Avery Ayers is an antique appraiser, along with her father William, and partners Micah Abbott and Sir Robert Lane. They've been given the opportunity to appraise and inventory items throughout Pennington Manor, one of the duke's homes. During the appraisals, Avery and Micah discover that there are fakes among them. But before she can bring the duke this news, housekeeper Suzanne Vick falls to her death from the top of the manor.

Now there is a murder investigation, and Avery realizes that it could be any one of the household who pushed her. Joining the group as part of their team is Detective Art Smith -- one time boyfriend of Avery's who wants to be so again -- and Avery is beginning to realize that she wants that, also. But their relationship issues are on the back burner as they work to discover a killer -- any way they can -- before the murderer does so again.

Now they're wondering if the death is tied into the thefts, and if the previous housekeeper was part of it, too. But with a household of disgruntled employees, and the duke's sons not happy, either, who is the killer? Time is not on their side, but a killer lurks close by, and Avery may find herself in a permanent time out...

This is the second book in the series and I must say that I enjoyed it quite as much as the first. It had a mystery that began almost at the beginning, which gave us time to garner clues and look for the killer. But with the appraisers finding that many of the items have been stolen and replaced with fakes, they also have to find out who the originals were sold to, and who the party was who sold them, This is going to take time, and in the meanwhile, Art and Avery are paired to quietly check out the household for clues.

In the subplots, Avery's sister Tilly is home from England with a secret to tell and a big decision to make; neither of which she is willing to come forward with as yet. Avery is training for a 26 mile marathon, the longest she's ever done; and her relationship with Art is one again moving forward after he decides to open up to her. Then there is a very cute addition, and one I love.

But I do love learning about antiques. If I could afford it, I would have them in every room instead of just the ones my parents left me. They have so much history to tell, and I love hearing about it as they go. (Others might not, but I do).

When it gets toward the end, Avery and Art are close to finding the killer, but then an incident occurs that almost stops them until it is finally all put together and why. One may never know what pushes a killer to do what they do, but it is sad in a way, yet a deranged mind will never be able to reason. I did love this book as much as the first. Ms. Gardner is indeed a talented writer and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended. ( )

The second Avery Ayres mystery has her and her family appraising items in the castle-like mansion of Duke Nicholas Pennington. Problems arise almost immediately when it is discovered than a very precious pocket watch has disappeared. They also discover that quite a few of the most valuable antiques have been substituted for with fakes.

Tensions among the family and staff make for a number of suspects. However, the number is reduced by one when the housekeeper is found dead after falling from, or being thrown from, the roof. Investigations become even more difficult with a likely murderer among the suspects.

Avery is assisted by her new boyfriend Detective Art Smith who works undercover as one of the appraisal team which adds some relationship problems to the story. Also adding relationship problems is that Avery's younger sister Tilly has abruptly returned from school in England and isn't eager to explain why. And Avery's father who has recently rejoined the family after time in witness protection is just now adjusting to the death of his wife.

There was a lot going on in this story. I enjoyed the main character and the supporting cast. The mystery was well-done too. ( )

Absolutely loved this second installment in the Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series. I hadn't read the first one but, immediately upon finishing this one, I picked up that series debut book.

Avery Ayers and her staff are on site cataloguing and appraising art and antiques at a mansion. Of course, some treasures are missing and, of course, there's a murder or two.

This is a well-plotted and enjoyable cozy and I loved the recurring characters.

Highly recommended to fans of cozy mysteries!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) ( )

Nicholas Pennington, the Duke of Valle Charme, has hired Avery and her staff to inventory and appraise his antiques and historical possessions at Pennington Manor prior to the sale of the property. Several issues arise - discovery that several of the most notable pieces are fakes and then of course, the murder of the housekeeper does raise an issue.

Is it safe for Avery and her staff to continue their work or is the murderer going to stop the sale anyway possible?

I absolutely love the way that this mystery was constructed, how the clues were distributed and the characters interaction. The next one can't come soon enough for me! This was a great second installment, hope there are many more! ( )

amateur-sleuth, antiques, cultural-anthropology, family, family-business, family-dynamics, friendship, gemology, historical-research, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, read, relationship-issues, theft*****

Really needed the respite of family and romantic entanglements to act as a breather between the investigation and danger! Come for the mystery (which is really well done!) but stay for the education into high end antiques appraisals and lessons in gemology and more (like polo). The due diligence is not only about solving the murder with the many suspects, but also about the theft of very valuable antiques with solid provenances that were illegally sold to esteemed museums across the US. The publisher's blurb is a good start, but most of the things that might put a reader off really are explained in this story. It really can stand alone. I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )