Customer Reviews

Death Is a Cabaret

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I think one of the characteristics of mystery fans, besides a love of puzzle solving, is a genuine interest in other people, cultures, societies, worlds, etc. Why else would the mystery genre be so popular? We don't read mysteries simply to solve crimes; we read to meet new people, explore new places, and experience the unknown.

Deborah Morgan's new "Antique Lover's" series is a shining example of what the mystery genre has to offer. Her sleuth, Jeff Talbot, is a "picker," someone who patrols garage and estate sales, looking for bargain antiques to sell to antique dealers. Talbot's enthusiasm for his job, his delight in discovering a hidden treasure in someone's attic, is tempered by the dog-eat-dog nature of the business. His chief rival is Frank Hamilton, a hot-tempered picker with a bullying nature and a lack of scruples. A run-in with Hamilton is enough to spoil Talbot's entire day.

When Hamilton turns up dead at an auction in Michigan, an auction that Talbot is also attending, Talbot fears he is the chief suspect. But as a former FBI agent, he is in the position to call in some favors and do some sleuthing of his own. In the intimate world of antique collectors, Talbot soon discovers that Hamilton had many enemies and conspirators with both motive and opportunity. Can Talbot catch the murderer AND obtain the prize antique tea set that is the auction's focal point?

I found this mystery to be thoroughly enjoyable, like stepping into a foreign world where everything is unfamiliar and fascinating. Talbot leads a truly unusual life, living in a mansion filled with antiques, employing a butler to keep things running smoothly, and living with a wife whose agoraphobia keeps her confined to the house (and prevents her from traveling with Jeff). Setting the auction on Mackinac Island in Michigan is an additional stroke of genius and lets the author take the reader into yet another world, where cars are prohibited and jackets required after 6 p.m.

The mystery itself is engaging, although the denouement involves many sudden revelations (this is a pet peeve of mine since it prohibits the reader from solving the mystery herself). The setting is undoubtedly the central delight of this book, but it is so compelling that it compensates for the slight weakness of plot. I eagerly await the next installment.

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm automatically predisposed to like any book set on Mackinac Island. (After all, my own two were set there, although at least one hundred fifty years earlier than this one.) But when I started reading Death is a Cabaret, I didn't know a good portion of it would take place at that grand Grand Hotel.

The book--plot, characters, writing, everything--is entirely worthy of that dignified and unique setting. It's just simply marvelous. And, if I didn't know better, I'd swear the author had been in my car listening as my daughter explained about Michigan's picturesque license plates.

Of course, I also like stories set during the days of Napoleon and Josephine, too, and although this is a modern story, the love of Napoleon for his Josephine plays a major part in the plot. Finally, one more caveat--I love reading books which allow the reader to learn about new things, if the reader is so inclined. This book is brimming over with love-and lore--of the world of antiques, as well as antique collectors.

Jeff Talbot, now in his mid-thirties, had spent his early working years with the FBI, but a lack of action sent him on his way to a new career--becoming a very good antique 'picker'. He's inherited a wonderful old house in Seattle, providing him with a suitable place to keep all his own treasures, plus affording him the background he needs in his new world. He's married to Sheila, one of the more intriguing characters I've ever encountered in the world of fiction, who is certainly a more than able side-kick.

One of Jeff's best customers is the 70-something Blanche Appleby, who, more than almost anything in the world, wishes to reclaim an antique tea set that had been sold out from under her, some fifty years earlier. Of course, it isn't just any old tea set. No, this one had been commissioned by Napoleon for Josephine, and differed from most of the examples of that period in having two cups and saucers rather than just one. This made it a 'cabaret' rather than a 'solitaire' or 'déjeuner'. Replete with swans (for Josephine)and bees (for Napoleon) and gilt (for them both) it was a truly fitting example of the art of Sevres, even if only an imaginary creation, especially for this story.

The Cabaret is to be the highlight at an auction that will end a weekend antique festival held annually on Mackinac Island. Antique lovers and collectors come from around the world to participate, including two of Jeff's acquaintances from Seattle. When one of them is found murdered, Jeff finds himself helping the very capable Island police force to investigate. Another death follows, opening up more of the past history for many of the participants at the festival.

The ending, with the unmasking of the killer was unexpected, and perhaps a tad out of left field, but still satisfactory. Overall, this was a very enjoyable reading experience, and I, for one, eagerly await Jeff's next adventure! And, it is to be hoped, many more after that.

Jeff Talbot is an interesting guy. He used to work for the FBI, and now lives in Seattle making his way in the world hunting antiques as a "picker". I was able to understand much of this because it is very similar to hunting for books. While reading this book, you learn to appreciate the knowledge needed to be a picker. So for this aspect alone, I loved the book.

But the book is much more than that. The characters are realistic and enjoyable, and the story is engrossing. I was drawn into it and stayed up much later than I planned reading the whole book through to it's conclusion.

Jeff is on a quest. He's looking for a tea set with Napoleon ties, an object that has eluded a dear freind of his for years. He travels to an auction on Mackinac Island and plans to be the winning bidder. This being a mystery, of course things don't go as planned. Before long a body shows up. Some one Jeff knows. And he is drawn into the investigation. And then another body. And then some twists and turns and before long the teapot is second on Jeff's to do list.

I really loved this book. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. It seemed that an "antique lover's mystery" would not be my kind of thing. Boy, was I wrong. This book is super, and since it's a paperback, there is no excuse not to buy it and enjoy it for yourself.

Ms. Morgan makes use of a nineteenth century cabaret set to bring the twentieth century whodunit into the new millennium. This classic style mystery involves the reader in the search for the culprit. Mystery fans will love helping ex FBI agent Jeff Talbot sift through the clues as he seeks to identify the murderer. There are plenty of suspects, all with plausible motives and means, keeping the suspense level just right.

The world of high-end antique dealing and trading is a new setting for a murder mystery but it fits beautifully. A one of a kind cabaret set commissioned by Napoleon for Josephine is the object of attention for some very sophisticated collectors as they come together for an auction at the beautiful and historic Grand Hotel on Michigan's Mackinac Island.

Jeff Talbot has journeyed all the way from Seattle to bid for the precious treasure. He finds the usually peaceful island bristling with bidders, some above reproach and some downright unscrupulous, but all determined to possess this celebrated tea set. And then they begin turning up murdered.

Deborah Morgan's love for antiques comes through loud and clear, right down to Jeff Talbot's own pride and joy, his 1948 Chevy Woodie. Morgan tells this story splendidly, capturing the aura of Mackinac Island while intertwining the struggle of Jeff Talbot's wife Sheila as she battles the demons in her own mind.

This is the kind of book that will appeal to a very wide audience. It's suitable for all ages and has the unique charm of capturing the reader who has always dreamed of uncovering some long lost masterpiece at a local garage sale. I highly recommend it and sincerely hope that we haven't heard the last of Jeff Talbot.

I bought this book because the description sounded promising,
and I liked the idea of setting the story among the search
for antiques. The story and characters grabbed my interest
immediately, and I could hardly put the book down. I am
definitely going to look for more books in this searies.

While we often like and admire the heroes in the books we read, how often do we have an opportunity to identify with the hero? That's just Deborah Morgan has given the mystery loving collectors of the world.

Jeff Talbot, an ex-FBI agent turned antiques picker, not only takes the reader through the process of solving a murder, but also introduces us to the wonderful world of antiques and collecting. The plot is well developed, the story is believable, the good guys are likeable, the bad guys are despicable, and most of all this book is a FUN read.

If you love mysteries, you should read this book. If you love antiques and collecting, you owe it to yourself to read this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book by Deborah Morgan and am anxiously awaiting more!! I love finding books with chacaters that you feel you know by the first chapter. Thank you Ms. Morgan!! R.Allen

Wow! That is the first word that came to my mind when I started Death is a Cabaret...wow, the first word that came to my mind when I was an hour into the book, and had to rewind my son's cartoon video just so I could have another small amount of time to read read read!...wow, the first word that came to my mind when I finished the book! This is an excellant job of a new author in a scenery that is a long time coming! I love the characters, whom I feel like I already know! I am pacing the floor waiting for the next in the series! WOW!

I love mysteries, but this one required too much suspension of disbelief. For example, agoraphobia is often treated successfully, but we are suppossed to swallow the idea that a woman with a trust fund opts to stay indoors instead of getting treatment. Please! I was hoping she would be the corpse in the first book to get rid of her! No more of this series for me.

I enjoyed this book enough to order the next in the series. However, I felt it just missed the mark. The combination of antiques, auctions, and a retired FBI Agent with an agoraphobic wife should have been enough, but it needed a little more depth. I enjoyed my time spent with Jeff, Sheila, Greer and the rest...and look forward to getting to know them better.