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Den of Antiquity #16
The Glass is Always Greener
After sixteen delightfully madcap books, Tamar Myers’s hilarious Den of Antiquity cozy mystery series comes to a close with The Glass is Always Greener. A real death at a fake wake gets Charleston, South Carolina antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake Washburn into serious hot water in this masterful cozy farewell from the author of The Witchdoctor’s Wife, The Headhunter’s Daughter, and the Magdelena Yoder mysteries. Collectables connoisseurs and Antiques Roadshow nuts won’t want to miss a single minute of Abby’s amateur sleuthing.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 5, 2011
About the author
Tamar Myers
72 books295 followersTamar Myers was born and raised in the Belgian Congo (now just the Congo). Her parents were missionaries to a tribe which, at that time, were known as headhunters and used human skulls for drinking cups. Hers was the first white family ever to peacefully coexist with the tribe, and Tamar grew up fluent in the local trade language. Because of her pale blue eyes, Tamar’s nickname was Ugly Eyes.
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
In 1960 the Congo, which had been a Belgian colony, became an independent nation. There followed a period of retribution (for heinous crimes committed against the Congolese by the Belgians) in which many Whites were killed. Tamar and her family fled the Congo, but returned a year later. By then a number of civil wars were raging, and the family’s residence was often in the line of fire. In 1964, after living through three years of war, the family returned to the United States permanently.
Tamar was sixteen when her family settled in America, and she immediately underwent severe culture shock. She didn’t know how to dial a telephone, cross a street at a stoplight, or use a vending machine. She lucked out, however, by meeting her husband, Jeffrey, on her first day in an American high school. They literally bumped heads while he was leaving, and she entering, the Civics classroom.
Tamar now calls Charlotte, NC home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.
Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Pichu in the near future.
Series:
* Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery
* Den of Antiquity Mystery
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
In 1960 the Congo, which had been a Belgian colony, became an independent nation. There followed a period of retribution (for heinous crimes committed against the Congolese by the Belgians) in which many Whites were killed. Tamar and her family fled the Congo, but returned a year later. By then a number of civil wars were raging, and the family’s residence was often in the line of fire. In 1964, after living through three years of war, the family returned to the United States permanently.
Tamar was sixteen when her family settled in America, and she immediately underwent severe culture shock. She didn’t know how to dial a telephone, cross a street at a stoplight, or use a vending machine. She lucked out, however, by meeting her husband, Jeffrey, on her first day in an American high school. They literally bumped heads while he was leaving, and she entering, the Civics classroom.
Tamar now calls Charlotte, NC home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.
Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Pichu in the near future.
Series:
* Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery
* Den of Antiquity Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 22, 2022
There was no way I was putting this book down. I didn’t want to have the chance to ever pick it up again. After reading the first couple chapters I knew I wasn’t going to like this book. Too much sarcasm and puns written throughout the book. Which is fine, to a certain point. I didn’t find it funny, it was actually a bit annoying. The writing was definitely not my cup of tea. However, I trudged on because there’s always that tiny voice in the back of your head telling you that it might just start getting good. It never did. Im not sure I would ever read anything else by this author, sadly.
July 18, 2012
Another great Tamar Myers mystery. Perhaps I liked it so much as I haven't read for a while one of her mysteries with Abigail Timerberlake Washburn as the main character. I like Abby as she is short and sassy and an antique dealer.
Abby's friend, Rob....half of the Rob/Bob couple, invites Abby to a party his aunt is throwing because she is dying. Aunt Jerry gives a scalding version of her will (that means telling people what they will get from her and then why and in not a nice manner) A short time later she is found dead in deep freeze. Of course, Abby is a suspect as she and Aunt Jerry had a conflict during the "will reading." The setting of this mystery is Charlotte, NC; where Abby lived previously. The cops who come to investigate are old "friends" of Abby and have worked cases where she was a suspect.
I love Tamar Myers' sense of humor. She decrbies the drivers of Charlotte,"However, anyone caught using his or her turn signals in Charlotte is immediately driven out to the city dump and executed by a firing squad. It is a very effective law, and one of the few that is consistently obeyed."
I am always amazed at the characters that appear in Tamar Myer's books. They are so quirky and sometimes you can recognize traits of your own relatives and friends.
Thank you Tamar for another quick, interesting and fun read.
Abby's friend, Rob....half of the Rob/Bob couple, invites Abby to a party his aunt is throwing because she is dying. Aunt Jerry gives a scalding version of her will (that means telling people what they will get from her and then why and in not a nice manner) A short time later she is found dead in deep freeze. Of course, Abby is a suspect as she and Aunt Jerry had a conflict during the "will reading." The setting of this mystery is Charlotte, NC; where Abby lived previously. The cops who come to investigate are old "friends" of Abby and have worked cases where she was a suspect.
I love Tamar Myers' sense of humor. She decrbies the drivers of Charlotte,"However, anyone caught using his or her turn signals in Charlotte is immediately driven out to the city dump and executed by a firing squad. It is a very effective law, and one of the few that is consistently obeyed."
I am always amazed at the characters that appear in Tamar Myer's books. They are so quirky and sometimes you can recognize traits of your own relatives and friends.
Thank you Tamar for another quick, interesting and fun read.
February 27, 2011
I don't think I will read anything by this author again. I don't think I understand and appreciate her sense of humor. I think she is trying to be amusing, but instead, I find her character very hard to like and to sympathize with. They come across to me as self-centered, selfish, self-deceiving and as a result they seem to be actually mean to others around them.
I did like the mystery - just not the people in it, even the main character. I have read a few other books by this author and this is the impression I gotten before with her books. I'm not trying to say that a main character has to be totally nice or a goody two shoes - they can be human and they can have flaws like all of do, and I can empathize with them. However, I find very little redeeming qualities in the characters this author writes, that I cannot really enjoy the books. No more for me.
I did like the mystery - just not the people in it, even the main character. I have read a few other books by this author and this is the impression I gotten before with her books. I'm not trying to say that a main character has to be totally nice or a goody two shoes - they can be human and they can have flaws like all of do, and I can empathize with them. However, I find very little redeeming qualities in the characters this author writes, that I cannot really enjoy the books. No more for me.
August 11, 2011
This series should have ended several books ago. The plot is weak and the author resorts to using all the verbal gags the characters are known for to attempt to sustain it. It's not like when you read a book and a character says something and you feel the comraderie and comfort of familiarity; it just wasn't even amusing.
July 4, 2025
Abby reluctantly agrees to accompany her friend, Rob, to a “going away” party hosted by his eccentric Aunt Jerry, who recently had a reading done that revealed her date of death. Jerry uses the opportunity to impugn her entire greedy family. Even Abby gets drawn into the drama when she tries to defend Rob. After Jerry is found dead in the walk-in freezer, Abby finds herself a suspect in the woman’s death. All she wants to do is go home, but she can’t leave town while she’s a person of interest. For that reason, Abby decides to do some sleuthing on her own. She’s aided by her Mama and friends CJ and Wynnell, who came to lend support. What Abby learns is that Rob’s family are all mad, and any one of them could have done the deed.
To begin with, I have several books in this series, and Amazon led me to believe it was the FIRST one, not the last one. Had I known that, I would have read it, oh, I don’t know...LAST. Grr. I have read a few others in the series; they are all delightfully funny and madcap—very entertaining. Abby’s observations are hilarious, and although some of the characters’ behavior is completely over the top, it just adds to the amusement factor. I did not care for how this ended, neither the book/story itself nor the series as a whole.
I’d love to give this 3.5 stars. Hm. The rushed ending knocks it down to three.
To begin with, I have several books in this series, and Amazon led me to believe it was the FIRST one, not the last one. Had I known that, I would have read it, oh, I don’t know...LAST. Grr. I have read a few others in the series; they are all delightfully funny and madcap—very entertaining. Abby’s observations are hilarious, and although some of the characters’ behavior is completely over the top, it just adds to the amusement factor. I did not care for how this ended, neither the book/story itself nor the series as a whole.
I’d love to give this 3.5 stars. Hm. The rushed ending knocks it down to three.
February 23, 2017
Abigail Timberlake's current adventure occurs when she goes with her best friend, Rob, to one of his family gatherings as "moral support." Unfortunately, Rob's aunt who is hosting the party, treats everyone cruelly at the party and a short time later is found dead by Abby. Of course, since she is not a relative and she found the body she is the top suspect. Can Abby not only clear her name, but help Rob and his mother mend emotional fences?
January 10, 2023
And, so the series ends . . .
It had its ups and downs. Though I mostly enjoyed the funny characters and snappy dialogue, the plots were usually far too silly, and weighted down by their own implausibility.
This go-round was pretty decent, though the ending felt tacked on, and that all-too-brief epilogue was a disservice to all the characters.
That said, I'm almost positive that I'll waste no time starting the author's Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries.
Sigh.
What is wrong with me?
It had its ups and downs. Though I mostly enjoyed the funny characters and snappy dialogue, the plots were usually far too silly, and weighted down by their own implausibility.
This go-round was pretty decent, though the ending felt tacked on, and that all-too-brief epilogue was a disservice to all the characters.
That said, I'm almost positive that I'll waste no time starting the author's Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries.
Sigh.
What is wrong with me?
December 5, 2018
Any book with pint sized Abby Timberlake is one to read. Abby travels to Charlotte, North Carolina with her friend Rob to attend the wake of his Aunt who is not dead. Aunt Jerry is throwing herself her very own "wake". Of course, when Aunt Jerry turns up dead Abby is the prime suspect!
May 30, 2019
Myers closes out this series in style with her usual mix of exaggerated characters and other humor. I noted several instances of breaking the 4th wall. Fun.
October 17, 2024
The book took long to read because of all the stupidity that took place. This may be the last in the series and now I know it was on the library rack for 50 cents.
February 20, 2013
Although I do tend to enjoy books which poke fun at some of the admittedly unusual mannerisms of Southerners, of which I am one, I find Abby’s affectations to be off the mark. She is a caricature of a Southerner – definitely not a Southern lady.
The entire story line deals with Abby and her cadre of followers, most of whom are family in some way, as they try to figure out why an old lady was killed, and where the huge gem she promised to Abby has gone.
The problem is, all the characters are shallow, wanting only their own comfort, playing off each other for their amusement. I find that I dislike all the characters with the possible exception of a few of the cousins. As a snide commentary on social mores and conventions it works, but the characters, especially Abby, are selfish and rude to the extreme.
The mystery itself was the only reason I kept reading, as I really wanted to find out what happened. Unfortunately, only part of the mystery was solved, which ruins the fun.
Overall, I did like the mystery - just not any of the characters, not even the main character. I have read other books by this author and this is the impression I have been left with before with her books. Maybe I am just not comfortable with this sarcastic sense of humor.
The entire story line deals with Abby and her cadre of followers, most of whom are family in some way, as they try to figure out why an old lady was killed, and where the huge gem she promised to Abby has gone.
The problem is, all the characters are shallow, wanting only their own comfort, playing off each other for their amusement. I find that I dislike all the characters with the possible exception of a few of the cousins. As a snide commentary on social mores and conventions it works, but the characters, especially Abby, are selfish and rude to the extreme.
The mystery itself was the only reason I kept reading, as I really wanted to find out what happened. Unfortunately, only part of the mystery was solved, which ruins the fun.
Overall, I did like the mystery - just not any of the characters, not even the main character. I have read other books by this author and this is the impression I have been left with before with her books. Maybe I am just not comfortable with this sarcastic sense of humor.
September 22, 2015
Abigail (Abby) Timberlake Washburn, proprietor of the Den of Antiquity and friend of Rob/Bob, a gay married couple who own another specialty shop in Charleston, South Carolina, ask Abby to accompany Rob to a family gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, since Bob doesn't want to go because Rob's mother blames him for turning Rob into a homosexual. The family gathering is the idea of Rob's Aunt Jerry, a very eccentric older woman who was told by a psychic in Florence, that she was going to die on August 10th, and she has organized a going away party where she reads her will to one and all and soon after dies. Of course Abby finds the body, in a freezer, and is accused of the murder, so she must find the real murderer to clear herself. Several people from Charleston, her mother and her two best friends, come up to help her. Between Rob's very eccentric relatives and Abby's mother
and friends, who have a few screws loose, things get very tangled up.
and friends, who have a few screws loose, things get very tangled up.
September 17, 2013
I really wanted to like The Glass is Always Greener by Tamar Myers, but I am afraid I was terribly disappointed. I selected the book due to the cover. It is green (my favorite color), and there is a cat which is hardly in this book at all. That my first disappointment. In addition, I thought the characters and plot were too silly for my tastes. I was am sure this might be enjoyable for other readers so don't let me scare you away from reading. I would not have finished the book except it was for a challenge. A positive about the book is that I did really liked the passage below. Thankfully, it was a quick read. I will not be reading any more from this author. 1 star
Favorite passage:
For a book lover like myself a library card is the next best thing to getting a gift certficate with unlimited credit to your favorite bookstore.
Favorite passage:
For a book lover like myself a library card is the next best thing to getting a gift certficate with unlimited credit to your favorite bookstore.
June 18, 2011
Itty bitty Abby and her cast of characters may have finally found their match for Southern colloquialisms. This bizarre crew of misfits will have you holding your sides and shaking your head as they play off of each other’s idiosyncrasies. At times however this can be overplayed in my opinion, and the objective gets lost in the craziness. Abby’s size and Southern affectations are a continuous source of humor, but her heart is as big as they come.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review: http://coffeetimeromance.com/BookRevi...
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review: http://coffeetimeromance.com/BookRevi...
April 24, 2011
Antique store owner Abby goes to Charlotte for a family event of her good friend Rob's. It seems his Aunt Jerry is holding a party because she's sure she will die soon. At the party, she is frank about who is going to get what in her will, and also offers her beautiful emerald ring to Abby, who refuses to take it. Then Abby finds Aunt Jerry's body in the freezer, and the ring is missing. All of Abby's cohorts come up from Charleston to help her sleuth, but the rather flat ending makes me wonder if Myers is really getting tired of this series. Maybe it's time for something new?
February 17, 2013
Not my cup of tea. Some words are confusing. Maybe because I have to improve may vocab. But to be truth this is the first time I read thriller-comedy. Nice touch and very funny indeed. Just because of my understanding limited, sometimes I just can't laugh the jokes at all.
The book use word 'I' to tell her story. The fact I am still young and not even 40 makes me mad. I can't even imagine put myself in her shoes. She is also divorce and eccentric which is far from me.
I don't know whether this book targeted to young or old people but I can't digest it so 2 star maybe?
The book use word 'I' to tell her story. The fact I am still young and not even 40 makes me mad. I can't even imagine put myself in her shoes. She is also divorce and eccentric which is far from me.
I don't know whether this book targeted to young or old people but I can't digest it so 2 star maybe?
July 26, 2016
This could be the worst mystery I've read all year- it definitely had the worst ending of any mystery I read this year. If I had actually paid for the book instead of borrowing it from the library, I'd say even worse things. As it is, I'm appalled that our library wasted money on buying this book. Money that would have been better spent scraping gum off sidewalks or upgrading the toilet paper in the bathrooms.
July 26, 2016
Great read. Witty, funny. I love Tamar Myers's artful way of painting a picture with words. If you enjoy books that tickle your funny bone, you have to read The Glass is Always Greener and, I suspect, the other books in the Den of Antiquity series. I can't wait to read her other books!
Quote I liked: "Magdalena Yoder . . . says that a hunch from a woman is worth two facts from a man" (page 179). Pleasingly clever.
Quote I liked: "Magdalena Yoder . . . says that a hunch from a woman is worth two facts from a man" (page 179). Pleasingly clever.
August 20, 2013
This book wanders away from solving a murder so often that I completely forgot there was a mystery to solve. The story seems to a backdrop for running gags and is funny at times. The main character reminds me a little of Stephanie Plum but is nowhere near as endearing. My two star rating seems a little generous now that I think about it.
August 11, 2016
The Glass Is Always Greener is the 16th, and last, Den Of Antiquity Mystery. Tamar Meyers again produces an diverting easy read which is entertaining and comical about a short, sassy antique dealer, her zany family and friends, and, of course, a corpse. Too much swearing and sexual innuendo
dropped the rating to four or 3.5 stars.
dropped the rating to four or 3.5 stars.
February 25, 2011
You know how it is when an author tries to be too cute and goes overboard on the humor, but the jokes aren't funny? That's how this book read. It was way over the top and I didn't like the characters.
July 2, 2012
This series is over, as far as I'm concerned. The author has told and retold her jokes a thousand times and is now resorting to potty-mouth humor and same-old same-old plots, with a little politicizing thrown in, making it even less appealing. :-(
September 16, 2018
Well that's the last one. Now I'm looking forward to reading her other series, the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries, just as soon as I collect them all. Only 7 more to get my hands on, to complete the series of 18.
March 24, 2011
Not the best of the series. More info on the Rob/Bobs
February 6, 2012
I've read some of these in the past. They are fun, cozy to read. The main character's thoughts show up in the book and you can really get a sense for how quickly she goes on a tangent.
May 8, 2012
Not as good as the others in the series, but still enjoyable.
June 1, 2012
Easy read it not that great. Mnot too bad either. Just so-so.
June 15, 2012
Shocked at this ending.. Really? I.. I just can't type about it right now..
June 7, 2012
A whodunit with such fun characters that I didn't even care whodunit! There was too much swearing and sexual connotation to get five stars, but I would read the other books in the series.
August 10, 2012
I didn't like this book. The "humor" was just annoying and the ending was a bit unsatisfactory. I don't think I'm going to read this series any more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews