The Weedless Widow

Antique Lover #2

by Deborah Morgan

Jeff Talbot is joining his fishing buddies for their annual trip. He is also trying to coordinate the listing and transportation of his latest haul of antiques. When he arrives at the Northwest Territory Bait and Tackle shop for supplies, he joins his fishing friend, the Judge. Together they find their friend and shop owner, Bill Rhodes murdered. Throughout the fishing trip weekend, Jeff finds himself assisting the local sheriff's department in the investigation.

While helping the local law enforcement, Jeff forwards pertinent data to his home computer. When he returns home from his fishing trip, he finds Sheila, his agoraphobic wife, missing. Using former FBI resources, friends and Seattle's police, the search for Sheila Talbot begins. As Jeff searches, he finds her disappearance clearly linked to the murder.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 2002 murder mystery struck me as being the perfect paperback. I enjoyed all aspects of it, especially the author's writing style. The antique fishing lures meshed really well with the nearly forgotten 00's personal computer system language used as a narrative element. It's been awhile since I've read an easy to carry mass-market paperback. The combination of carrying it around with me for a week and really enjoying the story got me to thinking, again, about one of my favorite songs by the Beatles:

"It's a dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn't understand
His son is working for the Daily Mail
It's a steady job
But he wants to be a paperback writer
Paperback writer"

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so disappointed with this series. The first one was decent but this one so far failed to live up to its possibilities, I was terminally depressed.

[Olgalijo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the collectibles part of the book, but the characters are way too forced, and I just can't get over the agoraphobic wife.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former FBI agent now an antiques picker is among those discovering the body of the bait shop owner near their fishing retreat. The female sheriff has suffered a recent bout with cancer but is back on the job and a quite likeable character. As the plot deepens and circumstances really heat up, Jeff calls in his former mentor and partner to assist. The main issue with this one was plausibility (in some places) for me. It held my interest, and the use of antique fishing lures made it unique. Technology is probably what dated this novel most. No one uses "Ask Jeeves" anymore and the site became known as ask.com. Still today's users would "google" it. Cell phone technology evolved since this one was written as well. It has been many years since I read the first in this series. Hopefully I'll get to the next one a bit sooner. I listened to the audio version of this one.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Weedless Widow by Deborah Morgan is the second book in the Antique Lover Mystery series. Ex-FBI agent and Antique picker Jeff Talbot comes across the body of his fishing buddy Bill Rhodes as he is about to join him on a fishing trip. An interesting mystery where we learn about collectible antique fishing lures and the black market in antiques. I love the relationship between Jeff and his wife. An enjoyable, quick and light, cozy mystery.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the 5 volume set on an audio cassette through Wolfner Library (visually impaired and blind-I have vision issues and need large print or audio cassettes). and I highly recommend this to everyone not just cozy mystery readers and antiques lovers, but I think most people would love this series.

[Colleendearborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to it through Hoopla Digital. Enjoyed the reader, setting and characters, but the plot held a contrived twist -- in my humble opinion.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series very much. I also enjoy learning about antiques and the author has lots of reference material in the back of the book.

[Stephanie Dahlberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! My father was a fisherman who tied his own flies at one time.

[Kellene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable entry in a good series. Still loving the characters and the mysteries.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light and entertaining

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series because I like the tidbits about antiques and antiquing, but it's a pretty improbable setup. The storyline is just good enough to hold my attention, which is all that I ask for a light read.

The book sits firmly on my Literary Palate Cleansers shelf right next to the first in the series. I'll continue on with Jeff Talbot's "investigations" in sequential order when I want to read something light before delving into substantial literature again.

[Naticia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The motive and means for both the murder and the disappearance (which should have been a surprise but was right in the blurb for the book) were confusing and lacking. I enjoyed the descriptions of the antiques but will probably give the rest of this series a miss.

[Stephanie Griffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deborah Morgan’s THE WEEDLESS WIDOW (Berkley Prime Crime), is her #2 entry in her Antique Lover’s Mysteries series. The series stars Jeff Talbot as an ex-FBI agent currently in the antiques business. This book would be classified as a “cozy mystery”.

Being that I’ve been interested in antiques forever and am well on my way to becoming one myself, I was hooked by the book’s description. In this episode, Talbot attends a getaway weekend fly-fishing with three friends at a cabin that one of them owns. When he gets to the local bait shop he finds the owner dead on the floor. Antique fishing lures are missing from the dead man’s collection. Several locals have motives and opportunity so Talbot takes it upon himself to begin investigating.

This isn’t fine literature but I did enjoy the discussions of antiques. Don’t take the book too seriously; there are flaws in the credibility of a couple of scenarios. If you want a quick read and also like antiques then this would be a good book choice.

I liked the book insofar as I needed something light to read between the more complex books in my book bag (600-page fantasies) and this one included a subject treasured by me. Recommended.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and there are only five of them that I know about. I read the first one as my last book of 2013 (Death is a Cabernet) and this one proves its not a fluke.

Retired FBI agent turned antique picker Jeff Talbot had a life before his marriage, and we get to peek into that with this story of the annual fishing trip he and his friends take each year. Starts out with discovery of a body in the rural general store. Between Jeff, his friends, both old a new, and his sense of fair play, we learn just what makes him be such a "nice" person.

We also get to understand what people collect, and what's considered a "trophy" and we know, and are reminded just how important love is.

Great book

[WyoLady 93 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Jeff Abbott series by Deborah Morgan. Jeff Talbot is a retired FBI agent turned "picker" always on the eye for antiques of all kinds. Interestingly, at the end of at least the first 2 books are numerous web sites for antique loves. This book was a bit slow to start but once the mystery intensified (has to do with Jeff's agoraphobic wife, not a spoiler), the suspense sharpens. So far I have enjoyed this series and will continue on with the third book in the series.

[Petula Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery was pretty silly, but that was the least of my problems with this book. What is the deal with this guy and his wife? It is seriously creepy. Who wouldn't insist that his wife get professional help after she becomes a shut-in? Agoraphobia is treatable. Instead, the two of them seem to revel in it (and it's stated they've made a point to avoid psychiatrists). They have this twisted, insular, co-dependent relationship, and it seems like the reader is supposed to think it's sweet.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like all things fishing with a murder mystery thrown in, this one's for you! The author really does her research: characters and setting get an A+. Even though everybody and their brother has an ex-FBI guy as the main character, I like Jeff Talbot and would enjoy more stories about him. The plot, though well written, is kind of simple.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly interesting read --- there was a lot going on besides just a group of guys going fishing. Murder, intrigue, good plot, great characters --- well written! I learned a lot about collecting in general and collecting fishing lures, agoraphobic disease --- truly a good, interesting read and I didn’t figure out who did it!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read and interesting characters in a lovely setting. I will say that this story has a very obvious red herring (good term for a mystery based on fishing flies) but in the end this side of the story just disappears with no resolution in the subplot.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great combination of fly fishing trivia and antiques. I love Seattle so this setting is great for me. I actually went to the Queen Anne area where Jeff and Sheila live!

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series and thought this book was OK, but not as good as the first one.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continue to enjoy this mystery series. This time the focus is on a murder and fly-fishing. Makes the time at the gym go by a lot faster.

[Marsha Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! This series is very enjoyable.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mystery. Easy to read and quick.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 'cozy mystery'

[Lynn Hirshman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good follow-up to Death is a Cabaret....I didn't think I'd be interested in the fishing aspect, but Morgan once again made it interesting.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. I love the relationship that Jeff and his wife Sheila have. I could really feel how terrified Sheila must have been to be forced to leave her home/safe place.

[peggy Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

A little predictable as the end approached. Teaches some about collecting and antique picking. Will definitely read the next one

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the ending could have been better for as short as the book was.