Header Menu

Monday, May 25, 2015

57) A Killer Collection by Ellery Adams

The Blurb :

In the world of antiques and collectibles, it helps to have a sharp eye for quality, a good ear for gossip, and a nose for murder.

Molly Appleby is a young writer for Collector’s Weekly, and when the attractive reporter isn’t covering auctions and antique shows all over the South, she’s trying to get her new relationship with a coworker off the ground. When her latest assignment takes her to North Carolina pottery country to cover an exclusive kiln opening, she’s certain the show promises surprising offerings and rare finds. What she doesn’t expect to find is a dead body.

George-Bradley Staunton is known throughout the antiques world as a very wealthy and very ruthless collector, and when he drops dead just after the opening, there are all too few mourners and a seemingly endless list of suspects. When the local police are stumped, Molly steps in to put her journalist’s nose to work sniffing out the culprit. But no sooner does she start collecting clues than another dead body falls into her lap.

As Molly digs beneath the genteel surface of antiques and collectibles, she finds a world filled with backstabbing and competition, and what started as a story about rare collections might leave Molly with nothing more than a collection of corpses.

My Thoughts :

When some authors finally make a name for themselves their previous books will often get re-released. This is what seems to be happening for Ellery Adams.  Her Hope Street Mysteries have already been released again and now her Collectable Mysteries are also back out. So J.B. Stanley is just a blast from the past and the name Ellery Adams is showing up on more books.

Even though Killer Collection was originally released nearly ten years ago this new edition released just after Christmas and I will admit it has taken me a while to get around to reading it. I was looking forward to trying another series by this author and was interested to see if this is as good as her other works.  She has proven to me that she used to write great cozies before changing her pen name but would this series also hold the same tantalizing twists and turns that make a good mystery.  Would the amateur sleuth manage to be as likable as the other characters I have had the pleasure of solving mysteries with?

While Killer Collection was a fascinating read it didn't manage to rise up to the heights of my previous encounters with the author.  I am not saying this was bad but it isn't the best offering I have read by this author.  I found it hard to keep track of the characters and was confused by some of the time frame.  Also the storytelling wasn't as fluid and well thought out as I am used to.  The characters were ok and I did enjoy the mystery. The pottery theme was interesting enough but I hope the next book isn't just about those kinds of antiques/collectibles.

All in all it wasn't a bad read but it came across as not quite as polished as I am used to.  A good start to the series but one that could put off people from reading further into the series.  Now that there are so many cozies out there to choose from this one seems of low standard.  If people realise this is a re-release then they will hopefully understand the slight amateur feeling to this one but I fear anyone trying Ellery Adams for the first time may not continue to read her books and will miss out on the really amazing mysteries she has written.

I will check out the next in the series at some point.  I am intrigued to see how this series develops and if it manages to find its feet.



Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository



Amberkatze's Book Blog



No comments: