A Holland Reads: Killer Finds by Vicki Vass - Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: March 31, 2016

Number of pages: 210

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Antique Hunters Mystery #3

Synopsis:

Antique hunter Anne Hillstrom’s whirlwind shopping tour to Paris comes to a dead stop, as dead as the man sitting next to her on the plane. And to make matters worse, her identity has been stolen, leaving her to face her worst nightmare. She must sell all her precious antiques with the help of her business partner and co-blogger, CC Muller. Together, they open a pop-up antique store in the quaint suburb of Glen Ellyn Illinois. Their blog fans flock to the store looking to find that perfect treasure and so does a killer. When the Sweet Shop lady next door is found caramelized, the success of the pop-up sale turns bittersweet. Anne and CC dust off the clues, unraveling a centuries-old mystery that leads them to one conclusion. They must find the killer before the killer finds them.

What did I think of this book:

I was happy to get to go on another adventure with antique hunter Anne because this time she went to a place I dream of going Paris. Now I would not want to be a part of finding a dead person especially one sitting next to me. I felt so bad for Anne as here she is in another country, a dead body found and her identity stolen. What more could go wrong. Well there was plenty as the story goes along. The good thing is she got to try her hand with her antique selling at a pop up store and she got to meet a lot of nice people along her journey. I like Vicki's writing style and like all good mystery writers she gave me just enough clues to keep me guessing until the real murderer is found. This is a quick read to enjoy while lounging by the pool. Although this is the third book in a series you will do fine reading it as a stand alone book. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

About This Author

With a passion for shopping and antiques, Vicki Vass turned in her reporter’s notebook to chronicle the adventures of Anne and CC, two antique hunters who use their skills to solve a murder case.

Vicki has written more than 1,400 stories for the Chicago Tribune as well as other commercial publications including Home & Away, the Lutheran and Woman’s World. Her science fiction novel, The Lexicon, draws on her experience in Sudan while writing about the ongoing civil war for World Relief.

She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, writer and musician Brian Tedeschi, son Tony, Australian shepherd Bandit, kittens Terra and Pixel, seven koi and Gary the turtle.

Author Links:

Website – http://www.vickivass.com/
Blog – https://vickivass.wordpress.com/2015/07/04/heading-home/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/vickivassauthor

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N

Guest Post:

Making history come alive

Since I was little, I’ve been fascinated by history and by reading. I read my way through the young adult fiction, including the historical novels of the six wives of King Henry VIII, the biographies of the first ladies and other famous women, including the career of Nellie Blye, the first female journalist, and Florence Nightingale.

I also read mysteries from Nancy Drew to Cherry Ames to Vicki Barr. I read through Agatha Christie. Later I graduated to the gothic mysteries of Mary Stewart, Charlotte Armstrong and Victoria Holt.

For me, reading about history brings the past alive. I shared this love with my father who for 35 years taught American history and government on the south side of Chicago. He took me to the library, allowed me to explore and read anything I could put my hands on. By the time I was in fifth grade, I had worked my way up to adult fiction.

From the earliest time, all I ever wanted to do was write. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I wanted to write about history, make up stories, bring characters to life in their own world. My father talked me out of majoring in English, instead recommending that I major in journalism. I did and am glad I did. Working for newspapers provides experience in unbelievable ways. My career allowed me to write about everything from corrupt politics to fashion to the ongoing civil war in Sudan. It brought me a world of experience and also taught me to write quickly under constant deadline pressure.

When I began to think about fiction again, I wrote a romance novel, followed by another, then another. I had half written parts of books scattered around my house, never quite reaching fruition. It wasn’t until last summer that I sat down and wrote what would become Murder by the Spoonful, the first book in the Antique Hunters mystery series.

It started as a lark, an inside joke. For a while, I had spent weekends shopping at antique stores, flea markets, garage and estate sales with my two best friends. They became the heroines of the antique hunter series. The book practically wrote itself. It reinforced my love of both mystery and history.

My antique hunters stumble upon murder and find themselves caught up in a mystery usually related to a significant historical event. While some of the items are true and some of the facts are real, the circumstances surrounding it may be fabricated. I like blurring the line between the real and the fictional world. I like making people wonder which part is true and which is false.

To make this work, I conduct extensive research on historical time periods and world events. I have become quite knowledgeable, though not as much as CC, my heroine, in a vast array of events that have shaped our nation and the world.

And, while the stories are heavy in history, they also showcase the deep love and friendship my two heroines share for each other. No matter what happens they are friends and will stand by each other’s side as they do in real life. I am privileged to write their story, and I hope you enjoy reading about the “Spoon Sisters.”

Giveaway:

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