The Antique Lover's Mysteries: Books 1-3

By: Deborah Morgan

Narrated by: Samuel E. Hoke

Length: 19 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Now available in one volume, the first three books of the Antique Lover's Mysteries!

Death Is a Cabaret

Since Jeff Talbot left the FBI, he's been investigating yard sales as a professional antiques picker. From furniture to books, from old clothes to broken toys, nothing escapes his keen eye for appraisal. But there is one item that he always keeps his knowing eyes particularly peeled to find: a one-of-a-kind French cabaret set commissioned by Napoleon for his love, Josephine. It is an item any collector would kill for....

So when it's about to be auctioned off—and rival collectors start turning up dead—there are plenty of suspects to choose from. Suddenly Jeff finds himself polishing up his old crime-solving skills as the search for a cabaret set becomes the search for a killer. But can he pick out the right clues before the killer adds him to the collection of dead bodies?

The Weedless Widow

Jeff Talbot is joining his fishing buddies for their annual trip. He is also trying to coordinate the listing and transportation of his latest haul of antiques. When he arrives at the Northwest Territory Bait and Tackle shop for supplies, he joins his fishing friend, the Judge. Together they find their friend and shop owner, Bill Rhodes murdered. Throughout the fishing trip weekend, Jeff finds himself assisting the local sheriff's department in the investigation.

While helping the local law enforcement, Jeff forwards pertinent data to his home computer. When he returns home from his fishing trip, he finds Sheila, his agoraphobic wife, missing. Using former FBI resources, friends and Seattle's police, the search for Sheila Talbot begins. As Jeff searches, he finds her disappearance clearly linked to the murder.

The Marriage Casket

Antiques picker and ex-FBI agent Jeff Talbot figured he was about to make a killing when Nathan Rose offered him all the antiques in his newly deceased aunt's house dirt cheap. What Jeff hadn't bargained for, however, was the bloodstain beneath one of the old pack rat's priceless rugs, indicating that the death of Verena Rose was no accident.

But unlike the police, Jeff doesn't think that nephew Nathan is the culprit. Convinced the answer lies somewhere in the old woman's cluttered house, Jeff starts rummaging and unearths an antique marriage casket crammed with old letters. Reading through these, he discovers the old woman had more than her share of secrets. But now Jeff must determine who hated or feared her enough to commit murder...before he winds up in a casket himself.

©2022 Deborah Estleman (P)2022 David N. Wilson

Started slow, got better

The first book was extremely descriptive and a bit slow, but the books picked up steam as they went along. If you like antiques, you might really like these books. If you are ambivalent, you may learn a little something that piques your interest in them. The narrator was a bit slow, but that seemed to fit the genre somehow.

I Love these books and narration

These stories are not like many cozy mysteries, but are very enjoyable. It takes a while to get into these stories, but once you get there, they are a great listen. I have already purchased tne next two. I hope Deborah Morgan writes more and uses the same narrator to read them. Great detail in the story and character development.

What a fascinating family.

A fresh combination of characters that you just have to like. Having a liking of antiques appeals to me despite antiques being out of style these days.

It’s Okay

Not bad for a bargain buy, but there is so much better stuff out there.

You have to love antiques to read this.

The Narrator was boring. It had way too much description of antiques but did have interesting characters.

Part of a 2 for 1 sale and didn't finish it

I like mysteries but not big on antiques. This story was not engaging to me. I kept at it a chapter after the murder victim is found and I couldn't keep going. I had not interest in any of the characters. If I could, I would have returned it but i was unable to so it'll sit in my library collecting dust.

Narrator Talentless

Reads like a teacher not an interpreter of written work. Barely keep characters differentiated and lacked personality. Could not get past 1st chapter.