The Antique Hunter’s Murder at the Castle By C.L. Miller

The Antique Hunter’s Murder at the Castle is another cozy and entertaining murder mystery by the talented C.L. Miller.

Favourite Quote: 

The creak of a floorboard behind her made the muscles in her shoulders lock, and she reached into her pocket for the flick knife. Her gaze swept the room. In an orange glint mirror she saw the reflection of someone raising a bronze candlestick behind her head, ready to strike.

Book Synopsis: 

Hot on the heels of an art forger, a member of the Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency disappears while investigating an isolated castle deep in Scottish countryside. Freya and Aunt Carole race to her last known location and arrive in the wintry, snow-covered Scottish Borders.

At the castle, they discover that a murdered laird in the vegetable garden and his priceless collection of silverware has been stolen. Local police believe Freya’s missing team member was involved with the robbery and murder…but where is she now?

As a snowstorm descends on the castle, Freya and Carole call in back-up to help uncover what happened that fateful night. As each question is met with more mystery, the clock is ticking to find their friend and the murderer before they are cut off from the outside world.

Review: 

I really do love a good old-fashioned murder mystery; they really are great cozy comfort reads. I’ve enjoyed this series, and its latest installment did not disappoint. This book can be read as a standalone; the author does a great job at catching her readers up on the characters’ back stories and bringing her readers up to speed on small plot lines that have been developing over the series.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The murder mystery was interesting, and even though I guessed who one of the bad guys was about halfway through, their true identity and backstory were unexpected. There are plenty of twists and turns, and I loved the setting. I thought that the way the story unfolded was great. There were a few unexpected surprises that had me turning the pages. It was a solid mystery from start to finish. I continue to be fascinated by the antique world that the author has created.

Carole continues to be a delight in the series, so entertaining and adding that comic relief at just the right moments. I love that people often underestimate her because she comes off as a flighty older woman, but underneath that showy exterior is a clever, very capable woman who lives life to the fullest. She is probably my favourite character in this series. Freya’s character development did hit a bit of a snag in this book. I was hoping to see her grow more in her investigator role, but she really didn’t. She seemed incredibly unsure of herself and kept looking to Phil and others for support, which I wasn’t expecting because she had more confidence in the previous book. I was a bit bummed about that, because I know she is capable of great things.