Deadly Appraisal (Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery 2)

Josie Prescott is settling into her new life in New Hampshire. Her antiques business is thriving, she's beginning to make some close friends, and her relationship with the local police chief is becoming more interesting. Not bad for someone who has completely uprooted her life as a New York City auction house expert in order to get a fresh start in a small New England town. With so much suddenly to lose, Josie can't help but worry when murder invades her seemingly quiet community. Josie is sponsoring the Portsmouth Women's Guild Annual Black and Gold Gala and is looking forward to receiving a kindly worded thank-you for her efforts. Instead, the Guild representative, Maisy Gaylor, dies a horrible death in the midst of the banquet. Who could have wanted to kill earnest, drab little Maisy? "Funny, isn't it," muses the hostile Detective Rowcliff, "how a lot of people end up dead when no one has any enemies." Everyone who had access to the wine Maisy drank, including Josie herself, soon comes under suspicion. Can Josie manage to ferret out the truth, keep her business running smoothly, and continue to put down roots in her new town, or will everything prove too much for her to handle on her own? osie Prescotts new life in New Hampshire is proceeding more or less as planned, despite her involvement in a murder investigation last year. Her business is thriving, her friendship with the local police chief has become something much more intimate, and shes even collected a few candidates for close friends. Not bad after completely uprooting her life as a New York City auction house expert and starting fresh. With so much suddenly to lose, Josies heart falls when another suspicious death occurs very close to her new world. The benefit shes hosting is Josies way of giving back to her new community. But when Maisy Gaylor drops dead at the gala event, and all those who had access to the prep area, including Josie herself, are on the short list of suspects, its all she can do to keep up appearances and stop herself from pulling up roots again. Can Josie ferret out the truth, keep her business running smoothly, and still find time to develop the web of social connections that just might keep her grounded in her new life?