"Priceless Betrayal" By Victoria Tait: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Enter to win a print or eBook copy of Priceless Betrayal by Victoria Tait. Make a comment below about antiques: (1) a family heirloom (2) antiquing experience, or (3) favorite antique show. More details at the end of this post and a link to purchase it.  

Life’s Second Act Can be Murder

It’s been a year since the “right place, right time, dead body” fiasco secured Dotty Sayers a position at Akeman’s Antiques and Auction House. It was the perfect opportunity to break free of her post-widow cocoon after the death of her military husband. Now, she’s building her confidence, pursuing an education, taking on additional work responsibilities, and earning the respect of her co-workers and friends. However, Dotty has discovered that the antique community has a darker side; one tainted by forgeries, theft, and murder. She’s found herself adept at solving a few of these darker situations with the help of her friend Sergeant Keya Varma, but the tables have been turned on Dotty. Can she survive the accusation she’s gone to the dark side? 


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Image Source Kanga Press
Priceless Betrayal
Earns 5+/5 Smugglers … Clever & Engaging Gem!

Dotty was very familiar with Chief Inspector Ringrose and his work with the Rural, Heritage, and Wildlife Unit, but being on the wrong side of a joint interrogation with Sergeant Nick Unwin was a scary experience. The trip to Istanbul was suppose to be a luxury excursion to explore the international antique fair, but instead, she’s being accused of trying to smuggle out of the country a valuable, yet stolen, antique; the one found in her suitcase, in a private plane, set to depart England. These people knew her, worked with her, and believed her an honest person — until now. Then one crime begets another, then another, then the dead body of the missing ground crew member washes ashore.

The authorities had nothing concrete on which to arrest Dotty, so she took her leave, and having recuperated with her friends, PC Ryan Jenkins and Sergeant Keya Varma, and a hot sweet tea, she decides to complete the errand David Rook requested of her: pick up a painting at Sir Reginald Spencer’s Barton Manor and return to Akeman’s. Arriving at the estate, she finds it eerily quiet, the front door unlocked, and Sir Reginald’s priceless painting nowhere to be found. She enters and starts to search the rooms coming upon the library in which she finds what could be the painting wrapped up and leaning against some bookshelves, but she also finds Tariq Kazem, the man she met through her friend David Rook, the man joining them on the trip to Istanbul, and now, the man lifeless in the chair. She calls Ryan, and he, as well as Sergeant Unwin, arrive at the scene. But, upon inspection, Ryan finds no dead body, no body at all, and no painting either. Dotty is arrested for the theft. Can it get any worse? Yes!

Brilliant! Victoria Tait’s sixth book in her Dotty Sayers Mystery is the best of the lot with the intensity of Dotty being the prime, if only, suspect in a series of thefts, smuggling, and murder. We know Dotty is innocent, so this forces a closer scrutiny of everyone in the community to uncover who has the means to spearhead such a criminal enterprise, and most compelling is that everyone seems to have the opportunity and some are very close to the action. The series is outstanding, clever, and although each book has a crime or two with a solution, there’s a storyline that runs thru them all: crimes are linked, characters show their true colors, and hidden agendas are revealed.

In this sixth book, “Betrayal” is an underlying, if not overt, theme and, of course, cleverly depicted in many ways from the priceless painting everyone was eager to find to professional associates, even law enforcement and some called friends were caught in moments that betray their true motives, hidden agendas, and inner feelings. Dotty’s arrest for murder is a serious complication ramping up the complexity, and the investigation is primarily done by her friends who find the obstacles to prove her innocence insurmountable. Tait included information about the looting of Baghdad and various efforts to retrieve these treasures as part of the background along with depicting the police station protocols and forensic techniques creating the realism I crave in my cozies.

I love the varied personalities and multigenerational characters from kind and helpful to secretive and devious, but it’s the latter that isn’t as easy to spot, even the police in charge we’re awfully suspicious. Sergeant Nick Unwin was a great candidate for a more intimate relationship with Dotty, but something changed and his ambition caused him to take credit for closing a recent high-profile theft and a murder that in reality had been solved by Dotty. And his inability to trust the woman with whom he’s worked closely was disconcerting. Although the major issues are wrapped up neatly with criminal charges, some stories, including Dotty’s, are not complete, and I am looking forward to it.

Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery

Hour to Come (FREE Prequel) KRL Review HERE

Faked Death (2022) KRL Review HERE

Valued for Murder (2022) KRL Review HERE

Bidding for Revenge (2022) KRL Review HERE

Gavels, Tinsel, & Murder (2022) KRL Review HERE

Antique Tragedy (2022) KRL Review HERE

Priceless Betrayal (2023)

Deadly Performance (July, 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. Checkout 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 a print or ebook copy of Priceless Betrayal (winner's choice), simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "priceless,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 8, 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. BE SURE TO STATE IF YOU WANT PRINT OR EBOOK. 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 next month.

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. My mother was a hoarder. After she passed and
    we had to clean out the house, my husband and son
    wanted to throw everything away. I convinced them
    we needed to get someone in to pack it up and auction
    it off. They were surprised at the amount that was
    raised from the selling of this "jungue". After that,
    they were more into antiques. Print copy, please.
    thanks txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I have a genie lamp that I cherish. I don't know if it's worth much, but I really like it.

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  3. My husband and I would find abandoned houses down dirt roads in rural Kansas. We found some amazing things. One was an old bible with a metal cover! Neither of us had ever seen a bible with a metal cover. The inscription inside was to Dan something on April 14, 1898! We were both surprised at that date!

    I would prefer a print copy, thank you very much!

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  4. Thanks for the chance to win. This book sounds so good. Would love to read it!
    faithdcreech@gmail dot com

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  5. I have some antiques, mostly from my Mom and Grandmother. I have a few that I've collected, but not much. I would like to read a print copy.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I have a teapot that was my grandmother's. I don't use it, but i love seeing it on top of the kitchen cabinet every time I walk in the room.

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  7. We have many fun antique shops in my small town. lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Would love to win and read this book.

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  9. I have a whole house of antiques I've collected my entire life. Mostly from yard sales and auctions. Plus I inherited a lot. My favorite is a beautiful, large Gone With the Wind oil lamp. Print book please. Thank you. juliehouser(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  10. What a nail biting edge of the chair book. I just love all of Victoria's books. They always keep you guessing as to whom is the actual culprit. I would never have thought that it was that person. wow

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  11. My sister collected antique furniture which I inherited when she passed away years ago. I also have postcards that my grandparents sent each other before they married dated around 1900.

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  12. Love your reviews. So well-written, yet no spoilers lol I need to learn from you! Thank you!

    thelovebug8@yahoo.com

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  13. New series for me, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com

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  14. I have an antique roll-top desk that I remember being in my grandparents basement and I said that I wanted it. It moved to my apartment, then our first house. Upon moving it to our 2nd house, it was either going to the trash or being refinished. We had it and a desk chair refinished and it turned out amazing. The refinisher said that he could have sold it a few times!

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  15. I have my Grandmother's foot pedal sewing machine as well as selected pieces of glass that she received as wedding gifts. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you. Debra Pruss

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  16. I love antiques! Thanks for the chance! maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  17. I have my grandfather's bible from his childhood. 1927, and parts of Song of Solomon highlighted! LOL. The story someone told is that he would help with the bellows for the organ and he and his friend would read racy passages between hymns.

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  18. Oops, I commented, but forgot to give my email. jenjensen2 (at) gmail (dot) com. And ebook is fine!

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  19. We have a winner!
    Lorie Ham

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  20. We have a winner!
    Lorie Ham

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