Book Review: A Killer Collection

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Killer Collection     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
J. B. Stanley
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Killer Collectibles # 1
Berkley, Jun 2005, $6.99, 224 pp.

Collector’s Weekly magazine journalist Molly Appleby is writing an article about southern kiln s pottery sales hosted by the potter who created them. Molly and her mother wake up early one morning to attend the kiln opening of C.C., but to their surprise there are a lot of people up early to get a good position on line so they have first crack at getting what they want.

Molly meets collector George-Bradley Staunton, a fanatical collector who cuts in line, grabs objects out of other collector’s hands and is all around pushy. During the sale George goes to a secluded area and Molly follows him. She sees him rubbing his stomach with blood on his shirt. She thinks he was murdered but the coroner says he died of an overdose of insulin. The police think he accidentally injected himself twice. Molly believes otherwise ands sets out to prove it.

This is the first collectible mystery and if future cozies are like this one, J.B. Stanley will have a captivating series that will win her many fans. Molly is a likeable tenacious character especially when she believes she is right and is very comfortable with her size fourteen body. . She sets out to prove the victim was murdered. With no blood or gore, Ms. Stanley writes a fabulous who done it that will have readers guessing who the killer is.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner