annieb123
Written on Oct 16, 2022
An Antique Murder is the second Oldminster mystery by Norman Russell. Released 29th Jan 2022 by Joffe Books, it's 188 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also available through the KU subscription.
This is a very well written, short, and engaging procedural with a truly disparate cast. There are dodgy characters aplenty: the shady gardener with an eye to profitable sidelines, a gaggle of retired thespians hiding murky pasts, an antiques dealer, and the staff of the Home for Retired Actors in Oldminster. The clues are fair play, and the climax, denouement, and resolution were satisfying and fairly believable. The addition of actions in the distant past (WW2) resonating down through the years to the present day add depth to the story.
There are three books currently in the series, making it a good candidate for a weekend mini-binge read. The plot is self-contained in this volume, so it works well as a standalone read.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.