The Secret Letter

Antique Shop Mysteries #2

by Mary Blount Christian

A hidden confession from deep in the past might spell trouble for antiques shop owner Maggie Watson’s new life in Maine.

While cleaning up an old trunk in her antiques shop, Maggie Watson discovers a letter written by a vaudeville performer confessing to a bank robbery. Maggie asks handsome historic preservationist James Bennett for help researching, but his attitude about the trunk quickly grows dark. Is there something he’s not telling her?

After someone breaks into her house and tries to steal the letter, Maggie is determined to get to the bottom of Carriage House Antiques’s latest mystery. Unfortunately, she soon reaches a dead end with her investigation and must decide whether or not to pursue the secrets of the past. Will Maggie be able to expose the history of the letter without losing James as a friend? And to what lengths will someone in this small town go to keep the secrets of the past buried?

This clever whodunit from Annie’s Antique Shop Mysteries series is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, antiques, New England, and female friendships.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2025

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Watson is settling into her new life in Sommerset Harbor, ME. Since inheriting Sedgewick Manor and Carriage House Antiques from her aunt, Maggie feels like she's getting a fresh start in life. Thanksgiving is approaching and she is unsure about facing the holidays in her new home. She decides to refurbish an old trunk. It needs clean up and relining. As she pulls back the old fabric lining, Maggie discovers an old letter hidden in the trunk. The letter, dating back to the 1930s, hints at a bank robbery. When she starts asking questions about the history of the trunk and the letter, local residents seem less than willing to speak about it. Digging into a past best left alone can be dangerous.....

I really enjoy this series. I like to read cozy mysteries in between heavier thriller, suspense and horror novels to get a bit of a palate cleansing. Cozies are cute, light and refreshing....with a little dab of darkness. Makes for a nice break between heavier adult fiction titles. I like the characters, the background theme of antiquing and the setting for this series. Maggie Watson is a likable main character. She's starting her life all over again after losing her husband and her daughter leaving home for college. All in all, The Antique Shop Mysteries is an enjoyable cozy series. The books are very attractive and good quality. The series would look great displayed on a cozy lover's bookshelf. The cover art is always brightly colored and inviting.

The Secret Letter is the second book in this series. The books are published by Annie's Attic and sold as a subscription. The titles are written by various authors. There are 16+ books in the series. It's a bit difficult to find a complete listing of all the titles or the correct reading order since the series is sold as a subscription. There are websites that list the books in order (just google it), and Goodreads does a pretty good job of keeping up. Luckily, someone donated their collection to my local library so I can enjoy this series! Definitely enjoyable stories!

[Jo Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, quick read. Likable characters. A bit sugary--no town has THAT many nice people. But after reading a couple of heavy, bleak tomes, I needed a break.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an exciting read and I really enjoyed the mystery that has just the right amount of tension without feeling stressful (for me anyway). Maggie is spending her first Thanksgiving in Somerset Harbor and wants to have an open house to welcome all her new friends. It doesn't seem like anyone will be coming though since everyone has plans elsewhere. She is disappointed but a new mystery is keeping her busy. She was going to restore an old trunk with vaudeville stickers on it and found an old letter tucked into the lining. It was from a young husband and father to be who had found himself in some trouble. He said he was going to go to the police and then he'd be home but he never returned. His young wife only received his trunk with his things. When Maggie starts researching the names mentioned in the letter she starts getting some unwelcome attentions from a stranger. Someone broke into her house and tried to get into her safe, left her threatening notes, followed her, chased her in her car and rammed into the back of her car. She was definitely scared but refused to give up on the mystery, no matter who wants to stop her.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how a letter can cause excitement. Maggie Watson finds a humpback trunk and being that it is very old the lining inside the trunk has started to fall apart. She finds a letter in the lining but it is only one page. And so, it is the start of the mystery.

Maggie plans to restore the trunk and her new friend James Bennett helps her find fabric that closely matches the old one. Restoring the trunk is not the mystery, it is figuring out who owned it and it seems someone else is also interested in the letter. Unbeknownst to Maggie the letter shared with the public could very easily destroy someone’s future in politics.

Breaking into the mansion, high speed chases, is just a small part of the story that will keep you reading.

It is almost Thanksgiving and Maggie is excited that her daughter is coming to spend the holiday with her. Invitations are sent out, since this is Maggie’s first Thanksgiving in her new home and she feels it is a good way to meet more people in her new town. Things don’t turn out the way she was hoping.

This little mystery was entertaining and I am looking forward to the third book in the series and her “friendship” with James Bennett.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maggie debates selling her Vermont cottage and moving to her newly-inherited mansion in Maine while she refinishes a small trunk. But she finds one page of a mysterious letter in the trunk and tries to identify the sender and the addressee, leading to someone trying to thwart her. She learns that the trunk belonged to the family of handsome bachelor James Bennett, the local alderman, who has a passion for restoration and a growing interest in widowed Maggie. Her attempts to hold a Thanksgiving open house seem doomed when everyone has other plans, but a storm ends up making it a big success.

[Mooshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3/5⭐️

I thought this cozy mystery was well thought out and I enjoyed the balance between a light enjoyable read and the minimal thrill thrown in! I thought the mystery itself was intriguing and believable which made it fun to follow along trying to solve it alongside the MCs.

I also thought this author did a nice job at picking up where we left off from book one. I could not really tell a difference between the first books author and this one, which I really enjoyed considering it is all apart of the same story line!

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/27/25 - 11/29/25
The Secret Letter (Antique Shop Mysteries #2) by Mary Blount Christian
The second in the Annie’s series of the Antique Shop Mysteries of Maggie’s inheriting Aunt Evelyn’s estate and antique shop. Twists and turns abound, strange events happening that have Maggie nerves on end, wondering what she’s found that so important. Perplexed as to how someone knows the combination to her safe, what they want, and so much more mysterious things that she’s trying to put together. One things for sure, she’s settling into her new life in Somerset Harbor and finding friends who are making her feel very comfortable. Plus her daughter is only an hour away at her college and can come down to visit at her new home.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two I the Antique Shop mysteries. Maggie Watson is settling in the town of Somerset Harbor. After finding a letter hidden in an antique trunk, her adventure begins. Someone wants that letter and they will do anything to get it. As she researches for more information, the threatening notes start arriving.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series from Country Sampler. I am not even sure if I was aware that they published books. Maggie is thinking of Somerset Habor as her new home and is continuing to make new friends.
Add a little dash of mystery and you have a good read.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice easy read. Loved the mystery and all the characters in the quaint town. Was able to pick out he guilty party about half way through.

[Dedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Quick read mystery.

[Tirzah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was good, too. I really didn't know who the suspect was. I am looking forward to the next two books.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot twists

[Joan Barden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was better than the first in the series. I enjoyed reading it and will look forward to the next in the series.

[Susan Moxley]

A great read that is fun to read.

[Annanonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I loved it

[Elizabeth Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good mystery in this cozy mystery series. More plots and twists than in the previous book.
Really enjoyed it - the characters, the New England town, the overall warmth.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending came on way too fast, too forced but over all good easy read.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wholesome, light mystery with entertaining characters. Held my attention throughout, trying to figure out the mystery. Great read.

[Marjorie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read that involves a mystery with no recent murder!

[Ann Busbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I'm giving this 4 stars other than it was quick, fun read with an interesting mystery that didn't involve murder.

[Irene Marston · Rating 4 out of 5]

these are good day reads for mystery fans enjoying a new mystery

[Carolyn R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story, enjoyed.

[Katherine Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid feel good story that has a decent mystery included that keeps you reading.

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I'm loving this series!! On to the next!!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 in the Antique Shop Mysteries, another quick read. A little more drama than the first book. I was hoping something would happen so Maggie’s daughter would get home for Thanksgiving. And glad the mystery was solved; I didn’t guess the culprit until Maggie and James figured it out. Another good book.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining mystery.

[Sue Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first started reading this series I noticed that each book was written by a different author. I wondered if they would be able to keep the personalities of the characters consistent. After reading the second book I would say it depends on the character. I also think there are a lot of details where you have to suspend disbelief. If you're able to do that you can enjoy reading this addition to this series of cozy mysteries.