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thisandthatwithkaren's review
4.0
“Peril at Pennington Manor" is the 2nd instalment in the Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series by Tracy Gardner. I believe this is the first book I have read by her, and it can easily be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order. I have since purchased book one in the series.
Thanks to Aunt Midge’s unlikely friendship with Nicholas Pennington, the Duke of Valle Charme, Avery Ayers and her associates at Antiques and Artifacts Appraised head off to their most glamorous assignment yet—cataloguing and appraising the contents of a castle-like mansion on the Hudson River. But regal splendor becomes a backdrop to mayhem when the precious Viktor Petrova timepiece disappears—and housekeeper Suzanne Vick plummets from a parapet to her death.
I really liked the setting of Lilac Grove in rural New York, and the manor house on the Hudson River. The main characters are likable, interesting and realistic for the most part. Avery is an independent, strong woman who has been dealt some hardships with the loss of her mother. I’m looking forward to learning more about all the family dynamics (will be reading book one) and seeing what happens in Avery’s love life. I also liked the addition of some cute kittens .
The mystery was interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep me interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Aunt Midge’s unlikely friendship with Nicholas Pennington, the Duke of Valle Charme, Avery Ayers and her associates at Antiques and Artifacts Appraised head off to their most glamorous assignment yet—cataloguing and appraising the contents of a castle-like mansion on the Hudson River. But regal splendor becomes a backdrop to mayhem when the precious Viktor Petrova timepiece disappears—and housekeeper Suzanne Vick plummets from a parapet to her death.
I really liked the setting of Lilac Grove in rural New York, and the manor house on the Hudson River. The main characters are likable, interesting and realistic for the most part. Avery is an independent, strong woman who has been dealt some hardships with the loss of her mother. I’m looking forward to learning more about all the family dynamics (will be reading book one) and seeing what happens in Avery’s love life. I also liked the addition of some cute kittens .
The mystery was interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep me interested. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐
What an entertaining little cozy this turned out to be! The writing was outstanding. I stood up well as a standalone. It was well paced. The plot was engaging. I would love to be an antiques and artifacts Appraiser! The plot kept me guessing with plenty of red herrings. There were a couple of side stories (Tilly's issues and the romance between Avery & Art) that I usually wouldn't be a fan of. I find they usually muddy the main plot and take away from the mystery aspect. However, I am happy to report that was not the case here! And the characters were plenty and likable (including some pet cuteness). Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what these characters get up to in the next installment of this series.
**Arc Via NetGalley**
What an entertaining little cozy this turned out to be! The writing was outstanding. I stood up well as a standalone. It was well paced. The plot was engaging. I would love to be an antiques and artifacts Appraiser! The plot kept me guessing with plenty of red herrings. There were a couple of side stories (Tilly's issues and the romance between Avery & Art) that I usually wouldn't be a fan of. I find they usually muddy the main plot and take away from the mystery aspect. However, I am happy to report that was not the case here! And the characters were plenty and likable (including some pet cuteness). Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what these characters get up to in the next installment of this series.
**Arc Via NetGalley**
leebeeloves's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lolasreviews's review
4.0
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and requested this second book when I saw it on Netgalley. Peril at Pennington Manor is the second book in this series and follows Avery on another assignment. They are hired to do appraisals at Pennington manor. Quickly it becomes clear this is not just another normal job, some heirloom pieces have gone missing and have been replaced by fakes. And then there is a murder as well.
I liked the mystery in this one and how there was the case of the stolen/ missing antiques as well as the murder. I liked seeing how they work on uncovering the truth of what happened to both these things and the way the storylines get woven together as they both involve Pennington manor and those who live and work there. I did feel the wrap up could've been a bit more extensive as there were a few more questions I wanted answered. The main lines are clear, but I would've liked a few more specifics.
I liked how Avery got involved in the case as it involved her job and how Art worked together with her again. I was a bit annoyed at how Art handled a few things at the start and the way Avery reacted, but I liked to see how they worked things out and their relationship went to better footing again as the book progressed. There is a bit of a romantic sub plot as they try and figure out whether to give their relationship another try or if the problems that got them apart in the first place are too big too overcome.
Besides the mysteries and the romance there are a few side plot lines as well, with Avery training for a marathon, an antique she appraises for a friend, Tilly who unexpectedly comes home from school as well as her father who is having some troubles adjusting back to normal life. It made for an interesting read with everything going on and I enjoyed reading it. It has less of that typical small town vibe as most other cozies, but I like how that gives this series a different feel with the small town where Avery lives and how she works in the city usually. I like the focus on antiques and Avery's job.
To summarize: Peril at Pennington Manor is a great sequel in this series. There are two mysteries in this book, a murder and some antiques that have gone missing. I like how Avery gets involved in the cases and seeing how it all progresses throughout the books. The reveal made sense, although I would've liked a few more answers. Besides the mysteries there are some other sub plot lines going on as well involving Avery, her romance with Art and some plot lines involving her family. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next one.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and requested this second book when I saw it on Netgalley. Peril at Pennington Manor is the second book in this series and follows Avery on another assignment. They are hired to do appraisals at Pennington manor. Quickly it becomes clear this is not just another normal job, some heirloom pieces have gone missing and have been replaced by fakes. And then there is a murder as well.
I liked the mystery in this one and how there was the case of the stolen/ missing antiques as well as the murder. I liked seeing how they work on uncovering the truth of what happened to both these things and the way the storylines get woven together as they both involve Pennington manor and those who live and work there. I did feel the wrap up could've been a bit more extensive as there were a few more questions I wanted answered. The main lines are clear, but I would've liked a few more specifics.
I liked how Avery got involved in the case as it involved her job and how Art worked together with her again. I was a bit annoyed at how Art handled a few things at the start and the way Avery reacted, but I liked to see how they worked things out and their relationship went to better footing again as the book progressed. There is a bit of a romantic sub plot as they try and figure out whether to give their relationship another try or if the problems that got them apart in the first place are too big too overcome.
Besides the mysteries and the romance there are a few side plot lines as well, with Avery training for a marathon, an antique she appraises for a friend, Tilly who unexpectedly comes home from school as well as her father who is having some troubles adjusting back to normal life. It made for an interesting read with everything going on and I enjoyed reading it. It has less of that typical small town vibe as most other cozies, but I like how that gives this series a different feel with the small town where Avery lives and how she works in the city usually. I like the focus on antiques and Avery's job.
To summarize: Peril at Pennington Manor is a great sequel in this series. There are two mysteries in this book, a murder and some antiques that have gone missing. I like how Avery gets involved in the cases and seeing how it all progresses throughout the books. The reveal made sense, although I would've liked a few more answers. Besides the mysteries there are some other sub plot lines going on as well involving Avery, her romance with Art and some plot lines involving her family. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next one.
annarella's review
3.0
I love Tracy Gardner's other series but this I'm not liking this one. I think there's a lot of potential, the characters are fleshed out but I found Avery a bit too juvenile and the story didn't keep my attention
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
melmo2610's review
4.0
Another fun installment in the Avery Ames mystery series. This was a good mystery that kept me guessing. I also liked the secondary storyline with Avery's sister Tilly. Good read!
srivalli's review
4.0
Publication Date: 07th June 2022
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Timepass read
Avery Ayers and her team at Antiques and Artifacts Appraised got the assignment to appraise and catalog the contents of the Hudson River. The manor (that feels more like a castle) is being sold by the duke, who happens to be a good friend of Aunt Midge (Avery’s aunt).
The first time Avery and her dad William visit the manor, they realize that the Viktor Petrova pocket watch is missing. The duke is stunned but determined to ensure all the antiques are cataloged and accounted for.
On the first day of work, the team ends up being a witness to the death of Suzanne, the housekeeper at the manor. Avery’s instincts tell her it’s not a simple case of accidental death. Detective Art Smith steps into the scene to aid with the investigation and keep Avery safe. Moreover, the duo has to decide the future of their relationship (if there is one).
As more antiques turn out to be fake, the duke ends up in a riding accident, and another employee of the manor is found dead. With the list of suspects including every person in the manor, Avery and Art must sort through the maze to arrive at the truth.
Are the missing antiques and the deaths related? Are there two different criminals to track and unearth? Can the duo solve the cases before they face the bullet?
My Observations:
The book began with an interaction between Avery and Art, and I wasn’t sure of the dynamics. It took me a while to get into the subplot (the family, relationships, etc.). The case, however, was clear enough.
There were quite a few characters to track, which made it a little difficult to stay up to date with the developments concerned with the main plot. Luckily, I wasn’t in a mood to solve the case, which made it easy to go with the flow (and round the rating to 4 stars).
Getting to Avery and Art was nice. I had a better knowledge of their relationship by the end of the book. I would love to know where it heads in the future books.
Avery was intelligent (even if she jumped to conclusions at times). She was nosy too, which is rather a prerequisite to becoming an amateur detective. But the book balanced her sleuthing and antique appraisal work. I learned something about the field. That was fun.
The book has a super friendly dog and seven teeny kittens! Yeah… one kitty is black and white, and another has tiger stripes. Sigh! (Can you see my heart-eyes?)
Tilly appeared childish and strange in the first half. Must be her teenage acting up. Still, I couldn’t understand her sudden shifts in mood.
The pacing was uneven (it slumps in the middle), but the end wrapped up things pretty well. The characters weren’t fully developed, though they serve the intended purpose. No far-fetched theories or solutions, so that’s a plus.
To sum up, Peril at Pennington Manor is a blend of cozy mystery and family drama. The book would make a nice read when you want something that doesn’t demand too much of your energy.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #PerilatPenningtonManor
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Timepass read
Avery Ayers and her team at Antiques and Artifacts Appraised got the assignment to appraise and catalog the contents of the Hudson River. The manor (that feels more like a castle) is being sold by the duke, who happens to be a good friend of Aunt Midge (Avery’s aunt).
The first time Avery and her dad William visit the manor, they realize that the Viktor Petrova pocket watch is missing. The duke is stunned but determined to ensure all the antiques are cataloged and accounted for.
On the first day of work, the team ends up being a witness to the death of Suzanne, the housekeeper at the manor. Avery’s instincts tell her it’s not a simple case of accidental death. Detective Art Smith steps into the scene to aid with the investigation and keep Avery safe. Moreover, the duo has to decide the future of their relationship (if there is one).
As more antiques turn out to be fake, the duke ends up in a riding accident, and another employee of the manor is found dead. With the list of suspects including every person in the manor, Avery and Art must sort through the maze to arrive at the truth.
Are the missing antiques and the deaths related? Are there two different criminals to track and unearth? Can the duo solve the cases before they face the bullet?
My Observations:
The book began with an interaction between Avery and Art, and I wasn’t sure of the dynamics. It took me a while to get into the subplot (the family, relationships, etc.). The case, however, was clear enough.
There were quite a few characters to track, which made it a little difficult to stay up to date with the developments concerned with the main plot. Luckily, I wasn’t in a mood to solve the case, which made it easy to go with the flow (and round the rating to 4 stars).
Getting to Avery and Art was nice. I had a better knowledge of their relationship by the end of the book. I would love to know where it heads in the future books.
Avery was intelligent (even if she jumped to conclusions at times). She was nosy too, which is rather a prerequisite to becoming an amateur detective. But the book balanced her sleuthing and antique appraisal work. I learned something about the field. That was fun.
The book has a super friendly dog and seven teeny kittens! Yeah… one kitty is black and white, and another has tiger stripes. Sigh! (Can you see my heart-eyes?)
Tilly appeared childish and strange in the first half. Must be her teenage acting up. Still, I couldn’t understand her sudden shifts in mood.
The pacing was uneven (it slumps in the middle), but the end wrapped up things pretty well. The characters weren’t fully developed, though they serve the intended purpose. No far-fetched theories or solutions, so that’s a plus.
To sum up, Peril at Pennington Manor is a blend of cozy mystery and family drama. The book would make a nice read when you want something that doesn’t demand too much of your energy.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #PerilatPenningtonManor
booksaprilreads's review
5.0
I will post this review to Goodreads today (11/17) and to Instagram and Amazon on 6/7/22
This second installment in the Avery Ayers’ Antique Mystery series is set at Pennington Manor. This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I am already looking forward to the next in the series.
Avery’s Aunt Midge is friends with the Duke of Valle Charme and through this friendship, Avery and the team have been hired to appraise the various antiques and artwork in the manor.
While there to begin the appraisal process, the housekeeper meets her untimely death, thus leaving everyone feeling as thought they could be in danger. With the help of Detective Art Smith. Avery and the team continues the process while sneakily investigating the death of the housekeeper.
This installment seemed to be a bit faster paced than the first in the series. I highly recommend reading the first, Ruby Red Herring first so that some of the finer details make even more sense. The information giving in the first novel helps this one be even better.
I love how in addition to the mystery, we get to catch up with the Ayers family and what is going on in their personal lives.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Tracy Gardiner for the copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are entirely my own.
This second installment in the Avery Ayers’ Antique Mystery series is set at Pennington Manor. This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I am already looking forward to the next in the series.
Avery’s Aunt Midge is friends with the Duke of Valle Charme and through this friendship, Avery and the team have been hired to appraise the various antiques and artwork in the manor.
While there to begin the appraisal process, the housekeeper meets her untimely death, thus leaving everyone feeling as thought they could be in danger. With the help of Detective Art Smith. Avery and the team continues the process while sneakily investigating the death of the housekeeper.
This installment seemed to be a bit faster paced than the first in the series. I highly recommend reading the first, Ruby Red Herring first so that some of the finer details make even more sense. The information giving in the first novel helps this one be even better.
I love how in addition to the mystery, we get to catch up with the Ayers family and what is going on in their personal lives.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Tracy Gardiner for the copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are entirely my own.