"An Auction of Secrets" By Victoria Tait: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sarah Erwin

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

Victoria Tait is back with book one in her new British cozy mystery series, Cotswold Antique Mysteries. Book one, An Auction of Secrets features familiar, favorite characters – Dotty Sayers and Keya Verma, working together to uncover a long held secret worth killing over.

Both Dotty and Keya are each starting new ventures – Dotty as the operator of a Cotswold auction house, and Keya as a crime scene manager (along with managing her busy Waterwheel Cafe). Chapters alternate between Dotty’s and Keya’s point of view, so both sleuths get ample room in the spotlight.

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Image Source Kanga Press

Dotty is going about a routine house clearance when she uncovers items related to WWII, and her research reveals these items are somehow tied to a long-concealed secret. But as she digs deeper, it becomes clear someone will do anything to keep the truth from coming to light.

Keya is called to the crime scene – her first job as a crime scene manager – and this assignment is connected unexpectedly to Dotty’s discovery at the house clearance.  

What an engaging start to a new series! Victoria uses historical research around WWII and specifically related to lost and stolen art during the war to tell this story. This history is both fascinating and intriguing and adds a layer to the mystery.

As with Victoria’s other books, I was immediately drawn into the story and stayed engaged throughout, finishing this in about a day. As Keya and Dotty unraveled secrets, I enjoyed thinking through the clues and red herrings. I had a small guess as to the ending, but enjoyed the big reveal - it is nail biting!

The Cotswold setting is one of my favorites, and the cozy details Victoria adds allows me to simply sink into the story – I love the way she describes all the parts of the story from the characters, to the villages, to the food everyone enjoys.

And I’d be remiss not to mention how lovely it is to be back with Keya and Dotty – two best friends who support each other and build off each other in the search for justice.

To enter to win a copy of An Auction of Secrets (either ebook or print, winner's choice), simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "auction,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 7, 2025. 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! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

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.