'A bold, bright and delightful jaunt back to the golden age of detective fiction' - Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal
'A delicious read - who could resist a treasure hunt with murder at its core?' - SJ Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot
'It's a delight!' - Katie Fforde, author of Island in the Sun
What antique would you kill for?
Freya, it's down to you to finish what I started . . .
Freya Lockwood has avoided the quaint English village in which she grew up for the last 20 years. That is until news arrives that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and Freya's estranged mentor, has died - and the circumstances seem suspicious.
You will uncover an invitation, I implore you to attend . . .
But when a letter from Arthur is delivered, sent just days before his death, and an ordinary pine chest concealing Arthur's journals are revealed, Freya finds herself sucked back into a life she'd sworn to leave behind.
But beware, trust no-one. Your life depends on it . . .
Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Arthur's staunch best friend, Freya follows both clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an 'antiques enthusiasts weekend'. But not is all as it seems; the antiques are bad reproductions and the guests all have something to hide.
Can Freya and Carole solve the mystery and unearth the killer before they strike again? Find out in The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder, the unputdownable cosy crime caper from C L Miller.
* * *
'What a unique and very enjoyable take on the classic whodunnit!' - Jo Silva, author of the Edge of the World Detective Agency series
'Irresistible, immersive and completely unputdownable, think the Antiques Roadshow meets Miss Marple with a deliciously OTT cast of characters and twist after twist after twist.' - Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club
'What a treat! A unique and compelling debut by an outstanding author - I couldn't stop turning the pages!' - Kathryn Croft, author of The Girl in Room 12
Rezensionen / Stimmen
It's a delicious read - packed with fascinating details in a picture-perfect setting. Who could resist a treasure hunt with murder at its core? -- SJ Bennett, author of <i> A Death in Diamonds </i> The perfect cosy crime read for antique hunters everywhere!' -- Katherine Blake, author of <i> The Unforgettable Loretta, Darling </i> Brilliantly fun, fast-paced mystery set against the murkier side of the antiques world - where everyone has a price and no one is who they say they are. Freya Lockwood for the new James Bond! -- Jessica Bull, author of <i> Miss Austen Investigates </i> Irresistible, immersive and completely unputdownable, think the Antiques Roadshow meets Miss Marple with a deliciously OTT cast of characters and twist after twist after twist. -- Ellery Lloyd, author of <i> People Like Her </i> What a unique and very enjoyable take on the classic whodunnit! -- Jo Silva, author of <i> Death Comes to St Ives </i> What a treat! A unique and compelling debut by an outstanding author - I couldn't stop turning the pages! The fabulously drawn characters leapt from the page and drew me into this engrossing murder mystery. -- Kathryn Croft, author of <i> The Lie </i> A perfect indulgence and an absolute joy to read. It's as much about the antiques you might kill for as the joy of second chances, with enough eccentric characters pretending to be someone else to populate a Wodehouse novel. -- Nicki Thornton, author of <i> The Last Chance Hotel </i> Every now and then a crime series lands that grabs the attention and holds it tight - this is one of those series. It's a rare jewel of a book with exceptional provenance and one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. -- Kate Wells, author of <i> Stranger in the Village </i> Intrigue, enigma and murder in a quaint Suffolk village - antiques have never been so much fun. -- Holly Hepburn, author of <i> Return to Half Moon Farm </i> It's a delight! -- Katie Fforde, author of <i> One Enchanted Evening </i> An utterly charming mystery rich with detail and thrumming with intrigue. C.L. Miller's connection to the world of antiques shines through in her writing. -- Robyn Harding, author of <i> The Drowning Woman </i> A fresh voice and a new take on the crime fiction genre, C.L Miller's debut is authentic, knowledgeable and intriguing. I have a feeling this one will be huge. -- Mari Hannah, author of <i> The Swap </i> A charming tale for the whodunit lover - warm and wise. Go Freya! Go Auntie Carole! -- Orlando Murrin, author of <i> Knife Skills for Beginners </i> C.L. Miller delivers a fun, fascinating, and satisfying read in a giddy and compelling take on an old manor mystery featuring a reluctant detective-and her dazzling elderly aunt-struggling to find herself while tracking a killer. The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder combines charm and depth with two fantastic female leads who will deeply delight fans of Sue Grafton and Agatha Christie. -- Amber Cowie, author of <i> Raven Lane </i> A whodunnit meets treasure hunt sprinkled with antiques - what's not to love? Polished to a gleam, there's not a speck of dust on this one. Page-turning, full of fascinating nuggets about the antiques world, and enormous fun to read. A real treat. -- Eve Chase, author of <i> The Birdcage </i> One of my favourite reads of the summer. Part cosy crime, part international conspiracy thriller, it is brilliantly plotted, gripping until the end, with a main character readers will love. -- Michelle Davies, author of <i> The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde </i> It takes a lot of talent and skill to write both a pulse-pounding and laugh-out-loud mystery, and C.L Miller has brilliantly accomplished that. Set in the surprisingly cutthroat, dangerous world of antiques, this novel has it all: a cast of suspicious and utterly entertaining characters, a relatable heroine and her plucky sidekick, and tension that builds chapter by chapter. The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is delightful, sharp, and absolutely irresistible. A fascinating read! -- Samantha Bailey, author of <i> A Friend in the Dark </i> A work of art worthy of its objets d'art theme. Page-turning, adventurous, full of antiques and vivid characters. -- Rachel Louise Driscoll, author of <i> Nephthys </i> A precious gem of a book. I loved following Freya and Aunt Carole on this atmospheric and entertaining journey through the world of priceless artifacts and convincing fakes. -- Jessa Maxwell, author of <i> The Golden Spoon </i> The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is a bold, bright and delightful jaunt back to the golden age of detective fiction, as the mysterious demise of an antiques dealer is investigated by his estranged colleague. But can Freya apply her skills as an antique 'hunter' to the hunt for a murderer? Expertly plotted and skilfully written, with suspicious characters, devious twists and evocative locations, this pacey page-turner has it all. A cracking debut from C.L.Miller! -- Janice Hallett, author of <i> The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels A propulsive mystery, Miller's stand-out debut is an all consuming ride! Expertly paced with an indelible cast of characters The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder is pure fun in book form. Fans of Richard Osman and Agatha Christie will be clamoring for book two! (I know I am!) -- Katy Hays, author of <i> The Cloisters </i> A delightful read from start to finish, filled with highly entertaining characters and a terrific central mystery. Those who devoured Magpie Murders and The Thursday Murder Club should zoom this to the top of their reading lists. -- BP Walter, author of <i> Notes on a Murder </i> Clever, funny and full of heart, this is cosy crime at its best. The perfect book for winter evenings... an absolute delight! -- Awais Khan, author of <i> No Honour </i> A twisty and immersive whodunnit absolutely laden with golden age charm. -- Eva Dolan, author of <i> Long Way Home </i>
C. L. Miller started working life in publishing as an editorial assistant for her mother, Judith Miller, on the Miller's Antique Price Guide and as a researcher for the Antique Hunter's Guide to Europe and then went into hospitality and events. After she had children, she decided to follow her long held dream of becoming an author and began writing full-time. She was an Undiscovered Voices winner 2022 and showcased in UV 2022 anthology.
C.L lives in a medieval cottage in Dedham Vale, Suffolk with her family.
