Customer Reviews

A Killer Collection

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Another first in a series, this story features Molly Appleby, who writes a column for Collector's Weekly magazine. Molly's first column features North Carolina's potters, a subject in which Molly's mother has expertise. We join Molly and her mother, at the beginning of the book, at a well-known potter's kiln opening, and wind up witnessing the murder of a prominent, yet widely disliked, pottery collector. We join Molly on her journey through the world of pottery and the Carolinas to sniff out the clues to the death she witnessed. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery - I thought the protagonist's profession was a good one to find different topics for more books, and I liked learning about the pottery. I currently work with a potter, and he seemed impressed with the knowledge I'd gleaned from the book, and its accuracy.

I'm not much of a collector, but I was captivated by this mystery in any case. The details about the pottery were fascinating and I can't wait to order the second book. I found all of the characters extremely realistic and especially liked Clara, Molly's mother. I felt this book was loaded with suspense. I could hardly put it down and ended up reading it in two nights. Often I can deduce who the killer is by page 30. Not so with this book. Everything came together like a well-woven tapestry by the end. I also enjoyed the informative essay in the back and am officially a J.B. Stanley fan - keep 'em coming!

To a collector such as me, this story struck a note that made it impossible for me to put the book down until I finished it. I am a rapid reader (not a skimmer, I read every word) and finished the book in a bit over 1 1/2 hours. It left me wanting more.
I love antiques, I love odd things and old things that have survived into this century intact, and sometimes in surprisingly fine condition.
Discovering a treasure is a thrill. Discovering that someone is producing modern reproductions and passing them off as antiques is horribly disheartening. Thwarting those people is satisfying, as is thwarting thieves and cheats.
I can relate to Molly Appleby in this story, partly because of where I was born (western Kentucky) and also because of my love of the homely utility pottery pieces like the crocks and jugs made by Bauer before they moved to California. (And before they became famous for their colorful "Ringware.")
I liked the characters and found myself thinking of them as friends. I didn't mind the occasional sidetracks because that is the way real life happens, things do not always proceed from "A" to "B" to "C" because sometimes it may jump from "B" to "H" and then back to "D" and to "C."
This was not one of the "formula" mysteries that I can usually figure out in the first third of a book.
I have already read the second in the series and if anything, it is better. I look forward to many, many more. Molly, as a mystery protagonist, has "legs."

In the 1st Collectible Mystery, we meet Molly Appleby, a writer for Collector's Weekly. A former teacher (like the author of the series), Molly has left the academic world behind to pursue her love of antiques full time. Covering mainly antique shows and writing articles about collectors and craftsman in the business, Molly has created quite a niche' for herself in the collecting world. Her mother, Clara, also heavily involved in the business, is a dealer of southern folk art pottery. Dragging Molly along one early morning to a kiln opening, Clara is sure that there will be lots of material for an upcoming article. And when a highly disliked collector, George-Bradley Staunton, drops dead during the sale, Molly quickly learns she will have plenty to write about. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Molly begins to poke around in the pottery world, and digs up quite a bit of dirt on the former collector.

Not being a collector of antiques, I picked up this book on the recommendations of others on Amazon. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and am always looking for a new series to try. Although it was a light, quick read, I was a bit disappointed with the mystery itself. Some books that you read keep you riveted, and you can barely put the book down. However, I found myself distracted at times while reading this book. In saying that, I did finish the book, and would be willing to give the next book in the series a try. I am hopeful that the characters will not be as cliché as they were in this installment (the overly flamboyant gay friend, the nasty, sexist male victim, and the clueless love interest to name a few), as this series could be very good with a few minor changes. If you like antiques (this book dealt with a lot of different types of pottery which was very interesting), and cozy mysteries, give this series a try.

The next book in the series is called "A Fatal Appraisal". Enjoy!

i'm not a southerner or a collector but i really enjoyed the characters in the book - and was surprisingly captured by the antiques. what a great portrayal not only of an interesting story but also of a fabulous tradition of southern pottery. great first novel - i look forward to reading the rest of the series.

A Killer Collection: A Collectible Mystery is great fun. The characters are colorful and lively. The pottery information is a delicious treat. The book reads like a conversation with an old friend. And just when you think you have it figured out...the ending made me gasp out loud (always a plus with a mystery).

Buy it!

I was skeptical about picking up a book that dealt with pottery, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The pottery theme is just the background for an intelligently written murder mystery. The author was able to keep this reader guessing "who done it" until the end. I definitely look forward to reading her next book and will be recommending this one to family and friends.

Collector's Weekly magazine journalist Molly Appleby is writing an article about southern kiln s pottery sales hosted by the potter who created them. Molly and her mother wake up early one morning to attend the kiln opening of C.C., but to their surprise there are a lot of people up early to get a good position on line so they have first crack at getting what they want.

Molly meets collector George-Bradley Staunton, a fanatical collector who cuts in line, grabs objects out of other collector's hands and is all around pushy. During the sale George goes to a secluded area and Molly follows him. She sees him rubbing his stomach with blood on his shirt. She thinks he was murdered but the coroner says he died of an overdose of insulin. The police think he accidentally injected himself twice. Molly believes otherwise ands sets out to prove it.

This is the first collectible mystery and if future cozies are like this one, J.B. Stanley will have a captivating series that will win her many fans. Molly is a likeable tenacious character especially when she believes she is right and is very comfortable with her size fourteen body. She sets out to prove the victim was murdered. With no blood or gore, Ms. Stanley writes a fabulous who done it that will have readers guessing who the killer is.

Harriet Klausner

The characters were charming, the plot was a little bit unusual, and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed this book. It was a nice easy read, maybe good for a lazy day on the porch. The ceramic pottery tips were interesting too.

I always check out mysteries about antique/collectible dealers, shop owners, appraisers, pickers, etc. Was in that line myself for awhile plus being a long time collecter of "treasures". To be totally honest, picked this up on one of the ebook sales after reading a short blurb on the series. Then when I started the book, got a second surprise as it is centeren in and about the potters and potteries in Seagrove, NC - and I have friends who are potters there! If, as others have written here, this was the author's first book - it's an excellent debut. Maybe a bit clumsy here and there, what you would expect for a new writer, but definitely good enough that I'll be looking for other books by this author, under all her names. If you like cozy mysteries, specially ones populated with real people and ones you actually learn something interesting (and even possibly very useful) from, then try this book - you won't be sorry.