"Antique Tragedy" By Victoria Tait: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Life’s Second Act Can be Murder

Dotty Sayers has taken control of her life as a young widow. She left her late husband’s military community behind, declined her parent’s invitation to return home, and after a “right place, right time, dead body” fiasco, finding employment with Akeman’s Antiques. After a year, she’s become an integral member of the staff, taking seriously her education on antiques and responsibilities for evaluations, acquisitions, and setting up monthly auctions. She’s meeting fascinating experts, gaining good contacts, and making delightful friends who are more than supportive of her educational pursuits. Regrettably, the good can’t be good unless compared to the bad … and Dotty has had some bad. A few murders have put her in personal peril, despite helping to solve them. Along the way, with her friend Sergeant Keya Varma, she’s found more insights into a widespread, very successful, theft and forgery ring, and recently someone she considered a mentor and friend was arrested. But, can an amateur detective like Dotty uncover the ringleaders? Or will she find herself entangled in the mess with no way out?


➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅

Image Source Kanga Press
Antique Tragedy
Earns 5+/5 Copper Jugs … “Couldn’t Put Down” Gem!

It’s back to work, and Dotty has been taken under everyone’s wing. She, first, joins one of Akeman’s own David Rook, often a private consultant on antiquities for the British Museum, as he validates Customs and Excise’s order to confiscate recent priceless, and undoubtedly stolen, artifacts. Then, the two are off to an antique faire in Bath for some exploring. It’s all fascinating from an educational perspective, and with Aunt Beanie and her Keya’s involvement, Dotty also gets insights into Gloucestershire’s Rural Heritage and Wildlife Unit whose investigation is uncovering more about the dark side of the antique’s trade. Dotty, with Keya in plain clothes so as not to draw attention, plans to explore the antique fair at the Charbury Castle Hotel. Another notch in Dotty’s education that includes witnessing more collusion between buyers and sellers, creative business practices, and eavesdropping ‘bout the plight of “Roger,” a local dealer of questionable repute. However, the bigger issue, and an experience which Dotty prefers to avoid, is “Roger” found dead! But, a murder or two or a few missing items may end up being the least of Dotty’s worries.

SOLD! [Gavel banged.] Victoria Tait has once again captured the top of my “best read” list with the fifth addition to her Dotty Sayer Antique Mystery series. Another engaging tale of murder along with fascinated details on antiques, tricks of the trade, and law enforcement engagement along with a diverse, multi-generational cast of characters and continued revelations on an underlying mystery. The first crime had personal and professional motives to explore from a disgruntled wife and girlfriend to scruples-challenged sellers and threatening buyers along with the victim’s own long list of victims of his own business practices. Efforts to narrow down the suspect list is not an easy task, but each page leads to another twist, another obstacle, another dead body, another shocking cliffhanger, and another “couldn’t put down” experience. I loved it!

This fifth book is the perfect length to fill in those wintery nights. Victoria weaves around the intriguing murder mystery, thefts, cons, and conspiracies with delightful life in the Cotswolds from Sunday lunches to afternoon tea at the cookery school, from managing Dotty’s British Blue cat Earl Grey’s increasing weight to managing the heartbreak of a love one’s dementia. She adds foodie talk, characters reflecting on their hopes and dreams, meeting new people, and getting entangled in lots of complaints. It’s all entertaining and so full with realism you almost feel a part of the drama. All the talk about bacon sandwiches had me going out to pick up bacon, making my own, and washing it down with a cup of breakfast tea.

Of course, for me, the theme is an important element whether it is a career, culinary pursuits, or crafting. Victoria Tait intersperses discussions about various antiques or collectibles, the illegal antiques trade, movement of antiquities into private collections, and how authorities are often lucky to intercept such priceless objects. Victoria Tait’s research is obviously on display, and offers the start of another debate perfect for a rousing book club discussion. Who has a better claim to recovered artifacts? The country who used their own resources to retrieve the stolen items or the country from which the items were stolen. Excellent!

Preorder Alert! Rumored the final book in the series, the next Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery book, Priceless Betrayal, is on Amazon PreorderHERE set for a late March release. “Trainee antique expert, Dotty Sayers, knows she’s in trouble when a dead body disappears. She’s relieved to hear the victim is alive, but her confusion turns to alarm when she finds him dead, again.”

Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery

Hour to Come (FREE Prequel) Reviewed HERE

Faked Death (2022) Reviewed HERE

Valued for Murder (2022) Reviewed HERE

Bidding for Revenge (2022) Reviewed HERE

Gavels, Tinsel, & Murder (2022) Reviewed HERE

Antique Tragedy (2022)

Priceless Betrayal (March, 2023)

Be a Big Fan of Victoria Tait!

A military wife herself, and having been stationed all over the world, Victoria Tait brings a unique perspective to her work. In her Kenya Kanga Mystery series, a top 2021 favorite, she uses her experience with living in Kenya and interest in the flora and fauna to create an exciting cozy series with paraprofessional veterinarian “Mama Rose” Hardie, who gets entangled with conservation as well as many suspicious deaths. Check out Amazon for the complete Kenya Kanga Mystery series.

The best place to find Victoria Tait and learn more about her and her books is through social media. Sign up for her newsletter on her website, and if you join the mailing list, you can download the prequel, “Hour is Come,” for FREE.

Facebook—Victoria Tait Author

Website—Victoria Tait

To enter to win either an ebook or print copy of Antique Tragedy (BE SURE TO STATE WHAT YOU PREFER WHEN YOU ENTER), simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "tragedy,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 14, 2023. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up soon.

You can use this link to purchase the book or click here. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. The book sounds & looks like a good read especially in print.
    Please enter me

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a book I would want to read. I have read and enjoyed 2 of Ms. Tait's books. Love to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Book sounds like a great read and would love to review in print
    Please enter me

    ReplyDelete
  4. Don't see too many antique themes, fun to read something different! Would love a print copy.
    kozo8989@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sound very interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much for sharing. The book sounds fabulous. God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am sorry, I forgot to say that I would like a print copy , please.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Agree, sounds good and beautiful cover.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great series. Looking forward to reading. I prefer a print copy.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great series. Would really like to read.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Would love to win and read this! Thanks for the chance! lindaherold999@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. We have a winner!
    Lorie Ham

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment