Kirkus Review
A pair of Iowa antique dealers devotes more of their time to solving murders. Vivian Borne is a flamboyant diva who enjoys acting, selling antiques, and hunting down killers. Her daughter Brandy, who's actually her granddaughter, tries with little success to keep Vivian's adventurous spirit in check. When a friend comes in bearing a signed Babe Ruth baseball she'd just bought at the nearby sports memorabilia store, Vivian immediately realizes that it's a fake, and the three women head over to All Sports to return it. Shop owner Mark Wheeler refunds the money and thanks Vivian for her lesson in faux sports memorabilia. Soon after, Vivian is excited to be invited as a guest on a podcast called Killers Caught, but then interviewer Nicole Chatterton blindsides her by accusing her of committing the many murders she and Brandy have solved in the otherwise aptly named town of Serenity. When Vivian goes back to Nicole's hotel that night to talk about rerecording the podcast, she finds the podcaster dead--and soon enough, Vivian is arrested, and not even Brandy's fiance, police chief Tony Cassato, can keep her out of jail. Luckily, she has an ace up her sleeve: She wore a spy camera and recorded her whole visit to Nicole's room. Unfortunately, the camera's battery turns out to be dead, but all is not lost, since there are other suspects and Vivian has an excellent spy network and plenty of friends to help track down clues. Out on bail, Vivian and a reluctant Brandy keep sleuthing until they find the body of Clare Shields, Chatterton's producer. Then Brandy's nearly killed, and she emerges from a coma to find her sister/mother and son at her bedside with news that makes her more determined than ever to catch the killer. A mystery that has it all: humor, zany characters, antiquing tips, and recipes to brighten your day. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Vivian Borne, co-owner with her daughter, Brandy, of Trash 'n' Treasures, is thrilled to be invited to be a guest on Nicole Chatterton's video podcast, Killers Caught, until Chatterton ambushes her on her murder-solving record, with Vivian threatening Chatterton and Brandy abruptly ending the interview. When Vivian goes to Chatterton's hotel room to retrieve her signed release form to prevent the interview from airing, she finds Chatterton dead on the floor and is quickly arrested as the chief suspect in her murder. When Brandy is attacked and badly hurt, Vivian decides on drastic measures to protect her family. Brandy is gutted by the shocking turn of events, but the investigation continues, led by her fiancé, Police Chief Tony Cassato, leading to a plan to trap the killer. This tale is told in first person by both the flamboyant Vivian and the long-suffering Brandy, with the two talking directly to the reader in numerous humorous asides. Framed by small-town life in Iowa, with interesting details on antiques, this fun cozy includes recipes and tips on collecting sports memorabilia.
