This is the fourth book in the Trash 'n' Treasures mystery series, and it showcases the comic talent of the authors, the husband and wife team consisting of seasoned mystery writers Barbara Collins and Max Allan Collins. The series features Brandy Borne, a 30-something divorcée, and her colorful mother, Vivian. Since family relationships are a bit complicated here, I won t spoil the surprise for first time series readers. Suffice it to say that readers will laugh aloud at the screwball dynamics between Brandy and Vivian as they bumble their way through murder investigations in far-from-serene Serenity, Iowa.

In Antiques Bizarre, Brandy has gone off Prozac because she has elected to become a surrogate mother for her best friend and her husband. Fortunately, Vivian, who is bipolar, continues to take her meds, but she still manages to get into trouble when she decides to organize an antiques bazaar featuring an auction to raise money for victims of a local flood and to get free publicity. As is the case with all of Mother's ventures, chaos ensues, along with the customary suspicious deaths. If you delight in the absurd and enjoy manic humor, you ll treasure the Trash ' n' Treasure mysteries.