This was a fast paced cozy mystery. I didn't read the books that came before this one in the series and I thought I might be at a disadvantage. I was brought up to speed quickly and able to follow the story just fine. I found it a little difficult to get into this mystery and when I was done, I didn't really want to read anymore of them. I did like the antiquing tips at the end of every chapter. This is the fifth book in the Trash 'n' Treasure Mysteries, and with the final word all readers will want is the ability to pick up the sixth and get right at it! That's how amazingly entertaining this series is to read. Not to mention that the tips on antiques and "antiquing" that are at the end of each chapter will make those fans (like me) of Cash in the Attic, and Pawn Stars absolutely giddy.Barbara Allan takes us to the small Midwestern town of Serenity located on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is a long, hot summer, and everyone's temper is ready to blow, as the temperatures go up and up and the days drag on and on. Our heroine, Brandy Borne, has come home to live with her "charmingly eccentric" mother Vivian. Brandy is a thirty-one year old, divorced woman who came back home to Mom over a year ago, and the two of them have been embroiled ever since in the world of intrigue and murder. Brandy has begun receiving some very unsettling anonymous letters claiming that her older sister, Peggy Sue, is her real mother and that her biological father is a United States Senator. After speaking to her sister, Brandy discovered that the allegations were true in previous books, but both had decided to keep it to themselves. Now, with book number five, Brandy is acting as a surrogate mother for her friend Tina, who couldn't have a baby. On this particular day, Brandy and her 'mother' are on their way to Timmon's Clock Repair with an antique clock in tow so they can ask Mr. Timmons to look it over and tell them whether or not it's authentic. While there, they meet up with Vivian's arch enemy Connie Grimes, and the two of them have a little argument that raises the dust in the old antique store. At the end of the squabble Brandy exclaims, "She's lucky somebody doesn't kill her." And Vivian replies, "Look on the bright side dear, maybe someone will." (Is this not a set-up?) As you might expect, Connie is stabbed to death and Vivian is arrested for the crime.Vivian, because she's off her meds, falsely confesses to the crime and ends up partying with inmates and starts a jailhouse theater group, while poor, pregnant Brandy tries to line up suspects that might have had a reason to kill Connie. There are no shortage of suspects seeing as that Connie was cheating a great number of antiques fanatics and getting them involved in false antique sales. Eventually Brandy, with the help of her adorable little dog, closes in on the real killer, but oversteps and ends up getting added to the list of victims.This is a perfectly hilarious cozy mystery and can and will be read in one sitting. Brandy and her mother are lovable nut cases and readers will laugh until it hurts as this zany duo of detectives go to work.
What do You think about Antiques Knock-Off (2011)?
This is one of the better books in the series, although, still kind-of silly and fluffy.
—Gwynneth
This book had a lot of fun descriptions in it. It was entertaining and a light read.
—words_n_verses
Fun book to read! Now to go back and read the previous 4 books!
—LewisLloydHewitt
