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~ FRIDAY COZY MYSTERY FEATURE ~
About Death of an Antiquarian
Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting - Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada (loosely based on Toronto, Canada)
Publisher: Level Best Books Publication date: Dec. 16, 2025 Print length : 242 pages
Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8898201159
Digital ASIN : B0GHSW122X
When archaeologist Dr. Mia Reid takes a contract position at the Lakeview City Museum, she expects artifacts, exhibitions, and research notes, not murder. The death of a local antique dealer, with unexpected ties to artifact smuggling, draws Mia into a dangerous mystery.
As chatter of an international smuggling ring surfaces, Mia and Luke race to uncover the truth. The stakes rise when threats reach her—and her beloved grandmother.
With lives in jeopardy and artifacts at risk of vanishing forever into the black market, Mia must use all her skills to piece together the puzzle. Can she expose a killer before the next artifact or person disappears?
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Excerpt
Chapter One ~
Mia pushed away from her desk and walked to the far wall of her oJice. She looked at the plans on the wall. In less than a week, this exhibit had to be ready. Marketing and promotion were well underway. Interest from all over Lakeview City was growing. Ticket sales were doing well. The artifacts were on loan from the Mexico City Museum. It was the first time the museum had loaned them out.
Mia tapped a pencil to her chin and examined the floor plans for the exhibit. They just needed a little tweaking. She made an adjustment to two of the display cases and stepped back to look at the plans again. That looked better. Patrons would have a bit more space to move around the exhibit.
Gran never wasted time on the phone; she cut through all the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
“Why don’t we meet for dinner around five-thirty? The event starts at seven, but the doors open at six-thirty. I don’t want to be late.”
“That works. Do you want to meet at Syd’s? It’s close enough to the shop that we could walk.”
“Perfect. I’ll take a cab and meet you there.”
Mia sent a text to Shelly, Ethan’s widow, and her good friend.
Mia: Just received the lawyer’s letter regarding Ethan’s gift to me. I’m so touched.
Mia’s phone rang a few minutes later. It was Shelly.
“I want to make sure you’re okay with his bequest.”
“I am. I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Do you think he’d move to North America?”
Mia glanced at her watch. Time to get ready for dinner.
Author Guest Post
'Where Will Mia Reid Go Next?'
When writing a series, an author has to look ahead to future books. Mia Reid, my main character, is an archaeologist. Her job can take her anywhere in the world.
The first book in the series, Death at the Scottish Broch, had her in Scotland, on the Isle of Skye.
The second book, Death of An Antiquarian, sees her in Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada working at a museum.
The third book, Death at the Museum, (currently in production) has her at the Lakeview City Museum, in Lakeview City, Ontario.
Looking down the road, I’d like to have Mia travel to a few archaeological digs around the world.
Where should I send her?
I did some research, something I really enjoy and found a list of the world’s twenty-five most important archaeological sites.
Some of these would definitely work as I’ve alluded to Mia’s previous experience in the earlier books in the series.
One possible location: Egypt.
Either the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber can be found, or the Great Pyramids on the Giza Plateau located just on the outskirts of Cairo.
Both of those locations would have a wealth of possibilities. And there’s plenty of research opportunities for me. Maybe even a visit to those locations?
A second location: Mexico.
Either ChichénItzá in the Yucatan Peninsula or Teotihuacán in the Valley of Mexico.
I’ve been to ChichénItzá on a tour when we were travelling in Mexico. It was amazing. The guide we had was patient and answered my many questions with no hesitation. We were able to tour the pyramid – not walk on it though. It was founded by the ancient Mayans around 600 CE. CE means “current era”. At its peak, this city had up to 50,000 people living and working there. This location is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Teotihuacán was the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, with as many as 250,000 people living there. Located in the Valley of Mexico from 300 BCE and 1000 CE, it’s home to flat-topped temples. One of the temples is the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Human remains have been found there, possibly evidence that sacrifices were made to the temple. Other monuments there include the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. According to legend, the Pyramid of the Sun is the place where time began.
Mia would enjoy both of those locations!
Another option: The Acropolis in Athens.
There are twenty-one archaeological sites in Athens. Including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheum, the Theatre of Dionysus, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
I have personally been fascinated by Athens since I was in high school. We had a history teacher who brought history alive and he transmitted his love of Greece to his students. And although the sites in Athens have been excavated, work still happens there.
The Acropolis has been operating as an archaeological site sine 1833 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Mia and Luke would have a lot of options to work with in Athens.
And I think my final option, at least for this post, would be Machu Pichu.
Machu Pichu is located between four sacred peaks among the Andes mountains in Peru. It was a self-contained city, and it’s believed to have been built by the Inca Emperor Pachacuti around 1450. There are hundreds of buildings including palaces, temples, baths. Once the Spanish overtook the Inca people, the site was abandoned until 1911 when it was discovered by Yale archaeologist, Hiram Bingham.
Mia’s parents have been working in Peru for the past few years. And Mia participated in a dig there when she was younger. Going back could be a good opportunity to see how Mia works with different people.
There are many places around the world, I could send Mia off on an adventure. But it isn’t enough for her to be on a dig. I’d also need to find out about the country’s culture and laws as well. I’d want Luke to be involved as he’s her law enforcement agent and that would mean artifact smuggling would be part of the book as well.
I can also send her on a dig or a conference in North America. Either of those options could provide excellent fodder for a cozy mystery.
Wow! I think I’ve just briefly outlined the locations for several additional Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mysteries.
Let me know if you have a favorite location or one I haven’t listed here!
Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway!
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About Rose Kerr
Retired in Southern Ontario with her husband, Rose spends her days crafting mysteries featuring strong, smart women who use their resourcefulness to solve crimes. When she’s not writing, she enjoys discovering the hidden gems of the region and indulging her lifelong curiosity.
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Amazon Author Central page: https://www.amazon.com/author/rose-kerr-mysteries
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Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Bookshop.org
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