers Caught, true-crime author Vivian Borne is overjoyed . Finally, some recognition for the sleuthing skills the septuagenarian antiques dealer and her daughter Brandy have demonstrated, solving countless crimes in their small hometown of Serenity, Iowa!

Dolled up and dressed to the nines, Vivian figures the interview is going swimmingly . . . until Nicole turns the tables, accusing the mother/daughter duo of committing the very crimes they solved. Shocked and affronted - and with a spiteful tirade captured by the cameras - Vivian breaks off the interview, ejecting the rude podcaster from the premises of the Trash 'n' Treasures shop. How dare the woman?

Later, when Vivian pays the podcaster a follow-up visit at the woman's hotel - hoping to smooth things out and set the record straight - a very dead Nicole is waiting. Caught as the killer (true to the podcast's title) by producer Clare Shields, Vivian finds herself behind bars. Now it's up to Brandy to determine who really did the dire deed before their fiendish foe can strike again!

Antiques Foe is a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery which also features mother-daughter sleuths Brandy and Vivian's witty tips for buying and selling antiques, along with a selection of tasty recipes.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

208 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Barbara Allan is a pseudonym used by Barbara Collins and Max Allan Collins

Max Allan Collins is a writer of mystery novels, screenplays, comics and historical fiction. Collins has collaborated on numerous short stories with his wife writer Barbara Collins. Together they also write the successful “Trash ‘n’ Treasures” mysteries – their Antiques Flee Market (2008) won the Romantic Times Best Humorous Mystery Novel award in 2009.

There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivian and Brandy are back at it again.

A true crime podcaster wants to interview Vivian, who can't resist the publicity, well, until the podcaster accuses her of being a serial killer. Vivian winds up behind bars, charged with the later murder of the podcaster. She and Brandy have to clear her name.

The game is afoot!

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I didn’t really like the format where Vivian and Brandy switch back and forth in the dialogue. There are times I can’t tell who’s talking. I didn’t like the attitude and over dramatic actions of Vivian or that she included a minor in her antics. #AntiquesFoe #NetGalley

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Allan's mysteries are always a lot of fun as her MCs are larger than life and humorous. This is another good addition to this series and I enjoyed the story and the solid mystery.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps you guessing and laughing. It's also likely to have you frequently shaking your head in an effort to drive away the sense of whiplash as the main characters bicker back and forth and the story veers from investigating a murder to recipes and random comments on grammar and, well, such things as the often confused usage of the words farthest and further and comments sent to their book editors. You just never quite know what is going to come out of the back-and-forth banter between Brandy and Vivian. You'll even find recipes interspersed here-and-there, so eat before reading. Grin.

Between the dueling narrative and occasionally dueling dual main characters .... Vivian would like my fancy word choices here .... you'll get to spend some time in jail with Vivian. Unfortunately, it isn't her first ball game, as she'd probably say, even if the younger inmates are frequently clueless on what she's talking about as she shows off her crime show vocabulary. You'll also get to see how a podcast can swerve off the rail in the blink of an eye. Oh, okay, enough ol' cliche driven phrases. It's a podcast that becomes accusatory that instigates things after Vivian explodes on camera at accusations. Then the podcast host is murdered. Guess who discovers the body? Vivian. From there on, things only become worst for her, made all the more whiplash inducing as she devises a scheme to entrap the killer. Brandy even spends some time in the hospital in a medically induced coma after being attacked. The news she receives when she wakes up is shocking.

Nope. Not sharing any more of the plot. Danger exists but the story's overall lighthearted tone makes is a fun, quick read. Both Brandy and Vivian manage to drop the names of previous books, not to mention a quick blurb on each, making me realize I've missed a few along the line. Of course, there's some serious moments, too, including Brandy and Tony's relationship (despite the fact Tony seems to have unlimited patience) and issues with Brandy's son Jake. Overall, however, the tone remains light and downright funny at times, making it a fun read. Thanks #NetGalley and #SevernHouse for letting me drop into their antique-filled world to marvel at the obvious love beneath the banter. If you enjoy cozies with more than a touch of human and quirky characters, this is the book for you. And, hey, there's a dog, too. Sushi the Shih Tzu.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian Borne has been receiving threatening letters in the mail, she knows the letters are being sent locally but doesn't recognize the handwriting. But thoughts of threats are quickly swept aside when a famous podcaster reaches out to let Vivian know she's coming to Serenity to do a podcast on Vivian's amateur sleuthing and the oddly high murder rate in the small midwestern town. Unfortunately the podcaster has ulterior motives and when she turns up dead from a blow to the head Vivian is the one who seems most likely to want her dead.

This series is so much fun! I love the back-and-forth between Vivian and Brandy, how they each tell part of the story and how they play off one another using each others skills and eccentricities to solve the crime while also making the story very funny. Some characters we don't often see (and have never seen before) make appearances here, including Peggy Sue, Brandy's sister/mother; the Senator, Brandy's brother-in-law/father; and Otto, Vivian's brother.

Another thing I also love about this series is how they reference their other books (calling them true crime), recalling past adventures- which never fails to make me go "oh man, I really want to read that book again!"

This book gets a bit emotional and they tip you off right away about what's going to happen later in the book so you're kind of on your guard. I won't spoil it for you because everyone needs to read this book! I recommend this series even to people who don't normally read cozy mysteries because it's so funny I think most anyone who enjoys light, humorous books would really enjoy this. I don't know what happened that their American publishers stopped printing the series but their new publishers were brilliant (both American and British meaning) to have picked up the series to continue.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

See this review and others on my blog: Cozy Cove Books

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eccentric antiques dealer Vivian Borne is flattered when a podcaster wants to feature her mystery-solving prowess, but she soon changes her mind when the podcaster accuses her--Vivian herself!--of committing the murders she's credited with solving. When the podcaster is found dead shortly after they quarrel, the evidence piles up against Vivian. Fortunately, her daughter Brandy springs to her defense, and even the police chief, Brandy's fiance, tries to clear her. But it takes some drastic (and impobable) action on Viv's part to uncover the real criminal.

[Shirley Ann Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Vivian is arrested for the murder of a popular Podcaster, Vivian and her daughter Brandy have no choice but to find the real murderer to clear her name. Told in dual narratives by mother and daughter, this was another enjoyable light hearted and fun read in the Trash and Treasure series. 4/5 stars.

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight of a read! The seventeenth Trash 'n Treasures mystery series. I just love this series! Yes Vivian is very dramatic but doesn't she remind you that there are drama queens in all our lives! A good story with characters that are fun and likeable. Thanks #Netgalley and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

[Bertha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun here as Vivian and Brandy alternate chapters and comments from snarky to loving. The mystery plot is well written if perhaps a little obvious. Two murders need solving and a vicious attack, too. Vivian going into deep undercover is hilarious. Another entertaining series entry. And don’t forget that cute dog!

[Hazel Behrens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot generally good and most dialogue was sound. The red herrings are numerous and the guilty party set up well. However, the cleverness of the authors in a self-congratulatory way detracted from the otherwise excellent story. Others may enjoy the tongue in cheek humor. A book does not have to satisfy every reader to be a success.

[Ashley Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antiques Foe is another fantastic addition to this long running series! This book featured all my favorite characters and a well-thought out, intriguing mystery. This book is also full of laugh out loud moments. This series is great for light-hearted reads that still have strong, captivating mysteries. I look forward to reading future books in this series!

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything from this author and I found it to be enjoyable. A little annoying at times, as “Mother” can be a bit melodramatic and annoying. Overall it was a quick and enjoyable read. I will read from this series in the future.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And, with a cackle, she vanished.”

Expect the unexpected in this Trash and Treasures mystery as Vivian faces off with her Moriarty! While I loved the story I missed the trademark banter/bickering between Brandy and Vivian this time around.

[DEBRA KAASTRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Heavens!

There is no "Trash 'n' Treasures" story without the dynamic mother and daughter duo and the wonderfully bizarre town of Serenity and its' townspeople that I love!

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Will not read another because Vivian's actions just destroyed the enjoyment of reading the book.

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure if I liked the end

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivien pulls a major ruse in this one.

[Sylvie Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was my first cozy mystery ever. I absolutely love these characters.