A 2022 MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD Nominee
In this Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series debut, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Jane K. Cleland, an antiques appraiser hunts a missing gem while probing her parents' deaths.
A 2022 MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD Nominee
In this Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series debut, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Jane K. Cleland, an antiques appraiser hunts a missing gem while probing her parents' deaths.
After her parents' deaths, Avery Ayers takes over the family business, Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised, from the home office in Lilac Grove and a branch in Manhattan. Now living back at home with her younger sister Tilly and their newly moved-in, eccentric Aunt Midge and her Afghan hound, Avery's life is filled with jewels, tapestries, paintings, and rare finds. But their world is rocked when Avery learns that the theft of a priceless ruby may be connected to her parents' demise.
The trouble starts when the Museum of Antiquities hires Avery to appraise a rare, resplendent ruby. It bears a striking similarity to a solitary stone in the museum's prized Xiang Dynasty bejeweled dragon medallion exhibit, which has long been missing one of its ruby eyes. Now, Avery and her colleagues--ostentatious Sir Robert Lane and fatherly Micah Abbott--suspect they may have the missing gem. But facets of the case remain cloudy. Security guard Art Smith is always underfoot but is not what he appears. Another body turns up connected to the appraisal. And Avery receives mysterious notes that begin to put her life in danger.
Avery enlists possible ally Art's help in cutting the list of suspects who might have polished off her parents and swiped the jewel. Was it art collector Oliver Renell? Curator Nate Brennan? Acquisitions Liaison Francesca Giolitti? Actor Tyler Chadwick? Was the crime impersonal or perpetrated by someone all too close to Avery? If she can't find the culprit, lovely Lilac Grove may be the setting for Avery's own death.
Industry Reviews
Praise for Ruby Red Herring:
"A lively combination of mystery, romance, and gemology that will appeal to fans of Jane K. Cleland and Paige Shelton."
-Kirkus Reviews
"A superbly crafted 'whodunnit' style mystery [that] showcases author Tracy Gardner's impressive mastery of the genre."
-Midwest Book Review
"Don't miss this wonderful mystery with a main character you'll adore. I loved this book. It's a real gem!" -Paige Shelton, New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries
"Tracy Gardner has created a complex mystery with delightful characters while giving us the coziness of a small town and the glamour of New York City."
-Sharon Dunn, USA Today bestselling author
"RUBY RED HERRING shimmers and sparkles like the mysterious gemstone at the center of this cozy mystery. Full of twists and turns, I loved every page."
-Teri Wilson, USA Today bestselling author of The Accidental Beauty Queen
"Ruby Red Herring was a delightfully charming and unique cozy. With great characters, lots of twists, and an intriguing premise, it was a pleasure to read."
-Jody Holford, author of the Britton Bay mysteries
