Death Takes a Holiday

Antique Shop Mysteries #8

by Susan Sleeman

Daisy’s niece Lily and her friend Amanda have just landed weekend jobs playing scullery maids in an historical village. Daisy invites James and the ladies of the Somerset Harbor Historical Society to take advantage of the Stay at Weatherly Manor for a Weekend promotion during the village’s Spring Fever Reliever weekend and join her in celebrating Lily’s new role. But they only just arrive when Amanda goes missing. Maggie puts on her sleuthing cap and promises to find the missing friend.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over sixty romantic suspense and mystery novels with more than two million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts The Suspense Zone. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, two special sons-in-law, and four amazing grandsons

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maggie Watson and her friends take a break from their quaint Maine seaside town and spend a weekend at an historical village. Sadly, a young girl has disappeared, and Maggie is determined to find her. It's interesting that because the crime (kidnapping? murder?) is right up front, Maggie cannot ignore the evidence of her senses, and because she doesn't know the people involved, she can't ignore their possible culpability because they're her friends. It makes for a more convincing tale, though Maggie's vaunted detective skills are a bit lacking.

[Alex Atlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm proud of myself for guessing the person before any of the book characters even thought of it .

[Lis Sigona · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/22/25 - 12/25/25
Death Takes A Holiday (Antique Shop Mysteries #8) by Susan Sleeman
The 8th book in the series. Maggie, Daisy, June Ruth, Ina, James and Daisy’s sister Jasmine and her niece, have a weekend retreat at a Village that imitates the styles golf the 1800’s. The Manor House and Shops and so forth have antiques, and show the styles of how things were done in those times. They even shut down the electricity and use candle and oil lamps, wood burning stoves, etc. Daisy drives some of the girls out in her husband’s dilapidated RV and the first night they sleep in that! Some comedic writing goes along with this, but it turns to mystery and mayhem when Daisy’s niece’s friend, Amanda goes missing and Maggie starts sleuthing along with the Sheriff and Detective. Suspects galore, murder and the one person Maggie didn’t have on her list turns out to be the culprit that has Amanda. It ends well for Amanda but not so for a few others we’ve met along the way!

[Jo Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am really enjoying the Antique Shop Mysteries series but I really didn't like this one. After a while, I got used to the mysteries taking place in the small town of Somerset Harbor, so when the gang takes a trip, I missed Maggie's cat, Snickers, the antique shop, Daisy's restaurant and the rest of the people of the town.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute as usual

This is a fun one with Maggie and the gang dressing up in period costume while trying to solve a kidnapping. The usual comradery and Maggie's sluthing ways are on full display with perhaps a little more push twarda a relationship with James? The period acting and setting made this fun and different but I look forward to her home setting again

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Replacements

Maggie is becoming a master detective! She takes chances like nobody’s business but finally figures it out. Amanda is missing from the job. Lily, her friend reports to her mother that they can’t find Amanda and Maggie and the rest of the ladies and James, of course, go on the lookout.

[Jjean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really find this book interesting until towards the end - It was "wordy" with descriptions of characters and setting - just took away some of the interest of the characters.

[Michaeline Skibinski Skibinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that made me forget about the health crises in the world around us. Interesting writing style, easy to follow. I'm going to read Susan Sleeman's other books.

[Irene Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting mystery really enjoyed it kept me guessing to the end

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with a good plot and great characters. However, missed the setting of Somerset Harbor.

[Debra McEathron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and her friends are looking forward to participating in a reenactment in a nearby village. When they arrive they find out that a young woman is missing.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Mooshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how this book was in a different setting and also the stakes seemed much higher yet it was still a classic cozy mystery!

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story in this series!! ☺️

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story line was excellent. The setting was interesting and the culprit was unexpected. A nice book to cuddle up with on a wintry day.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my favorite of this series but it was more entertaining towards the end.