Thank you for sending me this book to read. I really enjoyed it! I loved Freya and her great aunt Carole. It was very entertaining and I just wanted to keep reading it. This is my kind of book. I like mystery type books that are easy to read. Well done C.L. Miller. I look forward to reading more from you!

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by CL Miller.

In this little mystery novel Freya and her Aunt Carole embark on a mission to solve the puzzle of Arthur’s death.

Freya is drawn back into the world of antiques, something she thought she left behind over 20 years earlier, as the mystery unravels.

As a light mystery it was all right. There were aspects that didn’t work for I had a little trouble getting into this book. I felt there was excessive descriptive. However as the story moved along the expressive language likely just made more sense. The potentially fascinating back story was inserted haphazardly throughout the book. The last 1/4 was a little rushed.

I really liked the promise of the characters and the story. I’d really like to see where this could go with a little more polish.

IG review to come.

"The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder" by C.L. Miller begins with a very strong start, immersing the reader in a captivating London atmosphere that promises an exciting murder mystery. The setting is one of the book's highlights, providing that enjoyable London vibe that draws you in. The concept and potential of the story are also commendable, suggesting a great idea at the core.

However, the book falls short in several aspects. One of the main drawbacks is the writing quality, which often feels repetitive and disjointed, with sentences that don't flow well and occasional contradictions. This significantly impacts the overall reading experience, and it's surprising to encounter multiple sentence errors in an advanced reader's copy.

Additionally, the pacing of the story feels stagnant, as the narrative fails to progress adequately, leaving the reader wanting more in terms of plot development. The inclusion of Freya's backstory, while a promising idea, appears haphazardly inserted and distracts from the main storyline.

The use of fortune cookie sayings at the beginning of each chapter, particularly towards the end of the book, feels weak and doesn't add to the narrative. Furthermore, the main characters lacked depth and maturity, making it challenging to connect with or care about their fates.

In summary, "The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder" shows promise with a captivating start and a great concept, but it's let down by issues in writing quality, pacing, character development, and the integration of certain elements. This murder mystery, in the end, falls short of its potential, resulting in a somewhat weak and disjointed story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of C. L. Miller's 'The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder' in exchange for an honest review.

Freya Lockwood is brought back to the world of antique hunting when her mentor and former boss Arthur Crockleford is found dead in his antiques store. Her Aunt Carol is suspicious due to Arthur's recent behaviour and when the two ladies are handed a letter written by Arthur in the days before his death containing an invitation to an antiques retreat and cryptic clues only they can decipher, Freya must draw on her old skills to unravel the mystery surrounding his death.

An entertaining debut novel which has the potential to continue as a series following the adventures of Freya Lockwood. I think this will please mystery fans across the genre and will provide readers with an entertaining weekend of reading. I could see this book and subsequent instalments being picked up for a tv series. .