Member Reviews

3.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Atria Books for the advanced reading copy!

Another solid book in the series! This one started off strong but lost me a little bit in the middle/end. Similarly to the first book, there are SO many characters — even more in this one — and it’s hard to keep track. I do think different narrators on audio would make a huge difference in being able to follow who is who. The premise this book was pretty unique and interesting, and a clever switch up from book #1, while still flowing nicely. I really love Freya & Carole, both as individuals and a duo. They play off of each other in such funny ways and Carole especially keeps the reader on their toes. I’m interested to see where this series goes next, and where Freya’s little flirtationship with Phil goes!

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Thank you so much to NetGalley and C.L. Miller for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea coming out February 18, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I haven’t read the first book in the series. I thought the setting of the book was really interesting. A cruise on the Red Sea would be really interesting. I think Freya was a great character. I love the plot surrounding antiques. I think it felt like an Agatha Christie novel. There were some slow parts during the middle of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the book! I would check out other books by this author!

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

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The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea by C.L. Miller was an amazing cozy mystery.
Fantastic story, brilliant writing, wonderful characters and an enticing story.
I thought the pace of the mystery was good and I couldn’t wait to find out who did it!
Overall this was an enjoyable fun mystery!

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the Lockwoods are back in action, and this time they're actually a formal antique hunting agency.

This starts with planning to go on an antiques cruise, being removed from the cruise, and then getting caught up in a mystery that means they have to find a way to get back onto the cruise. We once again see there's more from our dear departed Arthur Crockleford than we ever could've imagined, but Freya and Aunt Carole are slowly turning more pages in the life of the man they loved who was just trying to do the right thing.

While there are some returning characters, we also get plenty of new faces and new intrigue in the world of antiques and antiquities, danger, murder, and this is not the right time for flirting kind of situations.

I think describing this series as "cozy" isn't quite right - there's too much danger for that to be the right word, but they aren't unbearably tense either. I'd say these are headstrong mysteries - sometimes Freya and Carole have no idea what they're doing, but they're going to do it because it's the right thing. And because of Carole, they're going to look good and maybe have some fun while doing it.

I look forward to the next one!

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Coming back to these characters is the equivalent of going home after a long journey. You meet new and incredible characters and discover new sides of the ones you already know. I also feel like we are getting more and more backstory about Arthur, which is great because this man is so mysterious. I'm having a really hard time figuring out his next move and that's amazing! Furthermore, the stakes get higher in this book which is interesting because you see Freya going out of her way to make any deal to get more information. Feels like she is letting loose compared to the first book where she was more rigid. Overall a great read! I'll always be happy to read any book from C.L. Miller. They know how to write a great mystery novel while still keeping it cozy and with surprising twists.

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My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Atria Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Cozy Mystery
Spice Level: Nothing on the page other than some innuendo
Language: Infrequent profanity
Format: Multiple POVs

THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S DEATH ON THE RED SEA caught me from page one and never let go!

Even though I'm going to call this book a cozy mystery because one of the main people trying to solve the mysterious problem is an amateur, it technically breaks the unwritten rule of cozies because there are a few swears. AND I would also say it's more of a suspense novel because we have POVs from various guilty/dastardly people.

Freya, the main character, is extremely likable as she bumbles her way through trying to figure out the clues left by her uncle and who is guilty and what on earth they're going to do to catch the Collector. I'm always a sucker for characters older than 30.

One of the things I loved about this book is that I can feel the history behind each of these characters. It makes it feel so much more real!

I also love antiques and arts, so I was bound to love the book.

I'm not sure if there are enough clues to figure everything out as the reader, but I enjoyed the ride so much, it gets all the stars from me. I will definitely read more by this author.

Happy reading!

PS: There is a very slow burn romance going on too. (One of my favorite things.)

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I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea by C.L. Miller from Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada in order to read and give an honest review.

…suspense in addition to the intricate plot, which seamlessly weaves together backstories, antiques, and danger....

Antique hunter Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole are back and this time, their pursuit of stolen artifacts takes them on a Red Sea cruise, where they must unmask “The Collector,” a shadowy figure trafficking in stolen antiquities and murder. I loved this entry in the series, especially since the setting evokes Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile”.

Although often out of her depths, with help from beyond the grave from her predecessor Arthur by way of cryptic clues left behind in paintings and journals, and with a little help from her friends, Freya proves that she is up for the challenge.

This well-written and intriguing follow-up is a brilliant addition, especially with friends and foes from her previous book “The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder” intertwined in the plot . The multifaceted and well-developed characters, both familiar and new, add another layer to the story. My only issue at times is Freya’s naivety in certain scenes which makes the story a bit flat for me. While I loved the first book in the series, “An Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder,” this sequel may be my favourite thus far. There were so many things to like, especially the locked room atmosphere of the cruise ship, which adds a layer of suspense in addition to the intricate plot, which seamlessly weaves together backstories, antiques, and danger. Told from multiple points of view Antique Hunters Death on the Red Sea is a fast-paced, captivating, fun, and cleverly woven cozy that will keep the reader flipping the pages. I look forward to reading more about Freya and Carole’s adventures in the future.

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I struggled with this as I didn’t realize it was a sequel, I think it can make a great standalone but I was too in my head thinking I missed something.

The pacing felt off. The first half felt longer than it needed without the development I was hoping for but tv e ending was great and I enjoyed the someone abrupt open ending. I would definitely read the first book and circle back on this one.

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I enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint! I enjoy books set on cruise ships, and this locked room mystery, trapped on the high sea, was an intriguing read from start to finish. The setting is atmospheric and claustrophobic as the danger closes in.

One of the things I enjoy most about this series is the relationship between antique hunter FMC Freya and her quirky Aunt Carol. This time, the duo set sail onboard a cruise ship, hunting down a stolen painting, an underground art trafficker called "The Collector."

In addition to the fabulous duo of Freya and Aunt Carol, Phil, the uncover FBI agent specializing in art theft, and a few other familiar faces are back. And there is a large group of suspects onboard. I enjoyed the variety of personalities and the vivid characters. Freya is a likable and dedicated sleuth, and I appreciated that she showed growth and increased confidence from our introduction to her in book one. Aunt Carol, though, is my favorite character. She is charming, glamorous, and a little eccentric, bringing humor and lightheartedness to the story.

The mystery is intriguing and well-plotted, with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. The pacing overall is good and builds toward the end, along with the suspense. I love the fascinating history and antiques lessons scattered throughout the story. I also enjoy the overarching storyline of Freya's Uncle Arthur's journals, which contain their own mystery and add a nice layer to the stories, although this works as a standalone. Charming, engaging, and fun, and I can't wait to see where the series takes us next!

Fans of cozy and locked-room mysteries and antique lovers will want to add this one to their tbr!

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted book!

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I got about 30% into this book and ended up having to DNF it. I had been looking forward to reading this book because I thought it’d come across like Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. I also love Aunt Carole and she makes any scene that she’s in.

My problems, unfortunately, start from the very beginning of the book thought. It all starts with them not even being on the ship, which gave me a bit of whiplash when the scene changed. I also felt like there were too many characters introduced too fast. Then there were some that were introduced (like Skye) who seem to have much larger roles to play that needed to be much more deeply explored, but then were given too quick of an explanation as to their actual motives.

On top of all of that, the whole story was chugging along too slowly for me. The chance to hook the reader in, to me anyway, was lost. And Freya’s personality was as just bland. I was hoping for some more confidence and growth that I had seen in the last book coming through in this book. Instead she just came across as boring. Simply not a book for me, which is disappointing because I loved the first book.

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Freya and Carole are thrust into the antiquities black market when a painting goes missing from the local village. Their investigation will stretch all the way to an antiquities cruise & a mysterious Collector.

I loved the change of scenery. I’ve recently been in a cruise and it was a lot of fun to see my inexperience with ships reflected in Freya’s! And the relationship between Freya and Carole continues to charm me. The spark between Freya and Phil also finally gets some tinder!

But there too many characters and too many underdeveloped red herrings, and with all the uneven POV switches, it made it tough for me to be fully invested.

Thanks to both NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc.

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I loved The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder so I was excited for this and it did not disappoint. I felt just as hooked and invested in this as I did the previous book.

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The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea is the second book in a series by C. L. Miller and this time we find Freya Lockwood and her plucky Aunt Carol further embroiled in the unpleasant doings of the underworld of the black-market art and antiquities trade. This time, the hunt for a missing maritime painting, which disappeared from a small village museum, takes them on a cruise from the eastern Mediterranean to the Red Sea and overland to Petra in Jordan. Freya and Aunt Carol encounter charming and dastardly characters as the murder mystery unfolds, getting themselves in and out of all manner of dangerous situations along the way. As an art and antiquities professional myself, I enjoyed following them on yet another high-stakes adventure. While at times the plot seemed a trifle predictable and the number of identical vampire brides at a costume ball was utterly inconceivable, I appreciate the less-cozy setting of these mysteries and relish the escapism. I also long for more scenes of Freya’s audacious Aunt Carol—a sassier, sexier, 21st-century, Miss Marple wanna-be. She is fantastic! Anyway, 3.5 stars rounded up for this one and I look forward to their next adventure.

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A painting disappears from a maritime museum and Freya's new antique-hunting agency is called to investigate. When the clues lead to a cruise specializing in antiques and Freya and Carole realize that the ship's art gallery is filled with stolen antiques and not copies, their search for the missing painting lands them in a very dangerous situation, one in which they have no idea who they can trust.

The is the second book in this series, and unfortunately I didn't like it as much as the first book. It didn't help that the Kindle version I received was the text of the first book rather than the new installment. W hen I attempted to re-download the book, the Kindle option was no longer available, forcing me to read the book via Adobe Digital Editions, a format I find cumbersome and inconvenient. Putting all that aside, I really didn't care much for Freya and cared even less for and about Carole, who seemed especially ditzy and clueless.

There were so many other characters it was hard to keep track of them all, and the multitude of red herrings made my head hurt. I gave up trying to figure out precisely what was going on and who was behind it all, but I wasn't surprised when it all was revealed at the end of the book.

I don't know if there will be another book in this series, and I'm not sure I'll read it, but if I do, I'll be sure to temper my expectations.

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I enjoyed the first book in this series, which introduced antiques specialist Freya Lockwood and her goal of becoming an antiques investigator. This second installment is Freya's first case: an antiques cruise to Jordan, on which a mysterious underworld art trafficker known only as The Collector is rumored to be operating. Freya and her delightful aunt Carole join up to solve the puzzle.

I appreciate the expertise with which the author approaches the antiques element of these books. I also love Freya and Carole together and the overarching series plot about Freya's former mentor that teases future antiques mysteries. The writing is serviceable and the mystery appropriately intriguing, but nothing too puzzling to figure out. I do question Freya's survival skills (she often runs right into danger with little to no plan) but things always turn out fine.

Overall a charming series that's a comfort to read.

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The 2nd book of the Antique Hunters Series. I am already ready for the next one! I loved all the fun historical elements in the antiques and pieces of jewelry. The characters are relatable and real. I thought the first book was a little better but still enjoyed this one! A series worth getting your hands on! 3.75 stars/5 rounded up.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

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"In this follow-up to the USA TODAY bestselling "utterly charming mystery" (Robyn Harding, author The Party) The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder, Freya Lockwood and Aunt Carole are on the hunt once again to return priceless stolen antiques and catch a dangerous criminal abord a cruise ship.

When a painting vanishes from a maritime museum and a dead body is found nearby, the newly established Lockwood Antique Hunter's Agency, Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole, are called to investigate.

Following a lead that takes them aboard a glamorous antiques cruise sailing toward the Red Sea in Jordan, they quickly discover that the ships art gallery is filled with stolen antiquities. Each antique is also listed in Freya's late mentor's journals that detail unsolved cases. In chasing a murderer with a stolen painting, they may have found something more sinister than they could've imagined...

Their hunt soon turns deadly when they learn the enigmatic and dangerous art trafficker named The Collector could be on board. But on a ship full of antiques enthusiasts - plus some unexpected familiar faces - will Freya and Carole be able to discover the Collector's identity and stop his murderous plans before the ship docks? Or will the killer strike again?"

If you have't read the first book in this series which made so many best of lists last year you're in for a double treat with a dash of Lovejoy.

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It took a few chapters for this installment of the Antique Hunters to get rolling. There are a lot of characters to sort. Once invested though, I found that things move along at a good pace. I’m not sure that I liked it as much as the first book but I still enjoyed it.
Thank You to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

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After the success of their last foray into the illicit world of antique sales, Freya and Aunt Carole have begun “The Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency,” landing their first case to recover a stolen painting which will take them on a cruise to Jordan.

A C. L. Miller book is like a suspenseful warm hug in the best kind of way. While you could read this as a standalone, I think it’s better if you read in order as you’ll appreciate the character dynamics more (especially one in particular). This series I could sink into again and again with Freya’s steady determination, Aunt Carole’s bold personality, Sky’s hacking skills, a certain handsome man who looks good in a uniform, and a wild card character whose deviousness and sense of quirkily unexpected loyalty are oh-so-fun.

I love the mystery of Arthur’s journals and the intricacies of the painting.  I thoroughly enjoy the description and breadth of antique knowledge that CL Miller expertly shares through her writing.  I especially love the advice (which is actually advice from Miller’s mother) which Freya shares, “buy [antiques] because you love them.”

Miller writes endearing complex characters with a main cast who is strong, independent, wholly supportive of each other, and intent on finding justice. I cannot wait to see what this motley and capable crew will come up with next as they tackle the mysteries found within the third of Arthur’s journals. And the power dynamics, misdirection, jealousy, and mistrust of the devious and diverse antique underworld will also intrigue.

Cozy, fast paced, and entertaining; I cannot wait for the next book! If you are an Agatha Christie fan you will love these books. And even if you aren’t but like mysteries, suspense, strong female characters, or antiques then you’ll find yourself delighting in this series. I really hope I can return to the world of Freya and Aunt Carole who feel like old friends many more times.

My copy has pride of place on my bookshelf!

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The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea by C.L. Miller is the second in the series and just as entertaining as the first. Freya and her aunt are lured into more dealings with “The Collector” as they try to follow clues left by Freya’s late uncle and mentor. A painting theft and murder at a local museum are followed by treachery on an antiques cruise to Egypt and Jordan.

I really love Aunt Carole and her devil-may-care attitude especially along with brave but more restrained Freya. In fact, all of the female characters are strong women in their own ways with expertise in antiquities, business, archaeology, manipulation and more. Even though everyone was stuck on a ship there were enough different personalities and events to keep things exciting.

The plot is pretty well paced, with a couple of slow spots. Luckily the information about antiques does not weigh down the plot and is really fascinating. I have to admit I was surprised by the big identity reveal; there were plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

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