Review by Booklist Review
Josie Prescott, owner of Prescott's Antiques and Auctions in Rocky Point, New Hampshire, is stunned to receive a box containing a note from her deceased father along with two letters signed by Jane Austen from a mysterious women, Veronica Sutton, who promptly disappears. When respected scholar Gloria Moreau, one of the guests on Josie's television program, Josie's Antiques, is murdered after authenticating a copy of a Beatrix Potter book, Josie investigates to identify her killer as well as to locate Veronica, whom she hopes will help with provenance to authenticate the Jane Austen letters and to determine Veronica's connection to her father. Josie perseveres in solving Moreau's murder and untangling her father's relationship with Veronica, causing Josie to question what she thought was her close relationship with him, ultimately leading to a stunning revelation. Framed with fascinating details of Jane Austen's life, along with the process of authenticating letters and books, this satisfying entry in the long-running series will appeal to fans of the humorous Trash 'n' Treasures antique-store mysteries by Barbara Allan.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Early in Cleland's beguiling 14th Josie Prescott Antiques mystery (after 2020's Hidden Treasures), Josie finds an older woman, Veronica Sutton, waiting for her outside her shop, Prescott's Antiques and Auctions, in Rocky Point, N.H. Veronica, who claims she was a good friend of Josie's late father, hands her a package, then abruptly drives away. Inside the package is a box containing a handwritten note to Josie from her father and two letters, one dated 1811, the other 1814, signed by Jane Austen. Between filming her TV show about antiques, running her business, and hiring consultants to authenticate the letters, Josie tries to learn what she can about Veronica, someone she never heard her father mention. The murder of a consultant during the filming of a show puts Josie's reputation and possibly her life in jeopardy. Newcomers may have trouble keeping track of the many series regulars, but their characters all ring true. Cleland maintains tension from the opening pages right up to the surprise conclusion. Miss Austen would approve. Agent: Cristina Concepcion, Don Congdon Assoc. (Dec.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An antiques dealer may have come upon the find of a lifetime--if only she can stay alive long enough to authenticate it. Josie Prescott has a successful business and a TV show featuring dueling experts in the studio she keeps near New Hampshire's short but lovely coast. When an attractive older woman introducing herself as a friend of Josie's late father hands her a box and walks away, Josie's life is radically changed. The box contains a note from her father written two decades before that explains where he found the two enclosed letters written by Jane Austen. As it happens, the show Josie's shooting features two experts on handwriting who've made great strides identifying fakes, and both are eager to authenticate the letters. Professor Gloria Moreau, of nearby Hitchens University, is a world-renowned expert to whom Josie finds herself especially drawn, so she's both shocked and pained when she finds her strangled in the woods near the studio. Josie's eager to assist the police chief, with whom she has a long-standing relationship, but finding her father's mysterious friend is her top priority. She uses every resource she has, from her husband, a security expert pondering a promotion that would require them to move to D.C., to her reporter pal Wes Smith, who uses facial recognition software to put a name to the woman, who still refuses to talk to her. The combination of two mysteries and someone who doesn't like Josie poking around almost mean the death of her. Both mystery fans and antiques lovers will enjoy the erudite heroine's informative, entertaining new adventure. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
