Murder Most Antique (The Stamford Mysteries, #2)

by E. C. Bateman

Don’t miss the brand-new installment in the fantastic Stamford Mysteries series! Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton and Richard Osman.

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…

Cosy crime readers are loving E.C. Bateman:

‘Ideal for fans of Richard Osman’s books… this murder mystery will keep you guessing as the bodies stack up! Full of red herrings, twists and turns, wonderful characters and fabulous houses.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Set in the historic town of Stamford, this murder set in the antiques trade is a brilliantly plotted mystery.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A thoroughly enjoyable cosy murder mystery… I’m looking forward to the next book already!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Mystery and intrigue… written by a talented and gifted author.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An absorbing murder mystery… Lots of interesting information about Antique auctions was a added bonus.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover illustrated by local Stamford illustrator Katie Cardew. Discover more at www.katiecardew.com

• ISBN13: 9780008564926
• Publish Date: 23 November 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

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.