I received a complimentary ARC copy of Ruby Red Herring (Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series #1) by Tracy Gardner from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…Tracy Gardener has crafted a clever face paced mystery that is intriguing, highly entertaining…

Intriguing and suspenseful, Ruby Red Herring (Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series) is a brilliant debut from author Tracy Gardner.

Taking over the family’s business, “Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised”, after the death of her parents in a car accident a year prior, Avery is trying to come to terms with her new life. With her Aunt Midge, little sister Tilly and their brave Afghan hound Halston, together as a family they are slowly working through their grief in their home in Lilac Grove. When “Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised” is called upon by the Museum of Antiquities to authenticate a priceless ruby, an artifact that may connect to another ancient artefact called the Emperor’s Twins her parents had authenticated a year prior. Despite an anonymous warning for Avery to not to take the contract, Avery and her dear family friend and business partner Micah take on the contract with the Museum of Antiquities. Under tight security, and in a busy museum also hosting a film shoot, conditions are less than ideal. Micah and Avery get to work authenticating the ruby to determine whether the artifact her parents had authenticated the year before is connected to the artefact. When Avery sixth sense takes over and unusual events occur she begins asking too many questions questions that put herself, her friends and family in danger.

I loved everything about the book it contained everything; interesting characters, a brilliantly twisting plot and add the antiquities angle,(a personal interest of mine)what’s not to like.

Reminiscent of an adult Nancy Drew Mystery with murder and mayhem thrown into the mix, Tracy Gardener has crafted a clever face-paced mystery that is intriguing, highly-entertaining and I simply could not put I down. A must read for those who enjoy cozy mysteries. I loved it and can’t wait to read more from Tracy Gardner.

Ruby Red Herring is the first book in the An Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series by Tracy Gardner.

This book deals with appraising antiques and artifacts. Ms. Gardner provided just enough information about the appraising to help me understand the process and not take away from the mystery solving. Another thing that I liked is that the main character, Avery Ayers, actually works at her job instead of letting her employees run the business while she is out investigating.

Avery takes over the family business following the death of her parents in an automobile accident. Avery lives in the family home in Lilac Grove, NY, along with her sister Tilly, their Aunt Midge, and Midge’s Afghan Hound, Halston.

Avery is about ready to sign a contract with the Museum of Antiquities(MOA) to certify and appraise a ruby that Oliver Renell, a collector, sent to MOA. As Avery begins to inspect the ruby, she can’t help but remember the note she had found on her doorstep that morning. The note warned her not to sign the contract, or her life would be in danger, and was supposedly signed by her father, but her mother and father had died in an automobile accident several months before. The ruby might be the missing jewel of MOA’s most precious possession, the Emperor Xiang medallion. It seems that the medallion was the last item on which her parents worked. When Avery and her employees, Sir Robert and Micah, begin to doubt the ruby, they review her parents’ paperwork on the medallion. Before long, someone breaks into her house and ransacks her father’s office, and a couple of days later, Micah’s house is broken into, and Micah is shot in the shoulder, and Renell is found dead in his hotel room. There is also a break-in at the MOA. With the help of Art, the security guard/policeman, Avery set out to find who doesn’t want the ruby to be appraised.

The book moves at a steady pace, and there were enough twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. The book is well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed and believable.

I’ll be looking for the next book in this gem of a new series.

This is a fun start to the series. At the beginning of the story Avery is starting to gain her footing at her parents' appraisal firm following their tragic death over a year ago. Between herself and her glamorous Aunt Midge they are keeping Avery's younger sister, Tilly, focused on finishing up her senior year of high school and getting ready for college. This hasn't been an easy transition for anyone and the trauma is still present but the family is starting to move on. And just a sense of normalcy is returning a disturbing message arrives at the door warning Avery off a new job assessing a ruby that has connections to the last piece her parents worked on.

What follows is quite an intriguing tale of collectors, rare jewels, mysterious keys, and things are not always what they seem. Watching it all unfold was quite an adventure. I always enjoy a mystery that isn't just a straightforward murder and this was definitely one of those. It's definitely a first book with a lot of setup but that didn't bother me. What kept this from being a 4 or 5 star book for me was that there is a lot more telling then showing which made for a slow start but once the story started gaining traction I was definitely pulled in. I'm really curious to see where the series goes and to spend more time with the Ayers family.

Avery had a tough-as-nails attitude, but she was a softy at heart. The death of their parents one year ago threw her and her sister Tilly for a loop. Now, they had begun to heal weird things began occurring. With a few mysterious letters appearing in her locked car, and at home, along with anonymous phone calls, Avery was pushed into using her knowledge of deciphering and solving puzzles for answers. Her quest for the truth has placed her in a dangerous position right in the killer’s deadly eye-sight. This has been captivating, intriguing, and entertaining.

Oh my gosh this book grabbed my attention right off the bat and didn't let go until the end! It was cozy mystery meets a cozy version of National Treasure or a modern but cozy Indy Jones or possibly Night at the Museum. Not that anyone was running through caves or museums (although the setting was an antiquities museum), but the mystery kept building around a couple of different points. And one of those points led to an amazingly happy ending.

I loved the genuine friendship Avery had with her business partners and how they treated her like a daughter after having lost her dad, their good friend. Tilly and Avery's relationship was great! It was silly, fun and sometimes serious if needed. Avery was an amazing older sister, and Tilly was surprising with some of the insight she had at times. And who wouldn't love Aunt Midge! She wasn't a cuddly type aunt, but she loved the girls so much she'd given up living in Manhattan to stay with them when their parents died. Art should get an award for detective of the century or something for not giving up on his cases. I hope eventually that can include boyfriend of the century! ;)

The dynamics between Avery and Art were great and I loved how even if she didn't listen to him, he didn't make her feel bad but did show his displeasure with whatever it was she did. But he also respected her and didn't just tell her that her ideas were silly when she came to him with a crazy one. The ending was amazing and well-wrapped up as you'll see when you read it--the whole book was just hard to put down and nearly impossible to find a suitable stopping point for things like sleeping or eating, lol. I'm super excited for the next book in this series! Keep 'em coming, Ms. Gardner!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I think this series has a lot of potential as it's entertaining and well thought.
I liked fast paced plot and the well researched part of gem appraisal.
I would like some more character development as they seemed a bit flat to me. They are likable but I found hard to relate to them.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this book. Avery was strong and brave. The book honestly reminded me of the Nancy Drew mysteries, since this mystery involved not just murder but objects and other elements. This was a good thing, because I really enjoyed reading those as a kid. I hope to read more from this series!

I found the mystery engaging even though I had it figured out fairly early in the story. The aunt and teenage sister were fun character additions and the protagonist's occupation was unique. I would have definitely rated this story higher if the ending hadn't been so obvious. I will certainly check out the next book in the series. Thanks to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

A great start to a new cozy mystery. I loved getting to the know the characters and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I can't wait to see what happens next with Avery.

Avery Ayers runs her family's Antiquities and Artifacts Appraisal company in Manhattan. It's not something she thought she would be doing yet but after her parents died in a car accident the previous year Avery felt it was the only option. Now living with younger sister Tilly, paternal Aunt Midge and Afghan hound Halston in the family home in beautiful Lilac Grove things are gradually becoming a little more bearable.

When the Museum of Antiquities, MOA, hires Avery's company to appraise a beautifully rare ruby, things begin to worry her especially the owner's obsessive need to remain hidden away. There is a chance the gem is the missing stone from a priceless dragon medallion and when Avery and her colleague Micah Abbott discover a link between it and her late parents her anxiety skyrockets. With no idea who to trust Avery finds herself drawn to one of the museum's security guards but then she finds a dead body and danger begins to stalk her every move.

This is the first in the Avery Ayers series and boy does it cover a lot of ground. The fascinating world of antiquities appraisal is described in some detail as is the crushing grief at losing both parents unexpectedly. To me Avery's sister Tilly is a little immature for her age and Midge not quite as eccentric as made out but that could be because I'm far nearer to being Midge than Tilly!

There are very little pauses in the action and the killer is never very far behind Avery as she tries to explain the secrets she is beginning to discover surrounding her current appraisal. All the main characters have a charm about them which appeals to me and I can't waIt for more stories in this series.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. I really enjoyed this and look forward to finding out what happens next.

Avery is juggling a lot- her parents were killed in a car accident she survived, she's helping her younger sister Tilly cope, and she's taken over her parents' part in the antique appraising business they ran with two partners. Luckily, Aunt Midge (and her dog Halston) are there to help. Now she's taking a look at a ruby, which might or might not have been stolen. And that leads to trouble. Someone isn't telling the truth and has been dirty dealing - no spoilers from me. This is a different sort of cozy and this first book is a nice set up. My one quibble is that a gemologist with a lot (a lot) of training and experience would be the one responsible for judgments about the ruby. That said, it's a good story and I liked the characters. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Such a fun mystery! I love the concept of a cozy that takes place in an antique shop. Lovable characters and plenty of twists make it quite compelling.

Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner is Ms. Gardner's first book in a new cozy mystery series, Avery Ayers Antique Mysteries. I have read Ms. Gardner's Shepherd Sisters Mysteries and enjoyed every one so I was thrilled to be approved to read this one.

Ms. Gardner's descriptive writing sets the scenes clearly at each location in the book - Lilac Grove, New York, Antiquities and Artifacts Appraised, Manhattan and the Museum of Antiquities, New York City. Avery Ayers, her sister, Tilly, Aunt Midge, Micah, Sir Robert and Detective Art Smith are all well developed characters as they are introduced throughout the story. Each of the secondary characters adds dimension to the scenes through dialogue that I found to be realistic. The plot was smoothly paced and never slowed down through the twists and turns as more clues were revealed regarding the current appraisal and authentication project and a previous appraisal done by Avery's mother and father. Ms. Gardner also touched on Avery's struggle with anger, grief and guilt regarding her parents death one year ago which made Avery a sympathetic character to me as I could understand some of what she was going through. Mystery, suspense, a touch of romance,family ties and some detailed information regarding how appraisals and authentications are done was woven throughout the story as Avery and Detective Smith race to the dramatic conclusion. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Twenty-five-year-old Avery Ayres has taken over the family's Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised after her parents' death in a car accident the previous year. She is dividing her time between the family home in Lilac Grove with her younger sister Tilly and her Aunt Midge who lives with them and the shop in Manhattan. Luckily, she still has her parents' partners Sir Robert and Micah.

They are hired by the Museum of Antiquities for analyze and authenticate a ruby turned up by a mysterious collector. It is hoped that the ruby is the missing eye of the Emperor's Twins, the most prized possession of the museum, and the last artifact vetted by her parents before their death. They are cautiously optimistic that the ruby is the missing piece of the Emperor's Twins which would be quite a coup for the museum.

But there are questions... The collector's story is a little hard to believe and his reclusiveness raises a lot of questions too. A note supposedly from her deceased father tells her to back off from the assignment which only brings the grief Avery, Tilly and Aunt Midge are still feeling back to the forefront of their minds. Tilly really wants to believe her father is still alive despite the surgeon telling them that he didn't survive his injuries.

Their house is broken into and some documentation about the Emperor's Twins is almost the only thing missing. When a similar break-in occurs at the museum wherein their copy of the documentation also goes missing, Avery is led to Security Guard/local cop Art Smith by another anonymous note who is supposed to be an ally. Then Micah is shot and his house is searched with the documentation on the Emperor's Twins stolen.

The story was well-written. The characters were interesting. I especially liked Avery who was still dealing with anger issues and seeing a therapist after her parents' deaths. It looks like Art Smith could be a love interest in later books that are forecast for this series though Avery isn't ready for any new relationship yet. There were a number of suspects and all were realistic and nicely shady.

I loved this debut ! The new series Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner is the first book in her new Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series. I love Antiques and found this a fascinating mystery and fun cozy to read. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher. My review opinion is my own. This was full of great charcters, fun action scenes and a wonderfully well crafted sleuth. I highly recommend this first in series.

Our protagnist is Avery Ayers. Avery and her teen sister live in the family home with their Aunt following the death of their parents in a car crash a year ago. They are all grieving and recovering as they traverse their new lives without their parents together. They live in fictional Lilac Grove a small area outside of New York City. Their family antique and appraisal shop is located in Manhattan . They have a partner in the business who is helping them with the business since their parents died.

When Avery is hired by a Museum of Antiquities to appraise a beautiful rare Ruby she suspects it may be stolen. With her closest trusted colleagues she investigates and soon clues abound and danger is circling her as she draws closer to solving the mystery.

I loved the rare jewel and antique information that is a welcome part of this fun series. The charcters are well crafted to the story and all add to the fun of reading this outstanding mystery. I look forward to reading the next in series and more adventures by Avery.

Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner is the first book in her new Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series. I chose to pick up this book from NetGalley because I loved the cover. The title is also a perfectly punny cozy title!
Our Amateur sleuth is Avery Ayers. Avery and her sister live in the family home with their Aunt following the death of their parents in a car crash a year prior to the series beginning. We quickly begin to wonder if the car crash was an accident or if foul play was involved. Lilac Grove is a small suburb of New York City. So we have the small-town setting where Avery and her family live, and then we also Manhattan where the family business is located. The family business is an appraisal business that is focused on antiquities and artifacts, we find out the business has suffered since the deaths of William and Anne. Things are now on the upswing due to a couple of contracts Avery's partner Sir Robert has acquired.

My only exposure to the world of appraising antiques and artifacts has been through watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. Tracy Gardner explains the appraisal process in an interesting and easy-to-understand way. I like the variety of character ages in this book. Avery is 25, her sister is a senior in high school, Aunt Midge is sixty, and the people who work with Avery at the museum span the decades from the late 20s to late 50s. A nice mix of points of view.

Tracy Gardner does a very good job highlighting Avery's struggles with mental health after the deaths of her parents. She is seeing a therapist and working on anger issues as well as grief, I appreciated that her pain and her struggle wasn't glossed over in pursue of the mystery plot.

4 Stars to this new cozy series, this one takes some liberties with the standard cozy tropes, and I'm always open to reading new twists on cozy mysteries!

I received an ARC of this book, it may change some when it is in final form. All my opinions are mine!

This was a very different book than the previous one I recently read by the same author. I have to say, I much preferred this one as there was a lot more conflict and forward action. Sedate is fine but doesn't necessarily work well in a mystery/crime story where the whole point is to make it (at least a bit) exciting.

This was a great story and a decently complex mystery. Avery Ayers and her sister Tilly have recently lost their parents in an awful car crash and are currently living with their Aunt Midge and her afghan hound, Halston. Any mystery that involves a dog is already a winner in my books!

Avery is carrying on the authentication of a mysterious ruby that her parents were working on. Is it the missing eye from the Emperor's Twin medallion that the museum has recently acquired? Someone doesn't want this to happen, and Avery and her colleagues find themselves in danger as they continue their work.

There is a very well done romance for Avery, which didn't take anything away from the plot, and although there was a lot of information about gems and their authentication which went a bit over my head, the mystery itself was tied up nicely at the end.

A thoroughly enjoyable read (despite the length of time it took me to read it), and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thrilling debut for new series, Avery Ayers Mysteries, by Tracy Gardner. Please see my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

I was thoroughly charmed by this book! A great start to a new cozy series that I can't wait to keep reading. A shining example of what a cozy mystery can be. Great mystery and suspense with all the cozy elements people love.

From the cover and title we could expect a cozy story with fish. It's not. Avery is the main character in this story that actually has a museum and priceless gems. I learned more about the running of the museum and how a value was placed on possible purchases. There is a really good story of mystery and intrigue. All the characters were interesting with good back stories that link the whole story together. I was entertained! It was a good book.