Antiques Ravin'

A Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery #13

by Barbara Allan

The votes are in! Eccentric seventy-something Vivian Borne—elected county sheriff, to everyone’s amazement but her own—springs into action. In her new role, the community playhouse diva appoints daughter Brandy reluctant deputy and makes their spunky shih tzu Sushi a K-9 unit of one. 
 
Soon the amateur-sleuths-turned-pro have a challenging case to solve as a series of creepy crimes plague an ill-fated Edgar Allan Poe festival, where a fiend is misguidedly dispensing Poe-etic justice. Small-town Antiqua, known for its quaint main street of antique shops, has set out to celebrate the gothic poet with food, fun, and rare memorabilia, only to have the Master of the Macabre’s twisted tales come to deadly life.
 
A purloined tome, a black cat, a musty mausoleum, and mysterious disappearances—these tell the tale of a heartless murderer. But Vivian and Brandy Borne are determined to decipher the cryptic clues to make sure a ravin’-mad killer strikes “nevermore”! 
 
Don’t miss Brandy Borne’s tips on hunting for valuable antiques!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Humor

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2019

About the author

Barbara Allan is a pseudonym used by Barbara Collins and Max Allan Collins

Max Allan Collins is a writer of mystery novels, screenplays, comics and historical fiction. Collins has collaborated on numerous short stories with his wife writer Barbara Collins. Together they also write the successful “Trash ‘n’ Treasures” mysteries – their Antiques Flee Market (2008) won the Romantic Times Best Humorous Mystery Novel award in 2009.

There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author very kindly sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great entry in the Trash 'n' Treasures series. Last book, Vivian was elected sheriff, and she's accomplished a few things in her first days. Things are going smoothly all the way up until the first murder.

A small town in the county is holding an Edgar Allan Poe festival to bring in the tourists. Vivan charms her way into acting as Poe in a ceremony, but then a murder occurs, and it seems to have a Poe theme. Vivan and Brandy investigate, and more Poe style murders happen.

Very funny, very entertaining, with a well constructed mystery. I'm a bit surprised the Hallmark Movie Channel hasn't come calling.

[Kirsti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley (or Nutgalley today) and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I went into this knowing full well it was the 13th book in a very long series, so I expected to feel a little confused. I did appreciate though that the authors went to the trouble of explaining past actions and how they impacted this story. I enjoyed the interactions between mother and daughter and their obvious similarities and differences in their characters. The Poe references were nice too.

I didn't really like the mystery though, and the explanations didn't make sense to me for so much violence. It lost a bit of the cozy feel by having so much as well, and that vibe is what draws me to cozy mystery. However, I would go back and read more of Brandy and her mother's antics, and I'm curious to see if she can stay as a Sheriff. Three stars.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

How could Vivian Borne be elected sheriff when everyone in the county knows she's bipolar? Well, it's a long story, but now it's time to move on for Vivian's daughter Brandy, who is drafted to be her Mother's driver and "deputy." The two go to investigate some break-ins in the little village of Antiqua, where the big event of the year is Edgar Allan Poe days and Vivian wants to recite "The Raven" in full Poe costume. Then Brandy discovers the body of a discontented waitress, and all Hades breaks loose. You may be a bit tired--I am--of having the two main characters writing different chapters, and butting in on each other's commentaries, but on the whole the writing is entertaining.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and I am happy to say it one that does not lose it's flavor or it's charm with time. These books are my happy place because they are so easy to read and filled to the brim with humor. The husband and wife writing duo obviously feed off each other's humor and it works so well as a results; lots of puns and sarcasm, but with a straight forward writing style. Brandy is such a down to Earth character who embraces her flaws and kind of just goes with the flow. Her mother Vivian on the other hand is wildly eccentric, keeping you on your toes waiting to see what she does next. But she has a heart of gold and always has the best of intentions (even if they are usually what's best for her). Together they make a hilarious, sassy, and smart investigating duo who are just a breeze to read about.
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My favorite quirk about this series is the narration style. This book (as those previous) is written mostly from Brandy's POV as she recounts each of their investigating adventures. She narrates with flare and the way she describes events, you can almost hear her emotions just from her storytelling (lots of mental eyerolls or shoulder shrugs). Once in a while Vivian goes on a little clandestine side adventure, and thus gets to tell her own POV for a chapter or two. Well, you can just imagine how random and over the top these chapters are - she is full of drama and also tends to get a bit sidetracked when she has the writing limelight.
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I love that this story takes place in an antique-focused town, during a wacky Edgar Allen Poe festival. While the town is full of tourists participating in a scavenger hunt for a highly valuable antique, someone has more sinister motives as one of the locals is found dead in a Poe-esque style. After another council member is targeted, Vivian and Brandy know they are on the tale of a particularly creepy murderer. The drama ramps up as the story goes along and I got to a point where I just had no idea who the murderer could be - everyone started to seem suspicious. I enjoyed the ending and CAN WE GET MORE OF TONY AND BRANDY PLEASE?!
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Thank you again to the publisher for a copy of this book. I was happy to provide my honest thoughts.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual mystery, the mother is very odd and alternates chapters with her long suffering daughter. They also write like they are talking to the reader in out takes. 70 something Vivian has been elected sheriff and makes her daughter her deputy so she will have someone to drive her. Vivian is looking into the crime and murder at an Edgar Allen Poe festival using her own methods to find the criminal.

[Christy J-Furem · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-done cozy with a unique narration. Loaded with sass and humor. I was surprised to learn this is a husband/wife team and that the husband's writing mentor was Mickey Spillane. I would definitely read another in the series.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #: 59
Title: Antiques Ravin' (Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery #13)
Author: Barbara Allan
** Popsugar Category: Basic: A book about a hobby
Popsugar Category: Basic: A book featuring an amateur detective
Popsugar Category: Basic: A book told from multiple character POVs
Goodreads Category: A book featuring an elderly character (Her mother is 70)
Goodreads Category: A book told from multiple perspectives
Goodreads Category: A book featuring an historical figure (Edgar Allan Poe)
A-Z Title: A for Antiques
A-Z Author: A for Allen
Format: hardcover, local library
Rating: *** three out of five stars

Brandy and her mother own an antique store. Her mother, Vivian, who has solved a few murders before, has just been elected county sheriff. The small town of Antiqua has been hosting an Edgar Allan Poe festival for years, complete with a treasure hunt. This year's prize is a first edition of one of Poe's books. But now, people are being killed, each in a gruesome manner as depicted in one of Poe's works. It's up to Brandy, Vivian and their K9 unit (a spunky shih-tzu named Sushi!) to solve the case.

For this category, I didn't want to read a how-to book about a hobby. My wife suggested a cozy mystery centered around a hobby theme. I like thrift store shopping, my wife calls it my retail therapy, so I grabbed this book. Judging by the cover, I was hoping for the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe to make an appearance, but no such luck. The shih-tzu on the cover is Sushi, and she's on every cover in the series. I like it well enough that I'm willing to read more books in the series but I'm not going out of my way to track down every last book. The book contains 'advice' on thrift shopping, but I found them rather elementary "Expect to pay more if you work thru a dealer." "Beware of counterfeits." etc.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I have read, but it is not the first of the series. The author's style of writing was a little confusing for me. The story was told from the point of view of the mother and the daughter taking turns, but they were speaking directly to the reader. Sometimes there were little side notes to the editor. For me, it was a distraction from the main story itself that I really liked. If it was more straightforward, I would have rated it higher.

[Lis Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventy-something Vivian Borne, co-owner with her daughter Brandy of antiques store Trash 'n' Treasures, has, due to events in earlier entries in the series, been elected sheriff of Serenity County. She has actually done some useful things, such upgrading the county's emergency communications, so that police, fire, and EMS can all communicate directly with each other when need. Vivian has also, though, appointed her daughter Brandy as a very reluctant deputy to be her driver. This is necessary because, oops, Vivian's driver's license has been revoked because of her reckless driving, and she can't legally drive her spiffy new official vehicle anywhere. The third member of their little team is Sushi, their shih tzu, who, unlike most small dogs in fiction, acts like a real dog, and a fairly smart one at that.

So far, Vivian has faced no major cases, but that is about to change. The little town of Antiqua, whose only claims to fame are their many antique shops and their annual Edgar Allan Poe festival, called Poe Days, has had a string of odd burglaries, right before this year's festival. Many of the antique shops were broken into, and left in disarray, yet it appears that nothing was stolen. The theory is that the burglar was searching for this year's Poe Days prize, a valuable Poe-related antique that won't even be publicly identified until the second day of the festival. The contest for it is a kind of scavenger hunt. Vivian, Brandy, and Sushi head to the little town, rent a Pullman railroad car that's now part of a bed & breakfast, and meet with the town council.

At first there seems to be no evidence, but then more alarming and spooky things start to happen. Brandy has the opportunity to overhear some potentially useful local gossip. A young woman woman who worked in the coffee shop is found dead in a mausoleum in the church cemetery. (I'll pause here to note that she's found when she is because Sushi decides to check out an interesting smell and leads Brandy to her.) The town's mayor disappears, and is found, unconscious, locked in a hidden part of the church. He was hit on the head, but fortunately not badly hurt.

There are rumors of affairs, dark secrets in the past of various town residents, and a dangerous accident involving the Pullman car the Bornes are staying in. And while Vivian and Brandy each turn up important clues, it's Sushi who finds the real culprit with her natural doggy talents.

It's fun. It's got its problems, not least the number of "let's ignore all proper procedure and common sense" things Vivian does and takes for granted that she can. But it is fun, and, sorry, I'm a sucker for a book where there's a small dog that's treated by the author as a real dog, and not a big joke and an embarrassment to its owners. Sushi is a fine little dog who really grabbed my heart.

Recommended for light reading.

I bought this book.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to spend time with Brandy, her mother Vivienne and the little dog Sushi – and much has changed since last I read a book in this series. Vivienne is the newly elected county sheriff, and Brandy has been coerced into being her driver after Vivienne’s license was revoked. Not entirely sure that this is a ‘job’ she wants – and well, she’s not being paid for it anyway, Brandy does know that keeping tabs on her mother is often the best way to avoid the worst of the mishaps that seem to pile up around them. And there is a series of issues piling up – and creating a situation that perhaps only this pair can solve.

Poe days are a three-day festival in nearby Antiqua, a reactionary event to a major “Poe find” years earlier that brought attention to the area and the many antique shops there. The town contracts with the County offices for police matters, and that means that Sherriff Vivienne is on the case. But, as with everything in this series: nothing is quite as it seems. Shop owners who, although they sponsor the event, seem to have little respect or interest in it. Clues dropped at specific times will pinpoint the title, item and location of the prize, and full to bursting there are grumbles of discontent from citizens, crowding from festival entrants and when you add in high heat and humidity, things are bound to heat up.

Then there are 2 murders, an attempted murder and a kidnapping, as well as attempts made on Vivienne, Brandy and Sushi as they slept in a refurbished pullman car, and the list of potential suspects, clues and dead-end leads are everywhere. With a lovely balance of Brandy’s rather ‘matter of fact’ voice to narrate broken up with a few (far too, she’d say) chapters from Vivienne, the story is easy to read, with plenty of atmosphere, laughs and a series of ‘how to’ for collecting books particularly useful for the beginner or novice. It’s been several books that I’ve jumped over to read this, but I didn’t feel in any way at a loss as Brandy is more than capable and willing to provide a quick recap of the important events, bringing readers clear and up to date. A lovely series and fun set of stories with characters that fairly jump off the page and demand they are heard, this is a great read for fans of cozies who like the insets of collectible and antique knowledge bandied about.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Andy Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this cozy mystery series back in 2011, immediately after I finished reading The Cat Who Series by Lilian Jackson Braun.

Every time I pick up one of these books, it fills me with good memories of when I started reading them back when I would frequently visit Witt's End Coffeeshop in Marion, Iowa. I became addicted to this series because I found the characters 100% relatable. Brandy Borne is a divorced woman who is forced to move back in with her arrogant and annoying mother (Vivian) and her dog in the small town of Serenity, Iowa (which is a fictional town located right along The Mississippi River).

In ANTIQUES RAVIN', Vivian, Brady's mother who thinks like and behaves like Sherlock Holmes, has officially become sheriff (see ANTIQUES WANTED for how that happened). Murders are happening during an annual Edgar Allan Poe Festival and Sheriff Vivian is on the case to solve them.

I won't go into much detail as to what happens in the book because I don't want to spoil this fun and thrilling read for you, but I will say this, out of all the books in this series, this one is in my top four. I won't list the books in this series from my least to most favorite because that would make my review impossibly long and plus, listing the books from least enjoyable to most enjoyable is impossible. It's like asking someone to list the first six Mike Hammer novels from worst to best. So, here are the other three I would recommend you read if you enjoyed this one...

3. ANTIQUES FATE - Vivian is going to perform a solo version of Macbeth when someone drops dead in the theater. Out of all the books in the series, this is the one where Vivian shines the most

2. ANTIQUES HO-HO-HOMICIDES - This is a collection of three of the shorter ANTIQUES stories that were previously released only in e-book format. The stories in here won't take you long to get through. It's a cozy book to snuggle up with during the holiday season in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate (preferably in a small Iowa coffeeshop)

1. ANTIQUES SWAP - There is a very good reason why this book is the highest rated one in the series and that's cause it's awesome. The story starts out with Brandy running into an ex-boyfriend, who happens to be married. When her old flame's wife is snuffed out, the reader can't help but wonder if he did or if Brandy did.

Well, that's my review and that's my list. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do and I hope you will keep reading it like I will.

[RO G'ma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antiques Ravin’ is the thirteenth book in Barbara Allan’s (a joint pseudonym of husband-and-wife mystery writers Barbara and Max Allan Collins) A Trash ’n’ Treasures Mystery series. This is the first book I’ve read in this series; however, the author provided great character background, and I easily understood their backgrounds and relationships and didn’t feel lost jumping in this far into the series. The dialog switches between the two main characters to give both their perspectives of certain events. The mystery is interesting, with a good storyline and character development, and lots of humor.

Brandy Borne has been a frequent and reluctant accomplice in her mid-seventy-year-old mother’s, Vivian Borne, mystery-solving escapades in Serenity, the sleepy little town where they live. Brandy has a Shih Tzu named Sushi, Tony Cassato, Serenity’s chief of police, is her on again/off again boyfriend, and she and her mother own Trash ’n’ Treasures. Vivian, who has solved lots of murders as an amateur sleuth, recently became Serenity County Sheriff and appointed Brandy as her unpaid deputy/driver. When Vivian is called out to the nearby town of Antiqua to investigate break-ins at five shops. Since nothing appeared to have been stolen, not even the cash in their registers, they concluded the thief must have been looking for this year’s valuable Poe prize but decided having law enforcement in town would deter further crimes during their Edgar Allan Poe Days. It seems like an easy assignment until Morella Crafton, a waitress at the coffee shop, is murdered and her body is discovered in a mausoleum at the cemetery, Myron Hatcher, the mayor and owner of Top Drawer Antiques goes missing, another body is found in a pond, and then even more crimes are added to the mix. Vivian determines the crimes are being committed by someone is mimicking the Poe literary allusions. Vivian is determined to sift through the clues and find the guilty parties, and Tony unofficially helps with the investigation.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Tim Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antiques Ravin' is the twelfth full novel in the Trash 'n Treasures mystery series by the husband and wife writing team of Max Allan and Barbara Collins who collectively form author Barbara Allan. My usual disclaimer before these reviews is that I am not a fan of so-called "cozy" mystery series, preferring my detectives hardboiled and my murders as realistic as the tabloids. However, I am a fan of prolific crime author Max Allan Collins and will follow wherever his typewriter leads, even into the land of cozies with their recipes, ever-so-cute dogs, and overabundance of whimsey.

Antiques Ravin' shakes up the usual template of dirty doings in the small city of Serenity, Iowa by taking a road trip to near-by Antiqua which has a plethora of antique shops and a yearly Edgar Allan Poe festival. Brandy Borne's mother Vivian is the newly-elected sheriff in the area and her crime-fighting skills are soon put to the test by a series of Poe-related murders and attacks in Antiqua. I enjoyed this series outing more than usual because the plot seemed less free form and the mystery more complicated and involving. Making Vivian a law officer has forced her to be more responsible as a character and less prone to flights of lunacy and strained comedy bits (although there is a scene where Vivian indulges in American Indian stereotypes that gets my vote for most cringeworthy book scene of 2019 - you'll know it when you encounter it - yuk!)

As always, the dialogue snaps, the secondary characters are all well delineated, and the plot moves along briskly to a satisfying conclusion. Antiques Ravin' is a well-made genre novel that will satisfy the reader. Two more reasons why I liked Antiques Ravin' over previous Trash 'n Treasure novels: the soap opera elements are kept to a minimum and the end of chapter antiques tips, which I usually only tolerate, were all about collecting vintage books, many of which I found very useful. Bonus!

Recommended for fans of cozies in general and this series in particular.
NOTE: I was supplied with an advance copy to review by the author in return for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of Vivian Borne as sheriff takes some getting used to. I'm glad her daughter, Brandy is doing the driving and acting as pro bono deputy - Vivian sometimes need to be corralled. Together with their sweet pup, Sushi, they make a great team. A very funny, sometimes a bit over the top funny, team. Not the usual cozy humor some would say but that's the charm of the series.
Vivian and Brandy head over to the town of Antiqua, Iowa to investigate a series of very odd burglaries. Numerous antique stores have been broken into but, near as anyone can tell, nothing has been taken. Could it somehow be connected with the local Edgar Allan Poe festival? Someplace, in amongst all of the antiques is hidden something of value that is priced cheap. So, was somebody on a search to find it? Because Vivian and Brandy have decided to stay for the festival, they are on the case when the Poe theme murder occurs. I did enjoy the Poe references and the mystery was well crafted. I normally avoid mysteries with alternating dialogs but Vivian and Brandy's voices are so well defined that I happily make an exception.
If you haven't read the whole series or are new to it altogether, don't worry, jump right in and enjoy the crazy world of this mother/daughter pair. This book stands on its own very well. I've read them all and will most certainly read the next one.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley, for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antiques Ravin’ is a humorous cozy mystery with unique characters.

Meet Brandy and her mother, Vivian. Vivian was elected County Sheriff in the preceding series entry when everyone else running was disqualified. Vivian has a revoked driver’s license for driving while not under the influence—of her bipolar medicine—so Brandy is her unpaid chauffeur.

Sheriff Vivian is called to the nearby town of Antiqua to investigate a series of burglaries. The surprising part is that nothing was stolen from the five antique stores. Was the burglar looking for the Poe prize? Part of an annual hunt for one valuable item tagged for a ridiculously low amount among all the town’s antique stores. The hunt begins tomorrow during the town’s Edgar Allen Poe Days celebration. When someone is murdered in the style of a famous Poe story, the story moves forward quickly.

Antiques Ravin’ is the thirteenth book in this series but my first. It is fine read as a standalone. I like the humor and the eccentric characters. However, my favorite part was that this book seems violent enough to almost be a thriller. Most cozy mysteries avoid violence but I think a bit is a welcome change. If you agree, this series will be a great addition to your cozy collection. 4 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start off by saying that I LOVED this book! This is one of my favorite series mostly because of the humorous way that the story is told (the daughter Brandy is the main narrator and the mother, Vivian, usually gets 2 to 3 chapters per book to tell her side of the story). I love the way that they interact with each other and their process of working through solving a murder. It was fun that Vivian was actually the sheriff in this book and no longer classified as an amateur sleuth. It was interesting reading about how much easier it was for Vivian and Brandy to get the information needed to solve the murders, since Vivian was now a law enforcement professional. I thought the murders were well done and author Allan threw plenty of twists and turns into the story. I also enjoyed seeing the working relationship evolve between Vivian, now the sheriff, and Chief Tony Cassato, Brandy's boyfriend, who have not gotten along very well in previous books.

I look forward to seeing what's next for these characters. A twist was introduced at the end of the book and I am very interested in seeing how this plays out. This series is not for everyone (depending on the type of humor you enjoy) but if you like zany characters and manic humor I think you will enjoy this series.

[Kieran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly, I am not the target demographic for this book, but I struggled to finish this short installment in what must be a series of books. I don't think my dislike stems from having read this book first (without context).

I disliked the sloppy writing style and casual, sometimes racist references to other cultures. I also disliked the attempts at humor by having the two main characters take turns as narrator, with self aware asides inserted editorially. Certainly this device, when used effectively, can bring an added dimension to a novel. Here it felt lazy or campy, and without justification.

I feel like this book is following some strange mystery formula I've never heard of or read before: there were bizarre antiquing tips at the end of chapters, strange product placement descriptions of characters' clothing, makeup, perfume and even a random cake recipe forcibly interspersed within the narrative. I'm guessing this might be endearing to some, it made me wince more than once.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I did not find the protagonists relatable, entertaining, or even good at their jobs. Perhaps this is bad writing, bad editing, poor research about crime investigation. I suspect it is some combination of all three.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another frolicking tale of adventure involving Vivian and Brandy Borne, a mother and daughter amateur sleuthing team, currently serving as the area Sheriff and appointed deputy! As past readers know, only Vivian and Brandy know how to stumble over unexpected trouble... and bodies! In the nearby town of Antiqua, residents, shop owners and visitors are getting ready for the annual Poe Festival based on famous author Edgar Allan Poe. One of the highlights of the festival is finding an antique closing related or owned by the author at a steal of a deal. Many secrets will be uncovered and the town may be small, but filled with many shady characters. While I very much enjoyed the storyline aspect involving a Poe festival, I believe I'm having a tough time following Vivian and Brandy through their adventures as their characters may becoming a bit stale to me. I think there are aspects of their personalities that have been repeated so many times and may have been cute or funny before, but are kind of hard to buy into now. But the storyline was well thought out and I did enjoy the original aspect of the story. Thanks for letting me review early from NetGalley!

[Crittermom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone’s favorite 70 something, the eccentric Vivien Borne is back - as sheriff no less. (shiver) While she and her daughter Brandy have solved numerous murders, with lots of luck, her knowledge of police procedure is as spotty as a dalmation. But that doesn’t stop her from doing her thing and using her new resources when a spate of crimes hits Antiqua, including a heinous murder in the vein of one of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. Brandy has her hands full attempting to manage her theatrical mother and her shihtzu, but finds time to share suggestions on how to properly search for collectible books.

It isn’t easy to make character narration of events work, but Barbara Allan does a superb job breaking the barrier between characters and reader, while still making the crazy hijinks believable.

I highly recommend Antiques Ravin’ to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a hefty dose of humor.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Antiques Ravin’ from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

-- Crittermom

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a library book.

This series is SO much fun! Vivian is now the elected sheriff and handling her first case as a law enforcement official. Has that fact changed Vivian's style? Surely you jest. She's as dramatic as ever, and dives into the investigations with her usual energy. Brandy is along as the driver and unofficial deputy in a town that's all about antiques and the Pie Festival.

As always, the writing is tight, the pace is fast, and the humor ranges from snarky to slapstick. Yet there's also the serious side of the story and it unfolds nicely.

I think I'm down to the final 3 or 4 novels in the series (and there are short stories, too, that I hope to find. I'd slow down the pace of my reading, but once I start, it's hard to stop. The style and humor pull me in and the characters keep me rooting for them.

[Janet Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Cozy Mystery
This is a very refreshing story. This is the first of this series that I have read and I can see why they are so successful! The author switches back and forth between the main storyteller and her mother. The mother is decidedly not Politically Correct which really adds to the humor. There is speaking directly to the reader, quotes from Edgar Allen Poe and tips on buying rare and antique books. The story is great. The crime and its solving are delicious. The characters are more than interesting and the antebellum south is a great setting. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review. I do believe that I will be reading the first 12 books of this series!

[Joey Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writers Barbara and Max Allan Collins have teamed up again for another Trash 'N' Treasure novel. From Amazon: When a series of creepy crimes plagues an ill-fated Edgar Allan Poe festival, newly elected county sheriff Vivian Borne, along with her reluctant deputy daughter Brandy and spunky shih tzu Sushi, springs into action. A purloined tome, a black cat, a musty mausoleum, and mysterious disappearances—these tell the tale of a heartless murderer. But Vivian and Brandy Borne are determined to decipher the cryptic clues to make sure a ravin’-mad killer strikes “nevermore”!
"Barbara Allan" has another hit. Brandy and Vivian are a hoot, and the mystery was well played. A perfect beach read!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** The tale is told alternately by Sheriff Vivian the bipolar and her put upon daughter Brandy. As a cozy it's pretty good, the sleuthing is interesting, the characters certainly are, and the puns are excruciating. Do not read this while on the subway or bus or when consuming a beverage! Do read it if you are having a bad day or coming off a rotten shift. The publisher's blurb is pretty good, but doesn't convey the laugh riot nature of the read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Marilyn Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the series, so I wasn't surprised that I liked this book. There is a lot of wordplay, and puns, and random references. but Many references were related to Edgar Allan Poe, but not all of them. The characters are quirky, but are rather realistic. I do not want to give any spoilers, but if you have been reading, you would know that Vivian is now the sheriff. Has anybody else wondered how that would work? The book is funny, intersting, and keeps the reader engaged.

I was given a free book to write a review, but the opinions are mine.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 13th book in the Trash 'n' Treasure mystery series. I recommend reading them from the first book although this book does have a summary of the previous books around midway. The good thing is they usually indicate how far to skip ahead if you don't want to read the recaps.

This is a cozy mystery series with plenty of humor, tips on antiquing, and almost always at least one recipe. There is also a super cute dog that helps solve the crimes. I think I've mentioned before it is one of my favorite series.

In this particular book, the setting is a town with an Edgar Allan Poe festival. Poe fans may enjoy all of the references to his work. I also felt it added a bit of a creepier element than the previous books. It did keep me guessing quite a bit which is always a good sign.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

holy cow- Vivian is Sheriff now! She's also dragged her daughter Brandy into an investigation of bad doings and murders at an Edgar Allen Poe festival in small town Iowa. I've read a couple of the books in this long running cozy series and as always wonder at the high murder rate in the area. That said, there is humor here but there is at least one scene which should have been edited with a more modern eye. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! The two ladies (mother and daughter, aka, sheriff and deputy (pro bono)) kept me snorting, chuckling and shaking my head. Wonderful descriptions. The mystery was secondary to my enjoyment. Yes, I cared whodunit, but it was fun getting to the conclusion. Speaking of conclusions, that was a hoot, too. Many references added to the humor, PC or not. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is one of my all-time favorites. I love the characters and I love Vivian being Sheriff. This book takes them to another town, a nice little village focused on antiques stores. The authors do an amazing job of creating interesting characters and perfect scenery. The stories of the individual characters converge nicely and the mystery is complex without being convoluted. I don’t reread books very often but this series is always on my to-read list!

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by this author in this series. It was an easy
light mystery with humor and a lot of action.. Vivian Borne is the sheriff and
Her daughter acts as deputy. All this occurs in the small town of Antiqua
Who is having a Edgar Allan Poe festival. The story moves along rapidly
And is open ended to include another tale of these two feisty women. I
Enjoyed this murder mystery in a long line of books in this series.

[Helen Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's difficult to believe that this is the #13th book in this series. I'll never read another one. While the author probably thinks her writing style is "clever," I think it's absurd. The mother and daughter amateur detective team (in this case, the 70-something year old mother is the county sheriff) are ridiculous and the writing gimmick of breaking the action to "talk" to the reader, is intrusive and condescending. Bah!