Book 91, 2023

Heirlooms and Homicide by Danielle Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading Heirlooms and Homicide, by Danielle Collins, last night. It's the first book in the "Heart's Grove" series of cozy mysteries. The main character is Henrietta Hewitt, who owns and operates an antique shop out of her Victorian home.

Henrietta attends an estate sale to procure some items for her shop. While there, she bids on an antique puzzle box and ends up winning it. In the meantime, her friend Ralph (who's been trying to convince Henrietta to work for his PI business) asks for her input on a missing persons case. A young woman from the east coast has disappeared, and her parents hired Ralph in an effort to find her. Her trail went cold in Heart's Grove. Soon after buying the box, Henrietta starts receiving threatening messages warning her not to sell it. Henrietta is no wilting violet and she goes ahead with plans to offer the box in a silent auction. It soon becomes apparent that the mystery of the box and the mystery of the missing woman are converging. Henrietta is convinced that if she solves one half of the mystery, she'll solve the other as well.

To begin with, this is the first in a series, but I felt like I got dropped into the middle of a series. This may be a spin-off, but who knows? There is history between Henrietta and Ralph (as friends, not romantically), and Henrietta seems to be quite affluent although no mention is made as to how or why. It was frustrating. Beyond that, I did enjoy the story. Henrietta is engaging enough, and the plot proceeded at a good pace. Best of all, the mystery did not involve a murder. I maintain that more cozies should focus on missing persons or stolen goods, etc.

Favorite line: "I am happy with how things have been selling. The teacups especially."

A staunch and lively heroine, an intriguing mystery, and a cat. Woo! Four stars.