3.5 Stars
One Liner: Good but too slow

Bella Winter moved to Hope Eaton after quitting her job in London. She starts an antique store, using her expertise to make a living.
When Bella finds Professor Oliver Barton dead in the ruins of Raven Hall, she doesn’t think it is murder. However, her assistant, John, asks her to look into the matter due to his suspicions. Soon, Bella realizes something is going on. When another historian’s life ends, it’s up to her to solve the case and avoid becoming the next target.
The story comes in Bella’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
As the first book in a new series, this one establishes the setting, introduces the characters, and solves a mystery. That means we have many new side characters (some are related) to track along with the suspects who pop up from time to time.
The narration is slow-paced, something I did not expect from this book. It feels as if the plot drags, which doesn’t make the story as appealing as it should be.
The premise is actually good. The case kind of overlaps with the MC’s area of expertise (or is adjacent to it). The writing is good too. I wasn’t bored much since there was some new development or information shared regularly. However, it felt like the % wouldn’t move no matter how much I read.
Having a 40+ single FMC is nice. She does seem to act her age so far. I do love her fashion sense. She loves wearing smart clothes from the bygone eras, and the descriptions are super cool. She’s got a backstory too. We get snippets here and there to get an idea about her arc.
The setting is cozy but with a touch of darkness. Suits the season as well! The antique shop adds to the layers. We see the MC in her stores and listen to her observations of customers and how she gets them right most of the time. (It is nice when the sleuth also follows her original profession in cozy mysteries)
There are more than enough suspects to keep the reader engaged. Each of them seems likely to have a motive. The reveal is logical and brings everything together. Though we get a lengthy explanation, it occurs before the action which leads to a final conclusion.
John could be Bella’s brainy Watson but needs some personality. Right now, their conversations are bland. I think it was supposed to be dry humor but it didn’t come across that way. I’m willing to give it a chance, so let’s see.

To summarize, The Antique Store Detective is not a bad cozy mystery. It is a good book with likable characters and a well-planned plot. However, the too-slow pacing and a long list of characters don’t help. Still, I will read the next book to see how it goes.
This is the author’s genre, so I’m hoping the subsequent books will get better.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is the first book in a new series, following Bella, her antique store, and a mysterious murder that the police don't even suspect could be foul play... At least until Bella and her friend/employee John do a little digging of their own.

I really enjoyed meeting Bella, she was funny smart, and determined to prove that the body she came across was a victim of a murder. There are plenty of suspects, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you invested and turning the page. I'm excited to see what's next for Bella, and how her and John are going to solve it!!

The Antique Store Detective is a new series from Clare Chase. I always prefer to start with the first entry of a new series and happily settled in to meet Bella!

The lead character is Bella Winter. She's opened up a new antique store in the village of Hope Eaton. She's settling in nicely - until she's the one who comes across the body of a known resident. The local constabulary is very busy - and from Bella's viewpoint, could use a little help. Who better but herself! With a few helpers that is.

We meet many of the villagers as Chase builds her setting, population and plot. Which provides for a long list of suspects, including some of those working with Bella! You do have to be on your toes with who is at the top of the list as some residents are on it more than once.

All the elements are here for a 'cozy'. Small village, Cuthbert the cat, an amateur detective, clues and red herrings, a light tone, and maybe a romance? We'll have to see about that possible romance - and what the next 'case' will bring.

I've read and enjoyed Clare Chase's Eve Mallow series, so I was eager to see what this new sleuth was like.

Bella moved to her Hope Easton after her career in London hit a roadblock to open up her own shop. A broken boiler forces her to rely on the generosity of a friend of her mother's. What she didn't expect was finding a body. The victim is Oliver Barton, a well-liked professor of archaeology. The police think it was an accident, but Bella believes there's more to it than that. Encouraged by the people around her, she starts to investigate.

I loved Bella Winter! She grew up with a police officer father and an eccentric hippy mother and half siblings, Bella still came across as likeable and practical with that nosey nature a good sleuth needs. Bella has a group of close friends who help her investigate, adding a nice bit of camaraderie to the story.

The mystery was a fun one too, with plenty of suspects, clues and misdirection to keep me guessing.

My worry was that it might be a bit 'samey' when comparing it to the Eve Mallow series, but those fears were unfounded. The settings and characters felt completely different and fresh.

Of course, this is a cozy mystery, so the pacing is a little slower, but the puzzling mystery and likeable characters carried me along to the end.

A brilliant start to the series and I look forward to seeing more from Bella and co!

I know absolutely nothing about antiques, and yet cozy mysteries dealing with antiques and antique shops have been among some of my favourites in the past year (maybe it’s a growing sub-genre?) In any case, while I love the idea of antique and vintage furniture, and the excitement of auctions and hunting down treasures, this is one hobby I’m definitely going to enjoy from afar. So, I was definitely interested in starting this new series by Clare Chase.

Bella is very content with life in her small village and her little antique store. I loved meeting the people of Hope Eaton, including all the members of the Jenks family, like Bella’s employee John. While there were quite a few “regular” characters introduced, but they all had pretty distinct personalities and it was never hard to keep track of everyone and what their roles were.

And they definitely had their roles. Whether due to their occupation or their village connections, Bella puts all her friends to work solving this case. I found it really fun to see them all get in on the action. Usually the amateur sleuths in mysteries work alone, or with one other trusted person (sometimes from the police force), but Bella definitely has a whole crew along for the ride! While Bella is still the “main sleuther”, many of her circle provide valuable clues or insights as well.

Which is probably just as well, since the local police force seems to be too distracted or busy to bother solving not one, but two, suspicious deaths! It was almost funny how non-existent they were as Bella dug up all the clues, narrowed in on the suspects, and solved the murder. Maybe next time they’ll be more involved?

In any case, there was plenty of action to keep things moving along and it did take me awhile to hone in on who I thought the murderer was. There were lots of great clues, red herrings, and misdirects to keep the reader guessing and the conclusion and reveal was quite satisfying.

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

So great to discover a new contemporary, cosy murder mystery
This time with a detective who likes antiques and their history.
Her father was a detective in the local police in years gone by
So sleuthing is in her blood and she can't resist solving mysteries to try!

This all starts after her an emergency stay
With a local couple who live not far away.
After that night she was off home but on her way
Finding a dead body certainly spoiled her day!

Asked by a friend to look into what really happened there
Bella and John will need to take great care.
What first appeared to be an accident is now a more suspicious scene
Especially from what John knows of the victim and four queens.

The list of possible suspects for foul play
Seems to grow larger day by day.
Can Bella and John, with the help of others,
Be sure that the truth they will uncover?

With lies, secrets and surprises, too,
This is the first in a series that is new.
I loved the sense of community and friendships, too,
With an intriguing plot and so many things to go through!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Bella Winter is quite naturally stressed out after finding a dead body. As she is now the owner of an antique store, Bella is no stranger to mysteries. She revels in finding the best deals, talking to her customers, and even lending an ear when they want to share their issues with her. While Bella is fairly certain that the police will find the killer, after her coworker asks her to look into things, what else is she to do? The situation is especially significant for Bella as the victim recently had something of great importance in his possession shortly before his death.

All the while Bella cannot help but remember her father and how he was so successful with investigations. This makes her miss him madly. But when things begin to point to a mysterious connection to her father, Bella really digs deep for answers.

The Antique Store Detective is the first book in a new series, presenting Bella as a likable and competent character. I look forward to continuing this series and seeing Bella solving more crimes. Also, the setting of her owning an antique shop is quite clever. Having thoroughly loved Clare Chase’s Eve Mallow series, I know I am going to enjoy this new series just as much.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This is a first in a new series by the author of the Eve Mallow mysteries. Bella Winters, owner of her own antique store, discovers a body of a well-liked local man. But this man was hiding secrets including a tendency for nighthawking, illegally digging in archaeological designated places of note. When Bella doesn't think the overworked local police are taking the death seriously she intends to investigate herself after all her father was a detective and taught her well. But Bella will need help from her friends to follow all possible leads and catch a killer before they strike again....

The mystery is good with lots of suspects, plenty of twists and an exciting end. I like Bella, a confident woman with a strong sense of right and wrong which means she pursues justice if she thinks the local police aren't. There are a lot of characters and I couldn't keep them all straight all the time. With more books in the series I am sure to get to know them better. There's an adorable neighbor's cat that keeps on sneaking into her house that I am a sucker for. It was funny when the neighbor came over to ask for the cat back and she said the cat isn't here but sure enough he was.

I will definitely read more of this series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Clare Chase for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Antique Store Detective coming out August 7, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I am obsessed with cozy mysteries! I love that this was an antiques cozy mystery. I love old historical things, so that added a unique quality to the book for me. I think Bella was a strong and fun character. I think she was very competent at solving the mystery. The mystery itself was great! I love the writing. There wasn’t a ton of romance, but there were hints of it. I am excited to see what happens in the next book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy antique mysteries!

Generally I love Clare Chase’s books, but this one was an exception as I just liked it. It was a bit overly done for my liking. I’m not sure what some of the relationships were between some characters and I found myself wondering about that the whole time. Ah well. Next one may be better as I have never not loved her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clare Chase for the eARC!

I did like this book. It was a fun read. It’s got very cozy vibes, and I liked the characters. Basically, Bella (fmc) moves back to her hometown Hope Eaton, where she runs an antique store. While staying as a guest at an old couples’ house (I don’t even know what the relationship was between Bella and the couple. Family friends? Just a couple renting a room? I have no idea), she discovers the dead body of a local professor. Suspecting foul play, she teams up with a ridiculous amount of people to solve the mystery.

This book was a bit difficult for me to get through. I’m really big on correct grammar and punctuation, especially in books. There were 19 instances (that I commented on) where the grammar was weird, the punctuation was weird, or whatever was being said made absolutely no sense. Granted, some of it may be because of US/UK differences in writing, but I think a lot of it was just incorrect. There were a few instances where a word did NOT belong in the sentence. It made no sense at all. It was really annoying to read, I’m not going to lie.

One thing I didn’t like was the sudden romance between Bella (the fmc) and her coworker’s brother? Where did that come from??? There had only been one interaction with him in the book (and no other previous mentions, other than the fact that he was related to her coworker) before, and I quote, “An unexpected warm spark lit somewhere deep inside her.” Like, no it didn’t.

I also saw the murderer coming from a mile away. I remember being 80% through the book, and Bella had ruled out like, 5 different people and had no idea who the killer was. There was also a character (Bella’s godfather) that seemed kind of useless to me? Like, why was he there? He was pretty much useless in solving the mystery. Literally the only thing he did was encourage Bella to dig deeper into it.

This is turning into a mini rant, so I’m going to end it here: I did like the book, but it’s probably not one I would pick up again for fun. I would probably recommend this to someone who’s just getting into reading, either in general or in the mystery genre. I probably wouldn’t buy it for myself, but it was a pretty good book, so ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The first book in a new series about Bella Winter who owns and runs an antique store.

Early in the story she comes across a body and later there is another one. The local police do not seem to be very capable so Bella and her group of friends begin an investigation. There is a lot of interesting information about lost treasure and something called nighthawking, which is when people trespass on private property and use metal detectors to help them dig up historical remains which may be worth a great deal of money.

The mystery is good as is the group of friends once you have adjusted to all the different names. Poor Bella does not get much romance although there is a hint that the next door neighbour with the Houdini-like cat may get more pages in the next book. I will certainly be up for reading book 2.

4.5 Stars
Bella Winter has moved back to the charming Hope Eaton for some peace and quiet after quitting her busy city job following a scandal. She delights in spending time in her little antique store ‘Vintage Winter’, hunting for bargains at auctions, and getting to know everybody – because if there’s one thing Bella’s good at, it’s solving other people’s problems. Then in the middle of winter her central heating boiler breaks down, her mother arranges for Bella to stay overnight with the Howards at Raven Hall. when leaving she finds eccentric local historian Professor Oliver Barton dead in the ruins in the grounds of the Hall. At first, Bella is like everyone saddened by a tragic accident. But then her colleague John asks her to dig deeper. Because the dead man gave him an ancient coin he should never have had, and John thinks he was murdered.
The start of a new series & the beginning of the book was spent setting the scene so the pace is steady but does pick up the further into the book you get. I really liked Bella who was her policeman father’s only daughter & she’s moved back into the converted police station where he was stationed. I also like John Jenks her assistant, the pair are like chalk & cheese but complement each other really well. John is the member of a large local family who we gradually got to know – I’m sure they’ll add much to the series. The case is intriguing, there are plenty of suspects & there are also plenty of twists, turns & red herrings. Bella has inherited her father’s nose for seeking out justice. A very good series starter & I look forward to more
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

The book is the first in the Bella Winter Mystery series by Chase. It was a great introduction to her writing style for me and such an entertaining, fun read, so much so that I've just signed up to tour the second book too.

It's fast paced, has a good solid plot and a brilliant ensemble of quirky characters. Lead protagonist Bella was easily likeable and I didn't need much persuading to become emotionally invested into her character.

An enjoyable start to the series, The Antique Store Detective is a compelling cosy mystery with red herrings aplenty and a satisfying conclusion.

I make no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of this author - especially her wonderful Eve Mallow series - so it was a bit of a no brainer that I would dive straight in with this, her latest series, featuring Antique Store owner Bella Winter. And I wasn't disappointed at all!
We start with Bella's boiler breaking down, leaving her freezing with no hot water. He mother swiftly wrangles her an invite to stay overnight at Raven Hall. In the morning however she is shocked to discover the body of local historian Prof Oliver Barton lying dead in the grounds...
Deemed a tragic accident by the police, Bella, along with John - her colleague in the Antiques store she owns - decide to start their own investigations... With a father for a detective prior to his death, she definitely has the grounding to do a good job...
This book is a wee bit repetitive and convoluted and, dare I say messy. I did flounder along the way a tad. But as I trust the author implicitly, I was never going to give up and I knew it would all eventually come together nicely, which it most definitely did! It also took me a wee while to get to know Bella. There wasn't the instant connection that I would have preferred. But sometimes the best relationships are built on shaky ground initially and we did eventually come to an understanding by the end of the book. I did however take to John from the off so that helped, although he does appear to be related to EVERYONE in the village!
There are a lot of characters to get to grips with too. But I did just about manage to get them all straight in my head and I guess we'll be reconnecting with them in future books. Much like with Eve's books, it was definitively a case that involved the whole village!
All in all, a good solid series opener which did satisfy me at its conclusion and left me wondering what will be next for Bella... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Bella Winter owns an Antiques Store, but solving mysteries is in her genes. When she finds a local professor dead by the side of the road, the local police writes it off as an accident, but Bella is convinced there's more to it. As Bella digs into the professor's past she finds there's more to this incident than first meets the eye.

While I enjoyed the premise of the story, the pacing was slow, and ultimately I won't be picking up the second in the series.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publisher Bookouture, and author Clare Chase, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for August 7, 2024.

Author, Clare Chase is no stranger to classic mystery writing. She’s authored two classic mystery series, each one featuring a female protagonist - Eve Mallow and Tara Thorpe. The Antique Store Detective is my first read by this author. I was drawn to the story by its title or, more specifically, the words “Antique Store”. Have you ever walked into an antique shop, where the smells and collections have left you feeling nostalgic and full of memories? This feeling is precisely why I love antique shops; whether you are searching for a specific piece or for a little inspiration, antique shops offer many beautiful (pre-loved) collections waiting to be adopted and taken home.

Bella Winter owns and operates an antiques store in the small village of Hope Eaton called Vintage Winter. Bella’s late father was a police officer and would have loved for his only daughter to carry on in his footsteps; but although Bella inherited her father’s keen mind and “investigative” nature, Bella’s love of all things old won out. Moving from London back to Hope Eaton, into the former home of her late father, provided Bella with some wonderful memories, and although the home’s previous owners had made some upgrades; unfortunately, a new boiler was not one of them. So when the old boiler finally gave up the ghost (mid-shower eek!), Clare was left with no heating or hot water until a repair could be scheduled. A phone call to her mother provided a fortuitous answer to her problem of where to stay until the boiler could be repaired. Raven Hall, the stately home of Harvey and Alexis Howard - and friends of Bella’s mother. The husband and wife had plenty of empty rooms just begging to have visitors.

The following morning, when Bella departs Raven Hall to return home, she discovers the body of a local retired professor and nighthawking enthusiast, Professor Oliver Barton. The Professor’s life had come to a gruesome conclusion when, it appeared, he had been hit on the head with a rock while nighthawking on Raven Hall grounds. Ever her father’s daughter, Bella finds herself investigating the suspicious death of Professor Barton just as her father would have had he still been alive.

Bookish Yays:

🌟Location, Location, Location - small English village - stately manor house - yes please!

🌟Plot threads - loved the “nighthawking” element. The term "nighthawking" describes the illegal search and removal of artefacts using metal detectors by people who don't have permission to be on the land.

History lesson incoming!

"See a penny, pick it up and all that day you'll have good luck" (I first heard that little rhyme on an episode of Laverne & Shirley, an American sitcom that ran in the late 70s) - it's something we've all told ourselves on those harmless occasions we've spotted small change on the ground.

But there are times when pocketing the odd silver or gold coin truly breaks the law. According to many heritage groups, illegal metal detecting - or "nighthawking" as it is more commonly known - is sweeping the spine of the east of England, and robbing Englanders of a chance to examine the past and causing damage and strife to landowners. Nighthawking isn't a new problem - it has been around since the 1970s - but the scale of the issue wasn't fully appreciated until 2009 when a national survey, external commissioned by English Heritage revealed 240 sites were affected by the activity between 1995 and 2008.

Bookish Mixed Bags:

🧐 Pace - I found the pacing slow going. There was a lot to set up at the beginning of the story - lots of characters and filling in their backstories; by the time I got to the investigation I found I was less invested in the whole thing. Which is a good segue for my next mixed bag -

🧐 Length - it would have benefited with some careful editing.

🧐 This reader also wasn’t a fan of the protagonist’s portrayal of the local police sergeant, Detective Sergeant Barry Dixon. Our protagonist didn’t hold back on her dislike of the local Detective Sergeant. However, this reader had a lot of empathy for him, I mean the guy is a small fish in an even smaller pond (police force), he has four children all of whom are under seven; his wife is a vet who is out at all hours and often calls on Barry to assist her when he’s off duty. Cut him some slack Bella!

3 ✨ rounded up to 3.5

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

#TheAntiqueStoreDetective #NetGalley

The Antique Store Detective is my introduction to Clare Chase. Now I know that she is the author of two mystery series featuring female protagonists: she’s previously written the Eve Mallow series and the Tara Thorpe series. The old-fashioned cover of this book caught my attention! The Antique Store Detective takes us to the UK and the charming town of Hope Eaton, where Bella Winter has opened a little antique shop. She’s moved into the former home of her late father, who was a policeman and had a great influence on his daughter. The flat’s previous owners had made some wonderful upgrades; unfortunately, a new boiler does not seem to be one of them. By chance, her mother called as Clare was scheduling a repair, and she’s arranged for Clare to stay with friends of hers. Clare protests, but reluctantly agrees.

While she feels like an awkward guest, the visit proves to be eventful in a totally unexpected way. After thanking her hosts and heading for the shop the next morning, Clare stumbles upon the body of a man near the ruins of Raven House, where she had just spent the night. The dead man is identified as Professor Oliver Barton, who was familiar to many in the town, especially those who patronized the local inn, the Blue Boar. Oliver was known for his tippling as well as his gambling. Clare also discovers his habit of nighthawking, and the reader soon learns that the adage, “like father, like son,” applies to daughters too. Clare seems to be a chip off the old block as she has caught the detecting bug, and her instincts tell her that Oliver’s death was no accident.

John Jenks, her employee and friend, is related to or knows almost everyone in town, it seems. Soon Clare, John and a group of others who knew Oliver assemble to put their heads together and compare notes. They discuss the man and potential suspects. There is a plethora of characters in this story, and I could not keep them straight. The plot struck me as overly long and at times, redundant. However, by about the 75% mark, my interest piqued, and the finale was quite exciting. I liked the antique store as a backdrop as well as the gatherings at the pubs and restaurants with the locals. This book may not be “homey” enough for some cozy fans, but it does have its moments.

I received a digital copy of Antique Store Detective in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Clare Chase.

3 stars

This started out slow but picks up in the middle. I appreciate the lead actually doing detective work as opposed to just sitting down and letting the clues fall into her lap. What I didn't appreciate was the amount of copaganda to be found within the pages. To be fair, it's not overt and we are shown examples of cops who are corrupt and lazy.

The mystery dragged on a little towards the end but the conclusion was satisfying. I could have done without the shootout at the end but to each its own.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

The Antique Store Detective is a fantastic start to a new cozy mystery series from experienced mystery writer Clare Chase. I loved this book from cover to cover and will keep reading this series for as long as Clare Chase keeps writing it. I am officially a Bella Winter devotee!

This book had a lot to like, so I'll keep it brief and touch only on my favorite things.

The Cover

I loved the clean look of this cover. The white space helped everything stand out and drew my eye to the title and the central image. The blue, black, and red were great color choices.

The Hook

I really liked the antique store hook. The book has little details about vintage and antique items—music, novels, clothing, coins, furniture, etc. The name of the antique store is also clever—Vintage Winter. Despite my limited knowledge of antiques, the book's attention to detail about vintage and antique items—music, novels, clothing, coins, furniture, etc.—was engaging and accessible.

The Sleuth

The amateur detective, Bella Winter, was one of my favorite aspects of this book. It is challenging to write an intelligent, strong character who is also down-to-earth, vulnerable, and likable, but Clare Chase has nailed it with her character Bella Winter. Bella's backstory is unique and interesting and helps support who she is as a character and why she is such a good sleuth. I appreciated that and enjoyed the way she developed as the plot unfolded.

Relationships

I really liked the relationship between Bella and her friend John in this book. I also enjoyed the way Bella reminisced about her father. The relationship between Bella and her flighty mother was also interesting. Not every relationship has to be perfect in a cozy. I liked that Clare Chase demonstrated that in this book.

The Mystery

The Antique Store Detective offers an excellent puzzle mystery. It had me hooked right from the start and kept me interested throughout. The mystery deepened as the book went on and became even more baffling (in the best way possible) with each clue. The mystery was fair, the clues were well laid, and the reveal was satisfying, which is essential to me as a mystery reader.

Sequels

I eagerly await the sequels to The Antique Store Detective!

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for a chance to read and review this ARC.