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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Antiques Fate by Barbara Allan is the tenth book in the Trash n’ Treasure Mystery series. Brandy Borne is enjoying some quiet time with her boyfriend, Tony Cassato (Chief of Police in Serenity) when they are interrupted by Brandy’s mother, Vivian. Vivian is excited because she was just hired to perform her one woman MacBeth (with hats) at the Old York annual fete (the play is as ridiculous as it sounds). Vivian will perform at the New Vic Theater (replica of Old Victorian Theater in England) in Old York. Of course, this means that Brandy will be going to Old York with her mother. Brandy is the one who hands her mother the various hats and her designated driver (Vivian had her license taken away). They arrive in Old York and meet with the New Vic Theater owner, Millicent Marlowe (prefers Millie). Millie gives them a tour of the theater and they meet her grandson, Chad Marlow (Artistic Director for theater). Then Millie drops dead. Vivian uses her phone to contact Sheriff Rudder (who Vivian has on speed dial). Was Millie’s death accidental or intentional? Turns out that there is a controversy in the town. Millie was on the Boards of Trustees for the town which has six members. Half are for keeping the town quaint and old-fashioned (which draws in tourists). The other three members want to allow changes (modernization) to the town. With the vote always 3 to 3 nothing gets done. Is someone trying to change that outcome? Unfortunately, Millie’s death is just the first (three more to follow). Vivian decides she must investigate and insists that Brandy help her. Can they find the killer in time? Will people enjoy Vivian’s rendition of MacBeth?
Antiques Fate was just too ridiculous (daffy) for me to enjoy. Vivian’s character is extremely over-the-top (daft) and annoying. It is her way or the highway. The book is told from a first-person perspective mostly from Brandy’s point-of-view, but Vivian is allowed a few chapters to rant (mostly about herself and how she is right). Brandy comes across as a lackey doing her mother’s bidding. The mystery was the best part of the novel. It was complex with twists and turns (I loved it). It is a shame that the rest of the novel was not of the same standard. I just did not enjoy the ridiculousness (it just seemed farfetched). I give Antiques Fate 3 out of 5 stars (because of the mystery). I have tried to like this series, but it is just not for me (other people will love it). Antiques Fate can be read alone. The author does a good job of filling in the readers on the characters and what has happened previously (the main details). The ending leaves us with a clue on the sparks that will fly in the next novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Antiques Fate from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
Antiques Fate was just too ridiculous (daffy) for me to enjoy. Vivian’s character is extremely over-the-top (daft) and annoying. It is her way or the highway. The book is told from a first-person perspective mostly from Brandy’s point-of-view, but Vivian is allowed a few chapters to rant (mostly about herself and how she is right). Brandy comes across as a lackey doing her mother’s bidding. The mystery was the best part of the novel. It was complex with twists and turns (I loved it). It is a shame that the rest of the novel was not of the same standard. I just did not enjoy the ridiculousness (it just seemed farfetched). I give Antiques Fate 3 out of 5 stars (because of the mystery). I have tried to like this series, but it is just not for me (other people will love it). Antiques Fate can be read alone. The author does a good job of filling in the readers on the characters and what has happened previously (the main details). The ending leaves us with a clue on the sparks that will fly in the next novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Antiques Fate from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
asolodkin's review against another edition
3.0
I won this as a Goodreads giveaway.
3.5 stars. This book was light and fun. Just a simple mystery to solve with some wacky characters and antics. It was an excellent pallette cleanser. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the casual writing style and fourth wall breaking and self awareness. But once I accepted that that's how this book is meant to be, the fun really came out. I wouldn't seek the others in the series, but I'd read them if they fell into my lap.
3.5 stars. This book was light and fun. Just a simple mystery to solve with some wacky characters and antics. It was an excellent pallette cleanser. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the casual writing style and fourth wall breaking and self awareness. But once I accepted that that's how this book is meant to be, the fun really came out. I wouldn't seek the others in the series, but I'd read them if they fell into my lap.
lunifur's review against another edition
4.0
**I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review**
Oh, wow. I'm not really sure how to describe this book. I found it absolutely hilarious, but I think the writing style might not be something everyone would love. It is "written" by Mother and Brandy, and they have two completely different writing styles. Add into that random tangents and arguments with the editor, and you have one of the most unique writing styles I have ever seen. It worked for me, but I'm not sure it would work for everyone. I really enjoyed the mystery, and Mother's one woman version of The Scottish Play is something I wish I could've seen. Sushi the Shih Tzu was also fun to read about.
Oh, wow. I'm not really sure how to describe this book. I found it absolutely hilarious, but I think the writing style might not be something everyone would love. It is "written" by Mother and Brandy, and they have two completely different writing styles. Add into that random tangents and arguments with the editor, and you have one of the most unique writing styles I have ever seen. It worked for me, but I'm not sure it would work for everyone. I really enjoyed the mystery, and Mother's one woman version of The Scottish Play is something I wish I could've seen. Sushi the Shih Tzu was also fun to read about.
trashpandarabie's review against another edition
1.0
I wish I could give this book half a star.
This is the first Trash 'n Treasures mystery I've ever read, and if this is how they're written it'll also be the last. I picked it up because the cover looked interesting, and I enjoy a good mystery. You know what they say about judging a book by its cover.
Vivian, the mother, is one of the worst characters I've come across in a long time. she doesn't function well as a person; she's so unlikable that she comes across as unrealistic. If a real human being acted the way she acts, nobody would interact with them! Her reactions to people around her dying are either nonexistent or over the top, and she has all the tact and social grace of a rampaging elephant trampling through a crime scene. I feel bad for every character who has to interact with her (or I would, if those characters weren't also flatter than cardboard).
Beyond being a terrible character, she's even a bad literary device! There are certain chapters that are "written by her", meaning written in Vivian's voice, and they are INSUFFERABLE to read through. It's as if the authors actually want to punish you every few chapters or so for trying to read the book. She'll use "big words" followed by their definitions in parentheses, which slows the pace of reading to a crawl. There are also, in parentheses, "conversations" between the mother, the daughter, and "their editor" in which basically everyone is telling Vivian to shut up. This is supposed to be funny, a bit of humor between the writer(s) and the reader, but really it just comes off as obnoxious.
There was even a scene in the book in which characters in the book come up to Vivian, tell her what a huge fan they are of her writing, and say she should have more chapters to herself. I almost gagged.
Vivian, while by far the worst, is not the only bad thing about the book (But considering that she's one of the main two detectives and the driving force behind the novel, she's more than enough reason to avoid this series like the plague). All of the other characters were flat, boring, caricatures of real people. You find yourself not even caring how many people die or how, because they're expendable and uninteresting. On top of this, the clues might as well be presented to you in flashing red text; some of them are just told to you with a straight face by some characters. As if to say, "THIS IS A CLUE. PAY ATTENTION. DID YOU CATCH THAT?"
The most likable character in the whole thing is the actual policeman, Rudder. And I think the only reason for that is that he seems just as tired of all this garbage as I am. This book may have been trash, but it sure wasn't a treasure.
This is the first Trash 'n Treasures mystery I've ever read, and if this is how they're written it'll also be the last. I picked it up because the cover looked interesting, and I enjoy a good mystery. You know what they say about judging a book by its cover.
Vivian, the mother, is one of the worst characters I've come across in a long time. she doesn't function well as a person; she's so unlikable that she comes across as unrealistic. If a real human being acted the way she acts, nobody would interact with them! Her reactions to people around her dying are either nonexistent or over the top, and she has all the tact and social grace of a rampaging elephant trampling through a crime scene. I feel bad for every character who has to interact with her (or I would, if those characters weren't also flatter than cardboard).
Beyond being a terrible character, she's even a bad literary device! There are certain chapters that are "written by her", meaning written in Vivian's voice, and they are INSUFFERABLE to read through. It's as if the authors actually want to punish you every few chapters or so for trying to read the book. She'll use "big words" followed by their definitions in parentheses, which slows the pace of reading to a crawl. There are also, in parentheses, "conversations" between the mother, the daughter, and "their editor" in which basically everyone is telling Vivian to shut up. This is supposed to be funny, a bit of humor between the writer(s) and the reader, but really it just comes off as obnoxious.
There was even a scene in the book in which characters in the book come up to Vivian, tell her what a huge fan they are of her writing, and say she should have more chapters to herself. I almost gagged.
Vivian, while by far the worst, is not the only bad thing about the book (But considering that she's one of the main two detectives and the driving force behind the novel, she's more than enough reason to avoid this series like the plague). All of the other characters were flat, boring, caricatures of real people. You find yourself not even caring how many people die or how, because they're expendable and uninteresting. On top of this, the clues might as well be presented to you in flashing red text; some of them are just told to you with a straight face by some characters. As if to say, "THIS IS A CLUE. PAY ATTENTION. DID YOU CATCH THAT?"
The most likable character in the whole thing is the actual policeman, Rudder. And I think the only reason for that is that he seems just as tired of all this garbage as I am. This book may have been trash, but it sure wasn't a treasure.
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