Perfect for fans of Jane K. Cleland and Ellery Adams, the second volume in Tracy Gardner’s antiques-themed mystery series finds appraiser Avery Ayers sleuthing a murder in a castle. Thanks to Aunt Midge’s unlikely friendship with Nicholas Pennington, the Duke of Valle Charme, Avery Ayers and her associates at Antiques and Artifacts Appraised head off to their most glamorous assignment yet—cataloguing and appraising the contents of a castle-like mansion on the Hudson River. But regal splendor becomes a backdrop to mayhem when the precious Viktor Petrova timepiece disappears—and housekeeper Suzanne Vick plummets from a parapet to her death.
Avery, her dad William, and colleagues Micah Abbott and Sir Robert Lane soon learn that Suzanne’s predecessor also met with an untimely end. Further, the housekeeper’s suspicious demise coincides with Avery’s discovery that many of the Duke’s most priceless heirlooms have been replaced by fakes.
Detective Art Smith lends his expertise, but the suspect list encompasses the Duke’s entire retinue—including his family. Could the killer be someone intimately familiar with the Pennington estate, such as caretaker couple Ira and Lynn Hoffman, the Penningtons’ chauffeur Roderick, or even one of the heirs to the Pennington fortune?
Then the duke himself is injured in an inexplicable riding accident, and the clock swiftly ticks toward a reckoning with a cold-blooded killer. A criminal mastermind is making a desperate bid for ill-gotten riches…can Avery bring the culprit to justice before her time is up?
"The second volume in Tracy Gardner's antiques-themed mystery series finds appraiser Avery Ayers sleuthing a murder in a castle"--
Praise for Ruby Red Herring:“A lively combination of mystery, romance, and gemology that will appeal to fans of Jane K. Cleland and Paige Shelton.”
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Kirkus Reviews“A superbly crafted 'whodunnit' style mystery [that] showcases author Tracy Gardner's impressive mastery of the genre.”
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Midwest Book Review“Don’t miss this wonderful mystery with a main character you’ll adore. I loved this book. It’s a real gem!” ―Paige Shelton,
New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries
“Tracy Gardner has created a complex mystery with delightful characters while giving us the coziness of a small town and the glamour of New York City.”
―Sharon Dunn,
USA Today bestselling author
"RUBY RED HERRING shimmers and sparkles like the mysterious gemstone at the center of this cozy mystery. Full of twists and turns, I loved every page."
―Teri Wilson, USA Today bestselling author of
The Accidental Beauty Queen“
Ruby Red Herring was a delightfully charming and unique cozy. With great characters, lots of twists, and an intriguing premise, it was a pleasure to read.”
―Jody Holford, author of the Britton Bay mysteries