Read time: 2 minutes
Genre: 🕵️♀️📚 Cozy Mystery
Edition: 🎧 Audiobook
📢 Narrator: Emilia Fox
⏱ Duration: 10 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Atria Books
👥 Read as part of Book Club theme – Authors like Agatha Christie
Book Blurb:
Freya Lockwood, once an apprentice to her mentor Arthur Crockleford, returns to the antique world after his suspicious death. When Arthur’s cryptic letter sends Freya and her eccentric Aunt Carole on a treasure hunt across a grand English manor, they uncover a trail of secrets, forgeries, and murder. As Freya navigates dusty attics and hidden clues, her antique expertise is tested, revealing a dangerous conspiracy. With danger lurking, Freya must solve the mystery before it’s too late. A cozy yet thrilling debut in C. L. Miller’s series, perfect for antique lovers and mystery enthusiasts.
Let’s talk about the book:
What worked for me right away was the relationship between Freya and Aunt Carole. Their dynamic had that honest, intergenerational warmth I crave in cozy mysteries. Bound by a genuine niece-aunt bond, they embark on a treasure hunt sparked by a cryptic letter from Carole’s late friend, Arthur. The early chapters sparkle with intrigue, unfolding in a creaky manor filled with hidden passages and suspicious characters.
Emilia Fox’s narration was a delight—her crisp delivery brought each quirky moment and tense exchange to life.
Where it stumbled a little for me was in the detail-heavy world of antiques. While fascinating on the surface, the specialized jargon sometimes slowed the pacing, especially for those without niche knowledge. At times it veered from clever to a bit confusing.
Still, the heart of the story, Freya and Carole’s dynamic kept me hooked. The mystery wrapped up with a satisfying, if slightly predictable, twist. Not a perfect debut, but one with enough charm to make me curious about the next book in the series.
Would i recommend it?
Yes, if you love cozy mysteries with a niche angle (antiques, art, or history), this series opener has plenty of charm. For others, it might feel like browsing a dusty shop without a guide. Either way, Freya and Carole are a duo worth meeting, and I’ll be back for book two.
Let’s talk Antiques (and mysteries!)
Do you like your cozies packed with niche knowledge, like antiques, art or baking? Or do you prefer your mysteries more straightforward? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I’m dying to know if you’d hunt for clues with Freya and Carole!
Book Links:
Amazon CA
Goodreads
Follow C.L. Miller on her author page
Check out other books from Atria Books (Simon and Schuster Publishing)
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A treasure hunt, you say? Sign me up!
It definitely is interesting but a bit heavy on antiques and their histories
Gonna skip
Yeah, it’s a hit or a miss. Better move to something more of a hit than a miss