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Jeff Talbot used to work for the FBI. Now he's an antique picker (he searches out antiques) in Seattle. As a professional picker, his job is to find and buy unusual items, then resell them to Blanche Appeby, owner of the city's largest antique shop and she wants him to buy for her a cabaret set, a porcelain coffee server that used to be in her family and was originally owned by Napoleon. The cabaret set is up for auction at the Annual Antiques Festival on Michigan's Mackinac Island and Jeff is determined to get it back for Blanche.

But he isn't the only one after it. Frank Hamilton, Talbot's main competitor in the trade, shows up at the Festival as well. Jeff knows his presence means trouble, but he doesn't realize how much until his rival turns up dead, and Jeff wonders who hated Frank enough to kill him. When a second death occurs, he is drawn deeper into the investigation and he turns to his wife for help. An agoraphobic, Sheila Talbot no longer ventures outside her Seattle home, but she's an expert at surfing the net. While Sheila researches clues on her computer, Jeff investigates the personal lives of the other auction attendees, hoping to discover a motive for the killings.

There is a nice surprise ending to this five star mystery that not only entertains, but takes us into the fascinating world of antique dealers.

Reviewed submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Ms. Morgan makes use of a nineteenth century cabaret set to bring the twentieth century whodunit into the new millennium. This classic style mystery involves the reader in the search for the culprit. Mystery fans will love helping ex FBI agent Jeff Talbot sift through the clues as he seeks to identify the murderer. There are plenty of suspects, all with plausible motives and means, keeping the suspense level just right.

The world of high-end antique dealing and trading is a new setting for a murder mystery but it fits beautifully. A one of a kind cabaret set commissioned by Napoleon for Josephine is the object of attention for some very sophisticated collectors as they come together for an auction at the beautiful and historic Grand Hotel on Michigan's Mackinac Island.

Jeff Talbot has journeyed all the way from Seattle to bid for the precious treasure. He finds the usually peaceful island bristling with bidders, some above reproach and some downright unscrupulous, but all determined to possess this celebrated tea set. And then they begin turning up murdered.

Deborah Morgan's love for antiques comes through loud and clear, right down to Jeff Talbot's own pride and joy, his 1948 Chevy Woodie. Morgan tells this story splendidly, capturing the aura of Mackinac Island while intertwining the struggle of Jeff Talbot's wife Sheila as she battles the demons in her own mind.

This is the kind of book that will appeal to a very wide audience. It's suitable for all ages and has the unique charm of capturing the reader who has always dreamed of uncovering some long lost masterpiece at a local garage sale. I highly recommend it and sincerely hope that we haven't heard the last of Jeff Talbot.

I bought this book because the description sounded promising,
and I liked the idea of setting the story among the search
for antiques. The story and characters grabbed my interest
immediately, and I could hardly put the book down. I am
definitely going to look for more books in this searies.