I finally have the latest review of my most recent book Antique Mourning.
From Bookish Indulgences:
I loved the first
four books in the series quite a bit. So, when Antique Mourning
released after a big gap, I was apprehensive and excited at the same
time. I went back and re-read one of the books to make sure that I
remembered the characters and the overall arc of Alicia's character
before picking up Antique Mourning.
Alicia Trent has
received an offer that is quite irresistible. She has been invited to
a college in New York to catalogue and assess an antique collection
that has been left to the college by an alumni. As a part of a deal,
the college has also offered to let Alicia take some classes for
free. Her business partner Barry is neither happy nor comfortable
about having Alicia gone for better part of a year. But to top it
off, Laudine would be traveling with Alicia to go and train the staff
at the college.
What could go wrong?
Alicia
and Laudine land at Druthmar college looking forward to an work and
fun filled year ahead, yet they find themselves handling murders in a
complicatedly big old place that has a haunted feeling on a good day!
Eileen Harris never fails to deliver a good mystery with
a dose a drama and a pinch of humor. As the series progresses, the
mysteries are getting more complex and darker. In Antique Mourning,
the setting of the college building almost has a life of its own. I
found the different buildings and their layout very complicated at
the beginning and wished I had a map of it. But with time I loved
that feel of 'known confusion' help build up the tension and mystery.
The cast introduced in the book played their parts in both building
up the plot and the air of mystery.
There is always
something happening throughout the book - both on and off pages and
as such, the pace held steady. It took me a while to figure out the
who, the why and the how - and as such the book had me in its hooks
through out.
Those who have already read other books in
this series are definitely going to enjoy this one. But, if you are
someone who hasn't read any of Alicia's previous adventures, this
book isn't the best one to dive into the series with because there is
so much in the previous books that have shaped up Alicia the way she
is in this book. Without that context, I am not sure whether someone
will 'get' our protagonist completely.