A review by thecosymoose
The Antique Store Detective and the May Day Murder by Clare Chase

adventurous lighthearted mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Spring has come to Hope Eaton, Shropshire, and there’s another case for vintage enthusiast and antique dealer Bella Winter. Partaking in the local village May Day custom of walking to the local spring at dawn with offerings, she spots one of the offerings is a doll formed to look like school secretary Mary Roberts. 

But there are rumours that Mary is no longer of sound mind, exhibiting strange behaviour and seeing strange things. 

Mary is later found dead in her home, and Bella is determined to find out what happened, suspecting the death is not the natural causes recorded by the authorities. 

Bella enlists the help of her friends to prove that Mary’s fears, while based on local legends and folklore, were based on the more mundane behaviours of people that had something to gain from Mary’s decline and death. 

Unpicking one mystery reveals more secrets to investigate, and as the daughter of a detective, Bella won’t give up until she has answers. 

I’m really enjoying this new series from Clare Chase. In this second novel in the series, we get to know the villagers a little better, but also begin to learn more about Bella herself, and how she found herself back in Hope Eaton. Chase knows how to write a gripping tale with warmth and humanity, weaving traditional but spooky folklore with a classic cosy mystery tale. 

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel for review.