Antiques Liquidation - (Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery) by Barbara Allan (Paperback)

About the Book

When long-suffering antiques store owner Brandy Borne is rudely awoken by her eccentric mother, Vivian, and invited on a late-night, surreptitious shopping trip, the idea is less than tempting. But she smells trouble, and soon the mother and daughter sleuths aren't just buying dead stock at the dead of night - they're finding dead bodies too...

Book Synopsis

Trouble's on the wind when an auctioneer turns up dead in the new Trash 'n' Treasures cozy mystery - "one of the funniest cozy series going" (Ellery Queen Magazine)

Two o'clock in the morning is the perfect time to be asleep. So when long-suffering Brandy Borne is rudely awoken by her eccentric mother, Vivian, and invited on a surreptitious shopping trip, the idea is less than tempting.

But if Vivian - Serenity's true-crime writing, septuagenarian super-sleuth - has a nose for sniffing out antiques, Brandy's sense of smell is just as good . . . and trouble's on the wind.

A little light blackmail and one run-in with the police later, and Brandy and Vivian are the 'proud' owners of a selection of dead stock, liberated ahead of an upcoming warehouse sale from unsavory auctioneer Conrad Norris. Brandy's not convinced there's a fortune to be made in vintage toys, retro plates and pearl buttons - there's more mileage in their shop's new Halloween display, even though it's only August - but she supposes it could be worse.

It soon is. After the auction's taken place, Vivian and Brandy make an unnerving discovery. It's not just the stock that's dead - so is the auctioneer . . .

This light-hearted, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery also features Brandy and Vivian's humorous tips for buying and selling antiques, along with a selection of tasty recipes.

Review Quotes

Delightfully quirky . . . For those fond of feel-good cozies, Allan delivers-- "Publishers Weekly on Antiques Fire Sale"

Fans of J.C. Eaton's "Sophie Kimball" books may want to try this series-- "Library Journal on Antiques Ravin'"

One of the best in Allan's long-running series, which is always humorous and full of tips for antiques hunters-- "Kirkus Reviews on Antiques Ravin'"

The usual mix of humor, detection, and flamboyant personalities adds sparkle-- "Kirkus Reviews on Antiques Fire Sale"

This humorous cozy - with its well-drawn, quirky characters - is a hoot-- "Booklist on Antiques Ravin'"

This humorous cozy with its multiple plot twists is framed by close family relationships, a lovingly detailed setting, and information about antiques-- "Booklist on Antiques Carry On"

Vivian and Brandy share narrative duties, and their amusing commentary provides much of the book's appeal. Allan consistently entertains-- "Publishers Weekly on Antiques Carry On"

Amusing mystery chockablock with antiques lore-- "Kirkus Review"

Best for readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy small-town living, humor with a side of murder, and cute canine companions-- "Library Journal"

Humorous asides and loads of antique lore . . . Allan delivers the cozy goods-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Barbara Allan is the joint pseudonym of husband-and-wife mystery writers, Barbara and Max Allan Collins. Barbara is an acclaimed short-story writer, and Max is a multi-award-winning New York Times bestselling novelist and Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.