Valerie Cooper is trying to move through life following the death of her beloved husband, as well as her twin sons leaving for college. One day she receives a letter that she and her sons are the beneficiaries of an estranged uncle’s last will and testament. Part of the inheritance is Rare Things, an antiques company. Valerie decides to work part-time at the store, but her new partner is also the father of Collette, the woman who wants to sell Valerie’s house, and a mean woman.
Valerie’s friend Lorna is invited to a Mardi Gras party, and she drags Valerie along. The costume party, however, turns deadly as Valerie finds Collette with a dagger in her chest. A dagger that was at Rare Things.
After the death, Valerie is shocked to learn the dead woman hated Valerie, and sets about trying to discover why. Unfortunately, that also makes Valerie the obvious suspect, but could she also be a potential victim?
I have not read any of T.G Herren’s novels prior to this one.
The story has a lot of potential, but I could not see it as a series, more as a standalone. The mystery was threefold. Who was Uncle Arthur? Why did Collette hate Valerie? And who killed Collette? I found these questions intriguing and kept reading because I wanted to see the answers. I was sufficiently satisfied that each was answered and there were no loose ends.
However, there was quite a bit of repetition. I don’t believe it was necessary to say over and over that Valerie was a widow. Instead, I wish that the author had explained earlier and better how Valerie become a widow. It also would have made the connection with Collette clearer because I had many questions as to how she couldn’t possible have known about such-and-such.
Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
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