Description:
Antiques Roadshow meets Agatha Christie! Discover your next favourite cozy mystery series, featuring a funny, feisty antique dealer turned amateur sleuth who lives in the cosiest corner of Kent.Meet novice antique dealer Lina Townend: warm, independent and blessed with an uncanny nose for a bargain . . . and a talent for sniffing out trouble!Lina is finding her feet in the antiques trade, working alongside her eccentric mentor Griff. Attending a bustling local fair, Lina makes a thrilling discovery: a single page from a rare medieval manuscript.Not only is the missing book priceless, but it could hold the key to a mystery Lina’s spent her whole life trying to solve — the identity of her father. If she can find it.But Lina’s hunt quickly turns dangerous. A string of break-ins suggests she’s not the only one after the treasure. Is a jealous rival dealer trying to steal her prize, or is something far more sinister at play?Lina must summon every ounce of her courage if she’s to track down the missing manuscript, protect frail, kind-hearted Griff — and solve the riddle of who she really is.This delightful traditional mystery series is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Lovejoy, Clare Chase, M.C. Beaton, Simon Brett, Margaret Yorke and The Thursday Murder Club — and anyone who enjoys a good rummage in an antique shop!Please note, this book was previously published as Drawing the Line, and has been lightly edited for language.READERS LOVE THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING BOOK:‘Thoroughly sharp, modern, witty, and literate.’ Margaret Yorke‘In Cutler . . . we are undoubtedly dealing with the crème de la crème.’ The Times????? ‘Really enjoyed the drive through the English countryside with quirky antiques dealers. Found the antiques trade fascinating and the storyline engrossing.’ Susan????? ‘Delightfully engaging characters and an excellent plot line. Has overtones of a modern Dorothy Sayers.’ Sandra????? ‘I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, interesting stories and great characters. I'd love to read further adventures of Lina and Griff.’ savvyshoppers????? ‘Really engaging plot, believable characters and a satisfying ending. Some good twists too.’ Kindle Customer????? ‘Well written, good characters and plots. I discovered Judith Cutler late last year and have been hooked on all her books and characters since.’ DerekMEET LINA TOWNENDLina Townend is not your average antique dealer. Warm, clever, and endlessly curious, she has an uncanny ‘divvy’s nose’ for spotting treasures among the bric-a-brac, and a knack for sniffing out trouble where others see only clutter. Living and working alongside her eccentric mentor, Griff Tripp, Lina spends her days at bustling village fairs, in her cosy shop, and trawling auctions for hidden gems. Lina grew up in the care system, and beneath her confident exterior she’s still piecing together the puzzle of her own past — a search that makes every rare find feel just a little more personal.THE SETTINGSleepy Bredeham might not be the prettiest of villages in rural Kent — though it boasts its share of thatched cottages and white-painted boarded houses — but it’s the kind of place where you can’t walk down the street without seeing someone you want to stop and chat with. Visitors will find not just a welcoming pub and a village shop, but also a chemist that doubles as a stationer and bookstore. And at the heart of it all sits the small, cluttered, yet inviting antique shop, packed with curios and treasures waiting to be discovered.
