Murder Most Antique (The Stamford Mysteries, #2)

by E. C. Bateman

[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.