Rinker on Collectibles

RINKER ON COLLECTIBLES — Column #1540

2016 Summer Reads - Part I

I spent the past three weeks reading 14 mysteries in which antiques and collectibles play a primary or peripheral role. Each year as I start my research for the “Read” columns, I am confident that I have identified all the antiques and collectibles cozy mystery series and need only look for new titles in them. Once again, I was wrong. This year, I discovered several new series, including two as eBooks.

I was saddened not to see a new title in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series written by Victoria Hamilton (pseudonym for Donna Lea Simpson). The hook in this series is that an antique or collectible is the actual murder weapon. The most recent, and I hope not the last title in the series, is “White Colander Crime,” published by Berkley Prime Crime in fall 2015. Other titles include “A Deadly Grind,” “Bowled Over,” “Freeze or I’ll Shoot,” and “No Mallets Intended.”

Traditionally, the cozy mystery genre, into which most of the titles fit, requires a body and a single, female amateur sleuth who is dating a member of the local law enforcement. This summer, bodies are missing in several of the series, wedded bliss has crept into the picture, and friends play a larger role than in the past in the search for clues.

“Antiques Fate,” a Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery, is the latest effort from Barbara Allan (a pseudonym for Barbara and Max Allan Collins). It is the thirteenth title in the series, three of which are eBooks. The series focuses on the adventures of a mother daughter team – Vivian and Brandy Borne. The series is written in a first person narrative form. Although the daughter Brandy is the primary narrator, Vivian appears to be gaining in the number of chapters in her voice. As a Vivian fan, I am thrilled. The old gal’s perspective is extremely appealing and funny. Maybe it is my age, but I understand how limited a child’s appreciation of its parent’s insights can be.

As “Antiques Swap,” the previous title in the series, ended, Vivian and Brandy were about to start filming “Amateur Sleuths,” the premise being “two amateur sleuths…who have solved a number of real-life murder mysteries in the quaint hometown—uncover the mysteries behind the strange and unusual antiques that are brought into their shop.” Although most of the titles in the series are set in Serenity, Iowa, Vivian and Brandy’s adventures have involved travel to New York City, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. “Antiques Fate” takes place in Old York, a Shakespearian theme town about an hour from Serenity.

Vivian and Brandy own an antiques shop. In addition, Vivian was bitten by the thespian bug early in life. Her amateur stock performances are legendary in Serenity, a fact that has led to Vivian’s delusion that she is talented. Apparently the delusion is shared by the Old Vic Theater in Old York which, in desperation for entertainment during the town’s annual Shakespearian Fate, hired Vivian to do her one-person performance of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”

One can count on Allan for a body or two or three or more. Vivian and Brandy attract dead bodies like sugar water attracts flies. Old York is in the middle of a zoning battle, with the body count weighted toward the traditionalists who oppose additional commercial development.

The role played by antiques and collectibles is secondary – in the background rather than the front of the stage. The final scene takes place in the local history museum and does involve some of the artifacts in its collection.

I chalk “Antiques Fate” up as character development in the series, remaining hopeful that future titles will return to a greater focus on objects. “Antiques Fate” is published by Kensington Books. For a full list of titles in this and other cozy mystery series, check “The Cozy Mystery List Blog” at http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/antique-cozy-mysteries-antiquing-cozies.html.

The cozy mystery genre became more specialized as its sophistication grew. The new trend is to pick a specific antiques and collectibles sub-category and focus on it. There now are series for antiquarian books, kitchen collectibles, needlework, quilts, sewing implements, and more. “The Marsh Madness” by Victoria Abbott (pseudonym for Mary Jane and Victoria Mafini) and “Thread and Gone” by Lea Wait are two examples.

“The Marsh Madness” is the fourth title in A Book Collector Mystery series published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first three titles in the series are “The Christie Curse,” “The Sayers Swindle,” and “The Wolf Widow.” The stories focus around Vera Van Alst, a recluse book collector, and Jordan Bingham, the collection’s curator. Jordan’s Bingham family uncles own an antiques enterprise whose dealings and ethics are questionable at best. Jordan is trying to break the mold and go straight, somewhat complicated by the fact that she is dating a police officer and loves her uncles, one of whose fingers are extremely sticky and works as the handyman (jack of all trades) for Vera Van Alst. Raised by her uncles and taught the mysteries of their profession early, Joran finds the temptation to return to her uncles’ haunts for comfort and the tools of the trade irresistible.

“The Marsh Madness” involves Vera Van Alst’s passion for first edition mystery novels, in this case a collection of titles by Ngaio Marsh, a New Zealand author. Vera, Jordan, and Uncle Vic are lured from the Van Alst mansion to the nearby Summerlea, home of the Kauffman family. Summerlea becomes the stage about which the world is talking, especially after Chadwick Kauffman is found murdered within hours of a luncheon at Summerlea at which Vera buys a collection of Marsh’s first editions. The past becomes the present before the murderer is brought to justice. “The Marsh Madness” is a delight for the antiquarian book collector as well as anyone who love a good read.

While waiting for the next instalment in Lea Wait’s “Shadows” series, I read “Thread and Gone,” the third title in her A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series published by the Kensington Publishing Group. The titles focus on Angie Curtis, who has returned home to Haven Harbor, Maine, after a brief law enforcement career in Arizona. The setting for “Thread and Gone” is the Fourth of July celebration. Gram, Angie’s grandmother, who married the Reverend Tom is away on her honeymoon in Quebec. The mystery that engrosses Angie and the members of the Mainely Needlepointers is an embroidery entitled “A Byrd of America” reputed to be made by Mary Queen of Scots. Entrusted to a family lawyer for safe keeping, the adventure begins when the lawyer is found dead and the embroidery missing.

One body is a must but a second body adds to the mystery. A chase scene at the end increases the suspense. In the course of the story, Gram and Reverend Tom return to add their expertise to the crime-solving group. The other two titles in this series are “Twisted Threads” and “Threads of Evidence.” I recommend all three books in the series.

Antique Shop Mysteries, edited by Shari Lohner and published by CountrySampler, is one of the new series that I discovered. Currently, four titles are available: “Stranger in the Looking Glass” by Jan Fields, “The Secret Letter” by Mary Blount Christian, “The Christmas Riddle” by Susan Sleeman, and “Pieces from the Past” by Elizabeth Penney. Since the last two titles are set in the winter months, I set them aside to be discussed in my next “Winter Read” column.

The Antique Shop Mysteries series, which ultimately will consist of over a dozen titles, has two interesting twists. While the central characters remain the same, each novel will be written by a different author. A dead body is not critical, although one does appear from time to time. The stories focus on discovering the mystery, in this case the story, behind an object or objects. At first, I was concerned about the ability of independent authors to create a unified style. Having read all four titles, I see the fine hand of Ms. Lohner at work and have put my concern aside.

Maggie Watson, a widow, inherits Sedgwick Manor (a large 19th century Colonial Revival house) and Carriage House Antiques, located in Somerset Harbor, Maine, from her aunt Evelyn Bradbury. She is aided in her quest for historical information about the artifacts that she finds in her aunt’s collection as well as those brought to her by June McGillis, manager of Carriage House Antiques, members of the Somerset Harbor Historical (or hysterical) Society, and James Bennett, one of the local Aldermen who just happens to be single, close to Maggie’s age, and works in historic preservation and conservation.

“Stranger in the Looking Glass” focuses on Maggie’s arrival in Somerset Harbor and the discovery of a photograph of her aunt and uncle on the back of a mirror. The photograph raises questions about the death of her uncle twenty years earlier. “The Secret Letter” involves the discovery of a secret letter found in a hidden compartment of a humpback trunk that Maggie plans to restore.

A long proponent of focusing on the stories antiques and collectibles can tell, I very much enjoyed reading the titles in the Antique Shop Mysteries series and look forward to reading more. For more information, go to: https://www.antiqueshopmysteries.com/home.php.

Part II of the “Summer Read” series will introduce readers to titles in The Good Buy Girls and Deadly Notions Mystery series, Matthew Pearl’s “The Last Bookaneer,” the latest title from Robin Williams, and two eBook series, one featuring the return of J. B. Stanley.

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Selected letters will be answered in this column. Harry cannot provide personal answers. Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned. Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 5955 Mill Point Court SE, Kentwood, MI 49512. You also can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered.

You can listen and participate in WHATCHA GOT?, Harry’s antiques and collectibles radio call-in show, on Sunday mornings between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Eastern Time. If you cannot find it on a station in your area, WHATCHA GOT? streams live on the Internet at www.gcnlive.com.

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