The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder #2

by C.L. Miller

Join Freya and Aunt Carole for more sluething in the highly anticipated second instalment in your new favourite crime series, The Antique Hunters. The Antique Hunter' Death on the Red Sea is a cosy crime read for fans of the Antique's Roadshow.

'A bold, bright and delightful jaunt back to the golden age of detective fiction. Expertly plotted and skilfully written, with suspicious characters, devious twists and evocative locations, this pacey page-turner has it all.' – Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal, on The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder

'It’s a delicious read – packed with fascinating details in a picture-perfect setting. Who could resist a treasure hunt with murder at its core?' – SJ Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot, on The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder

When a painting vanishes from a maritime museum – and a dead body is found nearby – the newly established Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency, Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole, are called to investigate.
Following a lead that takes them aboard a glamorous antiques cruise sailing toward the Red Sea in Jordan, they quickly discover that the ship's art gallery is filled with stolen antiquities. Each and every one of them is also listed in Freya’s late mentor’s journals detailing unsolved cases. In chasing a murderer with a stolen painting, they may have found something more sinister than they could’ve imagined . . .

Their hunt soon turns deadly when they learn that the enigmatic and dangerous art trafficker named The Collector could be on board. But on a ship full of antiques enthusiasts – plus some unexpected familiar faces – will Freya and Carole be able to discover The Collector’s identity and stop his murderous plans before the ship docks?

Or will the killer strike again?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Thriller

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2025

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Between one of the most bland and uninteresting pairs of amateur detectives (who also seem pretty inept) I’ve ever encountered, plus a cast of suspects who all just blend together (how many greedy antiques collectors/thieves does one book need, especially when you don’t bother to characterize them very well?), this book really missed the mark for me.

At one point, there’s this ridiculous presentation Freya (the main protagonist) gives on costume jewelry (the reason for her being on this antique-themed cruise is she’s supposedly an expert on antiques and is there to lecture on them). The presentation reads like a middle school essay cribbed largely from Wikipedia. If the book hadn’t been hammering over and over again how much amazing antique knowledge Freya possesses, one would begin to suspect based on this talk that she really knows absolutely nothing about antiques for all the insight she provides on the subject. Most people with any passing acquaintance with costume jewelry could probably give a similar talk just by making it up on the spot off the top of their heads, that’s how amateur it was.

The chapters also weirdly switched perspectives between Freya’s chapters written in first person and then other characters written in third person. That is an advanced literary technique that should only be attempted by someone who knows what they are doing. But to try to pull that off in a cozy mystery? Just bizarre. This isn’t exactly the most experimental of genres. One of the consequences of this setup is that the reader sometimes knew things before Freya and Carole, thereby negating much of the mystery and sucking the joy from what is supposed to be a pleasant diversion. Who wants to read a mystery that is spoon fed to you?

Also, there was way too much telling versus showing. It was really annoying to keep being told how amazing Arthur (a recently deceased antiques dealer/hunter who left his business to Freya) was, even though he’d been trying to bring down this organization of criminal masterminds (headed by The Collector) unsuccessfully for over twenty years. I just didn’t buy his genius when no evidence was provided to support that. Especially when inept Freya and her ridiculous aunt Carole somehow miraculously manage to do what Arthur couldn’t, with the help of a boring FBI agent, Phil (all of whom seem to not have any idea what is actually going on).

Then there’s the potential romance between Freya and Phil that Carole keeps trying to make happen. These are the most boring, bland people ever. Throwing them together isn’t going to suddenly make them more interesting. Also, they don’t actually get together (although it’s clear that Freya is in denial and secretly interested in such a development), so I guess this is just going to be a slow burn type thing since apparently this will be an ongoing series. Ugh. Who cares? THEY ARE BORING!

The one exception to this is the villager Agatha who picks up a phone call from Freya in the middle of the night, and then musters the whole village into rescuing Freya’s assistant, Sky, who is being held hostage in Freya’s store by a member of the black market organization. Agatha is on top of things and gets the job done in spectacular fashion with her fellow community members. Why is this book not about Agatha, the only competent person is this WHOLE story? Meanwhile Freya and Carole are being stupid and reckless, getting themselves kidnapped and interrogated. Also this collection of black market antique dealers/thieves seem to think that Freya and Carole might be there to join them? Like what? These women clearly don’t know what they are doing and are completely oblivious to what is actually going on. How has this organization managed to operate all these decades when they seem just as inept as the ones trying to track them down? It boggles the mind.

Needless to say, I will not be picking up another of these inane mysteries (I didn’t read the first and certainly don’t plan to do so after slogging through this mess). The writing was unoriginal, the characters uninspired, and the mystery really just a series of events that happened to these annoying people. They failed to solve much of anything, and just blindly stumbled their way into bringing the black market antiquities organization down by crashing their horribly non-secret meeting to pass the torch from the Old Collector to the New Collector. (As an aside, this stupid meeting everyone knows about is being held at Petra in Jordan, and they keep saying the reason it’s being held there is because this is on The Collector’s bucket list of places to visit, but if they are making so much money and retiring from their life of crime soon, why can’t they just go there when they are retired? And then they get there and do very little in the location that couldn’t have just been done back on the boat or anywhere else for that matter, so why even bother? Just to have an Indiana Jones moment maybe? None of this made any sense!)

Such a frustrating read!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★ 1/2

I continue to enjoy the relationship between Freya and her Aunt Carole. It's heartwarming which is a perfect fit for a cozy mystery but it's also funny and oftentimes, frustrating when free-spirited Carole plunges ahead, sometimes without thinking about the consequences of her actions. It's built on a tragedy however which adds depth to the relationship that wouldn't be there otherwise.

I knew after enjoying the first installment that I would pick this one up. I had it on hold at my library and it became available this week so it got moved up my TBR quickly.

The second book focuses on Freya and Carole as they hunt for a missing painting stolen from a local museum. That the painting was originally donated to the museum by Arthur Crockleford, Freya's mentor and Carole's best friend, drives the duo to solve the mystery no matter the risk. Their search leads them to an antiques cruise where they find much more than the missing painting.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I deducted half a star only because I wasn't a fan of the way that Phil, an FBI agent from the Art Theft Program and Freya's possible romantic interest, talks about having to "protect" and "save" Freya. I don't enjoy the "damsel in distress" trope in any books I read and Phil's thoughts and dialogue moved into that territory too often for my liking.

I will read the next one as I'm very interested in what I suspect will be Freya leading a stolen antiquities recovery team as this book brought them altogether at a team which I hope continues. I always enjoy a good crime fighting team story!

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freya and Aunt Carol are the the hunt again for The Collector. This is a solid locked room mystery and a fun read. Recommend for those who enjoyed the first book.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freya Lockwood and Aunt Carol are on the hunt again in the newest book of the Antique Hunter's series. When a painting vanishes in a museum where a body was found, the clues lead to an antique cruise where Freya was supposed to be an expert speaker. As they work on finding the stolen painting, they learn of a dangerous art trafficker known as the Collector. Freya and Carol will have to work with friends both new and old, to help identify the collector and solve their first case.

I loved the first book in the Antique Hunters series and enjoyed this new cozy mystery. It was fun to see Freya taking over for her previous mentor and figure out her way of antique hunting while she solves her first case. I was excited to see familiar characters from the previous book make an appearance especially Carol and Phill. I hope to see Phill and Freya's relationship evolve in the next book. Overall, this was an exciting mystery in the antique world and would highly recommend this book for readers who enjoyed The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 3.5, but I'll round up. These books are really cute, but I have to implore the author to have a bit more memorable white guy side characters with seemingly interchangeable names. At the end I had to be like, "who was this again"? Mark, Tony, Chris, Luke...please. These men do not have enough of a personality to be as important to the plot as they are. I would've preferred a bit of a bigger twist at the end; the last chapter was a bit of a boring exposition dump. I think I enjoyed the first book more, if I'm honest. I liked the cruise setting, but the mystery wasn't as engaging; this one was a little draggy at times. Still enjoyable, though!

[Bethanys_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

My fave cozy mystery detective duo are at it again in this book! Freya and Carole are such a fun duo and I love their relationship/banter together. Just like the first book, I’m forever surprised that a mystery about antiques (something that doesn’t really interest me much) can be done so well and never be boring! I really enjoyed this one and will keep this author on my auto-read list 📚

[Brenda Daae Destler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really waffled on what star rating to give this, because I unfortunately had a major case of wrong book at the wrong time. I think I bit myself in the butt by taking a pause in the middle of reading this to tackle another read, and I lost my momentum. However, I do really love these characters and I did enjoy the story. It’s seeming like there’s a potential to see more in this universe, and I totally would continue the series if we do get more. Perhaps I’ll revisit this one when I’m more in the mood.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt a bit muddled and the cast of characters was too big to follow. Still enjoyed the main characters and excited for the third book!

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

We pick up the story in this next entry when a painting is stolen from a maritime museum, and a dead body found nearby. Freya and her flamboyant Aunt Carole are asked to investigate.

And pretty soon, Freya realizes this theft has something to do with her dead mentor Arthur's activities, and the painting likely provides a clue to a dangerous art trafficking ring he was investigating. Freya not only inherited Arthur's antique store, but also Arthur's secret journals, which encouraged her to establish the Lockwood Antique Hunter's Agency.

Freya is eager to pursue her lead to a cruise full of antiques enthusiasts and collectors, and likely people involved in the art trafficking ring, especially The Collector, a near-mythical individual Arthur and the authorities have been on the hunt for for years.

Like the first book, the pacing is on the slow side, but it works for this book, as author C.L. Miller carefully establishes details about the art trafficking ring, and provides the suspects, many of whom are on the cruise (which travels to Egypt and Jordan).

There are several individuals whose veracity and identities are suspect, and each time Freya and Carole make a little progress forward, it seems someone else gets hurt or dies.

The mystery is compelling, particularly as I was eager to find out who the Collector really was. There were a couple of likely suspects, one of whom I mistrusted as soon as they appeared on the page.

There's also an FBI agent undercover on board, and he's also on the hunt for the Collector, though his search is rather more revenge-fuelled than strictly for his organization, as The Collector murdered his mentor at the Bureau.

This was an enjoyable story, and I look forward to what Freya, and Carole, get up to next with their Agency. There's also the hint of developing romance for Freya, and maybe that will progress further in a coming instalment?

Thank you to Netgalley and to Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might say I’m in my cozy mystery era.

This was an entertaining continuation of the series and I enjoyed following Freya and Carol again as they figured out murders and stolen antiquities.

The stakes are a bit higher in this book and I got to admit I was on the edge of my seat for some of the action.

There was a ton of shifting POVs which made the book a bit confusing and there was too little of Bella. Honestly I wasn’t a fan of her in the first book but I’m kinda obsessed with her now. Excited for the next book!

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I really loved the first book in this series - An Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder - and have been keeping an eye out for its follow-up ever since.

Once again, Miller's background in antiques shines in this book. She writes about them with such passion, in a way that only a true aficionado can.

This has got a very strong Agatha Christie vibe about it; whether that's because it's set on a boat and it's a bit like Death on the Nile, I don't know, but it's a fine comparison.

This one is less about death and more about the antiques, which is a slight deviation from the first one, but I still got enough of what I wanted from it.

Miller has given us fully developed characters - some we met in the first book and others who are new. They're all well developed, great characters, some good and some bad and some in between. They've all got great personalities and there wasn't a bum note amongst them. Freya is again our main character and I really like her, but I did find her a bit too trusting at times which makes her feel slightly naïve, but I felt close to her. Her Aunt Carole is fabulously eccentric and I love her. I wish every book had a Carole in it.

There is the potential that all the details about antiques could become too heavy or too complex and make the reading of it too slow, but maybe because I love an antique, I was fascinated by all the details she has gone into.

I thought the first book was exceptional and it can be hard for the sequel to live up to it, but if I'm honest, I think I liked this one more, because I was familiar with the characters and their quirks and so it felt like returning home to friends.

This one is a little simpler and less busy in terms of its setting. The first book had the characters going here, there, and everywhere. Whereas, apart from the odd scene, this book is set on a cruise boat. Which helps give us that sense of claustrophobia and fear that comes from being confined to one space.

It has so much depth and layers to it - from the characters to their history, to antiques, and death threats. Everything is so entangled with everything else, it's really quite impressive.

I really do hope this will be a long series - in the same vein as Poirot or Miss Marple perhaps - as I absolutely love it.

[Joanna Dixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt a bit meh about this one. Not sure if it was because I listened to it in audiobook? It picked up towards the end but by that point I didn't particularly care 😅

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea.

I read the first book in the series and enjoyed parts of it so I was eager to see what adventures Freya and her aunt, Carole was up to now.

The main reason I enjoy reading this is learning about the history behind the antiques Freya investigates.

I love ancient history and learning about artifacts from the past,

I enjoy Freya and Carole's rapport and the writing flowed but once again, the narrative suffers from the same issues I disliked from the first novel.

1. Too many characters all with nefarious motives and stabbing one another in the back. It's hard to keep track who is who.

2. Repetitive narrative with characters constantly worrying about Freya and Carole's safety

3. Growing romance between Freya and Phil and constant references to how handsome he is

4. Too many character POVs

5. There was more suspense and I loved the setting but it just got too confusing with so many characters.

The mystery didn't interest me, not even the identity of the Collector though I guessed correctly who it was.

This may just be too cozy a mystery series for me.

[Eilonwy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars
I might have enjoyed this book a little more if I'd read the first book in this series first, as there were some established relationships that I had to figure out. On the other hand, there's still a further back past that is only being hinted at and which has no books to fill it out, so that left me really wishing for some backstory scenes actually written into this book to connect things a little better.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the cruise ship setting and the collection of characters. I did think the story spends too much time bouncing around between character POVs, even though most of the characters are decently interesting. I'm not sure I felt drawn into the world of antiques very strongly, so maybe reading this is more fun if you already care about antiques. But the story is fast-paced, the chapters are short, and the tone was mostly positive. If you like cozy mysteries, you'll probably like this.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* --> 4*

The second outing with Freya Lockwood and her auntie Carole takes the reader on a cruise ship from Cyprus to Jordan. Not only are they trying to find a stolen painting, they’re also determined to find out the identity of one they call The Collector. It’s like a treasure hunt, but with an added dose of excitement and danger. I mean, you really don’t expect bullets to start flying on an antiques cruise, do you?

True to form, Freya’s recently deceased mentor, Arthur, has left clues behind for her to decipher. But it’s rather obvious that maybe this time around Freya is entirely in over her head. Luckily, she has Carole by her side, and a few familiar faces find themselves on the ship as well. Clearly wherever the antiques go, they go. Whether they will end up being helpful remains to be seen. Still, it was really lovely to see them again.

Who knew the antiques world could be this ruthless? Stolen artefacts are plentiful, stolen from families or removed from museums in the midst of wars. They are sold to the highest bidder, with no thought to its original provenance. One in particular is utterly gruesome and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It was Arthur’s mission in life to retrieve as many stolen artefacts as he could. Now that he’s no longer here, the task has shifted to Freya.

Her ignorance might just be putting her, and others, in peril, though. It’s nearly impossible to figure out what’s going on when you don’t have all the information you need, and there are definitely things on that Freya is entirely oblivious to. This ship seems to be crawling with people who are up to no good and nobody can be trusted. Bar one person whom I was watching like a hawk, I was at a complete loss as to how these characters were connected or what the endgame was.

There is always something going on and the tension ramps up bit by bit. Freya is on a race against the clock, moving all over the ship, trying to get a handle on all the players. Poor woman doesn’t even have time to try on her bikini. It’s wonderful to see her grow, to come into her own, to realise what she’s capable of and how strong she is. Carole is still Carole. A total hoot, always finding the good times and trying to live life to the fullest, prodding Freya to do the same. She’s determined to enjoy the cruise life and all that it has to offer. Although I must admit I was slightly disappointed in her lack of perception and people skills this time around.

This was another entertaining adventure with these two unlikely sleuths. ‘The Antique Hunter’s: Death on the Red Sea‘ is a thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery and a great addition to this series. It looks as if some changes might be afoot so I definitely look forward to what’s next.

[Nicole Wuthering Vines · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re back with another adventure and a fresh modern cozy from this dynamic detective duo! Their sleuthing remains as captivating as ever, while Aunt Carol’s sharp wit and quirky charm once again steal the spotlight.

I loved discovering how Miller’s firsthand experience with antiques allows her to weave such rich detail into her writing!

Though this nautical, atmospheric mystery was a bit cozier than my usual taste, I’m still eager to see where this detective fiction series goes next!

3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads

[Elizabeth Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5. This story worked better than book one. The characters were always interesting, as was the plot, but it moved very slowly and had too much background to cover. This book benefited from us knowing the background information, so we didn’t have to focus on it as much. Freya’s building confidence and Carole’s insistence to be involved also helped. The plot itself was engaging, and while I had some suspicions of the twist, I didn’t figure it all out.

[Klare · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining mystery. This follows on from book one but you could also read it as a stand alone story.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Very cozy

[Shelby Horner · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5!
Another fun one that was also not that great but god I keep coming back for more!!!
Can’t wait for the third one (genuine)

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea is set on a cruise and winds up in Petra--love these settings. Miller writes fun characters, doesn't get too caught up in angst, and kept me guessing--I was sure I was right, and then the script flipped. Miller, of the Antiques Guide family fame, had some interesting details in this one. Shipwreck antiques were a fascinating motif.

There were hints at the next book being set in Scotland--yes, please!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my gosh, 15 more please

[Brittany - bookmarkedbybritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there are two things that are two about me, they would be this: ⁣
⁣
1) I am always happiest on or near the ocean. 😍⁣
2) I loooooove a cozy mystery. ⁣
⁣
When I was invited to read The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea, let me tell you, I was ecstatic! I had read the first instalment in this riotous series at the beginning of the year and fell in love with the characters and the intrigue immediately. ⁣
⁣
This new book brings us back to the unlikely duo of Freya and her hysterical Aunt Carol, as she fully steps into her inheritance from the late, enigmatic, Arthur Cockleford. The antiques trade takes us on the hunt for The Collector as well as some high-value stolen paintings on a charter Antiquities cruise. Did I mention that the paintings are likely linked to a murder most-foul?? ⁣
⁣
What I have loved about this series is that the writing is charming and humorous, but the stakes are HIGH. There is a lot of action propelling the plot forward and I’ve found the central mystery to be incredibly captivating. This book was no exception. I loved laughing at Aunt Carol, was rooting was Freya and her law enforcement competitor/beau, and was left with my mouth hanging open a few times at the level of evil from our clandestine foe. ⁣
⁣
I did also feel that the pacing of the book had improved from the first book in the series and wanted to put this second book down literally zero times. Haha! ⁣
⁣
If you are looking for a fun book to read over a long-weekend, or take on vacation like I did, this is definitely a book I’d recommend. You’ll definitely need to read the first book to understand the characters and the plot motivation, but hey, I loved that book, too. 😜⁣
⁣
Thank you to @simonandschusterca for mailing me this ARC! For my fellow antique hunters, this book was published February 18 and is such a fun time to unravel.

[Georgette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent but it stalled big time halfway through so struggled to finish it. But I did it!

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosy crime series, featuring a treasure hunt, a murder mystery, antique enthusiasts and many suspicious characters.

3.5 stars

[Victoria Colotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the joy these books bring me! THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S: DEATH ON THE RED SEA is the second installment of the series and dare I say it—it was better than the first. I know. I didn’t think I would love it more than the first time we met this cast of characters, but I did. Freya, Aunt Carole, Bella, Sky, and Phil were present and in the thick of it with this case. It was so good!

THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S: DEATH ON THE RED SEA merges a cozy mystery with a bit of action, a whole lot of hijinks (care of Aunt Carole), and developing relationships. Miller delivers an entertaining, heartfelt, and thrilling read.

This book was one of those mysteries that pulled me in from the end of the previous story. With the mere mention of the cruise, I was ready for Freya to go further down the path Authur was leaving breadcrumbs for. Luckily for her readers, the author gifted us with a brilliantly conceived mystery to unravel with twists, turns, and the most perfectly placed reveals. From the halfway mark in this tale, I couldn’t put it down. The tension builds to the point in the story where everything explodes, and the veils begin to be pulled back. The writing propelled the narrative forward at a pace every crime fiction reader will love.

And then there are the characters. This series is so good because of the people we get to meet within these pages. They are all honest and real. The struggles, emotions, and excentricities are all on display. Yes. Freya, Aunt Carole, Bella, Sky, and Phil are in extraordinary situations, and the danger is heightened. However, there is still a grounded nature to the world they are in because of the way the author develops them and infuses their stories with candid moments.

This book is a must-read. I cannot recommend it or the THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO MURDER (Book 1) more. If you like intrigue, fun characters, and fabulous plot twists, now is your time to one-click.

Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕

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[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carole and Freya, invigorated from their last adventure, are striking out together as art investigators. As it turns out, their first case is far twistier and more dangerous than they initially realize. It will take them to treacherous seas on a cruise full of criminals and to the ancient hallowed grounds of Petra. In the meantime, their wiley dear friend Arthur manages to find a way to get involved even from the dead, with cryptic messages that only the two of them can understand.

Although some Agatha Christie vibes were still there, unfortunately I didn't like this as much as the first. It was possibly *too* twisty--it felt muddled and even Miller herself seemed to have a bit of difficulty juggling so many threads. A side plot with Carole and Freya's shop assistant gets pretty hastily wrapped up with a lot of remaining questions.

With the civilian-turned detective stories sometimes there's a fine line between a realistic and expected amount of bumbling and incompetence. This was managed well in the first but unfortunately, in the second, where Freya is supposed to be coming into her own she comes off as entirely clueless. Even her knowledge of antiques gets called into question when she fumbles a presentation. Freya's competence is supposed to be the thing that we're sure of, so without that it's increasingly hard to get behind her as a character, particulary with Carole continuing to steal the show.

I think there are a few seeds here for a more promising third but I do think there are a couple things I'd like to see resolved in the next.

As Carole continually points out in this book (to no avail) Freya needs to have some fun. It's okay to be the straight woman foil for Carole, but she doesn't have to be actually *boring* and we're veering into that territory. As part of this--if this series isn't going to be about romance, that's fine, it doesn't need it. If Freya is single by choice for whatever reason--fine. But if that's the case, let's stop the innuendo with Phil because there's not enough there-there to be anything more than an irritating red herring. Give us chemistry or give us death! Literally. It IS a murder mystery.

Similarly, by book three we have to choose a side with Freya. Is she a competent amateur or a hot (and seemingly increasingly clumsy?) mess? I don't mind a bumbler if it's funny. Columbo in its day was a master class in the clever and underestimated schlub, but if that's what we're doing, the act might be working a bit *too* well.

Fingers crossed!

[Bookshortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freya and aunt Carole have their first case. A stolen painting and a dead body leads them to an antiques cruise filled with stolen antiquities. Can Freya and Carole discover the identity of The Collector an antiques dealer and trafficker?

Ever since I read The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder I was eager to find out what awaited Freya and Carole next and I wasn’t disappointed. The storyline was intriguing and filled with mystery. Who knew that the antiques business could be so dark and dangerous.

Although Freya was given a small insight into this world she learns more about it in this book. Especially when she decides to go on the cruise to find the stolen painting but also find out who The Collector is. The Collector was a very aloof character and felt like a figure from folklore or an urban legend. Certainly someone to be feared. The Collector certainly has quite an established reputation in the antiques world as someone who is quite ruthless when it comes to gathering antiques. So I think that Freya was very brave when she decides that she's going to discover who this person is. She runs into Phil, an FBI agent who is also on the cruise searching for The Collector but he's pretending to be a member of the crew. In addition to this Freya meets a number of characters on the cruise each of whom could be The Collector and it was interesting to see how Freya and Carole tried to narrow down their choices. I did have someone in mind who I thought The Collector was but my suspicions were very wrong. All I can say is it's not who I expected when all was revealed.

One aspect of the story I really liked was seeing the connection between Freya and Phil develop. In this story they find themselves in very close proximity and having to work together. At times they have to pretend that they don't know each other and then at times they find themselves in a lot of danger. But working together brings them closer.

I’m really hoping there is another book in this series soon so I can catch up with Freya and Carole.

[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5 Stars

"The antiques underworld had no idea what was coming to take it down.”

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

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Content Warnings: death, murder, grief

Freya and Aunt Carole are back in an all-new cozy mystery! Similar to book one, this sequel had a cozy feel and was easy to read. I enjoyed seeing the two back together again to tackle their first official case. The antiques were interesting to learn about, and as a fan of The Antiques Roadshow, I was intrigued to see Freya's knowledge be highlighted. However, I would have liked to see the antiques play a more central role in the plot. The cruise ship setting was fun to read about and added a great locked-room mystery feel, but I feel that the story would have benefited if it had explored this avenue more. The writing flowed easily, but with a lot of characters, it got confusing at times and difficult to keep them all straight. I also found the ending to be a bit rushed. My favourite character would have to be Aunt Carole again! Her humour and determination were always appreciated.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this one. I’ve read several books since reading the first in this series, and a recent reread would’ve helped keep some of the original characters straight. There are also lots with similar names —monosyllabic for the guys Phil, Mark, Chris, Luke and older names for the women Carole, Patricia, Laura, Agatha… Morally gray Skye and Bella stand on their own. The audiobook narrator did a wonderful job differentiating the voices, but the chapters bounce between POVs and are all first person perspective, so sometimes I’d be mid-chapter and forget whose perspective we’re following. One chapter in particular took 3 tries.

I also had trouble with the title not really fitting. I’d thought from the first book that Freya is the Antique Hunter. Is it more general? Is __ an antique hunter? Is everyone on the cruise an antique hunter?

It was entertaining, and I’d be interested in reading additional books in the series. I borrowed it from the Cleveland Public Library.