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A Poppy McAllister Mystery #7
Antique Auctions Are Murder
When vintage items go up for auction, gluten-free baker and B&B owner Poppy McAllister discovers some people will pay the ultimate price . . . It's peak summer season at the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, with tourists fluttering in and out and wreaking enough havoc to rival a Jersey Shore hurricane. Also back in town is Courtney Whipple and his family of antique dealers for the annual Cold Spring Village antique show. Courtney's son Auggie has a unique piece he believes will fetch them a fortune if he can get it authenticated in time--a piece rival dealer Grover Prickle insists was stolen from his store. Poppy and her Aunt Ginny attend the auction, hoping to bid on an armoire for the B&B, and discover a veritable armory for sale--everything from ancient blades and nineteenth century guns to such potential killing devices as knitting needles and a blacksmith hammer. Strangely, they don't see either Auggie or Grover--or the mysterious item they both claim to own. Then during the auction, a body falls out of the very armoire Poppy was hoping to acquire, stabbed through the heart. Now, surrounded by competitive dealers and makeshift weapons, she must find out who turned the auction house into a slaughterhouse.
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 20, 2022
177 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Libby Klein
11 books639 followersLibby Klein graduated Lower Cape May Regional High School sometime in the '80s. Her classes revolved mostly around the culinary sciences and theater, with the occasional nap in Chemistry. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that forced her to remove gluten from her kitchen and adopt a Paleo Diet. Now her life revolves around coffee and bacon. When she’s not feeling sorry for herself that she can’t eat bread, she writes from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard. Most of her hobbies revolve around eating, and travel, and eating while travelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
February 15, 2022
Coming in to a series at book seven may not be the best thing to do but I was able to quickly find out who was who and what was going on.
Poppy McCallister runs a B&B on the Jersey Shore and it is not doing too well at the moment. Some of the guests she has to cope with are definitely not the best. In fact her staff are less than successful too. However she does have an excellent boyfriend - when she can manage to separate him from his overbearing family. Apparently murders occur around Poppy to an unusual degree and even the police notice this.
The story was good and there was a lot of humour in events and dialogue. There were plenty of red herrings and I never had a hope of guessing the murderer. All good. On the other hand I despaired of Poppy who needed to get a backbone. She let herself be badly treated over and over again. On the odd occasion when she stood up for herself I cheered!
A good story with some good characters and a lot of humour. Occasionally it over did the quirkiness but I enjoyed the read. Four stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Poppy McCallister runs a B&B on the Jersey Shore and it is not doing too well at the moment. Some of the guests she has to cope with are definitely not the best. In fact her staff are less than successful too. However she does have an excellent boyfriend - when she can manage to separate him from his overbearing family. Apparently murders occur around Poppy to an unusual degree and even the police notice this.
The story was good and there was a lot of humour in events and dialogue. There were plenty of red herrings and I never had a hope of guessing the murderer. All good. On the other hand I despaired of Poppy who needed to get a backbone. She let herself be badly treated over and over again. On the odd occasion when she stood up for herself I cheered!
A good story with some good characters and a lot of humour. Occasionally it over did the quirkiness but I enjoyed the read. Four stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 23, 2022
Antique Auctions Are Murder by Libby Klein is the seventh installment in the cozy A Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Each book of this series has a new mystery to be solved by the main character so they can be read and understood as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course as with any continuing series there is some character development that would be missed if not reading from the beginning.
In this series readers were introduced to Poppy McAllister who is a forty something widow who moved back to her hometown of Cape May, New Jersey after the death of her husband. Poppy returned to be near her elderly Aunt Ginny and has made a living for herself baking gluten-free goodies to sell and running the bed and breakfast they opened after converting Aunt Ginny’s home.
Now Poppy and Aunt Ginny are attending the annual Cold Spring Village antique show where one seller has a item another is claiming was stolen from his shop. Poppy and Aunt Ginny find the feud a little strange and try to stay out of it of the feud. Of course just as the armoire Poppy has her eye on goes up for auction the body of one of the sellers falls out of the armoire having been stabbed with the same item the sellers were arguing over so of course Poppy has to be on the lookout for yet another murderer on the loose.
The A Poppy McAllister Mystery series is another cozy series that I have followed from the beginning and this one is one of the most hilarious I’ve read. Even now at seven books into the series the adventures of the characters have me laughing all through reading. I did notice one of the ongoing jokes in this installment to be recycled from earlier but it still was just as fun this time around leaving this seventh in the series at four and a half stars for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In this series readers were introduced to Poppy McAllister who is a forty something widow who moved back to her hometown of Cape May, New Jersey after the death of her husband. Poppy returned to be near her elderly Aunt Ginny and has made a living for herself baking gluten-free goodies to sell and running the bed and breakfast they opened after converting Aunt Ginny’s home.
Now Poppy and Aunt Ginny are attending the annual Cold Spring Village antique show where one seller has a item another is claiming was stolen from his shop. Poppy and Aunt Ginny find the feud a little strange and try to stay out of it of the feud. Of course just as the armoire Poppy has her eye on goes up for auction the body of one of the sellers falls out of the armoire having been stabbed with the same item the sellers were arguing over so of course Poppy has to be on the lookout for yet another murderer on the loose.
The A Poppy McAllister Mystery series is another cozy series that I have followed from the beginning and this one is one of the most hilarious I’ve read. Even now at seven books into the series the adventures of the characters have me laughing all through reading. I did notice one of the ongoing jokes in this installment to be recycled from earlier but it still was just as fun this time around leaving this seventh in the series at four and a half stars for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
January 13, 2022
I love the Poppy McAllister stories for many reasons. Author Klein’s comedic ability in describing scenes and tossing out one-liner’s with perfect timing is awesome! Laughing-out-loud relaxes me even more as I’m reading. I love Poppy and Gia. She finally got her man, and he’s a great guy. The colorful cast of supporting main characters—Aunt Ginny and the old biddies—are like a Golden Girls reunion! A lot of fun and mischief! The murder mystery plot is compelling and really had me going as to who the real killer would be. Every time I’d guess, I’d be wrong. The suspects were a myriad of dysfunctional characters and as their flaws and misdeeds were slowly revealed it became clearer as to who had sold out whom. I highly recommend this cozy mystery for it’s clever plot, fantastic cast, great bed and breakfast setting, and lots of humor!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
March 17, 2022
Another fabulous poppy McAllister mystery
Libby Klein does it again. Smart, funny surprising. She's one of the best out there. She's a mystery and humor master.
Libby Klein does it again. Smart, funny surprising. She's one of the best out there. She's a mystery and humor master.
February 21, 2022
ANTIQUE AUCTION’S ARE MURDER, is the seventh book in the Poppy McAllister Mysteries and once again, Libby Klein proves why this series continues to reign as one of my all-time favorites. With humor galore, thanks to one-liner zingers, comical situations, and screwball characters (both human and feline alike), I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire read. Protagonist, Poppy McAllister, owns the Butterfly House B & B with her Aunt Ginny, a zany senior citizen with a posse of elderly ladies bent on mischief. Resident housecat, Figaro, seems to have his own set of feline groupies fawning over him, and he steals each scene he inhabits. With a clever plot that weaves in boxloads of kohlrabi, a narcoleptic sunburned chambermaid, a vampire hunting kit, a creepy wooden troll talisman, vanishing wine, and a hidden body stuck into the very armoire Poppy wants to purchase, the book kept me turning page after page. Ms. Klein’s descriptive voice—think pun after pun—had me in stitches and had me clearly envisioning each scene.
While there are humorous scenes aplenty, the author doesn’t forget that this is supposed to be a murder mystery. The fast-paced plot of investigating the death of an antique dealer’s son is expertly interwoven into the story with plenty of opportunities for Poppy to suss out clues. Assisting her (or perhaps hindering her) is Aunt Ginny and the gals, along with Poppy’s former high school nemesis turned town cop, Amber. A sharp armchair detective might figure out the culprit but, in all honesty, I just want to sit back and enjoy the entertaining ride without taxing myself. As the reveal came into view, all the clues fell into place with a “of course” moment. As with previous books in this series, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Poppy and the gang next!
Running a B & B and providing her beau with gluten-free goodies for his coffee shop, Poppy has numerous scrumptious-sounding treats mentioned throughout the book. Ms. Klein offers several gluten-free recipes at the back of the book for the reader to try out.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While there are humorous scenes aplenty, the author doesn’t forget that this is supposed to be a murder mystery. The fast-paced plot of investigating the death of an antique dealer’s son is expertly interwoven into the story with plenty of opportunities for Poppy to suss out clues. Assisting her (or perhaps hindering her) is Aunt Ginny and the gals, along with Poppy’s former high school nemesis turned town cop, Amber. A sharp armchair detective might figure out the culprit but, in all honesty, I just want to sit back and enjoy the entertaining ride without taxing myself. As the reveal came into view, all the clues fell into place with a “of course” moment. As with previous books in this series, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Poppy and the gang next!
Running a B & B and providing her beau with gluten-free goodies for his coffee shop, Poppy has numerous scrumptious-sounding treats mentioned throughout the book. Ms. Klein offers several gluten-free recipes at the back of the book for the reader to try out.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 17, 2022
This story is a great blend of mystery, love and daring escapades by a group of senior women who always seem to find trouble. Poppy has her hands full trying to keep the "biddies" out of trouble but somehow, once again, they have gotten her involved in a precarious situation.
This is the seventh book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series and it always provides a compelling mystery and some good laughs. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the seventh book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series and it always provides a compelling mystery and some good laughs. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 23, 2022
Who knew raising a paddle could be so dangerous or so much fun! Summertime at the Jersey Shore brings humidity, tourists, an antique auction and murder to the Butterfly Wings B & B along with: wooden troll talismans, antique boxes, delicious food, vampire and werewolf elimination kits, feline love triangles, prize tomatoes, Santa in a bathing suit, mischievous senior twins, midnight food orders, seances, disappearing wine AND the murder of an antique store owner who wasn't as popular as he thought. All Poppy and Aunt Ginny wanted was an armoire for the B&B!
I was looking for a cozy that had twists and turns along with red herrings that kept you guessing "whodunit"and Libby Klein didn't disappoint! Poppy and Aunt Ginny find themselves with a B&B full of "interesting" guests, Victory with a sunburn, the ever maddening Georgina acting as a maid , Joanne in rare form and Figaro caught in a love triangle he may not survive. The mystery was fast-paced and humorous with an an ending where every piece of the puzzle fell into place - but I still didn't guess "whodunit" and I loved it!!
The author's wonderful ability to mix mystery, humor and romance keeps the reader gasping, chuckling and "awwwing" all through the book. It's one of those books you can't put down and you read it fast until you get to the last few chapters and then you slow down to keep the story going as long as possible. I'm already looking forward to the next visit to the Butterfly Wings B & B!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was looking for a cozy that had twists and turns along with red herrings that kept you guessing "whodunit"and Libby Klein didn't disappoint! Poppy and Aunt Ginny find themselves with a B&B full of "interesting" guests, Victory with a sunburn, the ever maddening Georgina acting as a maid , Joanne in rare form and Figaro caught in a love triangle he may not survive. The mystery was fast-paced and humorous with an an ending where every piece of the puzzle fell into place - but I still didn't guess "whodunit" and I loved it!!
The author's wonderful ability to mix mystery, humor and romance keeps the reader gasping, chuckling and "awwwing" all through the book. It's one of those books you can't put down and you read it fast until you get to the last few chapters and then you slow down to keep the story going as long as possible. I'm already looking forward to the next visit to the Butterfly Wings B & B!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 1, 2022
This is the 7th book in the Poppy McAllister mystery series. I haven’t read the others, but I was able to follow along and enjoy this book’s mystery. I did think this book was a little slow getting going, but once the first third of the book was over and the murder had occurred it moved pretty well. Poppy runs a bed and breakfast on the Jersey shore and I have to say it affirms my decision to have never stayed in a bed and breakfast. H
May 4, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts
The Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast is full of guests and it's time for the annual Cold Spring Village antique show. A unique piece has drawn a lot of interest pitting two dealers against each other. Poppy is on the lookout for some special things to add to the rooms at her B&B but she never thought the armoire she had her eye on would be the hiding place for a dead body.
______
I was thrilled to get back to the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast to catch up with Poppy McAllister, Aunt Ginny, Victory, Joanne, Gia, Amber, the Biddies and Figaro. I love that Poppy and Gia's relationship is getting stronger and all the time they spend together with his son Henry. Aunt Ginny and her friends are in rare form and Figaro has a small black kitty, Cleo, and a huge Maine Coon, Svetlana, hoping to steal his heart. These are some of my favorite fictional characters for good reason. All these characters including the felines are so realistic that they jump off the pages and invite us in to enjoy all the shenanigans within the story.
Libby Klein has stellar comedic timing. Her characters deliver zingers and get themselves into the craziest situations all while moving the mystery forward. I found myself laughing out loud and shaking my head often. The guests at the B&B are a quirky bunch who test Poppy in a variety of ways, along with Courtney Whipple's daily deliveries of unwanted kohlrabi, and guests finding narcoleptic sunburned Victory in a variety of strange places, it is a wonder Poppy has time for anything else let alone a murder. As if she needs any more drama in her life, Georgina pops in for a visit. It is not just the human characters that bring the humor. Figaro dealing with the antics of Svetlana and Cleo was so darn funny.
Amongst all the hilarity Ms. Klein has penned a compelling murder mystery. When the body falls out of an armoire at an auction, an armoire that Poppy wanted, practically at her feet, she knew she was going to be involved. Then she learns her "friend" on the police force, Amber has a new by-the-book partner so getting information about the case isn't going to be easy. Nevertheless, Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and the Biddies are on the case. Joanne even gets involved. There were several suspects and I selected the wrong one. The twists did a great job of misdirecting me. I was surprised at the reveal but that is what I have come to expect from this author. She tests her characters and her readers and I love that.
Antique Auctions Are Murder was a terrific read. Fun and engaging characters and a marvelous mystery kept me delightfully entertained from beginning to end. If you ever have a down day or need some "me time". I highly recommend any and every book in this series to turn your day around. Laughter is good medicine and Libby Klein delivers that spectacularly in every book. Mischief Nights Are Murder is screaming at me from my To-Be-Read shelf. I can't wait to see what mischief Poppy and her family and friends get mixed up in next.
Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast is full of guests and it's time for the annual Cold Spring Village antique show. A unique piece has drawn a lot of interest pitting two dealers against each other. Poppy is on the lookout for some special things to add to the rooms at her B&B but she never thought the armoire she had her eye on would be the hiding place for a dead body.
______
I was thrilled to get back to the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast to catch up with Poppy McAllister, Aunt Ginny, Victory, Joanne, Gia, Amber, the Biddies and Figaro. I love that Poppy and Gia's relationship is getting stronger and all the time they spend together with his son Henry. Aunt Ginny and her friends are in rare form and Figaro has a small black kitty, Cleo, and a huge Maine Coon, Svetlana, hoping to steal his heart. These are some of my favorite fictional characters for good reason. All these characters including the felines are so realistic that they jump off the pages and invite us in to enjoy all the shenanigans within the story.
Libby Klein has stellar comedic timing. Her characters deliver zingers and get themselves into the craziest situations all while moving the mystery forward. I found myself laughing out loud and shaking my head often. The guests at the B&B are a quirky bunch who test Poppy in a variety of ways, along with Courtney Whipple's daily deliveries of unwanted kohlrabi, and guests finding narcoleptic sunburned Victory in a variety of strange places, it is a wonder Poppy has time for anything else let alone a murder. As if she needs any more drama in her life, Georgina pops in for a visit. It is not just the human characters that bring the humor. Figaro dealing with the antics of Svetlana and Cleo was so darn funny.
Amongst all the hilarity Ms. Klein has penned a compelling murder mystery. When the body falls out of an armoire at an auction, an armoire that Poppy wanted, practically at her feet, she knew she was going to be involved. Then she learns her "friend" on the police force, Amber has a new by-the-book partner so getting information about the case isn't going to be easy. Nevertheless, Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and the Biddies are on the case. Joanne even gets involved. There were several suspects and I selected the wrong one. The twists did a great job of misdirecting me. I was surprised at the reveal but that is what I have come to expect from this author. She tests her characters and her readers and I love that.
Antique Auctions Are Murder was a terrific read. Fun and engaging characters and a marvelous mystery kept me delightfully entertained from beginning to end. If you ever have a down day or need some "me time". I highly recommend any and every book in this series to turn your day around. Laughter is good medicine and Libby Klein delivers that spectacularly in every book. Mischief Nights Are Murder is screaming at me from my To-Be-Read shelf. I can't wait to see what mischief Poppy and her family and friends get mixed up in next.
Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 28, 2025
Another excellent book on the series that has me cackling!
February 14, 2022
Another wonderful visit with Poppy, Gia, and my favorite, Aunt Ginny! I found the antique setting really interesting and learned a lot about antiques and gardening. The secondary characters were a little annoying, but they were supposed to be; what a crazy family! I don’t think I would have made it through any of that dinner party. I was left guessing until the very end exactly what happened to the murder victim and I enjoyed every moment of this book. I highly recommend this whole series!
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
January 28, 2022
I received a digital advance reader copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes.
Cape May is one of my favorite vacation destinations, and I wish I could stay at The Butterfly B&B!
Cape May is one of my favorite vacation destinations, and I wish I could stay at The Butterfly B&B!
January 12, 2022
"Why am I always surrounded by chaos?"
Given the characters, and I do mean characters, who surround her, it's no wonder main character Poppy McAllister wonders this to herself at one point. Between her family, friends, and the eccentric bunch of guests that seem to show up at her B & B, she seems caught in the middle of chaos and confusion. Something is always going on, whether work related, like the mysterious middle of the night fire alarm or disappearing goodies for the guests, or with her employee looking like something of an Egyptian mummy due to a bad sunburn, or her boyfriend's mother's mysterious quest to keep them apart. Given the author's ability to make the chaos about Poppy come to life in our minds, I gave up trying to make sense of it all initially and just enjoyed the plot's ride.
The plot is relatively simple. Who killed Auggie and crammed his body into the armoire that Poppy had put a bid in on at the auction? The fact he's stabbed with a supposed vampire hunter's wooden stake somehow isn't the half of it. Poppy does have a way of being around when murders occur. What is surprising is that amidst all the confusion, twists and turns, and red herrings, not to mention the seance at the B & B, the reappearing troll doll, and the stuffed body left in the yard, is that Poppy manages to not just keep the B & B functioning but find time for both her boyfriend and investigation as well as her snark and sanity.
If you like your mysteries fast paced, quirky, and full of humor, this one is for you. One plot thread even adds a wisp of serious sadness to the book as we learn more about Poppy's own past. And, oh, yes. The cats. There's a feline love triangle of sorts that will have you chuckling. Give it a read.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to catch up on Poppy's adventures.
Given the characters, and I do mean characters, who surround her, it's no wonder main character Poppy McAllister wonders this to herself at one point. Between her family, friends, and the eccentric bunch of guests that seem to show up at her B & B, she seems caught in the middle of chaos and confusion. Something is always going on, whether work related, like the mysterious middle of the night fire alarm or disappearing goodies for the guests, or with her employee looking like something of an Egyptian mummy due to a bad sunburn, or her boyfriend's mother's mysterious quest to keep them apart. Given the author's ability to make the chaos about Poppy come to life in our minds, I gave up trying to make sense of it all initially and just enjoyed the plot's ride.
The plot is relatively simple. Who killed Auggie and crammed his body into the armoire that Poppy had put a bid in on at the auction? The fact he's stabbed with a supposed vampire hunter's wooden stake somehow isn't the half of it. Poppy does have a way of being around when murders occur. What is surprising is that amidst all the confusion, twists and turns, and red herrings, not to mention the seance at the B & B, the reappearing troll doll, and the stuffed body left in the yard, is that Poppy manages to not just keep the B & B functioning but find time for both her boyfriend and investigation as well as her snark and sanity.
If you like your mysteries fast paced, quirky, and full of humor, this one is for you. One plot thread even adds a wisp of serious sadness to the book as we learn more about Poppy's own past. And, oh, yes. The cats. There's a feline love triangle of sorts that will have you chuckling. Give it a read.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to catch up on Poppy's adventures.
January 13, 2022
In all honesty, I was a bit nervous to pick up this book. The past two just felt off to me and I wasn't sure what to expect this time around. I am happy to report that Antique Auctions are Murder, in my opinion, was a return to what made me fall in love with the series in the first place. The characters, especially Aunt Ginnery and her friends went back to feeling more quirky and feisty rather than mean, which is how they had come off the page to me in the last two books. I also liked that the author, had resolved the love triangle and with this book hopefully resolves a majority of the angst surrounding Poppy and Gia's romance. I also liked that Poppy has an epiphany about her weight in this book that should hopefully help settle things as well.
Long-time fans of this series know that Poppy's return to Cape May also coincided with the increase in dead bodies, especially those found by her. This time around, Poppy discovers the dead body of the nephew of one of Aunt Ginny's friends in an old armoire she had hoped to purchase for the B&B. Once again, Aunt Ginny and the biddies are able to drag Poppy into the mystery and convince her to help get justice for the victim.
The mystery kept me engaged as I couldn't make up my mind regarding the killer's identity. There were a few suspects with viable motives and weak alibis so no one stood out as the glaringly obvious choice. Ms. Klein makes her reader work for the clues and a resolution to this crime.
This was a delightful return to what made me a fan of this series in the first place and I am happy that I stuck with the series. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the manner in which I received this book.
Long-time fans of this series know that Poppy's return to Cape May also coincided with the increase in dead bodies, especially those found by her. This time around, Poppy discovers the dead body of the nephew of one of Aunt Ginny's friends in an old armoire she had hoped to purchase for the B&B. Once again, Aunt Ginny and the biddies are able to drag Poppy into the mystery and convince her to help get justice for the victim.
The mystery kept me engaged as I couldn't make up my mind regarding the killer's identity. There were a few suspects with viable motives and weak alibis so no one stood out as the glaringly obvious choice. Ms. Klein makes her reader work for the clues and a resolution to this crime.
This was a delightful return to what made me a fan of this series in the first place and I am happy that I stuck with the series. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the manner in which I received this book.
February 6, 2022
"Antique Auctions Are Murder" the 7th instalment in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein. I love this series and I think this was best one yet! When vintage items go up for auction, gluten-free baker and B&B owner Poppy McAllister discovers some people will pay the ultimate price...
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy, Gia, Aunt Ginny, and the "Biddies"! Plus we cant forget about her mischievous cat, Figuro! This time around we are at an Antique Auction and Poppy really wants an armoire but a dead body falls out of it!
From a houseful of quirky guests, disappearing wine, cheese and mysterious midnight deliveries Poppy has her work cut out for her this go around. At the B&B - enter two cat guests a young black kitty named Cleo and a huge Maine Coon named Svetlana joins in the chaos and try to capture Figuro’s heart.
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out what Poppy does next!
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy, Gia, Aunt Ginny, and the "Biddies"! Plus we cant forget about her mischievous cat, Figuro! This time around we are at an Antique Auction and Poppy really wants an armoire but a dead body falls out of it!
From a houseful of quirky guests, disappearing wine, cheese and mysterious midnight deliveries Poppy has her work cut out for her this go around. At the B&B - enter two cat guests a young black kitty named Cleo and a huge Maine Coon named Svetlana joins in the chaos and try to capture Figuro’s heart.
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out what Poppy does next!
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 1, 2023
Love this series! Aunt Ginny is a hot mess, and Poppy still struggles with her love life (but a little less now than before).
I almost never guess who the killer is in mysteries. Sometimes I get lucky and I get it right, but other times I have no idea. This one kept me guessing until the end.
I almost never guess who the killer is in mysteries. Sometimes I get lucky and I get it right, but other times I have no idea. This one kept me guessing until the end.
December 27, 2021
Great series and author
January 16, 2024
Libby Klein
These books are the best! No other cozy series makes me laugh like these ones do.
Mrs. Davis' (one of the biddies) family is in the antique business. She is in a theft war with her sister-in-law over a jewelry box, while her brother's kids are snickering everything they want to inherit. Their stepsister is denied any inheritance, and her husband is desperate to make his fortune.
Mrs. Davis' nephew is killed, and family secrets are revealed. Scandal, broken relationships, trust issues, and a lack of love all come together to make a good whodunit.
All the while Gia and Poppy are growing closer, the B & B is thriving, and the guests for this story have some interesting quirks of their own.
Without giving too much away, the epilogue is mouth-dropping and then laugh-out-loud funny! *At least I thought so*!
These books are the best! No other cozy series makes me laugh like these ones do.
Mrs. Davis' (one of the biddies) family is in the antique business. She is in a theft war with her sister-in-law over a jewelry box, while her brother's kids are snickering everything they want to inherit. Their stepsister is denied any inheritance, and her husband is desperate to make his fortune.
Mrs. Davis' nephew is killed, and family secrets are revealed. Scandal, broken relationships, trust issues, and a lack of love all come together to make a good whodunit.
All the while Gia and Poppy are growing closer, the B & B is thriving, and the guests for this story have some interesting quirks of their own.
Without giving too much away, the epilogue is mouth-dropping and then laugh-out-loud funny! *At least I thought so*!
March 1, 2022
Libby Klein's mysteries are my favorite when it comes to humorous cozy mystery. This is one of the best in this series and I had a lot of fun.
It's a compelling and entertaining story, well plotted and solid.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing.
I was glad to meet again the characters, they're fleshed out and lkeable as usual.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's a compelling and entertaining story, well plotted and solid.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing.
I was glad to meet again the characters, they're fleshed out and lkeable as usual.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 24, 2022
The Butterfly House B&B is struggling. A few bad reviews have left Poppy and Aunt Ginny taking in the stray tourists of Cape May and they've got Poppy burning the candle at both ends, literally. When the guests aren't stealing cheese or sleep-ordering takeout in the middle of the night, they're calling the fire department or falling down the stairs. But that pales in comparison to the evil troll doll that keeps popping up wherever Poppy looks.
The mystery in this book is very complicated with several families and several businesses warring amongst themselves. When a young man ends up dead there are any number of potential scenarios where the victim could have been bumped off by any of the other characters for several different reasons. I was pretty sure I had it figured out, but I was completely wrong about both killer and motive.
This series is very humorous. Poppy has a fun and funny way of looking at things and she's got the craziest imaginable cast of characters surrounding her at the B&B. Though the things that are happening in the book aren't funny, there are tons of funny one-liners that will keep you chuckling throughout. I also really like Poppy's friend Sawyer and her shop, I hope to see more of her in future books and less of Joanne and Georgina.
Probably the only thing that bugs me about the series is that Joanne and Georgina treat Poppy horribly and she just tolerates it. Poppy has no problem putting her foot down with Victory, the narcoleptic chambermaid, but she lets Joanne and Georgina treat her about as horribly as one person can treat another. As mother-in-law and investor, Georgina gets a bit of a pass (though she gets her comeuppance in this book) but Poppy's acceptance of the abuse Joanne dishes out is inexcusable. Gia is also an unforgivable pushover, allowing his mother to interrupt every date he has with Poppy by calling with fake emergencies. For that reason alone I think Poppy would be better off ending her relationship with him, though she's clearly a glutton for punishment.
I've read this series out of order and it works that way, each of the books makes sense as a standalone, but I think it would be ideal to read them in order to get the full benefit of the various story arcs.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
The mystery in this book is very complicated with several families and several businesses warring amongst themselves. When a young man ends up dead there are any number of potential scenarios where the victim could have been bumped off by any of the other characters for several different reasons. I was pretty sure I had it figured out, but I was completely wrong about both killer and motive.
This series is very humorous. Poppy has a fun and funny way of looking at things and she's got the craziest imaginable cast of characters surrounding her at the B&B. Though the things that are happening in the book aren't funny, there are tons of funny one-liners that will keep you chuckling throughout. I also really like Poppy's friend Sawyer and her shop, I hope to see more of her in future books and less of Joanne and Georgina.
Probably the only thing that bugs me about the series is that Joanne and Georgina treat Poppy horribly and she just tolerates it. Poppy has no problem putting her foot down with Victory, the narcoleptic chambermaid, but she lets Joanne and Georgina treat her about as horribly as one person can treat another. As mother-in-law and investor, Georgina gets a bit of a pass (though she gets her comeuppance in this book) but Poppy's acceptance of the abuse Joanne dishes out is inexcusable. Gia is also an unforgivable pushover, allowing his mother to interrupt every date he has with Poppy by calling with fake emergencies. For that reason alone I think Poppy would be better off ending her relationship with him, though she's clearly a glutton for punishment.
I've read this series out of order and it works that way, each of the books makes sense as a standalone, but I think it would be ideal to read them in order to get the full benefit of the various story arcs.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
February 18, 2022
I have had issues with the “A Poppy McAllister Mystery” series in the past, but at long last, I think the series has grown up. In the latest addition, Antique Auctions Are Murder, Poppy has come into her own. Shopping for antiques can be fun and exciting, but finding a dead body in the one antique at that show you want to buy goes beyond fun. This time Poppy has no connection with the victim, other than he happened to fall out of the armoire she wanted to purchase for her B&B. Now she has no choice other than to investigate, not really, but she can’t help herself.
Some of the characters in this series take a while to like, and at least one will never be, but overall, the returning friends and family are memorable. I liked the antique show and auction aspect being the main focus. The B&B is a highly entertaining location to base some of the more colorful characters, but I will never like Joanne, and let's face it, if you treated your employer as she treats Poppy, no matter how good of a cook she may be, she would be out on her ear. Georgina was a hoot, I loved seeing her run around actually working, or so it may seem at first. Suspects throughout the story are intriguing, and any one of them could be the killer. The antiques and auction let readers dream of times and places long gone, except at this sort of show.
There are plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing, unlimited motives, and opportunities. The auction and the antique show play a large part in solving this crime, and readers should pay close attention to the details of both. Unraveling the crime isn’t as easy as it may seem, and the outcome may even surprise some readers. I loved the mischief Aunt Ginny and the biddies get up to, and Figaro, the cat, has a love triangle on his hands that he can’t handle. There is a good amount of humor in this story, which makes it enjoyable on many levels. Poppy’s confidence is growing, and she is becoming more accepting of herself, but she still has a long way to go to be a genuinely beloved character. The killer is found just in time but not without some tense moments.
Overall, I enjoyed Antique Auctions Are Murder more than I have other books in the series, and I like the direction the author is taking the characters. Gia standing up to his family gave me a thrill for a few brief seconds. Throw in the antiques show and auction, and you have a recipe for an appealing read that fans will savor.
Some of the characters in this series take a while to like, and at least one will never be, but overall, the returning friends and family are memorable. I liked the antique show and auction aspect being the main focus. The B&B is a highly entertaining location to base some of the more colorful characters, but I will never like Joanne, and let's face it, if you treated your employer as she treats Poppy, no matter how good of a cook she may be, she would be out on her ear. Georgina was a hoot, I loved seeing her run around actually working, or so it may seem at first. Suspects throughout the story are intriguing, and any one of them could be the killer. The antiques and auction let readers dream of times and places long gone, except at this sort of show.
There are plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing, unlimited motives, and opportunities. The auction and the antique show play a large part in solving this crime, and readers should pay close attention to the details of both. Unraveling the crime isn’t as easy as it may seem, and the outcome may even surprise some readers. I loved the mischief Aunt Ginny and the biddies get up to, and Figaro, the cat, has a love triangle on his hands that he can’t handle. There is a good amount of humor in this story, which makes it enjoyable on many levels. Poppy’s confidence is growing, and she is becoming more accepting of herself, but she still has a long way to go to be a genuinely beloved character. The killer is found just in time but not without some tense moments.
Overall, I enjoyed Antique Auctions Are Murder more than I have other books in the series, and I like the direction the author is taking the characters. Gia standing up to his family gave me a thrill for a few brief seconds. Throw in the antiques show and auction, and you have a recipe for an appealing read that fans will savor.
January 21, 2022
The books in this series can all stand alone, and even better, they are perfect for making me laugh my sox off during these uncertain times of the Covid mess. The characters are fun and quirky, the goings on border on farcical, the sleuthing was good, and the food mouthwatering! Fantastic recipes at the end! Not to be missed!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.
February 21, 2022
Poppy McAllister, Aunt Ginny, and the “Old Biddies,” as Poppy lovingly refers to them, are up to hijinks again in this seventh book of the series. There is a lot happening in Poppy’s life in this edition which makes it an entertaining read. Poppy has her hands full with some very eccentric guests at the Butterfly B & B and of course there is the murder at the antique auction! Never a dull moment which kept me reading and laughing at all the antics of Aunt Ginny, the biddies, and the B & B guests.
With several suspects, I was constantly changing my mind as to who the killer was and didn’t make the connection until the very end. I love the way Poppy’s character is evolving, transforming into her own “butterfly” as the B & B is appropriately called. This is one of my favorite series. The characters are fun and relatable, they are all actively a part of the story, without taking over the story. There are several mouth-watering recipes included in this book (all the books) which I vow to try! An enjoyable fun murder mystery that I highly recommend. If you have started this series, it’s an absolute must in my opinion. The only disappointment, I read it so fast I now have to wait for the next. Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC to review.
With several suspects, I was constantly changing my mind as to who the killer was and didn’t make the connection until the very end. I love the way Poppy’s character is evolving, transforming into her own “butterfly” as the B & B is appropriately called. This is one of my favorite series. The characters are fun and relatable, they are all actively a part of the story, without taking over the story. There are several mouth-watering recipes included in this book (all the books) which I vow to try! An enjoyable fun murder mystery that I highly recommend. If you have started this series, it’s an absolute must in my opinion. The only disappointment, I read it so fast I now have to wait for the next. Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC to review.
December 31, 2021
Wow, Poppy has a lot going on in her life, but finding herself in another murder investigation was not in her plans.
As owners of a quaint bed and breakfast, Poppy and her Aunt Ginny have their share of odd guests, and this time, these crazy guests will make you laugh out loud many times.
I'm enjoying the progress of Poppy's relationship with Gia, and it's sweet to see how much Henry loves her.
This is a fantastic series that I see myself reading again and again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#AntiqueAuctionsAreMurder #NetGalley
As owners of a quaint bed and breakfast, Poppy and her Aunt Ginny have their share of odd guests, and this time, these crazy guests will make you laugh out loud many times.
I'm enjoying the progress of Poppy's relationship with Gia, and it's sweet to see how much Henry loves her.
This is a fantastic series that I see myself reading again and again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#AntiqueAuctionsAreMurder #NetGalley
November 26, 2022
LOVE THE CHARACTERS! WASN'T INVESTED IN THE MYSTERY! FELT THE LENGHT BY THE END!
Premise: So in this 7th book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series, Poppy - The Biddies and Gia go to an auction where Poppy has great interest in an Armoire. The auctions begins and eventually we get to the armoire. But before the armoire can actually be auctioned off, a dead body is found inside so Poppy and the Biddies set out to work out who the killer is.
THOUGHTS: I mean, I love the characters. I am heavily invested in Poppy and Gia. I also love the quirkiness of Aunt Ginny and have grown to love The Biddies and Fig too! I also delight in each and every guest that stays in Poppy's B&B as well as the interesting side-stories they all bring with them. But the mystery in this one just didn't interest me at all. Also Im not a fan of antiques or auctions. I loved the first half a lot more than the second half. I felt the length as I usually do with books in this series. Sometimes I wish they were 50-100 pages shorter.
I docked .5 for my lack of interest in the mystery as well as .5 for my lack of interest in the Auction side. Otherwise a good read.
4 Stars
xoxo.
Premise: So in this 7th book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series, Poppy - The Biddies and Gia go to an auction where Poppy has great interest in an Armoire. The auctions begins and eventually we get to the armoire. But before the armoire can actually be auctioned off, a dead body is found inside so Poppy and the Biddies set out to work out who the killer is.
THOUGHTS: I mean, I love the characters. I am heavily invested in Poppy and Gia. I also love the quirkiness of Aunt Ginny and have grown to love The Biddies and Fig too! I also delight in each and every guest that stays in Poppy's B&B as well as the interesting side-stories they all bring with them. But the mystery in this one just didn't interest me at all. Also Im not a fan of antiques or auctions. I loved the first half a lot more than the second half. I felt the length as I usually do with books in this series. Sometimes I wish they were 50-100 pages shorter.
I docked .5 for my lack of interest in the mystery as well as .5 for my lack of interest in the Auction side. Otherwise a good read.
4 Stars
xoxo.
February 9, 2022
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of ANTIQUE AUCTIONS ARE MURDER (Book 7 of the Poppy McAllister Mysteries), by Libby Klein, in exchange for an honest review. One of Aunt Ginny’s friend cons Poppy and her beau Gia into attending a dinner with her brother Courtney Whipple and his family. Dinner never appears, but family drama appears rapidly and abundantly. Poppy leaves hungry but with an appointment for another guilt trip. Poppy and her Aunt Ginny must attend an antique auction in order to emotionally support Courtney’s son Auggie in offering a special item. Though they attend the auction, the featured item is barred from sale as another antique dealer contests the ownership. One good thing comes from the trip; Poppy found an armoire she’d like to purchase for the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast. Since the armoire will be offered for auction at a future date, Poppy will have to attend that auction as well. However, when the date of the armoire’s auction arrives, Poppy leaves bare handed since a body fell out of the armoire while it was being transferred to the stage. While dealing with her ever-quirky guests, pursuing a romantic relationship where his relatives are determined to cause trouble, and attempting to resolve problems caused by her own low self-esteem, Poppy will sort through family and business drama to identify a killer, an attacker, shady business dealings, and a human trafficking ring.
I liked this book as well as the rest of the series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, B&B’s, antiques, food, and relationships.
#AntiqueAuctionsAreMurder #NetGalley
I liked this book as well as the rest of the series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, B&B’s, antiques, food, and relationships.
#AntiqueAuctionsAreMurder #NetGalley
March 2, 2022
Absolutely love!
This series and author keep me coming back for more! This book is no exception!
This book, while keeping with the traditions with the cozy mystery, will have you in stitches along the way. I love the continued growth of the main characters with the addition of more of the townfolk.
I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
This series and author keep me coming back for more! This book is no exception!
This book, while keeping with the traditions with the cozy mystery, will have you in stitches along the way. I love the continued growth of the main characters with the addition of more of the townfolk.
I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
March 5, 2023
Loved this one! ❤️
February 12, 2022
This is one of my favorite cozy series that I always enjoy returning to. This was a fun cozy that was fast paced with drama, suspense and a wonderful well crafted intricate sleuth that kept me guessing . This is the 7th in the series. .
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy and friends. Her smart cat is always a fun part of this series. Poppy is at a antique auction bidding on a dresser when a body falls out. She is on the case with the help of her friends seeking clues and hopes to solve the murder. This was a well written sleuth with many red herrings, clues and surprises along the way to keep every reader guessing. The returning charcters all add to the fun and with this book more charcters and cats are visiting which is fun and adds to the sleuthing. A very enjoyable read . Looking forward to the next in series.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.
I love visiting the Jersey Shore and Poppy and friends. Her smart cat is always a fun part of this series. Poppy is at a antique auction bidding on a dresser when a body falls out. She is on the case with the help of her friends seeking clues and hopes to solve the murder. This was a well written sleuth with many red herrings, clues and surprises along the way to keep every reader guessing. The returning charcters all add to the fun and with this book more charcters and cats are visiting which is fun and adds to the sleuthing. A very enjoyable read . Looking forward to the next in series.
February 28, 2023
The bodies keep piling up and the biddies are still at it...poor poppy 🤦♀️😅
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