With the crisp, cool air of an autumn breeze blowing, Josie Prescott is ready to start her day as an antiques appraiser in the charming coastal town of Rocky Point, New Hampshire. Known as the authority of priceless objects, she is summoned to a lighthouse estate for an appraisal. Realizing her pristine reputation cannot rest solely on her good business sense, she is prepared to get to work to uncover the past and put a value on its future.

Upon arriving, she stumbles upon a ghastly scene involving the bludgeoned body of her dear friend Zoë's nephew, Frankie. Within a blink of an eye, the police arrive and the investigation is quickly underway. Reeling from the fact that she has just witnessed the gruesome aftermath of a killing, Josie does her best to step aside as the town's officials take over. What started out as just an ordinary job for Josie has now become a personal vendetta to help find Frankie's killer.

Before long, Josie makes a connection between the lighthouse's valuable works of art and the mysterious murder. After careful inspection, it is discovered that a rare scrimshaw tooth is missing. As Josie tries to put the pieces together, it becomes quite obvious that her business colleagues may be hiding something. With her ever faithful sidekick Wes, the conscientious newspaper reporter, Josie dons her super sleuth hat in order to put this most unsettling case to rest.

SILENT AUCTION is the fifth installment of Cleland's highly praised Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery Series. Her latest adventure is entertaining yet educational, as she explores the intricate workings of scrimshaw. As we have come to expect, Cleland's superb knowledge of the antiques business coupled with her wit and charm make this newly released mystery a prized contender.

Book Summary

Agatha finalist Jane K. Cleland brings us an irresistible new blend of coziness, crime, and collectibles...

The autumn foliage is in full fiery glory on a beautiful day in the little coastal town of Rocky Point, New Hampshire. Josie Prescott arrives at the town’s renovated lighthouse to conduct an antiques appraisal and is horrified to discover the bludgeoned body of her neighbor Zoë’s beloved nephew, Frankie. The owners of the lighthouse are avid antiques collectors, and Josie soon begins to suspect that a scrimshaw tooth from their collection may be the key to solving the crime that has shaken Rocky Point, and broken her dear friend’s heart.