Reviewed by Jeanne
Antiques appraiser Josie Prescott is called to the
home of a wealthy couple to evaluate what may be a Tiffany lamp. She’s greeted graciously by a woman who
introduces herself as Ava Belcher. The
lamp belongs to her husband and is a family heirloom. Josie examines the lamp
and finds, much to her delight, the lamp appears genuine: if so, it could
command a selling price of $1.5 million. The discovery would also elevate
Josie’s standing in the antiques community, making her one of the few to ever
authenticate a Tiffany lamp.
A few days later, Ava Belcher is found murdered at
her home. Josie is on the scene, and,
since she had spoken with Ava recently, is asked to identify the body while the
police try to locate Mr. Belcher.
There’s just one problem: Josie
doesn’t recognize this woman.
I know I can always count on Jane Cleland for a good
mystery tale with plot twists, information about antiques and collectibles, and
clues enough to enable me to solve the murder if I pay attention. I like having an author who plays fair with
her readers. This time around, I learned
a lot about Tiffany lamps and about marbles—yes, the kind you shoot—as well as
a lesson on valuation, which looks at several variables: condition, provenance, rarity, scarcity,
popularity, and association. All of this is done in a painless manner without
slowing down the story.
I also like Josie herself, a smart, independent
woman who can make decisions with her head as well as her heart. She’s a shrewd
CEO with high ethical standards. She
also has a nifty boyfriend and a stable relationship, which makes a nice change
from the “heroine trying to choose between two beaus” motif that has become so prevalent
in cozy mystery fiction. It doesn’t hurt
that there’s a Maine Coon cat in the mix as well.
If you’re looking for a good, solid mystery with a
strong female lead and like learning some things along the way, this is a great
choice. I always look forward to the
next in the series.
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