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

About the Book

When podcast star Nicole is found dead, mother-daughter sleuths and antiques dealers Vivian and Brandy Borne have to find the killer fast. Fast, because not only does the culprit need to be stopped but Vivian - having the worst timing of all - found the body and is accused of murder! Will the duo be able to find the killer and free Vivian in time?

Book Synopsis

Eccentric antiques dealer and amateur sleuth Vivian Borne finds herself in jail - again! - when a podcast star is found dead in her hotel room in this new Trash 'n' Treasures cozy mystery - "one of the funniest cozy series going" (Ellery Queen Magazine)
When popular podcaster Nicole Chatterton wants an interview for Killers Caught, true-crime author Vivian Borne is overjoyed. Finally, some recognition for the sleuthing skills the septuagenarian antiques dealer and her daughter Brandy have demonstrated, solving countless crimes in their small hometown of Serenity, Iowa!

Dolled up and dressed to the nines, Vivian figures the interview is going swimmingly . . . until Nicole turns the tables, accusing the mother/daughter duo of committing the very crimes they solved. Shocked and affronted - and with a spiteful tirade captured by the cameras - Vivian breaks off the interview, ejecting the rude podcaster from the premises of the Trash 'n' Treasures shop. How dare the woman?

Later, when Vivian pays the podcaster a follow-up visit at the woman's hotel - hoping to smooth things out and set the record straight - a very dead Nicole is waiting. Caught as the killer (true to the podcast's title) by producer Clare Shields, Vivian finds herself behind bars. Now it's up to Brandy to determine who really did the dire deed before their fiendish foe can strike again!

Antiques Foe is a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery which also features mother-daughter sleuths Brandy and Vivian's witty tips for buying and selling antiques, along with a selection of tasty recipes.

Review Quotes

Framed by small-town life in Iowa, with interesting details on antiques, this fun cozy includes recipes and tips on collecting sports memorabilia-- "Booklist"

A mystery that has it all: humor, zany characters, antiquing tips, and recipes to brighten your day-- "Kirkus Reviews"

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 on Antiques Liquidation"

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

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

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. Their previous collaborations have included one son, several short story collections, and twenty novels. They live in Muscatine, Iowa - their Serenity-esque hometown - in a house filled with trash and treasures.