byJenny Oldaker
THE ANTIQUE HUNTER’S GUIDE TO MURDERC L Miller
Combining her love of antiques with the ever-popular cosy crime genre, author C L Miller brings us the tale of Freya Lockwood, who returns to the village of her childhood following the death of her estranged mentor. The mysterious circumstances of his demise soon see her drawn into an unexpected investigation, enthusiastically accompanied by her eccentric aunt, Carole. Miller’s background in the world of antiques shines through (she is the daughter of Judith Miller of the iconic Miller’s Guides), and the novel is peppered with nuggets of detail about myriad makers, pieces and movements, as Freya and Carole navigate their way through the underbelly of the antiques world. The concept – ‘what antique would you kill for?’ – is an interesting premise for a whodunnit, and the field provides fertile ground for the plotting of a mystery.
£16.99, Pan Macmillan
OUTSIDE INSean A Pritchard
Part enticing coffee-table book packed with lavish photography, part expert guide to the growing, picking and displaying of all kinds of plants and flowers, this book is an aspirational masterclass in floral arrangements. In it, garden guru Sean A Pritchard shares his tips for planning a garden so that its foliage and flowers can be displayed in the home all year round. His advice is concise and inspiring, covering everything from selecting bulbs and tips for planting, to notes on different flowers and their varieties, as well as guidance for showcasing flora indoors. Pritchard draws on his own love of collecting, a passion that has turned his home into his own exhibition space for ‘a highly personal show that, although permanent, is ever changing’. As such, Ou
