The Crate Beyond

Antique Shop Mysteries #16

by Pam De Voe

Maggie Watson must handle her next mystery with care before a murderer strikes again.

In the midst of spring awakening in Somerset Harbor, Maine, there are old secrets lurking in the attic of Sedgwick Manor. Maggie Watson receives an unexpected message that requires her to finally go through long-ignored boxes from her late husband's archaeology lab, and she pries open a years-old mystery that casts doubt on her beloved Richard's intentions -- and even his integrity.

Maggie tries to delay her investigation of the crates' contents, but someone else is in a much bigger hurry to unpack the past and targets Maggie with increasingly frightful encounters. Maggie strives to unpack the clues about the confusing cargo, but will knowing the truth about these puzzling packages help her get the closure she seeks -- or will it upend her fragile life?

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

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2025

Reviews

[Jo Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Crate Beyond, we finally see a sliver of Maggie's life with Richard. In all the other books, she still misses him and often feels herself tearing up. At the start of "Crate,"an email from Richard's college (where he taught archeology) arrives, asking for the return of several boxes of Richard's, which were sent to Maggie when he died. Maggie has scattered them in the attic of the manor and in the upstairs storeroom of the shop. She didn't want to release old memories by opening them, but now she'd have to, in order to get a mix-up straightened out. According to a department secretary, several boxes belonging to a Professor Faber were accidentally sent to Maggie in Richard's name.
As she digs through the boxes, she is confused. Why are they filled with American southwest Pueblo Indian pots? Richard's area of expertise was the eastern US. And why was Richard co-writing a paper outside his area of expertise?
As always, the manor and the antique shop are broken into. A rude young assistant to Professor Faber arrives to take possession of the boxes but Maggie isn't ready to let them go. And for the first time in her happy memories of their marriage, she has doubts about Richard. Did he steal these pots? He never told Maggie about working with Faber. Didn't he trust her any more? Was their marriage stale and was he thinking of leaving her? Plus, her temporary assistant, Eric, keeps blabbing away about the Native American artifacts in Maggie's possession to anyone who asks. He even SHOWS A NOSY CUSTOMER where they keep the key to the attic. Eric was in the military. You'd think a soldier would be more cautious about telling tales to strangers.
Like I said, I enjoyed this book a little better than most because we got to learn more about Richard. But a plausible story line was a bit thin in this book, as mentioned with Eric's big mouth, Maggie's refusal to get an alarm system installed and even her reluctance to call the police, even though she came close to being severely harmed or even killed.
Still, a fun and fast read and I look forward to every new adventure.

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

1/23/26 - 1/25/26
The Crates Beyond (Antique Shop Mysteries #16) Pam De Voe
This is the 16th book in the series of Maggie, Sedgwick Manor, the Carriage House Antiques Shop located in Somerset Harbor that she inherited from her Aunt Evelyn. Maggie tirelessly ends up sleuthing with the help of her historical society friends, and alderman James, plus the Somerset Harbor police. This adventure ties into the past of Maggie’s husband and a secret he never shared with her. This disturbs her and perplexes her as she tries to unravel what comes to light as she knows her husband would never get involved in anything illegal. These novels are delightful easy reads to take us out of the sad news of the world today and bring us some joy.

[Debra McEathron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series a lot. This one had to do with artifacts Maggie's husband had and a lot of questions about where they belonged. Her friends helped her with some of the questions. Leaving Maggie trying to find the culprit. This series is written by several different authors. It is a great quick read. I do wish that the various authors in this series had numbered the books in order, the stories would flow better. This one can be read as a stand alone, however several characters are in all f the stories in the series.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maggie Watson finds a trove of priceless Southwestern pottery among her late husband's possessions. Was Richard, a man of integrity, somehow involved in the black market in antiquities, from an area that wasn't even of interest? Someone is trying to make her think so.

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anasazi Pots

Very interesting. Archeological pots, suspects, break-ins and some great sleuthing by the ladies in the Historical Society. Maggie finally had to go through her deceased husband’s boxes that had been stored for several years. What a surprise!

[Sharon Teagarden-king · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a delightful read

[Irene Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

still enjoying these mysteries series

[Sarah McCraley · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cozy mystery that I needed this week

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice mystery. Usually I can almost figure out the culprit. Enjoyed the mystery.