Book

Murder at the Antique Fair

by Riley Lockwood

When beloved antique dealer Jasper Thorne is found dead at the Willowbrook Antique Fair, the autumn weekend of teacups and velvet-draped tables turns into a puzzle no one expected. A retired history teacher with an eye for detail, Nora Bellamy has spent her life studying the stories objects carry. Now she must use that same care to trace the path that led to her friend's death — and to find the rare Georgian silver sugar tong that vanished alongside him. Willowbrook is the kind of town where everyone knows the diner regulars and the bank manager by name, and where a torn envelope with a partial Riverbend Lane address can mean more than it seems. As Nora sorts through fairground clues and quiet conversations, she draws on the help of her quilting circle friend Edith Pemberton, a young appraiser named Toby Finch whose grandmother's own heirloom is tangled in the case, and Vivian Carmichael, an investigative journalist whose green coat is never far from the next lead. Beneath the warmth of scones and small-town hospitality, Nora uncovers a careful forgery ring stretching back decades — one built on stolen heirlooms, false provenance, and the kind of deception that hides in plain sight at a busy fair. With Sheriff Delaney handling the official inquiry, Nora follows the clues only a keen observer can spot: a half-eaten biscuit, a safety deposit box, and a hidden compartment that finally gives the long-buried secret away. This standalone cozy mystery invites readers to slow down, sip a warm drink, and piece together a fair-play whodunit alongside Nora. With quirky characters, charming autumn atmosphere, and a gentle faith thread woven through each chapter, Murder at the Antique Fair offers a delightful escape filled with warmth, friendship, and the satisfaction of a puzzle solved.