⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an entertaining little cozy this turned out to be! The writing was outstanding. I stood up well as a standalone. It was well paced. The plot was engaging. I would love to be an antiques and artifacts Appraiser! The plot kept me guessing with plenty of red herrings. There were a couple of side stories (Tilly's issues and the romance between Avery & Art) that I usually wouldn't be a fan of. I find they usually muddy the main plot and take away from the mystery aspect. However, I am happy to report that was not the case here! And the characters were plenty and likable (including some pet cuteness). Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what these characters get up to in the next installment of this series.

**Arc Via NetGalley**

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Is Pennington Manor cursed?

Avery Ayers is about to find out.

She is surprised to learn that Aunt Midge is old friends with Nicholas Pennington, the Duke of Valle Charme. He is planning to sell his mansion on the Hudson River and Antiques and Artifacts Appraised has been awarded the assignment of cataloging and appraising a long list of antiques and valuable artwork. When the Duke attempts to show them his prize possession, a Viktor Petrova timepiece, they discover it is missing. Before they can even attempt to find it a scream rings out. Hurrying to find the source, they find the housekeeper, Suzanne Vick has fallen from the roof to her death . . . the same way the previous housekeeper died.

After Suzanne’s death, Avery determines several of the Duke’s prized heirlooms are missing and have been replaced by inferior copies. The suspects for the missing objects and the murder have to be either part of the Pennington family or their staff, but who? Avery with the assistance again from Detective Art Smith is going to do their best to find out before the thief/killer turns the tables on them.

After reading Ruby Red Herring I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Peril at Pennington Manor and author Tracy Gardner sure didn’t disappoint!

All of the characters I loved in the first book are back and joined by Avery’s dad, William. Avery and Tillie are so happy to have their dad back but they are all still dealing with the death of their mom. For William, it is still especially hard. I loved the way the author has written these characters. William hasn’t really had a chance to mourn his wife’s passing. Tillie has some issues at school abroad and Avery truly was carrying the weight of the business on her shoulders. These characters are true to life and feel so genuine. The supporting cast is so well-crafted too.

We meet several new characters that include the Duke of Valle Charme, his family, and his staff. All developed nicely over the course of the story. Many end up on the suspect list at one time or another giving a vast number of possibilities. They all reside in the fabulous Pennington Manor when they are in the States. The Old English style mansion has its own secrets and plenty of little nooks. It also has a huge pool and circular turret staircases. Outside you will find lily ponds, a greenhouse, perfectly manicured gardens, and a large stable full of horses. A wonderful setting for a mystery or two.

Ms. Gardner has written a delightful mystery with some really nice twists and turns to create moments of misdirection. Very well-plotted, I was kept guessing right up until the very end. The reveal was very exciting with some of our favorite characters finding themselves in peril.

The author also balances out the suspenseful moments with the exact amount of humor needed. Some of it delivered by a clowder of kittens and a majestic Afghan hound named Halston.

I was happy to see that Avery was able to take part in something she had worked hard for before the story drew to a close. Tillie also has a new opportunity and that Art and Avery’s relationship is growing.

Peril at Pennington Manor is a terrific follow-up to Ruby Red Herring. I do recommend reading the books in order because reading this book first reveals something very important that would be spoiled by reading this one prior to Ruby Red Herring.

Another fun installment in the Avery Ames mystery series. This was a good mystery that kept me guessing. I also liked the secondary storyline with Avery's sister Tilly. Good read!

This is the second book in the series and does well as a standalone, but I personally think a series is even better when read from the beginning. The setting for this book is unique and added an interesting twist to the story. The mystery is well done, holds your interest and keeps you guessing. The dynamics of the relationships among the characters is generally as much of an integral aspect of a cozy mystery as the mystery itself. This component of the storyline allows the reader to feel a more personal connection to the characters, their interactions and the struggles in those relationships. This was a very good second installment in the series!

I loved this one. It had a perfect amount of characters and suspense. The setting also added to the story. I will definitely be going back to read the first in the series and looking forward to the next. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

I found the mix of an American background set on the Hudson river, aristocrats (unusual for America) and antique
business people with a penchant for mysteries all put together in an intriguing story.

The aristocrats are finally selling this manor (the one on the Hudson river) and they want all their antiques appraised
and valued for sale. To their dismay Avery and her associates discover right at the beginning firstly that most of the more
valuable pieces are fakes, and secondly that some are totally missing. Added to that when the housekeeper is murdered,
followed by another murder, and the story gets out about the previous housekeeper also being murdered and the story not
widely known and hushed up, Avery knows that trouble is afoot.

The story with the backdrop of antiques and the procedures that one followed in appraising them is a good one. It added a
depth and flavor to the story of murder and mystery and history of this particular family.

Another awesome installment in this new series! I fell in love with the key characters in the first book and just had to see what they were up to this time. That Aunt Midge sure has her connections with getting Avery and her crew an appraisal job for royalty. Something hinky was going on at the Duke's manor though. Things did seem a tad slower than the first book because that one obviously had the constant suspense of the "is he alive or not?" question.

But boy when this one picked up some speed toward the end, I just couldn't read fast enough! The events leading up to catching the perp were pretty suspenseful with Art and Avery sleuthing together. I was never totally sure about whodunit although it wasn't who I originally suspected. But there were definitely some exciting moments going on.

I loved that Avery and Art were getting closer and opening up about themselves, especially Art. The whole cat dad thing was so funny too! And super sweet. Avery got to achieve something she'd always dreamed about, had closure about something else, and her future with Art was definitely looking brighter!

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

This tale, Peril at Pennington Manor follows on from instalment one, Ruby Red Herring, in Tracy Gardner's Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series and I enjoyed reading it immensely.

Avery Ayers, 26 has taken over the family business, Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised, alongside partners and colleagues, Micah Abbott and Sir Robert Lane. The company has an office in Lilac Grove and a branch in Manhattan. She is living back at home with her younger sister Tilly and their eccentric Aunt Midge and her Afghan hound. Her parents' involvement in a road accident hit Avery hard but now Avery's life is very busy as she is off to the Hudson River area where she will be cataloguing and appraising the contents of a castle-like mansion with its conical spires, turrets, and stables. However, a precious antique disappears and the housekeeper falls from a parapet.

The characters are entertaining and well-formulated, the plot has depth and the mystery held my interest throughout. There are romantic moments between Avery and Detective Art Smith and some cute pet moments. I like Tracy Gardner's writing style and I'm keen to read book three.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Excellent second book in the series. Interesting characters and a mystery that kept me guessing....everything I could want and more in my cozies.
Works well as a stand-alone. Definitely recommend.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I enjoyed the first book in this series but I think I liked this one even better! The characters are still recovering from the events of the past year including Avery's dad literally coming back from the dead. All of the Ayers family is adjusting to their new normal and it was interesting how the characters developed.

The mystery was an interesting mix of murder, secrets with a solid dash of antiques theft thrown in. I was fascinated to see how the investigation unraveled and I'm not sure if I was more interested in the antiques that were going missing or the murder investigation itself. In the first book I had some issues with the pacing and some over explaining but neither were apparent here. This is an entertaining interesting mystery and a must read for anyone who enjoys mysteries and history.

Avery Ayers is co-owner of Antiques and Artifacts which appraises items of value. Her company has just gotten the job of appraising the items at a Duke’s Hudson River castle. But things go bad from the start as they find missing and substituted items. When the first day ends in a murder, the pressure builds.

This is the second in the series; however, this is a new series to me. I loved the characters and enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. I look forward to the next in this series.

Peril at Pennington Manor is book #2 in the Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series by Tracy Gardner.

Avery and the team from Antiques and Artifacts Appraised were hired to a mansion to value and authenticate all the valuable antiques. They make some unexpected discoveries and then there is a death disrupting their work.

I really enjoyed this book. Avery and her family have their issues which is not surprising after what they went through, but they care for each other. The mystery was interesting and the setting was incredible. It kept me guessing. I loved the ending and can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Appraiser Avery Ayers is delighted to have the opportunity to secure the company’s grandest assignment of appraising a mansion on the Hudson River thanks to the recommendation of her aunt who is a old friend of the owner. It is a daunting assignment but not only are some of the items found to be fakes but there is the situation of the dead housekeeper who appears to have been pushed to her death. While the team of appraisers attempt to catalog the entire inventory of the castle/mansion as well as trying to trace the disappearance of the valuable missing items, a local detective joins Avery and the appraisers to attempt to find the murderer. A list of many household personnel, both relatives and staff, may be too much of an assignment. A fascinating read as one learns the responsibilities of an appraiser, their tools and many details of items worthy of museum quality. Suspense abounds within the many hidden secrets of the old castle with weather appropriate to a murder. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an Advance Reader Copy and this is my unbiased review.

Peril at Pennington Manor finds Avery Ayers, dad William, Micah and Sir Robert, the staff of Ayer's Antiquities and Artifacts, making their way to Pennington Manor to appraise its contents for an eventual sale. Work is interrupted when the housekeeper, Suzanne, seemingly commits suicide by throwing herself from the roof of the manor. The autopsy reveals that the housekeeper was murdered, and this fact along with the discovery that some of the family's antiques were fakes or actually missing, raises a red flag for Avery and of course she must investigate! Avery's maybe-boyfriend Art, the local detective, takes leave from his job so that he can join Avery and the rest of the crew not only for their safety but to assist the detective in charge with solving the crime.

I looked forward to this book with great anticipation, as the first in the series, Ruby Red Herring, was one of the best mysteries I have read. Pennington Manor did not disappoint. It continues the story of Avery and her family as they rebuild their lives following a terrible tragedy of which we learn about in the first book. Pennington Manor is not just about the mystery and murder which occurs at the manor, but it is the story of Avery finding her way in a new reality. a new relationship with Art, and her younger sister learning to live with her mistakes and moving past these mistakes. Through reading this book you also learn about some of the tools, intricacies and complexities of antique authentication. It's just an all-around wonderful book!

I highly recommend Peril at Pennington Manor, as well as the first in the series, and will look forward with anticipation to book 3 in what I hope will be a long-lived series! Well done Ms. Gardner!

Avery Ayers is part of a small but prestigious antique appraisal firm assigned to survey tje contents of a manor house on the Hudson. Beautiful grounds and antiques but missing collection pieces and the sudden death of the housekeeper ruin the ambiance. Interesting cozy with loads of antiques info to buttress the mystery. Quite enjoyable.

Avery Ayers joins her father William and coworker Micah in appraising antiques at a manor/castle outside New York City. Soon after arrival they find that a valuable pocket watch is missing. Then the housekeeper, Suzanne falls to her death from the roof. With theft and murder, Avery is mostly happy to welcome Detective Art Smith to their team of appraisers to help in the investigation and to provide protection. Additional items are found to have been stolen and replaced with imitations.
The plot is twisty with several good suspects for the thefts. It is unclear for a while whether the murder is associated with the thefts or due to some other reason.
William is still reeling from events that happened before the first book in the series. Tilly, Avery’s younger sister, adds drama to the personal story line. Art and Avery have to figure out if they are going to have a relationship. The author is an advocate for having a good psychologist. The psychologist that Avery meets with is mentioned several times and is to help the family with the trauma discussed in the first book. It’s nice that the author discusses getting help to unravel the challenges in life.
There are lots of things to recommend this cozy mystery - historic homes, antiques, a marathon, cats, several mysteries and danger.
I enjoyed reading Peril at Pennington Manor and the way it ended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I liked this one a lot and I am currently reading the first book in the series to get me up to date. One of the few books in cosy mystery series where I didn't find anything lacking and I like that the series is based around the world of antiques and rare artifacts. Good, well developed characters, good plotline and the pace of the book and mystery is well maintained throughout. The cover art work is eye catching as well.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Tracy Gardner for the e-Arc of the book. This book publishes on 7th June, 2022.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

My first book by this author and I liked her style. [book:Peril at Pennington Manor|59132757] introduced me to Avery Ayers who is a partner in Antiques and Artefacts Appraised. The name describes the business which involves valuing and proving the provenance of valuable paintings, statues, jewellery etc.

Avery, her father and two other partners visit Pennington Manor to do an appraisal on items in the house (or castle) and soon become involved in a succession of murders and apparent thefts of antiques. Avery's on again off again boyfriend is a Detective who quickly gets himself into the investigation.

It is a standard cosy story but the mystery is quite tricky and there are plenty of possibilities for a potential culprit. I also liked the characters very much and enjoyed the romance between Avery and Art. That really is the boyfriend's name. It made me smile considering the theme of the book. Anyway it is a good read for cosy fans.

Avery Ayers and her dad William, headed to Pennington Manor in their roles as appraisers for the Antiques and Artifacts, with the Duke, Nicholas Pennington, there to show them the manor and where to set up. Their associates, Micah and Sir Robert arrived and the four of them set to work. Avery’s Aunt Midge was close to the Duke and had been for years, so by association, he welcomed the group. But it wasn’t long before they, and in turn Nick, realized some priceless pieces were either missing or had been replaced with fakes.

When the housekeeper Suzanne Vick, fell to her death from the high roof of the manor, the police and emergency services were on the scene within minutes. Detective Carter was running proceedings, and indepth interviews followed before anyone was allowed to leave. In the days that followed, Detective Art Smith, a friend of Avery’s, came in undercover, as an appraiser, and worked with Avery. She had good thoughts, suggestions that were feasible, as they worked through the family, staff and others in their search for a suspect in both the murder, and the trouble with the valuable antiques…

Peril at Pennington Manor is the 2nd in An Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series by Tracy Gardner and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I haven’t read the first, I had no trouble working out where things were going. A great character list, a beautiful mansion, and a twisted bad ‘guy’ – the mystery was well done, and I had no clue as to the killer. I went with the flow, happy to let it take me where it would! Looking forward to #3! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I love Tracy Gardner's other series but this I'm not liking this one. I think there's a lot of potential, the characters are fleshed out but I found Avery a bit too juvenile and the story didn't keep my attention
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine