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Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery #3
Antiques to Die For
Since Josie Prescott left a high-paying job in New York to set up shop as an antiques appraiser on the rugged New Hampshire coast, her life has not gone exactly according to plan. In many ways, it’s gone better: She has a booming business, good friends and neighbors, and even a promising romance.
But dead bodies do seem to keep crossing her path. And now her friend Rosalie has been killed just hours after confiding a secret to Josie, leaving a bereaved twelve-year-old sister, Paige, who reminds Josie of herself when her mother died. It turns out that Rosalie had other secrets too: a mysterious treasure she told her sister she was leaving behind—and a secret admirer who now seems to be turning his creepy attention to Josie!
As Josie races to solve the crime while helping Paige and trying to keep her business afloat, Jane K. Cleland brings us an irresistible new blend of coziness, crime, and collectibles.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
22 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
Jane K. Cleland
32 books354 followersJane K. Cleland writes the multiple award-winning and bestselling Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries. Her short stories are published by Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. She’s also written the bestselling and Agatha Award-winning how-to books,
Mastering Plot Twists
and
Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot
, both from Writer’s Digest Books.
Her latest release is the craft of writing book, Beat the Bots: A Writer's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI from Regalo Press.
In addition, Jane presents a free monthly webinar series on the craft of writing as well as the Mystery Mastermind series—her small-group virtual writing workshops. She is also a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest Magazine, chairs the Wolfe Pack’s Black Orchid Novella Award, in partnership with AHMM, and is the Vice President of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Jane has an MFA (in professional and creative writing) and an MBA (in marketing and management). Jane is a lecturer at Lehman College where she is also the director of the Program for Professional Communications, and a frequent workshop facilitator and guest author at writing conferences and university programs.
For more on Jane, visit www.janecleland.com.
Her latest release is the craft of writing book, Beat the Bots: A Writer's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI from Regalo Press.
In addition, Jane presents a free monthly webinar series on the craft of writing as well as the Mystery Mastermind series—her small-group virtual writing workshops. She is also a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest Magazine, chairs the Wolfe Pack’s Black Orchid Novella Award, in partnership with AHMM, and is the Vice President of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Jane has an MFA (in professional and creative writing) and an MBA (in marketing and management). Jane is a lecturer at Lehman College where she is also the director of the Program for Professional Communications, and a frequent workshop facilitator and guest author at writing conferences and university programs.
For more on Jane, visit www.janecleland.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
December 14, 2008
"You okay?" is the start of virtually every conversation in this book. Everybody is SO concerned about how everybody else is doing and whether they are going to be "okay." It gets to be very predictable and very annoying after a while.
The other thing that still annoys me about this entry in this series is the same thing that annoyed me about the first two: Josie is constantly tearing up or brushing away tears or struggling to keep from crying. Enough already! We get it! She's had sad things happen in her life.
Other than these two quibbles, I found the book engaging. Josie Prescott is a sympathetic character and the reader learns to care about her. She is such an unrelentingly decent person.
In this story, a friend of Josie's is killed, leaving a 12-year-old sister behind and also a mystery. She apparently possessed a treasure of some great worth - something that an antiques appraiser would appreciate - but it is hidden. She has left behind a code as clue to its whereabouts. This is the mystery that Josie must solve. And that will lead her to a murderer.
This is a "cozy" so you just know its going to end well and it does. Josie will live to appraise another day.
The other thing that still annoys me about this entry in this series is the same thing that annoyed me about the first two: Josie is constantly tearing up or brushing away tears or struggling to keep from crying. Enough already! We get it! She's had sad things happen in her life.
Other than these two quibbles, I found the book engaging. Josie Prescott is a sympathetic character and the reader learns to care about her. She is such an unrelentingly decent person.
In this story, a friend of Josie's is killed, leaving a 12-year-old sister behind and also a mystery. She apparently possessed a treasure of some great worth - something that an antiques appraiser would appreciate - but it is hidden. She has left behind a code as clue to its whereabouts. This is the mystery that Josie must solve. And that will lead her to a murderer.
This is a "cozy" so you just know its going to end well and it does. Josie will live to appraise another day.
August 25, 2012
Third in the Josie Prescott Antiques mystery series set in a contemporary Rocky Point, New Hampshire.
My Take
In spite of Josie, I do enjoy this series. Cleland provides a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes of the antiques business.
It's one thing to refuse to gossip about someone, it's another entirely to withhold information of any kind from the police. If it's just a feeling, say that. Josie is such a hypocrite when she refuses to talk to the police. ARghHh! She won't pass on information because a. it's gossip or a feeling and b. Rosalie told her a secret. Hullo??? She's dead. That "secret" could well be the reason she was murdered!!! Josie then leaves a valuable clue behind after reading it---all the while clucking about how wrong reading it is—and then she spills everything she knows to a reporter with no qualm.
True to form, Josie takes fright at everything and leaps to conclusions with little reason. It's practically a guarantee that the first few whom Josie thinks are guilty are actually innocent. For someone who hates being involved in a murder investigation and is involved with the chief of police, she certainly goes out of her way to get involved. What?? She doesn't trust her boyfriend to be smart enough to solve the case? She's such a hypocrite.
It must be pretty dull in Rocky Point when the police department can spare a cop to follow Josie all over creation and back. That or it's who she knows...
I did enjoy the snark about Edie, although I don't have quite the respect for Rosalie that I would have liked.
There are some scary things someone can do with your cellphone per this story!! Which could make it worth the reading.
The Story
A brief intro so we have someone to kill, er, I mean, a lovely friend of Josie's is murdered, leaving behind a vulnerable sister. And Josie is dragged into the investigation simply because she knew her.
It's a case that turns deadly for Josie both emotionally and physically. She can relate to how Paige feels since she too has lost both her parents. Besides, Paige has a family secret for which she needs Josie's help. One that confuses others who are negatively interested in how the case is solved and what may turn up.
The Characters
Josie Prescott and her shop are prospering in Rocky Point. Even if she does keep getting caught up in murders.
Her employees include the bubbly Gretchen who loves to gossip; her chief appraiser Sasha has a Ph.D. in art history and trusts everyone, while Fred is her newest appraiser and complements Sasha with his acerbic self-assurance and street smarts; Eric is her young warehouse supervisor---he's growing into the job and his confidence; Cara is a temp who just may become permanent part-time.
Rosalie Chaffee is a 32-year-old student who has almost finished her doctorate on historical communications at Hitchens College; Paige is her 12-year-old sister. Rosalie has been Paige's guardian since they lost their parents four years ago. She and Josie met at Heyer's Modular Furniture. Rodney is an estranged cousin who has been appointed Paige's guardian.
Paul Greeley is her ex-boyfriend, gorgeous, and shares office space with her at the college. Dr. Cooper Bennington is the assistant chair for the history department there. And there's no love lost between Cooper and anyone.
Gerry Fine is the CEO of Heyer's and has employed Rosalie to ghostwrite his biography and Josie has been installing a selection of antique furniture and artwork. His wife, Edie, wallows in her position as the CEO's wife. That's about as close as she gets to being one. Tricia Dobson is his assistant. Ned Anderson is the chief financial officer with the snarky, sarcastic attitude. Una is the receptionist.
Ty Alverez is the chief of police in Rocky Point as well as Josie's boyfriend. He's currently interviewing for a job with Homeland Security which will entail a lot of trips away from home. Officer Claire Brownley (I do like her) spends a lot of time protecting the twit, er, I mean, Josie. Officer Griffin is another officer.
Wes Smith is the snoopy reporter who just has to meet at the beach on a sand dune because everything is just too hush-hush for words over a phone line. Tedious… Max Bixby is Josie's lawyer and slips in for a quick consult. Mr. Bolton is the attorney appointed by the court to represent Paige. Zoë is her landlady and lives next door with her two kids Emma and Jake and a newcomer, her cousin Frankie who's been kicked out of his mother's house.
Lesha Moore's request for an appraisal of the Whistler palette is a filler although it is interesting how they go about authenticating this gift from her dead boyfriend, Evan Woodricky.
The Cover
The cover is cute with its bright pink background---channeling Paige, perhaps? I suspect the two-story house housing the Antiques and Auctions shop with its "giftwrap" of crime scene tape sums up Josie's feelings at this point as well.
It's true, there are Antiques to Die For. It's just not the type that most of us could empathize with, book lover or no.
My Take
In spite of Josie, I do enjoy this series. Cleland provides a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes of the antiques business.
It's one thing to refuse to gossip about someone, it's another entirely to withhold information of any kind from the police. If it's just a feeling, say that. Josie is such a hypocrite when she refuses to talk to the police. ARghHh! She won't pass on information because a. it's gossip or a feeling and b. Rosalie told her a secret. Hullo??? She's dead. That "secret" could well be the reason she was murdered!!! Josie then leaves a valuable clue behind after reading it---all the while clucking about how wrong reading it is—and then she spills everything she knows to a reporter with no qualm.
True to form, Josie takes fright at everything and leaps to conclusions with little reason. It's practically a guarantee that the first few whom Josie thinks are guilty are actually innocent. For someone who hates being involved in a murder investigation and is involved with the chief of police, she certainly goes out of her way to get involved. What?? She doesn't trust her boyfriend to be smart enough to solve the case? She's such a hypocrite.
It must be pretty dull in Rocky Point when the police department can spare a cop to follow Josie all over creation and back. That or it's who she knows...
I did enjoy the snark about Edie, although I don't have quite the respect for Rosalie that I would have liked.
There are some scary things someone can do with your cellphone per this story!! Which could make it worth the reading.
The Story
A brief intro so we have someone to kill, er, I mean, a lovely friend of Josie's is murdered, leaving behind a vulnerable sister. And Josie is dragged into the investigation simply because she knew her.
It's a case that turns deadly for Josie both emotionally and physically. She can relate to how Paige feels since she too has lost both her parents. Besides, Paige has a family secret for which she needs Josie's help. One that confuses others who are negatively interested in how the case is solved and what may turn up.
The Characters
Josie Prescott and her shop are prospering in Rocky Point. Even if she does keep getting caught up in murders.
Her employees include the bubbly Gretchen who loves to gossip; her chief appraiser Sasha has a Ph.D. in art history and trusts everyone, while Fred is her newest appraiser and complements Sasha with his acerbic self-assurance and street smarts; Eric is her young warehouse supervisor---he's growing into the job and his confidence; Cara is a temp who just may become permanent part-time.
Rosalie Chaffee is a 32-year-old student who has almost finished her doctorate on historical communications at Hitchens College; Paige is her 12-year-old sister. Rosalie has been Paige's guardian since they lost their parents four years ago. She and Josie met at Heyer's Modular Furniture. Rodney is an estranged cousin who has been appointed Paige's guardian.
Paul Greeley is her ex-boyfriend, gorgeous, and shares office space with her at the college. Dr. Cooper Bennington is the assistant chair for the history department there. And there's no love lost between Cooper and anyone.
Gerry Fine is the CEO of Heyer's and has employed Rosalie to ghostwrite his biography and Josie has been installing a selection of antique furniture and artwork. His wife, Edie, wallows in her position as the CEO's wife. That's about as close as she gets to being one. Tricia Dobson is his assistant. Ned Anderson is the chief financial officer with the snarky, sarcastic attitude. Una is the receptionist.
Ty Alverez is the chief of police in Rocky Point as well as Josie's boyfriend. He's currently interviewing for a job with Homeland Security which will entail a lot of trips away from home. Officer Claire Brownley (I do like her) spends a lot of time protecting the twit, er, I mean, Josie. Officer Griffin is another officer.
Wes Smith is the snoopy reporter who just has to meet at the beach on a sand dune because everything is just too hush-hush for words over a phone line. Tedious… Max Bixby is Josie's lawyer and slips in for a quick consult. Mr. Bolton is the attorney appointed by the court to represent Paige. Zoë is her landlady and lives next door with her two kids Emma and Jake and a newcomer, her cousin Frankie who's been kicked out of his mother's house.
Lesha Moore's request for an appraisal of the Whistler palette is a filler although it is interesting how they go about authenticating this gift from her dead boyfriend, Evan Woodricky.
The Cover
The cover is cute with its bright pink background---channeling Paige, perhaps? I suspect the two-story house housing the Antiques and Auctions shop with its "giftwrap" of crime scene tape sums up Josie's feelings at this point as well.
It's true, there are Antiques to Die For. It's just not the type that most of us could empathize with, book lover or no.
July 18, 2011
I continue to like these books. Josie is an appealing protangonist for the most part (although I am beginning to be astonished at how much "sage advice" she remembers from her father), and I enjoy the world she works in and the people she works with. They are fun, light, murder mysteries.
March 22, 2023
2.5-3 because ughhh she still sucks. Seriously, you have police protection almost the entire book and justtttt when you think you’ve figured out the killer you decide to go off on your own,???? Ughhhh
March 20, 2019
The Josie Prescott Antiques mysteries are always a fun (and educational as well - I'm learning about antiques!) cozy mystery choice. Antiques to Die For is a nicely written tale, and I didn't figure out the murderer until the big reveal - always a plus! 5 stars!
June 24, 2021
3.5 / 4 Stars
This was my first book in the Josie Prescott series. Yes, I started with #3.
The story kept me engaged. Written well. Josie was a decent character. I do think after the death of her friend, Rosalie, she would have been more forthcoming with the police. Yes, her friend told her things in confidence and gossip shouldn't be spread lightly....but come on, Rosalie was dead. Any information that can be given, even if it's only "a feeling" should be disclosed.
Everything was wrapped up nicely...nothing left hanging. Might go back and read the first 2 books.
This was my first book in the Josie Prescott series. Yes, I started with #3.
The story kept me engaged. Written well. Josie was a decent character. I do think after the death of her friend, Rosalie, she would have been more forthcoming with the police. Yes, her friend told her things in confidence and gossip shouldn't be spread lightly....but come on, Rosalie was dead. Any information that can be given, even if it's only "a feeling" should be disclosed.
Everything was wrapped up nicely...nothing left hanging. Might go back and read the first 2 books.
November 7, 2022
Now this is how a mystery should end. With the killer not saying anything instead of shooting off his mouth as to why. Great! It got a little monotonous with all of Josie’s remembering of her dead father’s quotes, even though they were good.
October 21, 2022
Good mystery, good characters, really interesting background. Love reading about antiques and the tag sales Josie puts on.
December 18, 2015
Antique apparier in New Hampshire always uncovers murders. Good mystery with antique info as a part of the story.
August 2, 2017
Antiques appraiser Josie Prescott is shocked to learn that her friend Rosalie was killed not long after revealing a secret to Josie. Rosalie had also mentioned a "treasure" to her younger sister, Paige, who has no idea what her sister was referring to, and is now in a state of shock and grief, as she is only twelve years old. Rosalie had been her legal guardian, as their parents had died in an accident several years ago. There is also the matter of the unknown stalker that Rosalie had been dealing with over the last few months, who now appears to have set its eyes on Josie.
August 17, 2018
I like Jane K. Cleland's books but I have one complaint about this one. I felt like I was left hanging a little at the end. Not about the murder/mystery, but about the characters. I am crossing my fingers that we get to hear a little bit more about one of them in particular as the series moves along. I will say that I really didn't see the end of the mystery coming like that though! Looking forward to the next book by this author!
November 22, 2017
Best Josie Prescott story so far
At last Ms Cleland presents a cozy mystery without an annoyingly stereotypical law enforcement antagonist. Her ruminations on color, the power of perception over fact, and the attractions of life in small-town New England are skillfully interwoven through the series, but they bloom in "Antiques to Die For."
At last Ms Cleland presents a cozy mystery without an annoyingly stereotypical law enforcement antagonist. Her ruminations on color, the power of perception over fact, and the attractions of life in small-town New England are skillfully interwoven through the series, but they bloom in "Antiques to Die For."
August 12, 2018
Fortunately these books are getting better. Josie is working more cooperatively with the police and isn't so afraid of them. At least the dead body doesn't happen in her antique business. But it does happen to a good friend of hers. So Josie helps the police find the killer before the killer strikes again.
February 3, 2019
OUTSTANDING! Great writing!
The plot kept moving throughout the book to hold the reader's interest. Never a dull moment. The description made me think and feel as if I were right there watching the events in the story actually happen. Stayed up reading until 4:00 am because I could not wait to learn who the guilty person was.
The plot kept moving throughout the book to hold the reader's interest. Never a dull moment. The description made me think and feel as if I were right there watching the events in the story actually happen. Stayed up reading until 4:00 am because I could not wait to learn who the guilty person was.
November 11, 2022
I continue to read and thoroughly enjoy this mystery series. Josie Prescott is an engaging character and I always learn something new about the antiques industry. Although this series is classified as a cozy (an I do love cozy mysteries) there is nothing frivolous as can so often be the case in this genre. The writing is stellar. I highly recommend the series.
January 24, 2021
Love the aspects of appraisal of antiques and the business of appraisal. And the there is the mystery of people who can be murderous and cruel. Its also marvelous to hear the wisdom of her father as Josie handles business and life's problems. Very enjoyable mystery.
June 9, 2022
If you read this, you'll have to just roll with all the outrageous things that don't really make sense. But Josie is likable and it's an easy read.
July 19, 2017
This book had much more substance than many of the "themed" books I have read.
September 20, 2017
Awesome story that keeps you guessing to the very end.
March 7, 2019
good story
July 11, 2020
cowboy of course
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2021
Fun cozy. I like the location, characters and minimal 'mysteries'.
May 30, 2021
I enjoy this cozy series set in Portsmouth, NH.
January 15, 2023
okay they got me w that one
July 31, 2023
A fun read!
December 24, 2024
Fun cozy mystery series!!
May 4, 2025
I loved it! A great story without a lot of horror, except for the murder of course.
January 12, 2024
3 and 1/2 stars. Much better than the second book - kept me guessing until the end.
March 7, 2009
In the third book of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series, Josie's friend Rosalie is found murdered. Rosalie leaves behind her 12-year-old sister Paige who Rosalie was raising after the death of their parents. Paige informs Josie that Rosalie told her they owned something valuable, but Rosalie didn't specify what it was or where it was. So Paige enlists Josie to inventory and appraise all of Rosalie's property in hopes of finding the valuable item.
Along the way in her appraisal process, Josie begins to uncover clues about Rosalie's life that may be clues to her killer. The likelihood that they are clues to her killer increases when Josie notices someone following her, then someone is leaving her flowers signed "from your secret admirer" and making harassing phone calls. If Josie doesn't uncover the truth, she may become the murderer's next victim.
The Josie Prescott books for me are the types of books that make magic happen with time. I'm sure you've all experienced one of these: you start reading and time just disappears. When you look up from the book, hours have gone by. You don't notice they've gone by because you've become so much a part of the book. I can tell you that one of the major ingredients in the magic potion is the characters. I love Cleland's characters. None of her characters come across as fake or flat or forced. From the shy, modest Eric to the bubbly Gretchen to the heartbroke, adolescent Paige, even the arrogant, womanizing Gerry. Cleland seems to be inside all of these characters' minds because their portrayals in her books are so spot on. I've known people like each of these characters and I had no problem believing any of their actions, thoughts, or dialogue. The characters are so dimensional, so real, that you expect them to pass you on the street, sit next to you on the bus, or stand in line in front of you at the grocery store. When you combine their realism with the relationships Cleland forms between each of them you have the recipe for that magic, the magic that makes time disappear.
Antiques to Die For has this magic in spades. I found myself especially appreciating the relationship Cleland sparked between Josie and Paige. Cleland has a way of developing her female characters so that they can be strong, determined woman but maintain their soft, emotional sides, too. And they don't become damsels in distress or bumbling broads. Instead they are real: feminine, intelligent, independent. And when they need to lean on their friends and family, they do so without shame.
Cleland has a subplot going on in this novel that lesser authors would wind up mis-using, but Cleland is able to weave it in just enough to make it part of the mystery and therefore an asset to the plot.
It is truly disappointing for me to reach the end of a Prescott tale. It's kind of like having to say good-bye after visiting a good friend. This visit wasn't so sad, though, because my next visit is right around the corner. I'm looking forward to Josie Prescott mystery number four, Killer Keepsakes.
Along the way in her appraisal process, Josie begins to uncover clues about Rosalie's life that may be clues to her killer. The likelihood that they are clues to her killer increases when Josie notices someone following her, then someone is leaving her flowers signed "from your secret admirer" and making harassing phone calls. If Josie doesn't uncover the truth, she may become the murderer's next victim.
The Josie Prescott books for me are the types of books that make magic happen with time. I'm sure you've all experienced one of these: you start reading and time just disappears. When you look up from the book, hours have gone by. You don't notice they've gone by because you've become so much a part of the book. I can tell you that one of the major ingredients in the magic potion is the characters. I love Cleland's characters. None of her characters come across as fake or flat or forced. From the shy, modest Eric to the bubbly Gretchen to the heartbroke, adolescent Paige, even the arrogant, womanizing Gerry. Cleland seems to be inside all of these characters' minds because their portrayals in her books are so spot on. I've known people like each of these characters and I had no problem believing any of their actions, thoughts, or dialogue. The characters are so dimensional, so real, that you expect them to pass you on the street, sit next to you on the bus, or stand in line in front of you at the grocery store. When you combine their realism with the relationships Cleland forms between each of them you have the recipe for that magic, the magic that makes time disappear.
Antiques to Die For has this magic in spades. I found myself especially appreciating the relationship Cleland sparked between Josie and Paige. Cleland has a way of developing her female characters so that they can be strong, determined woman but maintain their soft, emotional sides, too. And they don't become damsels in distress or bumbling broads. Instead they are real: feminine, intelligent, independent. And when they need to lean on their friends and family, they do so without shame.
Cleland has a subplot going on in this novel that lesser authors would wind up mis-using, but Cleland is able to weave it in just enough to make it part of the mystery and therefore an asset to the plot.
It is truly disappointing for me to reach the end of a Prescott tale. It's kind of like having to say good-bye after visiting a good friend. This visit wasn't so sad, though, because my next visit is right around the corner. I'm looking forward to Josie Prescott mystery number four, Killer Keepsakes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews