The Ming and I

As the third book in the Den of Antiquity Series, The Ming and I will not disappoint fans of the first two books. The same characters we loved in Gilt By Association are back as is the humor.Unfortunetly, I think Myers had a few too many characters in this installment just as she did with the first. It became a little confusing around the middle of the book to keep track of who was who. The good part though is that the regular characters are even more fun than before. Abigail's June Cleaver-like mother, Mozella is developed more in this book and with wonderful results. The "Rob-Bobs" supply us with their usual knowledge and humor and CJ is there to keep our eyes rolling and heads shaking. The mystery itself is a little too predictable even with so many extra characters. The ending seemed almost like the ending of an episode of Scooby-Doo. The sleuthing in Gilt By Association is much better than this one. What saves this book from becoming blah is the sense of humor. The laughs are even bigger in The Ming and I than they were before. There is a classic scene with Abigail, Mozella and CJ in a haunted house that was so funny, I had to read it again. Whether or not you enjoyed the first two books in this series, make sure you read The Ming and I. The Den of Antiquity Series get better (and funnier) with each installment.

A woman attempts to sell a vase to Abigail Timberlake, proprietor of the Den of Antiquity. Seeing no redeeming value in the piece, Abigail turns her down. Shortly thereafter, the woman comes hurtling through Abby's plate glass window. The woman and the vase prove to be more than meets the eye, as both have a valuable pedigree. As usual, Abby considers the police to be too slow, despite the fact that her handsome boyfriend is a detective, and she does some sleuthing on her own. Tamar Myer's characters become more fun and more well-defined in each of the books of this series. Try this book for a good read and a good laugh.

One of my favorite things in a book, when I'm reading for pleasure, is humor. Tamar Myers applies it like a master - um - mistress - um - maestra! Her so-called sleuth Abby Timberlake is a treasure and I plan to order more of her tales! LARCENY AND OLD LACE has mystery - who would want to murder old lady of a disreputable antique shop and why? In between the murder and finding the guilty party is a good read - ! It won't tax your brain, but you'll enjoy the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was the first one I have ever read by Ms. Myers. I can't wait to get her others and read them too. I found myself almost laughing out loud during some of the situations the main character found herself in. I would highly recommend this author!

The "Den of Antiquity" mysteries are really a fun read. Ms. Myers has a clever, snappy writing style that appeals to me, especially her character's internal dialogue. What I don't like, however, is that the cover was misleading. Could the cover artists please get a few facts from the book itself before creating the cover?