Baroque and Desperate (A Den of Antiquity Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Tamar Myers (Author) "I dreamed the plane was hijacked by Yankee terrorists..." (more)
Key Phrases: purple pelican, Sheriff Thompson, Miss Cox, Miss Timberlake (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In a Treasure-Laden Mansion

Unflappable and resourceful, Abigail Timberlake, antique dealer and owner of Charlotte, North Carolina's Den of Antiquity, relies on her knowledge and savvy to authenitcate the facts from the fakes when it comes to either curios or people. Her expertise makes Abby invaluable to exceptionally handsome Tradd Maxwell Burton, wealthy scion of the renowned Latham family. He needs her to determine the most priceless item in the Latham mansion and then split the proceeds of it with her. A treasure hunt in an antique-filled manor? All Abby can say is "let the games begin."

It's Tough to Keep Help

Accompanied by her best girlfriend, C.J., Abby arrives at the estate and is met with cool reserve, if no downright rudeness, from the members of the Latham clan. Trying to carry out Tradd's request, Abby finds that she could cut the household tension with a knife. But someone has beaten her to it by stabbing a maid to death with an ancient kris. Suddenly all eyes are on C.J., whose fingerprints happen to be all over the murder weapon. it's up to Abby to use her knack for detecting forgeries to expose the fake alibi of the genuine killer.

About the Author
Tamar Myers is the author of seven previous Den of Antiquity mysteries: Larceny and Old Lace; Gilt by Association; The Ming and I; So Faux, So Good; Baroque and Desperate; Estate of Mind; and A Penny Urned. She is also the author of the Magdelena Yoder series and an avid antiques collector. Ms Myers lived in the Carolinas.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380802252
• ISBN-13: 978-0380802258
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #619,374 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #53 in

  Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Myers, Tamar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Get Me Rewrite!, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

Tamar Myers' publisher needs to ease up on her schedule. This novel shows all the signs of having been written in haste and edited poorly (if at all). There are several pointless, not very humorous, scenes that appear to serve no purpose other than increasing the word count. And there must be at least two dozen variations on the metaphor for a person's not being very bright: e.g., "two sandwiches short of a picnic", etcetera ad nauseum. In general, I like the fast pace and loopiness of the Den of Antiquity series, but this book could be a lot better.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best!, March 8, 1999

By A Customer

I've never written in about an author before, but I have to now -- Tamar Myers has done it again! "Baroque..." is another 'can't-put-it-down' mystery. Her excellent writing style and great sense of humor had me chuckling all the way through Abby's treasure hunt at the Latham mansion. (And I learned a bit about antiques along the way! Always a bonus!) How do you keep doing it, Tamar? I wish both her book series ('Amish' and 'Antiques') would come out more often -- it's hard to wait between publishings. (And I'm particularly anxious to see her African story at the booksellers sometime soon.) Keep it up, Tamar!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Abby participates in Dysfunctional Family Games, October 13, 2000

By	Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Abigail Timberlake, owner of the Den of Antiquity, has her store robbed of all of its contents. A timely offer from Tradd, the handsome son of a wealthy family, includes a request for her presence at his grandmother's house to help advise him about her antiques during the course of a family game. She becomes acquainted with Tradd's siblings, none of whom appear to approve of her appearance in their game. Before long there is a murder, and Abby is in the middle of finding out which member of this avaricious family is responsible. In this book, author Myers continues to develop the characters of C.J., Abby's neighboring antique store owner, who is famous for her long, pointless stories, and Abby's mother who rebounds from her unsuccessful attempt to become a nun in the last book, to finding a holy image in Abby's store. Again, Myers creates a humorous and enjoyable book and manages to have the murderer be the one you would least expect.