Ornaments of Death

October 19, 2015
Fascinating tidbits about collectibles, along with evocative descriptions of New Hampshire in winter, elevate Cleland’s 10th Josie Prescott Antiques mystery (after 2014’s Blood Rubies). At Josie’s annual Christmas party in Rocky Point, N.H., she has the pleasure of meeting Englishman Ian Bennington, who has informed her that they’re distantly related through Arabella Churchill, a mistress of James II. Ian is en route to Boston to visit his grown daughter, to whom he has given two 17th-century miniature portraits—one of Arabella, the other of the king—which he would like Josie to appraise. When Ian disappears a few days later, Josie turns to Ellis Hunter, Rocky Point’s police chief, for help. Local reporter Wes Smith also assists in what becomes a twisted tale of stolen identities, jealousy, greed, and murder. Distinctive characters, including Josie’s Maine coon cat, Hank, help make this holiday cozy a winner. Agent: Cristina Concepcion, Don Congdon Associates.

October 1, 2015
Christmas is coming and so is murder. New Hampshire antiques appraiser and auction-house owner Josie Prescott receives an early Christmas present when she's contacted by Englishman Ian Bennington, who says he's a long-lost cousin. Ian sold his business for a large amount of money and, after taking up genealogy, found he and Josie were distantly related through Arabella Churchill, mistress of King James II. He tells her he owns exquisite miniature portraits of these notable ancestors, which he's given to his daughter, Becca, a marine biologist specializing in clams who's working in Boston. Ian is warmly welcomed at Josie's Christmas bash, so when he later misses a date with one of her friends and then stands up Josie herself, she's concerned and goes to the police, but there's nothing they can do. Once Ian's body is found]he's been killed in a hit-and-run]Josie works with her friend Ellis, the Rocky Point police chief, to find out what happened. When Josie calls Becca to tell her about her father, the woman hangs up on her and vanishes. Shock follows shock as Josie and the police make several startling discoveries. Josie's antiques expertise is a big help when it becomes clear the miniatures were a motive for murder, but who did the deed? The 10th in Cleland's charming and informative series (Blood Rubies, 2014, etc.) pairs plenty of antiques knowledge with a puzzling mystery.

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October 15, 2015

In her tenth appearance (after Blood Rubies) Josie Prescott, antiques appraiser and amateur sleuth, is thrilled when Ian Bennington, a newly discovered distant relative from England, wants to visit her in New Hampshire. She invites him to her annual holiday party, and Ian thoroughly charms Josie and her guests. When Ian goes missing, Josie immediately tries to track him down, but she soon uncovers some troubling clues that indicate a deception and possible murder. Josie needs to discover the truth before the killer silences her permanently. VERDICT Readers will be happy to catch up with Josie and the residents of the cozy coastal town of Rocky Point during the holidays. Bits of interesting antique appraisals are interspersed with the mystery, complementing the satisfying story.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Josie Prescott, owner of Prescott's Antiques in Rocky Point, New Hamphshire, is thrilled to learn she has distant English relatives, Ian Bennington and his daughter, Becca. When Ian stops by Rocky Point to meet Josie on his way to Boston to visit Becca, he tells Josie about two valuable miniatures he has given Becca: one of King James II, the other of their ancestor, Arabella Churchill, the king's mistress. When Ian is found murdered, Josie again finds herself offering advice on antiques, namely the miniatures, to Ellis Hunter, the Rocky Point police chief. After Becca mysteriously disappears, Josie locates the hidden miniatures in the woman's Boston apartment but loses them when she is attacked on her way back home to give them to Ellis. Josie continues her investigation, solving the murder and finding the miniatures again in this satisfying cozy with its plot twists and large cast of well-drawn, sympathetic charactersall framed nicely by details of the antiques business in small-town New Hampshire during the Christmas season. Fans of Sharon Fiffer's Jane Wheel series will enjoy this one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)