The Ming and I (Den of Antiquity)

Rating:
Summary: The Ming and I
Review: A woman attempts to sell a vase to Abigail Timberlake, proprietor of the Den of Antiquity. Seeing no redeeming value in the piece, Abigail turns her down. Shortly thereafter, the woman comes hurtling through Abby's plate glass window. The woman and the vase prove to be more than meets the eye, as both have a valuable pedigree. As usual, Abby considers the police to be too slow, despite the fact that her handsome boyfriend is a detective, and she does some sleuthing on her own. Tamar Myer's characters become more fun and more well-defined in each of the books of this series. Try this book for a good read and a good laugh.

Rating:
Summary: Humorous Reading
Review: Abigail Timberlake gets involved in another murder investigation after someone is run over and flung through the window of her shop. This happens just after the woman had left her shop after trying to get her to buy what Abby considers an ugly gray vase. A few more murders happen and a few ghosts show up before Abby solves the mystery.

I like Tamar Myers books a lot and I laughed a lot at this one, but Abby seemed a bit dumb in this one. As an antiques dealer, shouldn't Abby have recognized a Ming vase? And she not only doesn't have a security alarm on the store, but she's easily tricked into telling someone on the phone that.

But despite that, Abigail and the other characters are generally a lot of fun. Abigail's mother, Mozella, is hilarious. The Rob-Bobs are fun and I love the description of Wynell's outfits. CJ and her stories are some of the funniest parts of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the Den of Antiquity books.


Rating:
Summary: Predictable but fun anyway
Review: As the third book in the Den of Antiquity Series, The Ming and I will not disappoint fans of the first two books. The same characters we loved in Gilt By Association are back as is the humor.

Unfortunetly, I think Myers had a few too many characters in this installment just as she did with the first. It became a little confusing around the middle of the book to keep track of who was who. The good part though is that the regular characters are even more fun than before. Abigail's June Cleaver-like mother, Mozella is developed more in this book and with wonderful results. The "Rob-Bobs" supply us with their usual knowledge and humor and CJ is there to keep our eyes rolling and heads shaking.

The mystery itself is a little too predictable even with so many extra characters. The ending seemed almost like the ending of an episode of Scooby-Doo. The sleuthing in Gilt By Association is much better than this one. What saves this book from becoming blah is the sense of humor. The laughs are even bigger in The Ming and I than they were before. There is a classic scene with Abigail, Mozella and CJ in a haunted house that was so funny, I had to read it again.

Whether or not you enjoyed the first two books in this series, make sure you read The Ming and I. The Den of Antiquity Series get better (and funnier) with each installment.

Rating:
Summary: Predictable but fun anyway
Review: As the third book in the Den of Antiquity Series, The Ming and I will not disappoint fans of the first two books. The same characters we loved in Gilt By Association are back as is the humor.

Unfortunetly, I think Myers had a few too many characters in this installment just as she did with the first. It became a little confusing around the middle of the book to keep track of who was who. The good part though is that the regular characters are even more fun than before. Abigail's June Cleaver-like mother, Mozella is developed more in this book and with wonderful results. The "Rob-Bobs" supply us with their usual knowledge and humor and CJ is there to keep our eyes rolling and heads shaking.

The mystery itself is a little too predictable even with so many extra characters. The ending seemed almost like the ending of an episode of Scooby-Doo. The sleuthing in Gilt By Association is much better than this one. What saves this book from becoming blah is the sense of humor. The laughs are even bigger in The Ming and I than they were before. There is a classic scene with Abigail, Mozella and CJ in a haunted house that was so funny, I had to read it again.

Whether or not you enjoyed the first two books in this series, make sure you read The Ming and I. The Den of Antiquity Series get better (and funnier) with each installment.

Rating:
Summary: Formula, but fun.
Review: This book was a bit predictable, but it was still funny, and I still enjoy Abigail. She's a lot of fun, and she still makes me laugh. Her description of her conversation with "Maynard" in this book is hilarious. In this book, someone is run over right in front of Abby's shop. This happens just after the woman had left her shop after unsuccessfully trying to interest her in an ugly gray vase. Anyway pursuit of this particular murder puts Abby shoulder-to-shoulder with the creme de la creme of Rock Hill population. She gets in a bunch of scrapes and a few more bodies turn up before Abby solves the mystery of the old Roselawn plantation.

Rating:
Summary: Formula, but fun.
Review: This book was a bit predictable, but it was still funny, and I still enjoy Abigail. She's a lot of fun, and she still makes me laugh. Her description of her conversation with "Maynard" in this book is hilarious. In this book, someone is run over right in front of Abby's shop. This happens just after the woman had left her shop after unsuccessfully trying to interest her in an ugly gray vase. Anyway pursuit of this particular murder puts Abby shoulder-to-shoulder with the creme de la creme of Rock Hill population. She gets in a bunch of scrapes and a few more bodies turn up before Abby solves the mystery of the old Roselawn plantation.

Rating:
Summary: Ming - Less Zing
Review: Though "Ming" was enjoyable, and I do love Ms. Myers' books, I have to say that this one was not quite her best. The plot was good. But her trademark humor seemed lacking until the latter stages of the story. A woman is driven through Abby's store window, leaving a mysterious Ming vase behind. Joining a preservation committee to gain access to the mansion the deceased worked at opens up a whole new subplot where ghosts and the beautifully described areas of Charleston are a true treat. Abby's mother has more of a role in this book, and it's a pleasure to get to know her. Worth the read, but lacks the usual humor, darn it.

Rating:
Summary: Ming - Less Zing
Review: Though "Ming" was enjoyable, and I do love Ms. Myers' books, I have to say that this one was not quite her best. The plot was good. But her trademark humor seemed lacking until the latter stages of the story. A woman is driven through Abby's store window, leaving a mysterious Ming vase behind. Joining a preservation committee to gain access to the mansion the deceased worked at opens up a whole new subplot where ghosts and the beautifully described areas of Charleston are a true treat. Abby's mother has more of a role in this book, and it's a pleasure to get to know her. Worth the read, but lacks the usual humor, darn it.