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Scandal Mountain Antiques #1
The Art of the Decoy
Perfect for fans of Jane K. Cleland and Connie Berry, Tricia Esden’s series debut is sure to please.
After her mother is sent to prison for art forgery, Edie Brown returns to Northern Vermont to rebuild her family’s fine art and antiques business. She’s certain she can do it now that her mother is gone. After all, butting heads with her mom over bad business practices was what drove Edie away three years ago, including a screwup that landed Edie on probation for selling stolen property.
When Edie scores a job appraising a waterfowl decoy collection at a hoarder’s farmhouse, she’s determined to take advantage of the situation to rebuild the business’s tarnished reputation and dwindling coffers. In lieu of payment, Edie intends to cherry-pick an exceptional decoy carved by the client’s renowned Quebecoise folk artist ancestors. Only the tables turn when the collection vanishes.
Accused of the theft, Edie’s terrified that the fallout will destroy the business and land her in prison next to her mom. Desperate, she digs into the underbelly of the local antiques and art world. When Edie uncovers a possible link between the decoy theft and a deadly robbery at a Quebec museum, she longs to ask her ex-probation officer, and ex-lover, for help. But she suspects his recent interest in rekindling their romance may hide a darker motive.
With the help of her eccentric uncle Tuck and Kala, their enigmatic new employee, Edie must risk all she holds dear to expose the thieves and recover the decoys before the FBI’s Art Crime Team or the ruthless thieves themselves catch up with her.
After her mother is sent to prison for art forgery, Edie Brown returns to Northern Vermont to rebuild her family’s fine art and antiques business. She’s certain she can do it now that her mother is gone. After all, butting heads with her mom over bad business practices was what drove Edie away three years ago, including a screwup that landed Edie on probation for selling stolen property.
When Edie scores a job appraising a waterfowl decoy collection at a hoarder’s farmhouse, she’s determined to take advantage of the situation to rebuild the business’s tarnished reputation and dwindling coffers. In lieu of payment, Edie intends to cherry-pick an exceptional decoy carved by the client’s renowned Quebecoise folk artist ancestors. Only the tables turn when the collection vanishes.
Accused of the theft, Edie’s terrified that the fallout will destroy the business and land her in prison next to her mom. Desperate, she digs into the underbelly of the local antiques and art world. When Edie uncovers a possible link between the decoy theft and a deadly robbery at a Quebec museum, she longs to ask her ex-probation officer, and ex-lover, for help. But she suspects his recent interest in rekindling their romance may hide a darker motive.
With the help of her eccentric uncle Tuck and Kala, their enigmatic new employee, Edie must risk all she holds dear to expose the thieves and recover the decoys before the FBI’s Art Crime Team or the ruthless thieves themselves catch up with her.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2022
30 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Trish Esden
6 books249 followersTrish is the award-winning author of twisty contemporary New England mysteries centered on feisty women who rise up with determination, heart, and a passion for justice when crime strikes their small-town communities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 11, 2021
Protagonist Edie Brown returns home to Vermont to help run the struggling family business, Scandal Mountain Fine Arts & Antiques, while her mother, Vicki, serves prison time for art forgery. Along with her Uncle Tuck and a new intern, Kala Acosta; Edie secures the appraisal job of a lifetime with the Bouchard Family who live near the Canadian border. Could a decades-long missing carver’s collection of bird decoys be in Claude Bouchard’s attic? This exciting and intriguing cozy mystery explores the history of folk art carving, fraud, betrayal, and organized crime. The value of a collection such as this one is astronomical!
The author’s descriptions of the Vermont scenery is lovely, as well as the visuals she describes of the carved and painted bird decoys. Humor is scattered throughout the story. There are numerous villains to dislike; attempted murder; and a murder relating to the criminals trying to obtain the multi-million dollar collection. Many of the characters appear to be guilty, and as the story progresses, the author reveals who the flunky’s are, and who the ruthless masterminds are. There are many surprises in this savvy plot for readers to anticipate. I really enjoyed the secret ending. I look forward to the next story in this new series.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.
The author’s descriptions of the Vermont scenery is lovely, as well as the visuals she describes of the carved and painted bird decoys. Humor is scattered throughout the story. There are numerous villains to dislike; attempted murder; and a murder relating to the criminals trying to obtain the multi-million dollar collection. Many of the characters appear to be guilty, and as the story progresses, the author reveals who the flunky’s are, and who the ruthless masterminds are. There are many surprises in this savvy plot for readers to anticipate. I really enjoyed the secret ending. I look forward to the next story in this new series.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.
September 11, 2021
Well, I read this in one day! Trish Esden is a fabulous writer, putting you there in the scene, which in this case is rural Vermont with all its attractions and quirks. She also provides an inside look at the fascinating world of art and antiques, which I enjoyed. Looking forward to the next adventure with Edie!
July 19, 2022
⭐⭐⭐.5
Overall, this was a pretty entertaining first book in a new series. I really enjoyed the art and antiques angle. I also loved the Northern Vermont setting and the French Canadian tie-in. It was well written and well paced, with plenty of twists and turns. The characters were (mostly) likable. However, the main niggle I had with this one was Edie herself. There was just something I can't even put my finger on that made it difficult to warm up to her. Like she came across a bit too moneygrubbing...I don't know. 🤷🏻♀️ That said, I am looking forward to seeing what these characters get up next. 👍🏻👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Overall, this was a pretty entertaining first book in a new series. I really enjoyed the art and antiques angle. I also loved the Northern Vermont setting and the French Canadian tie-in. It was well written and well paced, with plenty of twists and turns. The characters were (mostly) likable. However, the main niggle I had with this one was Edie herself. There was just something I can't even put my finger on that made it difficult to warm up to her. Like she came across a bit too moneygrubbing...I don't know. 🤷🏻♀️ That said, I am looking forward to seeing what these characters get up next. 👍🏻👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
March 25, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Edie Brown and her mother were not seeing eye to eye in running the family’s fine art and antiques business, but when a huge error had Edie arrested and put on probation for selling stolen goods it was the final straw. She left not only the town but the state.
Now her mother is in prison for art forgery and her uncle has called her home to help him so they don't lose the family business. He sends her to an event appraising items in folk art, her specialty. She meets a woman there with an interesting duck decoy and says she has access to a whole collection. An appraisal this big could be just what Edie needs to get the business back on firm footing.
Edie, her uncle, and Kala work hard to document each piece but when Edie returns to present the appraisal her world turns upside down. The collection has been stolen and the woman accuses her of the theft. Fearing she could end up sharing a cell with her mom she sets off on a quest to find the missing decoys. What she learns is that this robbery may be linked to another in Canada and that she may not be able to trust a man from her past who seems to want to get back together.
Edie has no choice. She teams up with her Uncle Tuck and their tech-savvy employee Kala to catch a thief before things run more "afowl" and her goose gets cooked by the FBI Art Crimes Division for stealing the duck decoys.
_____
First, I have to say the cover of this book is amazing. It draws the reader in and then we read about the beautiful home/grounds where we find Scandal Mountain Fine Arts and Antiques. "Nestled in the foothills of Mount Mansfield . . . just south of the Canadian border", Scandal Mountain is now enjoying a resurgence with new families moving in and new businesses opening and the author brings the town and area to life with her wonderful descriptions. She also made it so easy to visualize the decoys.
Ms. Esden also introduces us to some wonderful characters in Edie, Tuck, and Kala. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses and all developed nicely throughout the story while leaving plenty of room for growth in future books. I really enjoyed Kala and all her knowledge. All three are realistic and relatable.
There were also very interesting characters specific to this story, suspects and victims, and victims that may be suspects. They are mixed up in a complex mystery that grabbed me right away. I have always been interested in collecting antiques and this plot played right into that interest. It was so entertaining to follow along with Edie, Tuck, and Kala and the different ways they dug in and followed each clue. Their instincts were strong throughout the book. I was definitely made smarter by what I was reading. And the final page made me smile.
The Art of the Decoy is an intriguing and entertaining mystery. A sensational debut for this series. I am really looking forward to reading A Wealth of Deception when it comes out next month.
Edie Brown and her mother were not seeing eye to eye in running the family’s fine art and antiques business, but when a huge error had Edie arrested and put on probation for selling stolen goods it was the final straw. She left not only the town but the state.
Now her mother is in prison for art forgery and her uncle has called her home to help him so they don't lose the family business. He sends her to an event appraising items in folk art, her specialty. She meets a woman there with an interesting duck decoy and says she has access to a whole collection. An appraisal this big could be just what Edie needs to get the business back on firm footing.
Edie, her uncle, and Kala work hard to document each piece but when Edie returns to present the appraisal her world turns upside down. The collection has been stolen and the woman accuses her of the theft. Fearing she could end up sharing a cell with her mom she sets off on a quest to find the missing decoys. What she learns is that this robbery may be linked to another in Canada and that she may not be able to trust a man from her past who seems to want to get back together.
Edie has no choice. She teams up with her Uncle Tuck and their tech-savvy employee Kala to catch a thief before things run more "afowl" and her goose gets cooked by the FBI Art Crimes Division for stealing the duck decoys.
_____
First, I have to say the cover of this book is amazing. It draws the reader in and then we read about the beautiful home/grounds where we find Scandal Mountain Fine Arts and Antiques. "Nestled in the foothills of Mount Mansfield . . . just south of the Canadian border", Scandal Mountain is now enjoying a resurgence with new families moving in and new businesses opening and the author brings the town and area to life with her wonderful descriptions. She also made it so easy to visualize the decoys.
Ms. Esden also introduces us to some wonderful characters in Edie, Tuck, and Kala. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses and all developed nicely throughout the story while leaving plenty of room for growth in future books. I really enjoyed Kala and all her knowledge. All three are realistic and relatable.
There were also very interesting characters specific to this story, suspects and victims, and victims that may be suspects. They are mixed up in a complex mystery that grabbed me right away. I have always been interested in collecting antiques and this plot played right into that interest. It was so entertaining to follow along with Edie, Tuck, and Kala and the different ways they dug in and followed each clue. Their instincts were strong throughout the book. I was definitely made smarter by what I was reading. And the final page made me smile.
The Art of the Decoy is an intriguing and entertaining mystery. A sensational debut for this series. I am really looking forward to reading A Wealth of Deception when it comes out next month.
March 26, 2022
The Art of the Decoy by Trish Esden is the first book in A Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries. This is one busy cozy mystery with an attempted murder, a robbery, a museum heist, a murder, and more. We travel to Scandal Mountain, Vermont where Edie Brown is returning after being gone for many years. Her mother has just been sentenced to nine months in prison for art forgery and someone is needed to run the family antique store, Scandal Mountain Fine Arts & Antiques. At an antique appraisal fair, Edie meets Nina with an antique duck decoy. Edie secures the job of appraising the Bouchard family collection which could be quite lucrative for the store and the Bouchard family. When the decoys go missing, Nina cries fowl accusing Edie of the theft. This would forever destroy the business and land her in prison (she could be roommates with her mother). She gets Nina to agree to give her a chance to recover the lost decoys. Edie is given a tight timeline. Edie works with her Uncle Tuck and new employee, Kala Acosta to uncover who stole the antique waterfowl collection and recover them. The author provided beautiful descriptions of Vermont. I also enjoyed the details on the various antiques especially the duck decoys. It sounded like an amazing collection. There are a variety of characters in the story with my favorites being Edie’s Uncle Tuck and Kala (a clever girl with lots of energy). The mystery was multifaceted. There are some unlikeable characters (our villains) who may or may not be guilty. Many of them appear guilty, but you never know. The reveal will have you holding on as Edie speeds toward the conclusion to wrap up the case. We get some answers along the way with the complete details at the end. There is a romantic interest for Edie in the form of her old probation officer and lover. I could have done with less of this element. I felt it was a little heavy handed in the beginning. There are some areas that dragged for me (and I ended up skimming through them) and I felt the story was a little long. The story does contain foul language, mention of intimate situations, and references to wacky tobacky. There are some wonderful antiques mentioned in this book (I grew up surrounded by them with two aunts in the business). There are duplicitous people out there who will be happy to take advantage of people to make a buck. The Art of the Decoy has a crafty whodunit with prized duck decoys, an antique appraisal, an enthusiastic employee, a grumpy Gerard, a former lover, filched fowl, a curious connection, and a rough wrap-up.
October 12, 2022
A new cozy series centered around antiques where you enjoy a taut twisty tale and learn about art and antiques...in this book about folk art and specifically wood carvings for decoys. I enjoyed the information almost as much as the mystery, and the story is a good one too. Edie Brown returns to help out at her family business while her mother has been convicted of art forgery. Already tainted by scandal when an appraisal done by the business goes wrong, Edie jumps in feet first to protect her name and the firm's reputation. Her African Violet loving uncle and their internet savvy intern make an interesting and formidable force. Already looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2021
I found myself immediately intrigued by the cover and description of this book.
Edie is a good character, who has returned to her home to help her uncle with the family business.
Edie loves antiques and is excited to find what could be a rare hand carved decoy.
When hired to do the appraisal, Edie is horrified to find the collection missing and that she is considered a top suspect, especially with her family's name in the mud.
Will Edie be able to find the truth or will she, like her mother, have a tarnished reputation.
Join Edie, Uncle Tuck, and Kala on this roller coaster ride to truth.
#TheArtoftheDecoy #NetGalley
Edie is a good character, who has returned to her home to help her uncle with the family business.
Edie loves antiques and is excited to find what could be a rare hand carved decoy.
When hired to do the appraisal, Edie is horrified to find the collection missing and that she is considered a top suspect, especially with her family's name in the mud.
Will Edie be able to find the truth or will she, like her mother, have a tarnished reputation.
Join Edie, Uncle Tuck, and Kala on this roller coaster ride to truth.
#TheArtoftheDecoy #NetGalley
November 5, 2021
The fascinating world of antiques, an invaluable missing Quebecois collection, and the plucky folk art expert who's determined to find it combine to make THE ART OF THE DECOY an immensely enjoyable read. Esden has a flair for storytelling and characterization; you won't soon forget Edie Brown, Claude, Mudder, and the gang. Fans of Louise Penny, take note! A winning start to an exciting new series.
October 7, 2021
Edie returns home to operate her family’s antique business after her mother goes to prison for art forgery. When a huge score involving duck decoys comes her way and then goes missing, she is accused of stealing the decoys herself. This is The Art of the Decoy (Scandal Mountain Antiques #1) by Trish Esden.
I liked the protagonist, Edie, and her gang, Tuck and Kala. The rest of the characters were interesting and easy to like or dislike depending on who it was. The plot was very interesting. I enjoyed learning about antiques and how that type of business is ran. The author kept the reader guessing as to who the guilty party was until the very ending. There were plenty to choose from, and just when you thought you had it figured out, another piece of the puzzle fell into place. The ending exploded and the last couple of pages of the book was quite satisfying, not only for Edie, but for the readers too. I would definitely read more of the series.
I liked the protagonist, Edie, and her gang, Tuck and Kala. The rest of the characters were interesting and easy to like or dislike depending on who it was. The plot was very interesting. I enjoyed learning about antiques and how that type of business is ran. The author kept the reader guessing as to who the guilty party was until the very ending. There were plenty to choose from, and just when you thought you had it figured out, another piece of the puzzle fell into place. The ending exploded and the last couple of pages of the book was quite satisfying, not only for Edie, but for the readers too. I would definitely read more of the series.
October 1, 2021
I read this in e-galley. I may have started reading because the author is a personal friend, but once I started, I couldn't put it down. For real. Almost immediately, Edie Brown won me over, and so did the antiques and folk-art mystery. I meant to go to bed early last night, but stayed up to finish the last fifty pages, because I had to know how everything worked out. In addition to the characters and a nicely tangled plot, this book did something I always enjoy--it revealed little tidbits about some aspect of the real world. In this case, there's at least one bit of art trivia I will long remember.
Plus, can I just say what a pleasure it is to see Vermont's landscape and culture rendered by someone who knows it inside and out? Five stars and five hearts to this. I look forward to seeing what Edie Brown takes on next.
Plus, can I just say what a pleasure it is to see Vermont's landscape and culture rendered by someone who knows it inside and out? Five stars and five hearts to this. I look forward to seeing what Edie Brown takes on next.
October 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the main character Edie and loved her sidekicks Tuck and Kayla. The story had enough red herrings to keep me guessing till the end.
The only thing I did not like was the bad relationship Edie has with her mother but hopefully that will be explored and resolved in a sequel.
Great start to new series.
This is an honest review of ARC I received from NetGalley.
The only thing I did not like was the bad relationship Edie has with her mother but hopefully that will be explored and resolved in a sequel.
Great start to new series.
This is an honest review of ARC I received from NetGalley.
October 15, 2022
The Art of the Decoy is the first in a series of mysteries dealing with the sometimes dangerous world of Art and antiquities. It is not a murder mystery but an intrigue dealing with the competitive world of art, art fraud, and the greed that can outweigh the aesthetics of appreciation and beauty.
Edie Brown is a specialist in folk art whose grandparents’ business, Scandal Mountain Art and Antiques, influenced her love of folk art. After their deaths in a plane crash, her mother and uncle continued the business while Edie completed her degree and did internships in major New York auction houses.
The book begins with the news that her mother, whose business sense is as flawed as her judgement if antiques, has been sentenced to prison for art forgery. Her uncle needs Edie to represent Scandal Mountain Art and Antiques at a local art evaluation event.
Edie deals with her own tarnished reputation among the local art dealers since she was arrested for accidentally selling stolen goods when she was a teen. The arrest lead to probation, and was expunged from her record as an adult, but local competitors still remember that fact and are quick to remind her that they do.
When she is asked to evaluate a hand-carved and painted duck decoy she recognizes the work as a valuable piece though she is concerned when the woman who brought it seems evasive. Edie is wary of taking the woman’s word for its provenance, but she also wants a chance to see the rest of the collection the woman claims to have. The commission from just the one decoy would give the business an influx of cash it desperately needs.
Written in the first person, Edie’s experiences, doubts, and determination are clear. She is believable and relatable as are the individual personalities of the other characters. The scene descriptions are rich with detail without interfering with the flow of the story. While this is not a romance in the classical sense, the relationship she has with her former probation officer develops in the background in a way that is still in friends with benefits territory at the end, but as the book is the first of a series it will be interesting to see how it develops over time.
All in all I really enjoyed the page turning hooks that made me read until my eyes burned and I had to go to bed even though I wanted to continue reading. I look forward to the rest of the series. Five stars.
Edie Brown is a specialist in folk art whose grandparents’ business, Scandal Mountain Art and Antiques, influenced her love of folk art. After their deaths in a plane crash, her mother and uncle continued the business while Edie completed her degree and did internships in major New York auction houses.
The book begins with the news that her mother, whose business sense is as flawed as her judgement if antiques, has been sentenced to prison for art forgery. Her uncle needs Edie to represent Scandal Mountain Art and Antiques at a local art evaluation event.
Edie deals with her own tarnished reputation among the local art dealers since she was arrested for accidentally selling stolen goods when she was a teen. The arrest lead to probation, and was expunged from her record as an adult, but local competitors still remember that fact and are quick to remind her that they do.
When she is asked to evaluate a hand-carved and painted duck decoy she recognizes the work as a valuable piece though she is concerned when the woman who brought it seems evasive. Edie is wary of taking the woman’s word for its provenance, but she also wants a chance to see the rest of the collection the woman claims to have. The commission from just the one decoy would give the business an influx of cash it desperately needs.
Written in the first person, Edie’s experiences, doubts, and determination are clear. She is believable and relatable as are the individual personalities of the other characters. The scene descriptions are rich with detail without interfering with the flow of the story. While this is not a romance in the classical sense, the relationship she has with her former probation officer develops in the background in a way that is still in friends with benefits territory at the end, but as the book is the first of a series it will be interesting to see how it develops over time.
All in all I really enjoyed the page turning hooks that made me read until my eyes burned and I had to go to bed even though I wanted to continue reading. I look forward to the rest of the series. Five stars.
January 8, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy of The Art of the Decoy by Trish Esden in exchange for an honest review.
The Art of the Decoy is the first release in Trish Esden’s Scandal Mountain Antiques cozy mystery series. It’s about a woman named Edie from Vermont returning home after her mom is sent to prison, and taking over the family antiques business. While doing an appraisal job on a set of valuable decoys, the entire collection vanishes. Edie must find the thief and save the collection or she will be blamed for the robbery, further tarnishing her family’s reputation and ruining their business.
When I first requested the book I didn’t realize decoy was the proper name for those painted wooden ducks. I thought the decoy the title was referring to was the mother’s forgeries, which got her arrested. It’s cool how the title has a double meaning in that sense.
The mystery of the novel was pretty good, with high stakes. I became really invested in the primary trio: the protagonist Edie, her uncle Tuck, and their employee Kala. Each of them has unique skills that help them unravel the mystery. My favorite is Kala, who is adept at using shady parts of the internet to uncover important secrets. Don’t expect a big surprise twist at the end. While the biggest, most shocking twist could have been to have one of Edie’s allies in on the theft, but since this is meant to be the beginning of a series it wouldn’t make sense in the long run to do such a thing.
Art of the Decoy does an excellent job at setting up the series. It introduces our cast of recurring characters: Edie, Tuck, Kala, and Edie’s love interest Shane. There’s also Graham, who seems like he will be a recurring villain. We are briefly introduced to Edie’s mother, who makes a couple phone calls from prison. I could totally see the series giving her a larger role in the future, especially if she ever gets released. The romantic subplot is present but not excessive. Since this is going to be an ongoing series, it seems like their relationship is going to develop slowly. As someone who doesn’t care for unnecessary romantic subplots, I appreciate that this one wasn’t too heavy-handed.
Overall, I felt this was an entertaining cozy mystery and a great introduction to a new series. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance reader copy.
The Art of the Decoy is the first release in Trish Esden’s Scandal Mountain Antiques cozy mystery series. It’s about a woman named Edie from Vermont returning home after her mom is sent to prison, and taking over the family antiques business. While doing an appraisal job on a set of valuable decoys, the entire collection vanishes. Edie must find the thief and save the collection or she will be blamed for the robbery, further tarnishing her family’s reputation and ruining their business.
When I first requested the book I didn’t realize decoy was the proper name for those painted wooden ducks. I thought the decoy the title was referring to was the mother’s forgeries, which got her arrested. It’s cool how the title has a double meaning in that sense.
The mystery of the novel was pretty good, with high stakes. I became really invested in the primary trio: the protagonist Edie, her uncle Tuck, and their employee Kala. Each of them has unique skills that help them unravel the mystery. My favorite is Kala, who is adept at using shady parts of the internet to uncover important secrets. Don’t expect a big surprise twist at the end. While the biggest, most shocking twist could have been to have one of Edie’s allies in on the theft, but since this is meant to be the beginning of a series it wouldn’t make sense in the long run to do such a thing.
Art of the Decoy does an excellent job at setting up the series. It introduces our cast of recurring characters: Edie, Tuck, Kala, and Edie’s love interest Shane. There’s also Graham, who seems like he will be a recurring villain. We are briefly introduced to Edie’s mother, who makes a couple phone calls from prison. I could totally see the series giving her a larger role in the future, especially if she ever gets released. The romantic subplot is present but not excessive. Since this is going to be an ongoing series, it seems like their relationship is going to develop slowly. As someone who doesn’t care for unnecessary romantic subplots, I appreciate that this one wasn’t too heavy-handed.
Overall, I felt this was an entertaining cozy mystery and a great introduction to a new series. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance reader copy.
Read
April 19, 2022Edie Brown returns to the small town in Vermont to help out her uncle at his request. Her mother has been sent to
prison for art forgery and Edie knows that though her mother was set up, she willingly did the deed. Their reputation
of the business is on the edge and business is bad. A business that had been flourishing and with an excellent reputation. Edie seeks to find a way to set the business back on its feet and return to her own life in the city.
It was not to be. Immediatly drawn into a massive find which could make both Edie and the shop's reputation for ever, she is again like her mother drawn into a well thought of web of intrigue, fraud and finally murder till she, her uncle Tuck and Kala who is an assistant try to make sense of the whys and hows of the fraud.
Dealing with plover decoys (totally unknown to me) made for interesting reading and the business of this was an education in itself. Well spun and well told this was a good one.
prison for art forgery and Edie knows that though her mother was set up, she willingly did the deed. Their reputation
of the business is on the edge and business is bad. A business that had been flourishing and with an excellent reputation. Edie seeks to find a way to set the business back on its feet and return to her own life in the city.
It was not to be. Immediatly drawn into a massive find which could make both Edie and the shop's reputation for ever, she is again like her mother drawn into a well thought of web of intrigue, fraud and finally murder till she, her uncle Tuck and Kala who is an assistant try to make sense of the whys and hows of the fraud.
Dealing with plover decoys (totally unknown to me) made for interesting reading and the business of this was an education in itself. Well spun and well told this was a good one.
March 27, 2022
Edie Brown returns to her family’s business after her mother is convicted of art forgery. Her first task is appraising a decoy collection at a farmhouse. But when the decoys go missing and Edie is accused, she’ll have to work to solve the mystery before she’s the next Brown heading to prison.
This was an interesting and unique mystery. It held my attention with the details about antiques business and provided a unique backdrop that makes it stand out from the crowded mystery market.
What stopped me from thoroughly enjoying the book was the main character. The other characters weren’t completely fleshed out and the main focus was on Edie, so there wasn’t anyone else to latch on to, either. I found Edie to be a bit too opportunistic.
The story itself was good and the writing held my interest, but Edie’s affinity for bending the law was a bit of an issue for me.
I would recommend the book for anyone who enjoys antiques or is looking for a unique mystery.
This was an interesting and unique mystery. It held my attention with the details about antiques business and provided a unique backdrop that makes it stand out from the crowded mystery market.
What stopped me from thoroughly enjoying the book was the main character. The other characters weren’t completely fleshed out and the main focus was on Edie, so there wasn’t anyone else to latch on to, either. I found Edie to be a bit too opportunistic.
The story itself was good and the writing held my interest, but Edie’s affinity for bending the law was a bit of an issue for me.
I would recommend the book for anyone who enjoys antiques or is looking for a unique mystery.
December 17, 2022
Welcome to the mysterious and scandal-ridden world of New England antiques. Edie Brown's grandparents were respected and successful antique dealers in their small Vermont town-- but her mother messed it all up.
Bad decisions in love and business mean mom is in jail (and Edie also with an arrest history) over some forged paintings. Her beloved uncle Tuck calls her to help him with the family business (Scandal Mountain Antiques) while her mom is in jail. Reluctantly, Edie goes home.
Right away, she gets mixed up in some mysterious very valuable antique duck decoy appraisal. Things snowball, including murders, encounters with a former lover/bail bond officer, revelations about her mother and the business that put her in jail, etc. etc.
At times Edie is unbelievably brazen, breaking into rival dealer's houses, for example, and she and her ex are positioned into insta-attraction when I would have appreciated a more gradual, gingerly approach to their rekindling relationship, but what sets apart this series from other mysteries and makes it worth your while, is Evie's utter passion and knowledge for antiques dealing.
Don't let "antiques" make this mystery seem fusty. It's anything but. Antique dealers operate on the edge of respectability, so many temptations for illegal/unethical practices, and beyond the interesting glimpse Edie provides us into that world is how much she is in love with her antiques. She puts herself in danger for the love of those decoys, as art, as expressions of beauty in the world, and she takes the reader along for the ride.
Esden also firmly places this mystery in the milieu of the Vermont/Quebec border, which is also fun to read.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next in the series.
Bad decisions in love and business mean mom is in jail (and Edie also with an arrest history) over some forged paintings. Her beloved uncle Tuck calls her to help him with the family business (Scandal Mountain Antiques) while her mom is in jail. Reluctantly, Edie goes home.
Right away, she gets mixed up in some mysterious very valuable antique duck decoy appraisal. Things snowball, including murders, encounters with a former lover/bail bond officer, revelations about her mother and the business that put her in jail, etc. etc.
At times Edie is unbelievably brazen, breaking into rival dealer's houses, for example, and she and her ex are positioned into insta-attraction when I would have appreciated a more gradual, gingerly approach to their rekindling relationship, but what sets apart this series from other mysteries and makes it worth your while, is Evie's utter passion and knowledge for antiques dealing.
Don't let "antiques" make this mystery seem fusty. It's anything but. Antique dealers operate on the edge of respectability, so many temptations for illegal/unethical practices, and beyond the interesting glimpse Edie provides us into that world is how much she is in love with her antiques. She puts herself in danger for the love of those decoys, as art, as expressions of beauty in the world, and she takes the reader along for the ride.
Esden also firmly places this mystery in the milieu of the Vermont/Quebec border, which is also fun to read.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next in the series.
July 19, 2022
Trish Esden has penned a very enjoyable first installment of her new Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery Series. Eddie Brown and her tainted family become embroiled in a complex mystery that takes you all over beautiful northwest Vermont. We meet a whole host of interesting characters as Eddie sleuths around, trying to discover who has stolen a priceless wooden decoy collection. Written with rich details about an intriguing part of New England that Esden knows well, this novel is sure to please. Cozy up and enjoy!
April 19, 2022
I was hooked from page one with main character Edie Brown's preface about true crime in the art world. Edie finds a treasure in American folk art, only to lose it and find herself a suspect in its disappearance. Enemies, friends, family, and one former love interest could all be on either side of the law.
June 28, 2022
Like a book that you can't put down? Then The Art of the Decoy is definitely for you. Great characters come together to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of an antique collection and the reader comes along for the ride. Trish Esden is a talented storyteller. I can't wait for the sequel to this great book.
January 9, 2023
I know nothing about art or antiques, so it was fun to learn a little bit about that world from THE ART OF THE DECOY. It made for a unique cozy mystery setting (at least for me). Edie, Tuck, and Kala are likable characters, although none of them is very fresh or memorable. I would have liked more development and personality from all of them. The mystery they are attempting to solve is interesting enough. It's fairly obvious who the thieves are, but it was still entertaining to follow along with Edie & Co. as they sorted it all out. Esden's writing is skilled. The books' plot seemed more focused and better crafted than most cozies. Although Edie does get herself into some tight situations, the book also felt more realistic than a typical novel in this genre. All of which is to say that I really enjoyed THE ART OF THE DECOY. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
April 13, 2022
A fun, fast-paced cozy mystery, well-researched & well-written! Sympathetic main character with an inner voice that drew me in, secondary characters that add depth & humor, interesting details of the art world, solid mystery, charming setting.
January 21, 2023
A good cozy with a lot of twists and turns. I didn’t love this one but it was interesting. Will give book two a try and see if it clicks a little better with me.
May 15, 2022
I loved this book. I hope it's the start of a long running series.
May 20, 2022
Page turning fun!
This mystery was a pleasure to read from start to finish. If you live in Vermont you will appreciate the setting. I loved the spunky, sly protagonist who does not ‘suffer fools gladly.’ The mystery closes in nicely but there is some wiggle room for the next in the series to appear.
This mystery was a pleasure to read from start to finish. If you live in Vermont you will appreciate the setting. I loved the spunky, sly protagonist who does not ‘suffer fools gladly.’ The mystery closes in nicely but there is some wiggle room for the next in the series to appear.
November 11, 2023
It was an entertaining story, interesting characters and a lovely setting. Nothing remarkable or shocking, just an entertaining, nice story. I think this is one of those books to read when you just need a calm diversion from the stresses of your everyday.
April 6, 2024
It was really nice to read a mystery that was not a murder.
March 11, 2022
Review to follow.
April 22, 2022
It's always fun to find a series that works in information about something new to me. I know diddly squat about the collecting of folk art, so I got a kick out of the background in this story. I enjoyed all of the main characters, even if their abilities and the storyline are both too slick in their development. It made good lunch time and before bedtime reading, and I will continue with the series.
August 5, 2022
SPOILER ALERT
While the plot of this first installment of the Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries is fascinating, there are other issues with the story that have it falling short of the Cleeland series. Where Josie is a sophisticated, mature and professional businesswoman (acknowledging the age differences), Edie is an impulsive, immature, greedy and edging toward illegal at times. She proves her willingness to move to the unethical, after talking to herself about not doing that very thing, AND judging other rival vendors of that very behavior, then she and Kala pick the lock of the armoire at the Bouchard's and later enter property without permission. This is due to her inability to curb her itch for the antiques and her need to rush. She certainly seems an example of who to be wary of in the trade. She and Tuck, her uncle, are constantly discussing how they are going to make money on the deal, while determining how they will present the idea to the client, Nina and Claude Bouchard. One of the prominent flaws in Edie's character is her willingness to ignore her intuition. She is going to be cautious, and then she isn't. It landed her in jail and on probation (her record finally expunged) when she ignored her feelings that some merchandize being offered was wonky. She was egged on by her less than honest mother, who with a talent for copying art, specifically Maxfield Parrish, decided to sign the piece and sell it as authentic. She is now serving nine months in a federal prison for art forgery. Edie believes Felix Graham, another dealer, told her to do it but cannot prove anything. He has escaped any taint in the past and will again escape in this case. Another annoying element of her character is her obsession with her former lover Shane Payton, also her former probation officer with whom she had a fling. In the past, she leaves the town to finish her Masters. He stayed, and she sees him at the public appraisal where she meets Nina (who she finds out was sent to her by Graham). She losses focus on her tasks several times as her hormones kick in, drooling over and thinking of Shane further establishing her immaturity. She is unaware until well into the story, when she discovers him following her in a suspicious vehicle, that he is now a detective with the State Police, and working with the FBI, who are present in the community looking for the Canadian art.
In the background of the story is the recent theft of $5 million in folk art stolen from the Canadian Museum of History, including several of the Bouchard paintings. As the story progresses, we learn that one of the thieves has been murdered brutally, proving how dangerous this caper is, and organized crime is probably involved.
As Edie and her business, including new hire Kala Acosta, are hired to do a private appraisal of a gorgeous group of decoys, she realizes it is the famous "lost" collection of Jean-Paul Bouchard and other family members who are renowned Quebecois carvers and painters. When she sees the dozens of decoys she is overcome. There are large and small ones and books about birds and paintings. Another difference in this series lies in the lack of strong background on New England folk art, specifically decoys, as there are in the Cleeland series. There is some and it is fascinating, but it is scant. Edie and her crew deal with the interruptions from Nina and Claude as the proceed with the appraisal, while she constantly reminds the reader that she suspects there will be trouble with it. When the collection of the large decoys ends up stolen, Nina pretends to be outraged and blames Edie. Edie is unaware at the time that her mother had an affair with Frank Bouchard, Nina's husband, and that Nina has set this whole thing up to get revenge. It was originally intended for her mother, but she went into prison earlier than planned.
Now Edie begs Nina for five days to find the decoys, before going to the police, arguing that once the police know about it, so will the public and it puts the collection at risk of being destroyed if the thieves believe they are close to being caught. As Edie seeks the help of a friend, Pinkie, she gathers information that Frank and Nina are still seeing one another, and that Nina is sleeping with Felix Graham. There is also a couple from Boston involved, that Edie believes are the leaders, and are probably tied to organized crime. They appear from time to time, and in the end are caught by Edie who chases them in the van, and crashes as the couple come at her head on. They are unaware at the time the decoys have been found. The red Corvette had been found abandoned near the Canadian border and is now in the impound of the police. She sees the car and talks Shane into looking at the car more closely. She is convinced the decoys are in the car, and another search reveals false panels that hide most the art.
In the end, Claude dissolves the trust, for which Nina and Frank were trustees, and agrees to partner with Edie to auction the collection. It will give Nina money to redo the house and will provide for his granddaughter, Gracie, whom he loves deeply. He wants to keep her around. He also reveals to Edie the large heron decoy hidden in the freezer for Gracie in the future. He tells her that Frank will not be a problem in the future. While the police believe he has fled, having bled Nina's money from her accounts to one in the Bahamas, the evidence of which was also in the corvette, Claude hints otherwise. Edie is not sure of his tale about the feral razorback that lives around the house and in the woods, but he also called Frank a swine. Claude tells her that he has killed the pig and disposed of the body. Who? and who knows. It is just one of the loose threads of the story. Mudder, Claude's great nephew, a not too sharp family member who resented that Claude had gotten the geese decoys that he believed belonged to his grandmother, and Frank had stolen the decoys. He takes them back and to his grandmother. Nina and Graham had been seen naked in his hot tub as witnessed by one of his employees. Nina had not been at the hospital with Claude (who had been poisoned) when the theft occurred. They had been fighting about Graham's involvement with Frank. But there is not enough evidence to accuse Graham of anything related to the theft. We do not know what happened to the Canadian art. Edie has decided to stay and help Tuck with the business until her mother is released. Who knows what will happen then, as her mother's business incompetence once again comes into play. Edie has been portrayed as a sort of hippy, traveling around in her van, buying and selling antiques, intending to make her expertise in New England fold art and furnishings. She reluctantly comes to help Tuck with the appraisal event. Edie is also shown as intuitive about elements of the case. However, where the Cleeland business is an honest, highly regarded and successful one, all of the individual characters involved in the business in this story are described as slippery and corrupt, willing to do anything for a sale: Felix Graham, Marthina Fortuni, Rene St Marie and others. Seems Edie is the same, willing to stretch legal boundaries. Not an attractive character. However, I am hooked to a degree and will look for the next installment. It will be interesting to see what happens with Shane as a law enforcement officer, fully honest, attracted to a character who is not.
While the plot of this first installment of the Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries is fascinating, there are other issues with the story that have it falling short of the Cleeland series. Where Josie is a sophisticated, mature and professional businesswoman (acknowledging the age differences), Edie is an impulsive, immature, greedy and edging toward illegal at times. She proves her willingness to move to the unethical, after talking to herself about not doing that very thing, AND judging other rival vendors of that very behavior, then she and Kala pick the lock of the armoire at the Bouchard's and later enter property without permission. This is due to her inability to curb her itch for the antiques and her need to rush. She certainly seems an example of who to be wary of in the trade. She and Tuck, her uncle, are constantly discussing how they are going to make money on the deal, while determining how they will present the idea to the client, Nina and Claude Bouchard. One of the prominent flaws in Edie's character is her willingness to ignore her intuition. She is going to be cautious, and then she isn't. It landed her in jail and on probation (her record finally expunged) when she ignored her feelings that some merchandize being offered was wonky. She was egged on by her less than honest mother, who with a talent for copying art, specifically Maxfield Parrish, decided to sign the piece and sell it as authentic. She is now serving nine months in a federal prison for art forgery. Edie believes Felix Graham, another dealer, told her to do it but cannot prove anything. He has escaped any taint in the past and will again escape in this case. Another annoying element of her character is her obsession with her former lover Shane Payton, also her former probation officer with whom she had a fling. In the past, she leaves the town to finish her Masters. He stayed, and she sees him at the public appraisal where she meets Nina (who she finds out was sent to her by Graham). She losses focus on her tasks several times as her hormones kick in, drooling over and thinking of Shane further establishing her immaturity. She is unaware until well into the story, when she discovers him following her in a suspicious vehicle, that he is now a detective with the State Police, and working with the FBI, who are present in the community looking for the Canadian art.
In the background of the story is the recent theft of $5 million in folk art stolen from the Canadian Museum of History, including several of the Bouchard paintings. As the story progresses, we learn that one of the thieves has been murdered brutally, proving how dangerous this caper is, and organized crime is probably involved.
As Edie and her business, including new hire Kala Acosta, are hired to do a private appraisal of a gorgeous group of decoys, she realizes it is the famous "lost" collection of Jean-Paul Bouchard and other family members who are renowned Quebecois carvers and painters. When she sees the dozens of decoys she is overcome. There are large and small ones and books about birds and paintings. Another difference in this series lies in the lack of strong background on New England folk art, specifically decoys, as there are in the Cleeland series. There is some and it is fascinating, but it is scant. Edie and her crew deal with the interruptions from Nina and Claude as the proceed with the appraisal, while she constantly reminds the reader that she suspects there will be trouble with it. When the collection of the large decoys ends up stolen, Nina pretends to be outraged and blames Edie. Edie is unaware at the time that her mother had an affair with Frank Bouchard, Nina's husband, and that Nina has set this whole thing up to get revenge. It was originally intended for her mother, but she went into prison earlier than planned.
Now Edie begs Nina for five days to find the decoys, before going to the police, arguing that once the police know about it, so will the public and it puts the collection at risk of being destroyed if the thieves believe they are close to being caught. As Edie seeks the help of a friend, Pinkie, she gathers information that Frank and Nina are still seeing one another, and that Nina is sleeping with Felix Graham. There is also a couple from Boston involved, that Edie believes are the leaders, and are probably tied to organized crime. They appear from time to time, and in the end are caught by Edie who chases them in the van, and crashes as the couple come at her head on. They are unaware at the time the decoys have been found. The red Corvette had been found abandoned near the Canadian border and is now in the impound of the police. She sees the car and talks Shane into looking at the car more closely. She is convinced the decoys are in the car, and another search reveals false panels that hide most the art.
In the end, Claude dissolves the trust, for which Nina and Frank were trustees, and agrees to partner with Edie to auction the collection. It will give Nina money to redo the house and will provide for his granddaughter, Gracie, whom he loves deeply. He wants to keep her around. He also reveals to Edie the large heron decoy hidden in the freezer for Gracie in the future. He tells her that Frank will not be a problem in the future. While the police believe he has fled, having bled Nina's money from her accounts to one in the Bahamas, the evidence of which was also in the corvette, Claude hints otherwise. Edie is not sure of his tale about the feral razorback that lives around the house and in the woods, but he also called Frank a swine. Claude tells her that he has killed the pig and disposed of the body. Who? and who knows. It is just one of the loose threads of the story. Mudder, Claude's great nephew, a not too sharp family member who resented that Claude had gotten the geese decoys that he believed belonged to his grandmother, and Frank had stolen the decoys. He takes them back and to his grandmother. Nina and Graham had been seen naked in his hot tub as witnessed by one of his employees. Nina had not been at the hospital with Claude (who had been poisoned) when the theft occurred. They had been fighting about Graham's involvement with Frank. But there is not enough evidence to accuse Graham of anything related to the theft. We do not know what happened to the Canadian art. Edie has decided to stay and help Tuck with the business until her mother is released. Who knows what will happen then, as her mother's business incompetence once again comes into play. Edie has been portrayed as a sort of hippy, traveling around in her van, buying and selling antiques, intending to make her expertise in New England fold art and furnishings. She reluctantly comes to help Tuck with the appraisal event. Edie is also shown as intuitive about elements of the case. However, where the Cleeland business is an honest, highly regarded and successful one, all of the individual characters involved in the business in this story are described as slippery and corrupt, willing to do anything for a sale: Felix Graham, Marthina Fortuni, Rene St Marie and others. Seems Edie is the same, willing to stretch legal boundaries. Not an attractive character. However, I am hooked to a degree and will look for the next installment. It will be interesting to see what happens with Shane as a law enforcement officer, fully honest, attracted to a character who is not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2021
Edie Brown just completed an internship at Christie’s after completing her Masters. She’s left the Big Apple and is off to find some treasures she can turn into cash and get started on her own career. Awakened by a call from her uncle asking her to come home and help the family business while her Mother is in prison for fraud, Edie changes course and heads home to Vermont.
When a woman engages Edie to look at a hand carved decoy, Edie begins to think this might just be what the business needs to recover and move forward. Then when the decoy collection disappears, it appears someone has set Edie and the family up as scapegoats for the heist. With the business and her life at stake, Edie vows to find the collection and clear her name. Now she just has to do it before the mastermind decides to kill her and get away with the goods.
This is the first book in a new cozy series and I am already hooked! The New England setting is perfect when it comes to antiques and mystery. It’s one of my favorite settings for cozies. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future has in tore for Edie and the gang in future entries.
When a woman engages Edie to look at a hand carved decoy, Edie begins to think this might just be what the business needs to recover and move forward. Then when the decoy collection disappears, it appears someone has set Edie and the family up as scapegoats for the heist. With the business and her life at stake, Edie vows to find the collection and clear her name. Now she just has to do it before the mastermind decides to kill her and get away with the goods.
This is the first book in a new cozy series and I am already hooked! The New England setting is perfect when it comes to antiques and mystery. It’s one of my favorite settings for cozies. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future has in tore for Edie and the gang in future entries.
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