DEATH IS A CABARET: An Antique Lover's Mystery

On the heels of the Antique Road Show's popularity comes an exceptional mystery series that's sure to please and tease the treasure hunter in every reader. First-time author Morgan craftily draws Jeffery Talbot as a quick-witted, Seattle-based retired FBI agent who's turned his passion for antiques into a lucrative business by becoming a Picker, an antique hunter who tracks down specific items for collectors. One elusive item Jeff figures he'll never get his hands on is a French cabaret tea set that once belonged to Napoleon's beloved Josephine. When Jeff hears that the serving pieces might turn up at an exclusive auction held at Michigan's Grand Hotel, he takes off in pursuit of the rare tea service, leaving his agoraphobic wife Sheila (his behind-the-scenes helpmate) to her home shopping, gourmet cooking and Internet surfing. Jeff soon learns that he's not alone in his quest; many people, it seems, are willing kill to gain possession of the set. As bodies begin piling up, Jeff calls upon his investigative skills to find the killer before the killer finds him. Morgan polishes off this slim cozy with some handy recommendations on antiquing, antique Web sites and home shopping. (Nov. 6)