Antiques to Die For (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Jane K. Cleland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2008 | Series: Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries

Since Josie Prescott left a high-paying job in New York to set up shop as an antiques appraiser on the rugged New Hampshire coast, her life has not gone exactly according to plan. In many ways, it’s gone better: She has a booming business, good friends and neighbors, and even a promising romance.

But dead bodies do seem to keep crossing her path. And now her friend Rosalie has been killed just hours after confiding a secret to Josie, leaving a bereaved twelve-year-old sister, Paige, who reminds Josie of herself when her mother died. It turns out that Rosalie had other secrets too: a mysterious treasure she told her sister she was leaving behind—and a secret admirer who now seems to be turning his creepy attention to Josie!

As Josie races to solve the crime while helping Paige and trying to keep her business afloat, Jane K. Cleland brings us an irresistible new blend of coziness, crime, and collectibles.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Cleland's engaging third Josie Prescott mystery to feature the New Hampshire antiques dealer (after 2007's Deadly Appraisal), Josie is stunned to learn that her fun-loving friend, Rosalie Chaffee, has been found, drowned, on the Rocky Point shore. When it becomes clear Rosalie was a victim of foul play, suspicion falls on Rosalie's boss at Heyer's Modular Furniture, his scheming wife and Rosalie's gorgeous volunteer fireman boyfriend. The warm, endearing Josie decides not only to investigate but also to take care of Rosalie's 12-year-old sister, Paige. Aided by a large support group of well-drawn characters headed by her police chief boyfriend, Josie follows such clues as an old diary, an artist's palette and a misplaced tote bag. Among other antique lore, readers will learn the difference between a highboy and a tallboy in this cleverly crafted cozy. Author tour. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Antiques to Die For sets the gold standard for the classic contemporary cozy.” —Julia Spencer-Fleming

Praise for the Josie Prescott Mystery Series:
“Agatha finalist Jane Cleland’s writing is top-notch, her plotting and pace smooth and assured. This antiquing series is in mint condition!”
—Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of All Mortal Flesh

“Antiques Roadshow fans and mystery lovers will delight in this . . . series featuring the resourceful Josie.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Satisfying . . . Readers will want to see more.”
—Publishers Weekly

“With great dialogue and description, a strong but insecure heroine, and enough inside info about Josie’s business to satisfy an Antiques Roadshow fan—what’s not to like?”
—Mystery News

“Josie Prescott is an engaging heroine—smart, ethical, and brimming over with antique lore. . . . Beautifully crafted, thoroughly enjoyable.”
—Margaret Maron, author of Hard Row

“A satisfying mixture of suspense and romance set in the highly competitive world of antiques auctions. I’m keeping my eye out for the next Josie Prescott mystery.”
—Donna Andrews, author of The Penguin Who Knew Too Much

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (April 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312368275
• ISBN-13: 978-0312368272
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jane K. Cleland is the author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, which have been referred to as an Antiques Roadshow for mystery fans. Her first novel, CONSIGNED TO DEATH, was named a "core title" by Library Journal magazine, and was a finalist for the Agatha, David, and Macavity Awards for Best First Novel. SILENT AUCTION, the fifth in the series, has just been released. [all by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group]. Jane used to own a rare book and antiques store in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and now lives in New York City with her husband. www.janecleland.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Antiques and Murder - a Winning Combination!, April 23, 2008

By 

C. A. Hopkins (The gorgeous Rockies) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Antiques to Die For (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Josie Prescott and her best friend, Rosalie Chaffee, are indeed sisters of the heart. They have both lost their parents, a loss that undeniably has shaped the women they have become. While they don't have a whole lot else in common, this invisible bond makes them closer than one might otherwise expect. Rosalie is fun loving and carefree, qualities Josie envies, but she is also an exceptionally fine older sister and guardian to Paige, her 12-year-old sibling. When Rosalie washes up on the Rocky Point shoreline - the victim of a suspicious drowning - Josie is stirred into action.

Rosalie has confided several things in Josie recently, any one of which might have some bearing on her death. In addition, Rosalie had garnered the attention of a creepy "secret admirer," whose unwanted attention seems to switch almost seamlessly to Josie once Rosalie is out of the picture. Rosalie also confided in her younger sister that they own something priceless for which they would eventually need Josie's expertise - although Paige and Josie have no idea what that item might be. In addition, when Josie starts probing, she finds out how little she actually knows about her friend.

Although it is all but impossible to imagine Josie having such carte blanche to investigate a murder even if her boyfriend IS the chief of police, the plot was enjoyable and complex enough to hold the reader's attention through to the end. If you like a side of antiques with your murder mystery, you'll undoubtedly enjoy the Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series.

Carol Ann Hopkins 4/23/2008

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Imitation isn't always flattering, May 22, 2008

By 

Kelly A. Flinn - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Antiques to Die For (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries) (Hardcover)

It seems, in "Antiques to Die For", Ms. Cleland has once again paralleled Elaine Flinn's Molly Doyle Mysteries. Now, this could certainly be just a coincidence that so many aspects of Cleland's books seem to ring a bell if you've read Flinn's series. But it seems uncanny that Cleland's Josie Prescott left the NY world of antiques (auction house) under a cloud, so did Flinn's Molly Doyle (antiques shop). And JP moved to a small village to start over, so did MD. Both quickly found themselves involved in a murder, and butting heads with the local police chief, who, in each case, evolves into a romantic relationship. MD is a little behind JP though, since she's still married (her husband ran off with another woman and the law) and hasn't (so far) become intimate with her cop. But there is more in Ms. Cleland's books that seem awfully coincidental. MD's boss is named Max. JP's lawyer is a Max too. The main street in JP's `made up village' is Ocean Avenue, and that's the main street in MD's Carmel, California setting. And then there is JP's dead father whose sage advice she frequently recalls. MD `talks' problems over with HER dead father's photo. JP has a friend who has a small child is named Emma. MD's abandoned niece (who she cares for) has the same name! And now, in the latest episode, JP ends up taking care of her dead friends daughter who is 12 years old. Sunofagun! MD's niece was 12 when she showed up in Flinn's second book. I guess JP not having a best friend who owns a restaurant is a relief. Flinn's first book (DEALING IN MURDER) was published in 2003, with books following in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Cleland's first book was published in 2006. You figure it out.

Ms. Cleland is certainly talented, but, while some may find what sure seems to me like imitation, as being the sincerest form of flattery - in this case I sure as hell don't. Isn't it time for Ms. Cleland to get a little original? What's she going to do if Flinn has Molly Doyle get a pet monkey? Could a baboon be in Josie's future?

Full Discloser: Elaine Flinn is my mother. And, before anyone accuses her of putting me up to this - I'm 42 and don't need her permission to defend her.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cold Blooded Murder in the Dead of Winter, April 15, 2008

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Antiques to Die For (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries) (Hardcover)

When Josie and Rosalie met, they became instant friends. So when Rosalie turns up dead one January morning, Josie is naturally upset. The fact that it was murder makes things even more upsetting.

Rosalie was a woman of many secrets. She had a secret lover, a secret admirer, and a secret treasure. She'd just told her younger sister, Paige, about a treasure that would set them up for life. But what is it?

While Josie tries to find this secret item, Rosalie's secret admirer seems to be transferring his interest to Josie. Is Josie in danger? Who is the secret admirer? Where is the treasure? And who killed Rosalie?

Now if you are concerned about keeping all these potential plots straight, don't. I had to set the book down for a few days while reading it (too busy), and I had no problem getting back in the flow of things. Part of that is because of the strong supporting characters. They make it easy to keep everyone straight. Josie isn't nearly as emotional as she was in the last book, which I found a refreshing change. On the other hand, we get to watch Paige deal with her emotions, which made for some truly heart breaking scenes.

While Josie is a little stronger emotionally, she still constantly shares nuggets of wisdom from her father. While that didn't bother me that much in previous books in the series, it really got on my nerves here. Not quite sure why. There were a few things about the plot that could have been stronger, but on the whole it was a good book that made me wish I had more time to sit down and read.

Frankly, I'm not that interested in antiques, so the fact that a book centering around them can keep me entertained is a testament to the great characters, story, and writing.