In 1865, Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Todd Lincoln’s dressmaker, conspired to change the course of the Civil War. Crossing lines between North and South, the band of conspirators wove a plan that remained undiscovered for more than 150 years until Antique Hunter Anne Hillstrom finds one of Keckley’s gowns. She and fellow Antique Hunter CC Muller unravel the mystery that has left a trail of dead bodies, leading to the doorstep of their antique store, Great-Aunt Sybil’s Attic.

Dressed to Kill is the fifth book in the Antique Hunters Mystery Series. Rooted in history, the series reimagines real-life events blurring the line between fact and fiction.

With a passion for shopping and antiques, Vicki Vass turned in her reporter’s notebook to chronicle the adventures of Anne and CC, two antique hunters who use their skills to solve a murder case.

Award-winning journalist and best-selling author, Vicki Vass has written more than 1,400 stories for the Chicago Tribune as well as other commercial publications including Home & Away, the Lutheran and Woman’s World. Her science fiction novel, Eleven: 1, draws on her experience in Sudan while writing about the ongoing civil war for World Relief.

Dear Friends,

That’s how CC starts her blog, isn’t it? You’d think I would know after all this time. After all her blog has made me and CC famous and known in the antique hunting world. We scarcely have time to keep up with the many requests we receive. Let me introduce myself. My name is Anne Hillstrom, and I am an antique hunter/chemist/Nancy Drew.

My exploits are written about in the Antique Hunter Mystery Series. We never meant to become amateur detectives but CC and I seem to stumble on mysteries to solve. When I was young, I savored the Nancy Drew series along with Vicki Barr and Cherry Ames. I wanted to be them, and now I feel like I am.

In our latest adventure, CC and I discover a secret attached to the dress I discovered at the Treasure House, the resale shop where I volunteer. Did I tell you what I found there the other day? It is a Victorian white gold choker necklace with a two-carat aquamarine in its center. I was determined to buy it but Buttersworth snapped it up before I could sneak it into the back room. Yes, that’s right Buttersworth, my arch rival, the woman who is always in my way. She grabbed it and won’t give it up.

I managed to win a crystal chandelier that she was watching. It will serve her right. I took that chandelier directly to my storage locker. It will look perfect in my dining room should I ever be able to rebuild my house. That continues to be a tragedy. My poor Chicago bungalow with all its history burned to the ground. And my plans to rebuild burnt alongside.

I am content with my small apartment above our antique store Great-Aunt Sybil’s Attic. It is cozy. My two white Persians Sassy and Sybil are quite happy there. They have a lovely storefront window in which to soak up the sun and several hiding places. Sassy has even ventured into the dusty cellar.

CC and I recently returned from an adventure to the antique stores in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. I found a charming store that specializes in Art Nouveau jewelry. If I am ever rich, I think I would buy every piece in the store especially the garnet parure. It would look lovely with several of my vintage dresses. CC stopped me from purchasing it. Perhaps I will venture back by myself and make several purchases. I can think of just the occasion to wear it. I am venturing to England to meet a certain someone, and I want to impress him.

Even when I am out of the country I will keep our list and continue to source items for you, our fans. So please continue to send your requests to me. If there are any you don’t want CC to know about, please send those directly to me. I will make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. I find myself concealing things from her constantly. She doesn’t understand the need for acquisition quite as much as I do.

I have to say farewell for now. Thank you for letting me share these precious moments with you. Until next time.

Yours,

Anne Hillstrom