Murder Most Antique is the second Stamford mystery by E.C. Bateman. Released 23rd Nov 2023 by HarperCollins on their One More Chapter imprint, it's a substantial 369 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series is also currently available on KU.

Cozy mysteries set in and around the antiques trades are wildly popular, and this is a good one. MC Felicia is an auctioneer, and once again is drawn into investigating a sudden death which is soon followed by bodies left, right, and centre. The first book in the series was lightly humorous, but this installment has a more serious vibe (could be the body count).

There's a distinct Agatha Raisin vibe, and fans of MC Beaton, Deanna Raybourn, and Richard Osman will probably like this series as well. The resolution and denouement were as expected. This is the second book, and it doesn't work particularly well as a standalone read.

Three and a half stars. It would make a good selection for public library acquisition, home use, or possibly a short binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In this second book in the Stamford Mysteries cozy mystery series, auctioneer Felicia Grant finds herself embroiled in another murder investigation when a speaker for the local fair is found dead.

The setting is lovely and as British as can be, but the plot lagged and the story lacked the humor (humour) of the first title in the series. Nothing outstanding to set it apart from other cozies, recommend this one to mystery readers who enjoy small British villages.

Off the wall and totally far fetched this was a great murder mystery romp. The characters were interesting & the storyline unbelievable but it was enjoyable reading. Would be happy to read more in the series.

One of my favourite things about reading a series is the familiarities, inside jokes, developing relationships, etc. So I was so happy to see that this sequel started off with another quick look at Colin and Margaret, a shifty, enigmatic couple that was introduced in Book 1. They were on the edge of the mystery last time and it seems that they continue to be a mysterious outlier in this story. I can’t wait to meet up with them again soon!

Moving on to the main mystery, there was quite a high body count in this book, which was a bit surprising but also raised the stakes a lot. All the murders were done in very different ways, so that was quite interesting.

I also had a heck of a time trying to figure out the killer. There were so many twists, red herrings, and deaths, that I had to keep changing my guess. In the end, the reveal was quite a surprise to me and I couldn’t help but be impressed.

While this is only the second book in the series, it’s definitely one of my favourites and I can’t wait for more. One of the things that makes this series so good is the relationships between several of the characters.

First, we have Felicia and her relationships – with her father, her son, and her friend Cassie, with her ex-husband Dexter and her (possible) love interest Jack, with her employees and with the police. The mutual respect between her and Pettifer is a nice change from all the grumpy policeman many cozy crime books have.

There was less action in the auction house compared to the last story, but I think that kept things interesting and gave the story a fresh new setting and new characters. I’m so looking forward to the third book in the series and can’t wait to see how the characters continue to develop.

*** Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

An interesting story but there were SO many characters, that it was confusing and I feel that it took away from the .plot. Also there were distractions in the form of filler and the story struggled to maintain focus. The setting was wonderful and I loved the elements of antiques, intrigue and danger. There were twists and turns and I was kept guessing.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion. .

'Who knew a harmless town fair could be so polarising – or so deadly?' just love that and thought this sounded like my kind of book. And I was so glad I got the chance to read it as it put a smile on my face. A great cosy crime read that is entertaining and fun, has all the twists and turns you want and need and it really keeps you guessing.

With great characters, a good plot and a mix of old and new characters I found this book interesting and one I could delve into. Well written and easy to read, it is a great second book in the series and I now can't wait to see what comes next. My only complaint is that I did find it a bit long for this style of book but that didn't detract too much from my enjoyment of it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A good series that is becoming a favourite. Well plotted, likeable characters, a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's highly recommended
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed the second book of this series! Some new characters and some old within the story! Enjoyed the read and look forward to more in the series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I enjoyed the previous book but I think I am now hooked with this second one. Felicia’s returned home to run the family auction house when her crotchety father is indisposed. Her seldom do well ex husband arrives shortly thereafter supposedly to reconnect with their precocious son. Not only is she good at valuing antiques but she has a good eye for detail and helped the local police solve several murders. A slew of deaths during the Georgian Fair seem suspicious to her, although the police seem to think they are not murders…that is until someone is poisoned in front of a crowd of people.

The plot definitely thickens. It is only when Felicia begins to look at how the murders connect and how they differ that she gets the insight into whom the villain is. I had suspected but was saddened when the killer was revealed. I will not say why because it would spoil the suspense and the mystery is too good to ruin.

Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the second in the series and having read the first, I was eagerly awaiting it. I loved it, it's perfect for fans of Agatha Raisin or Father Brown. A cosy village mystery, perfect for a relaxing read.

Loved this second instalment and look forward to the next one in the series.
I loved the Georgian fair idea and the costumes. I found the mystery to be engaging and full of twists.
I am quite attached to all the side characters and Felecia's ex-husband, Dexter has started to grow on me more although I would not want to see them get back together. I would love to see more friendship develop between Felicia and Pettigrew. He has a lovely bond with Algernon and seems to understand him more than Dexter. I'm not overly fond of Felicia's current love interest and I hope that she moves on from him quickly.
Overall this was a book I loved from start to finish. The small town setting, intriguing mystery and the relationships between the characters are the glue that holds this series together for me.

Another great read from this author, love the characters andvthe cozy mystery. I loved the way the story unfolds and the way it keeps you guessing all the way through. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Murder Most Antique is the 2nd-book in E.C. Bateman's Stamford Mysteries series. I really enjoyed the 1st-book in the series, Death at the Auction, and have been eagerly anticipating this follow-up. This Cozy Mystery series follows Felicia Grant, whose has returned to her home village of Stamford to help her Dad run their family-owned Auction House.

In this installment, Felicia has been convinced by her best friend, Cassie, Stamford's Mayor, to assist with the town's annual Georgian Fair. Felicia is mildly put out, but she tries her best to grin and bear it. She's hoping the lavish period costumes will be the worst she'll have to endure.

When the headline speaker is found dead though, it's clear this isn't going to your average fair. As more bodies drop, Felicia finds herself trying to track down another killer. Who says small town life is boring?

I enjoyed this. It's a good book, but I didn't have as much fun with it as the installment. It seemed to drag for me for some reason. It just felt overly-long and I wasn't super intrigued by the mystery. It does kick-off quickly, with a person missing before you are even 10% in, but after that, I don't know, it just never really took off for me.

Yeah, I don't really know what else to say. Sadly, it just wasn't a gripping read for me. At the end of the day, I'm still proper attached to these characters and hope that the series continues. I really enjoy Felicia so much, but I hope if there is another installment that it brings back a bit more of her humor. This one almost felt too serious for her. It sort of lost some of the dynamic magic amongst the characters from the 1st-one.

I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoys Cozy Mysteries that feature small town, or village, life. The amateur sleuthing vibes are on point and I am looking forward to seeing more of Felicia and friends.
Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even though this wasn't a new favorite, I am really hoping we get more books in the series.

Amateur sleuth operating in ‘cosy crime’ novels are currently enjoying their heyday and introducing swathes of readers to the charms of previously neglected but charismatic parts of the UK. ‘Murder Most Antique’ fits into this blueprint and introduces to the setting of Stamford and its hobby detective Felicia Grant. She agrees to help with the local village fair and finds herself faced, in quick succession, with several murders. Might the murderer be closer to home than she thinks? I found the many male ancillary characters – Felicia’s former husband, her son and so on – slightly distracting as I followed her investigations, but overall, this was an enjoyable cosy crime novel that kept me guessing and intrigued as to what Felicia’s next outing might bring. I wish to thank the publishers and Netgalley for the free ARC that I received in exchange for producing this honest, unbiased book review.

Engaging, Unexpected..
The second outing in the Stamford Mysteries, the annual Georgian Fair has arrived in town and auctioneer Felicia Grant has reluctantly been persuaded to help. Whilst some things are expected, dead bodies and murder most definitely are not and Felicia is soon knee deep in another mystery. With a well depicted setting, an eclectic cast of characters, and an engaging and unexpected plot, this is another entertaining entry to the series.

This was part of the Stamford Mysteries series. I remember reading a previous book in the same series, and I enjoyed reading about these characters again. The characters were quite funny, and the story in general was entertaining. If you like humorous cosy mysteries, you may like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

EXCERPT: Coming back here had been good for them all, she concluded, turning her face to the sun with a contented sigh. Algernon had been right when he insisted on it. Now, if it weren't for the unpropitious string of murders which seemed intent on accompanying her every move, she might even be able to take her father's advice and relax just a . . .
Her eyes snapped open. Suddenly, she'd become aware of a prickling sensation across the back of her neck. A tingle of awareness she'd become uncomfortably well-acquainted with during the spring.
Someone as watching her.

ABOUT 'MURDER MOST ANTIQUE': Who knew a harmless town fair could be so polarising – or so deadly?

When auctioneer Felicia Grant’s best friend, Stamford Mayor Cassandra Lane, talked her into helping with the town’s annual Georgian Fair, she expected the worst she’d have to endure was the corset. But when the fair’s headline speaker turns up dead in the hook-a-duck pool, and more murders follow in quick succession, she finds herself investigating a serial killer for the second time in less than a year – and this time the stakes are even higher…

MY THOUGHTS: In one word - disappointed.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Death at the Auction, and was looking forward to this, the second in the series. It was beset by too many characters, too much filler in extraneous details and unnecessary dialogue. Although there was a lot happening with bodies quickly appearing here, there and everywhere, there wasn't much investigation going on. I lost interest well before the killer was exposed and had seriously debated abandoning the read. In hindsight, I wish I had.

If you are planning on reading this, and please do check out other more positive reviews, you will need to have read #1 in the series, Death at the Auction, which lays the foundation for all the complicated relationships in Murder Most Antique.

One interesting tidbit that I did learn was that in the 1700s pig grease was used instead of hairspray to keep hair in place.

⭐⭐

#MurderMostAntique #NetGalley

I: @harpercollinsuk @onemorechapterhc

T: @HarperCollinsUK @OneMoreChapter

THE AUTHOR: E.C. Bateman is a novelist and antique jewelry specialist. Having made the questionable decision to marry an auctioneer, she moved to Stamford and dreamt up the idea for this series whilst living in a converted Georgian flat overlooking St. Mary’s Church in the heart of town. They’ve since decamped to the surrounding countryside with their baby daughter but can still be spotted around the cobbled streets on a regular basis, usually being dragged along by their effervescent cocker spaniel, Audrey.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via NetGalley, for providing a digital ARC of Murder Most Antique by E.C. Bateman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Thanks to ONE MORE CHAPTER and Net Galley for this ARC. I'm so glad a second book was written, the first was brilliant and the second if just as good and it sets up fr a third! I love the character development and the great plot twists. Hope this is a long running series.

Really enjoyed this second installment in this series. The characters are strong and believable and I enjoy that they aren't perfect. I also enjoy the historical setting. I had no idea who the murderer was at all so I think that is a great aspect.

I did hope there would be more development of the mysterious couple who keep showing up but maybe that will be resolved in the next installation (if there is one!).

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, all opinions are my own.

This is the second in a series of which I did not read the first. That may explain why I felt lost with all the people. Overall, it was a fairly typical cozy that was a decent mystery. I did learn some things about the auctioning world.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.