First in a new action packed series involving antiques and appraisals. Full of twists and turns. You'll not want to put this one down!

Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner is the 1st book in An Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series, and I loved it. I am not a big fan of antiques, but I really enjoyed this story. Avery has taken over her parents family business, Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised, after they were both died. Avery is hired by the Museum of Antiquities to appraise a rare ruby, that might be a long ago lost ruby eye which was stolen. Wow this book is non stop action, with twists around every corner. I could not stop reading this book once I started it. I can not wait for the next book in the series, it's going to be hard to top this one. I strongly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed the setting of this book and the appraisal of gems was very interesting. While I feel for the MC and her sister on the loss of their parents, I found it very difficult to connect with their characters. I also didn't find the mystery fast moving and found myself skimming a lot of this book. There was a lot of repetition. I did find it funny that she went for a "quick run" of 12 miles.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#RubyRedHerring #NetGalley

Avery and her sister Tilly lost their parents a year ago in a car accident. Tilly and Avery were in the back seat. In the wake of their deaths, Avery left her job in New York City and their Aunt Midge moved in to help the girls. Avery is now running her parents business along with their partners. The business has the opportunity to appraise a ruby that might possibly be a missing gemstone for an antique Chinese amulet. Before Avery even hears about the job, she receives a note warning her to not take the job. In the note, nicknames her father used for them are used. Are their parents still alive.

Great story. Their is lots of intrigue and mystery surrounding the ruby and her parents accident.

I loved this story. It kept me turning the page and guessing who was the bad guy. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy and would recommend it for those who enjoy this genre.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my unbiased opinion.

What a smashing series debut! I absolutely loved every bit of this book. Excellent character introduction and a mystery to keep one guessing until the end. We have mystery (the possibility of having 'found' a 'stolen' ruby), a dash of quirk (Tilly) and a dash of romance (makes you go 'aww') - all in the first book of the series!! What more can a cozy mystery lover ask for?

I cannot wait to see what's next for my new favorite amateur sleuth Avery Ayers.

Highly recommended!

I love the characters in this mystery and am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free ARC. This review is posted of my own accord with no monetary compensation from the names mentioned above and/or the rightful owners of this ARC.

Perfect to tuck into your bag for a vacation getaway, this charming cozy mystery will help you pass a couple hours with you feet up. The plot will appeal to people interested in antiques and jewelry and the characters will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and mystery/romances. Nothing unusual or special, but still a lot of fun.

"Ruby Red Herring" was a great cozy mystery. It was different than other cozies that I have read--in a good way. There is some action and adventure. Definitely hoping this becomes a series!

Although I felt that the book started very slowly with way too much detail, I thought that it was a great debut mystery.

The book was well-written with lots of interesting facts about gemstones, jewelry and the museum world. Most of the characters were very likable and I look forward to seeing how relationships progress.

I'm already looking forward to the next one in the series.

This is a fun cozy mystery with a bit of a Nancy Drew like twist. Avery Ayers is an anthropologist and antiquities appraiser. She gets called into the museum to appraise a priceless artifact with a link to Avery's own parents, who died in a car crash a year ago. The origin of the artifact is a mystery, one that will endanger Avery's life and the lives of those around her.

The story takes a while to get going, and I found it hard to connect with the characters. Avery has a bit of a back story but I couldn't relate personally. I loved that the mystery was an anthropological one, rather than a murder. This story didn't follow all of the normal cozy tropes, which was refreshing.

I really look forward to future books in the series and more character development.

This was an absolutely sensational start to a new series!

I usually expect new series to be a bit slow at the beginning because of the need to introduce the characters and their relationships to each other, and there could have been a bit more background at the start, but by the time you are thoroughly involved in the multiple mysteries, the background has been peppered throughout and you have no problems connecting the dots if you are paying attention.

Avery Ayers parents were killed in an auto accident the previous year and now she is not only her sister's guardian but also in charge at the family business, Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised. Avery is starting a new appraisal project which is very high profile, and with it has comes threats, mysterious notes, break-ins, and murder. What does the Xiang Dynasty bejeweled dragon medallion have to do with this appraisal and possibly her parents death?

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! I couldn't put it down! What a gem of a story!

I enjoyed this debut very much! I found that the narrative flowed easily. I liked Avery and the other characters in the book. They seemed very real. The plot was easy to follow but intricate enough to keep my interest and keep me guessing. The technical information about appraising jewelry added authenticity and interest, but was not overwhelming or boring. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Ruby Red Herring, the first book in a new series by Tracy Gardner, isn't the cozy that the cover would lead you to believe.

This mystery has a lot of adrenaline-packed thriller moments: car accidents, explosions, shootings, break-ins.

A year ago, Avery, her younger sister- Tilly, and their parents were in a car crash that killed their parents. Avery is running the family business of authenticating art and antiques with her parents' partners - Sir John and Micah. Avery's authenticating a ruby for a NYC museum when lots of strange, even threatening things start to happen. Calling into question the circumstances of her parents' deaths. And the trustworthiness of those around her.

I enjoyed a lot of the technical aspects of authenticating a gemstone in the book. The behind-the-scenes look at a museum was fun.

The story felt quite fast-paced. I hope that the next book slows down a little and lets us dive a little deeper into the people in Avery's circle of friends and family. And there must be more dogtime with Halston, the Afghan hound!

Another favorite by a great author. The plot of the story was very well written. The author really draws the reader in as you read. I felt like I was an unnamed character in the story. I cannot wait for another story.

I enjoyed this book, although I thought the pacing was slow, It seemed to take forever to get to the meat of the mystery. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I was surprised by who the bad guys were. The ending was interesting. #RubyRedHerring #NetGalley

This is an awesome new cozy mystery by Tracy Gardner! I love her Shepherd Sisters series so I was excited to read this new series and it is just as wonderful. Ruby Red Herring is about Avery Ayers who is an antiques appraiser specializing in gems.. Avery and her teenage sister Tilly lost their parents a year ago in a car accident that the 2 girls survived. Avery now runs the family appraisal business with partners Micah and Sir Robert. Avery and Tilly's Aunt Midge moved in with them to help out. Avery and Micah are hired by the Museum Of Art (MOA) to appraise a ruby that might fit the famous dragon head medallion. It turns out Avery's parents were working on the medallion when they died which is suspicious. Through the museum, Avery meets Art Smith, who is a police Detective and works at the museum on occasion. There is quite a bit going on to keep the reader's interest and the book was hard to put down. Avery receives notes warning her to be careful. There is a movie being made at the museum. Avery finds a dead body. It is a fantastic cozy mystery with likable interesting characters, family, friendship, potential romance, and a very intriguing mystery. This is a unique, well written cozy mystery and should be added to your To Read List. Very enjoyable! #NetGalley #RubyRedHerring #TracyGardner #CrookedLaneBooks

I absolutely loved everything about this book and can't wait for more. There was expert suspense, a world of gem evaluation which was new and instructive and delightful characters. The plot is gritty enough to grab the reader right in, yet not off-putting in graphic violence. I would give it more stars if I could!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Wow. This will be a book everyone’s discussing in the coffee lounge at break time. It’s definitely a winning debut cozy mystery series. Tracy Gardner is a new writer to me, and the Avery Ayers Antiques series is now on my automatic buy list.

I enjoyed the setup of a younger protagonist, Avery Ayers, who has big shoes to fill after her parents are killed in a horrific car accident that Avery and her younger sister, Tilley, fortunately survive. Their parents traveled the world appraising rare antiquities and artifacts and Avery’s now been hired to authenticate a 16 carat ruby for a prestigious museum.

The mysteriousness surrounding the ruby; it’s value; and the fact it could be a precious stone stolen from the eye of the priceless Emperor’s Twins medallion sweep Avery, her family, and her business associates into a dangerous and deceptive mystery. The plot is filled with lies, sabotage, and a coven of suspects that kept my eyes riveted to the pages until the satisfying end.

I loved the compelling main characters—Avery, strong and smart; Art Smith, the security guard (& more); Aunt Midge and her Afghan Hound, Halston; and Tilly, young and brave; just to name a few. While there was some technical talk in regards to jewelry appraising I didn’t understand, it didn’t slow my reading down because there was always action moving this well-plotted mystery forward. Anonymous tips in various forms received by Avery, or Tilly, are a brilliant part of the main plot! The story is captivating. Finally, a recap of suspects, the murderer reveal, and a huge surprise ending—Can you guess what it is? 5 Stars, and I’d give it 10 Stars, if I could! I highly recommend this intriguing cozy mystery.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

Antiques in this cozy sure aren’t antiquated!

Witty, enjoyable read like a cozy mystery book should read. Characters who make you laugh, you find relatable and enjoy their story make it that much more enjoyable.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of RUBY RED HERRING (Book 1 of the Avery Ayers Mysteries), by Tracy Gardner, in exchange for an honest review. Avery Ayers joined the family business, Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised, just before her parents were killed in a car accident. Avery accepts a contract from the Museum of Antiquities to appraise a ruby that may belong to the Xiang Dynasty dragon medallion that Avery’s parents evaluated right before their deaths. In order to figure out whether the ruby is the missing dragon’s eye, Avery must evaluate both the new ruby and the medallion with its remaining ruby. Avery’s work raises questions about the validity of her parents’ authentication, so she begins to investigate their findings and the circumstances around their car accident. When someone is killed, other crimes are committed, and those involved in the appraisal are attacked, it’s clear Avery, with a little help from a new friend, must solve the puzzle of her parents’ deaths and the dragon medallion before she and her family will be safe again.

I liked this book and thought it was a solid start to a new series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, museums, artifacts, authentications, and undercover officers.

#RubyRedHerring #NetGalley