June 1, 2024
Decades prior, antiques investigator Freya Lockwood lost nearly everything because of her mentor, Arthur Crockleford. Now a divorced empty-nester about to lose her home, one of the few things she can hold fast to is her anger at him. When he dies unexpectedly, a riddle in his unwanted last letter propels Freya back into the world of antiques, the black market, and murder. Together with her Aunt Carole, whose cleverness is often overlooked because of her theatrical air and love of dramatic entrances, she'll follow Arthur's clues to a great treasure. But no one is who they seem, giving narrator Emilia Fox ample opportunity to show off the subtleties of her vocal skills. A character's accent and manner of speaking might change, but they remain recognizably the same person. Meanwhile, the strength of Freya's voice grows as she rediscovers the self-confidence hiding beneath her muffling blanket of grief. VERDICT Miller's debut is a delightful adventure mystery for lovers of expert, emotionally layered protagonists with a bit of humor, from Allison Montclair's Sparks and Bainbridge to Elizabeth Peters's Vicky Bliss.--Matthew Galloway
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