A Killer Keepsake

Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries #6

by Ellery Adams, Parker Riggs

In the world of antiques and collectibles, it helps to have a sharp eye for quality, a good ear for gossip, and a nose for murder.


When star reporter Molly Appleby exchanged vows with her new husband, she also made a promise to give up sleuthing. But given her knack for stumbling onto murders, and murderers, she’s realizing she never should have made a promise she couldn’t keep.


Molly’s just finished an article on the Forget Me Not Doll Club for Collector’s Weekly, but before the magazine even hits the newsstands, one of the club members is found murdered, and a stolen antique doll—purportedly haunted—is found in the victim’s house. When police discover that few of the peculiar club members will mourn the deceased, and that most of them had more motives than alibis, they once again enlist Molly’s help to solve this very odd case.


But piecing together a deadly puzzle is never easy, and when another member of the club is attacked, Molly begins to wonder if the eccentric group of doll lovers might have deeper and darker connections than she ever imagined. And as she begins to piece together the unusual background of the eerie doll and uncovers a history of troubled lives, she realizes there are more victims than the obvious ones in this case—and that some people will do anything to protect their darkest secrets.


About the


New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs, including that of caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children's books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.


Parker Riggs is also the author of the mystery novels A Treacherous Trader and A Devious Lot (with Ellery Adams), and Finding Jessica. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.

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

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2017

About the author

USA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written over forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, and rescue animals. She likes to spend her free time rearranging the bookshelves in her home in central North Carolina.

Ellery's Series Include: Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington) Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington) Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries ((Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).

Ellery also writes genre-blending fiction focusing on women and their inner monsters. Her first release in this exciting new direction is Invasive Species, which hits the shelves 4/14/206.

For book club guides, bibliotherapy lists, and recipes, please visit www.elleryadamsbooks.com

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new series to me and I was not disappointed.
I was able to enjoy it without having read the previous books.
The characters were well written and the whodunit was top notch and kept me guessing.
My only qualm is the fact the main character is made a consultant based on her collecting and antique knowledge? A consultant would not question suspects without a police officer present. I was able to suspend my disbelief while reading the story as it was entertaining, however not realistic.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In A Killer Keepsake Molly is dealing with doll collecting group (creepy) and it seems that one of them is a bit uppity and likes to cause a bit of trouble so it wasn't surprising that she ends up dead.

Molly is married now and promised her husband she wouldn't do any more sleuthing because of the close call from the previous book, but the detective ask her to consult since she knows the group. She figures a little fact finding with the detective right there with her wouldn't be to bad, but of course it doesn't end there and she is back to finding things out even when the detective isn't around.

So far I have really enjoyed most of the series Ellery Adams has written and so of course I really liked this one. I like Molly who is a writer for a collectors magazine. We always get to travel around to different places and there is always a historical story woven in that has to do with one of the collectable items. In this one it was a doll named Emily or Emma, I can't remember.

I thought the mystery was very well done because I couldn't figure out exactly what happened, so that was good. :)

Anyone who loves cozies will enjoy this series. I have only one more to go and I will be caught up, can I do it before the end of the year!?

This series has a really good narrator!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had some really interesting elements. The mysteries were good and well entangled. I struggled with the subject matter of the horrible abuse suffered by some of the characters in the book and even though it is a cozy story with a cozy feeling ending, for me honestly it felt darker than most of the cozy mysteries that I am used to reading. I found I could not put it down however and was enchanted by the side story of the haunted doll. A Killer Keepsake is not your everyday cozy, it is however very, very good.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Killer Keepsake by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs is the sixth book in Antiques and Collectibles Mysteries. I enjoy visiting Molly Appleby to find out what antique she is researching in each new book and what mystery she will find herself embroiled in this time. Our regular characters are back (Matt, Tony, Sean Murphy, Clara) as we return to Burlington, Vermont. Molly has grown since the series began and I am curious how her sleuthing will tie in with married life. I thought the story contained good writing and steady pacing. A Killer Keepsake can be read on its own if you are new to this series (or if you have missed a couple of books). I was slightly overwhelmed by the number of people introduced in this book (Forget Me Not Doll Club members, Sierra’s father, Miranda’s assistant, a nurse, estranged hubby, etc.). It is hard to keep track of all the characters. I thought the mystery was interesting with it involving an 80 year old German bisque doll that is supposedly haunted. We get to find out more about the doll and how Sierra came to own it (we dive back in history to the late 1930s). Molly is brought on a consultant for her antique and collectible knowledge. We must suspend our disbelief about this as well as Molly questioning suspects without a detective present (it’s fiction). I had no difficulty pinpointing the guilty party early in the tale. There are good clues to help readers solve the whodunit before the reveal. I am glad that Molly is not having to keep her promise to give up sleuthing. I knew the writers would find a way around it. The ending of A Killer Keepsake was so sweet. A Killer Keepsake is a cute cozy mystery with a disturbing doll with a haunting history, a romantic relationship, a motivated murderer, and a collector correspondent as a cop consultant.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series. There are two timelines happening in the story. The story in the past of this book revolves around a woman who is being physically abused by her husband in 1937. They are heading back to America after living in Germany and are flying home on the Hindenburg. She has decided to leave her husband once she is back home and she is given a doll, Emma, that is supposed to keep her safe and perhaps exact revenge as well. The story in the present revolves around a group of doll collectors belonging to a club. One of them has Emma and has heard the story about the doll. Another member wants the doll and will not give up trying to buy it. When Emma is stolen and turns up at a murder scene, she is the prime suspect. Antique and Collectibles reporter, Molly Appleby is present when the body is discovered and despite promising both her husband and mother that she will give up sleuthing, she agrees to consult with the police where the doll club is concerned.

Molly is a excellent, likable sleuth with a gift for finding clues and suspects. I enjoy learning about the various collectable pieces she researches. The element of the doll's history, along with the suspicious murder adds a great deal of suspense to the story. I loved the different elements of antiques, well crafted characters and clues and how they were woven together in the story. This story grabbed my attention from the first page and Held me captive until the end. It is a bit darker than most cozies, with the abuse, but it is still a very good story. One test of a good cozy for me is not being able to figure out the culprit to early and how believable the motive is, this book gets points for both. This book is an excellent read and a great addition to the series .

[Susan Bogush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second series I have read of Ellery Adams and they all get 5 Stars. The a antique and collectibles series. Was wonderful. Hoping for a new one! These books are not your usual cozy mysteries. You will not figure it out in the first chapter. It will keep you captivated and wanting more
The main character Molly is so relatable and the secondary characters and different locations are so rare in a usually genre of books where the murder always seems to happen in the same town.
I did this series on audio and the narrator was fantastic. I think I have a new cozy mystery writer!

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creepy doll with a history of violent deaths in its wake. Is it a protector or does it harbor a spirit meting out punishment to those it seems deserving. Molly is writing a story about a Doll Society when one of the members is murdered. At issue we’re arguments over a German made antique doll name Emma and the marriages of several of the society members. The police asks Molly in to be a consultant this time around.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. Not gripping. A little hard to keep the characters straight.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: A Killer Keepsake - Antiques & Collectables Mysteries Book 6
Author: Ellery Ames & Parker Riggs
Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing
Published: 4-5-2017
Pages: 305
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuths; Cozy Mystery; Ghosts
ISBN: 9781946069252
ASIN: B06Y2BFDJD
Reviewed For NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Starts


In the world of antiques and collectibles, it helps to have a sharp eye for quality, a good ear for gossip, and a nose for murder.

When star reporter Molly Appleby exchanged vows with her new husband, she also made a promise to give up sleuthing. But given her knack for stumbling onto murders, and murderers, she’s realizing she never should have made a promise she couldn’t keep.

Molly’s just finished an article on the Forget Me Not Doll Club for Collector’s Weekly, but before the magazine even hits the newsstands, one of the club members is found murdered, and a stolen antique doll—purportedly haunted—is found in the victim’s house. When police discover that few of the peculiar club members will mourn the deceased, and that most of them had more motives than alibis, they once again enlist Molly’s help to solve this very odd case.

But piecing together a deadly puzzle is never easy, and when another member of the club is attacked, Molly begins to wonder if the eccentric group of doll lovers might have deeper and darker connections than she ever imagined. And as she begins to piece together the unusual background of the eerie doll and uncovers a history of troubled lives, she realizes there are more victims than the obvious ones in this case—and that some people will do anything to protect their darkest secrets.


Molly is so likable and I enjoy gleaning information from the facts on collectable pieces she researches. The two authors manage snag the readers attention from the very start and keep it until the very end. Keeping you guessing until they decide to reveal the killer, how and why of the murder.


My rating of "A Killer Keepsake - Antiques & Collectables Mysteries Book 6" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.



Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y2BFDJD/...

B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ki...

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here:
When reporter Molly delivers copies of the article she has written to the people she interviewed, she had no idea of the intrigues that would perplex her. There is a doll named Emma. She is a beautiful heirloom but is she haunted. Does she exact revenge on men who wrong their women? Is she an avenging angel or just an ordinary doll?
One of the collectors in the group wants Emma in the worst way and it seems she will go to any means to get her. She believes Emma will help her get what she wants in a divorce settlement. What she gets however is dead. And when Molly discovers the corpse, Emma is seated in the bedroom. How did she get there and what does she have to do with the murder and an attempted murder of another member of the group.?
Despite the fact that Molly has promised to give up sleuthing, the local cop enlists her help in getting to the bottom of the mystery. He wants to use her reportorial skills and her connection with the suspects to find the killer. I hate when a character goes off half cocked on their own almost in competition with the police. This is an organic attachment that makes sense so it heightens the suspense.
It is a good story with well defined and interesting characters and a good mystery too. There were just enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good installment in the series. I have to say that the last couple of books and this one all really showed huge growth in the main character. I would have stopped reading after the first book or two, but had already downloaded the third and have to say that I am glad that I kept at it as in the end I really liked the main character as well as all the supporting characters except for her mother. I just never could warm up to that personality. This installment finds the main character embroiled in a mystery of who the murderer could be when one member of a doll club gets offed just after the main character had interviewed the group. The plot was well thought out and entertaining. For the series overall, I have to say that this one was my least favorite of this authors as I have absolutely loved several others that she has written. This was a good book to end the series on with the direction that the personal lives of the characters is going, it ends things nicely.

[Jieqi Xu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very quick and fun read. It's a different sort of mystery that involves dolls and the motive is relatively simple. The main character is an antique doll who has been owned through the years by various owners who are in some sort of trouble and she brings respite to them, or help, if you believe it. I can keep my mind open and deal with all the liberties that were taken in the book (like recounting the details of an ONGOING case to anyone who ask, and those we did not too!) but what I could not get my head around is, how does a consultant, who was appointed because of her job writing about antique and collectibles, has so much power to influence the police and the case? She's also allowed to talk to anyone she likes using her position as consultant and do anything she wants. It is just kind of jarring. But other than that, this is a good book to read.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know it’s a cozy mystery, but still, some research and a dose of realism would be nice.
A person telling an abused wife to go to the police in 1937 is not very likely, but I could live with it for the sake of the story.
A Jew in 1937 Berlin telling anyone to go to the police is much harder to accept.
A Jew in 1937 Berlin telling an abused wife… There I can only sit and shake my head. It’s just a detail from the background, but very jarring.
And the main story has not been very engaging, possibly because of the victim being one nasty person we have just met, so no attachement there; and nobody we care about is in fact involved, other then Molly nosing around as usual when she was meant only to sit on the interviews.

[Anna Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly’s job as a writer for an antique and collectibles magazine means she gets to meet a lot of people who are passionate about their collections; she’s never met any quite like the Forget Me Not Doll Club members, however, especially Miranda, whose single-minded focus on a particular doll that belongs to another member borders on psychotic. No surprise, Miranda is found dead the morning after the Club’s meeting - and the doll is in her room. Detective Lombardi seeks Molly’s help to question the club members, hoping they would open up more to her since she’d already interviewed them; rumors about the doll being haunted spur wild speculation about Miranda’s death, but logic demands causes other than the supernatural. In the end, Molly’s help reveals motives as ancient as human society.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are there really haunted dolls? That's the question!
Molly is married and she, her husband and her mother have all moved to Vermont so her husband can do his medical residency. Molly is working remotely for her job writing about antiques and who would have ever thought the writing a story about a club of antique doll lovers would find Molly involved with another murder or two - but it does.
I enjoy the story in the story about the origin of the antique - in this case a doll - and how it got to be where it joined the current story.

[Hope Smash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy Dolls? Check. Great Historical Background Story? Check. Intriguing Murder? Check. I think this was my favourite book in the series so far. Didn't quite warrant five stars, but it was very enjoyable. I didn't figure out the mystery, Molly has finally learned from her mistakes of the past books, and there were some great twists and fun side plots. Everything I'm looking for in a cozy mysteries series. I'm liking where this series is going. Keep up the good work!

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting one. I still love how the authors incorporate an old history with an item or family in the present day novel. It's fun to weave the connections between the two as we try to also discover the murderer.
The cops now see no qualms in getting advice from Molly and Matt is all for it too, it's funny.
Only thing with this one is that.....the whole haunted doll concept was a bit creepy. It could have totally gone the other way and into horror but it didn't go that far lol

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Package!

This was an engaging mystery with lots of twists & turns. The author throws in suspense, romance, & a great story line! Loved the flashbacks to 1937. It added an extra dimension to the current story which was so good I absolutely could not put it down! Can't wait to see where Molly & Matt go from here.

[Sheri Heiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, loved the ending!

Ellery Adams is one of my favorite authors. Her books are not simple, but not really complicated. This series has been a lot of fun to read. Although, like Molly's mom and Matt, I wish she wouldn't take so many chances. This one had a bit of spooky-ness to it which I enjoyed. I hope there will be more to this series.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, cozy mystery. As a child of a doll lover, the back story was kind of creepy. Can dolls really be haunted?? Who knows, but some of their eyes do follow you around so it makes you wonder!! I felt like Molly was smarter in this one when it came to the murder. I like that the author had her mature enough to use her head when she figured it out. Good ending!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly is featuring the members of a doll club for her newest article. One of the members, Miranda is a real pain and soon winds up dead.

I enjoy each and every one of these books. This one's side story is about a doll and it's owner who were aboard the Hindenberg when it went down. Another good story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may put all my dolls in the closet.

Always the best and double the cozy mystery goodness with it being writing by Parker Riggs and Ellery Adams. Definitely should be on to read list. I will say I’m reading them out of order so hoping Lombardi and the nanny reunite permanently

[Jacqueline Benincasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific twists and surprises. Loved it.

The story is engaging and keeps your interest. The characters are well developed and interesting enough to keep the suspense going. Good read.

[Sarah Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty bad. I'm a HUGE Ellery Adams fan, but this one just didn't do it for me. The Antiques and Collectibles Mysteries is probably my least favorite of her series and this was the worst of that group. I'm not sure if it's the story or the dolls, but I just didn't like this read.

[Abby Aguilera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series gets so much better as it progresses! (Secret, Book and Scone Society is still my top Ellery Adams fav though 😍) A lot of reader frustrations with Mollie correct in this one and I was guessing about whodunit all the way to the end!

[Lauren A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sandy Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories in one!

This book made me not want to turn out the light! I also loved the flashback to that terrible day in 1937. Very well done!

[Elizabeth Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awe i thought she might be

Really enjoyed this one too! I love getting to know molly and matt! Will there be more to this series? Please say yes!!!

[Shannon White · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked about this book was the story in the story. It was an interesting premise and a good read.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story, very much and recommend people reading it. All of Ellery Adams's books have been well written and easy to read and this one was no exception.