Bidding for Revenge by Victoria Tait

Bidding for Revenge is the third book in Victoria Tait’s Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series.

Trainee antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is training for the upcoming charity triathlon. She was persuaded to join the Akemans’ (her company) team. Swimming almost everyday for over a month now has brought about a change in Dotty. Even Aunt Beanie – in whose cottage Dotty’s currently residing – thinks swimming has brought a glow on Dotty’s face.

Jay Newton, a member of a once-upon-a-time famous music band, is the newest resident of Windrush Hall and has asked the Akemans to find furniture suitable for his mansion. So, Dotty tags along with her teammates to Windrush Hall. She’s made in charge of visiting local auctions and selecting relevant furniture pieces for Jay Newton.

Sergeant Keya Varma, a (clumsy) local policewoman and Dotty’s friend, tells her that the charity event might have to be cancelled. Dotty recommends the grounds of Windrush Hall. Keya and Dotty discuss this with Jay Newton and he readily agrees to be the host for the charity triathlon.

During the triathlon, Rebecca Randall, a young auctioneer from Circencester Auctioneers, drops dead. She was complaining of hay fever and her asthma pump with her. Heat, exhaustion from running, and hay fever might have caused her sudden death.

Meanwhile, Aunt Beanie, who now works as a consultant with the Rural, Heritage and Wildlife Unit, and has experience in busting counterfeit rings, tells Dotty about counterfeit furniture in the locale. Fake antique furniture are being sold at auction houses.

The spotlight is on counterfeit furniture and the sudden death of a young auctioneer. Didier Vogt, an employee of Circencester Auctioneers has caught Dotty’s attention. First, he tried to distract Dotty from looking at a particular antique wardrobe. Then, at a local auction, he counter bid the item that Dotty was bidding for, and then, gave up at the last minute.

Dotty and Keya had seen Rebecca (the victim) at Jay Newton’s house a week ago. There was no love lost between the two. After her death, Jay Newton and his friend Tracy, seem a tad relieved. Did they have something to do with Rebecca’s death? The flowers and the vase from the bathroom that Rebecca complained about (they gave her the allergies) are missing… and so is her asthma pump.

Dotty has her hands full with finding antique pieces for Jay Newton, looking out for counterfeit furniture and wanting to find the secret that connected Jay, Tracy and Rebecca.

Dotty is recently widowed. She was in an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship. Her widowhood has given her a sense of freedom. At times, her past experiences make her doubt her decisions. But she has good friends by her side, to give her a nudge or encouragement when needed. As the story begins, we see Dotty wondering if she might fail her company’s team in the charity triathlon. When she’s given her first independent job (to visit auction houses and bid on antiques), she’s afraid that she might overbid for an item or choose a wrong item to bid on. But, as the story ends, we see Dotty conquering her doubts and fears.

The mystery behind the auctioneer’s death was interesting. Especially, as we have a famous music star and his friend in the list of suspects. The other mystery – concerning fake antiques – kept me guessing for more. There is just one person who seems to be involved in this and when Dotty confides to a certain somebody about something she overheard – and they end up risking their life.

I have read all the books that Victoria Tait has written so far. I absolutely adore her storytelling. The characters are likeable and their personal dilemmas are relatable. The mystery behind the murder kept me guessing till the end. The identity of the perp was a shocker. I never imagined that they could be capable of killing someone. But then, I suppose anger can force a human being to do unexplainable things.

If you are looking for an interesting and engrossing cozy read, I recommend you to give Bidding for Revenge by Victoria Tait a try.

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I received in ARC from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

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