Pearlhanger (A Lovejoy Novel) by Jonathan Gash

" .... too many minor characters and a long boring journey through middle and eastern England by Lovejoy and a Mrs Vernon (yes there is often a new woman in the story!) following the trail of her missing husband who professes to be an antiques dealer. There is a somewhat pointless murder on the way. It all ends up at Salcott, a small village near the Blackwater River in Essex. The story features the culture of fresh water Pearls. It is there that yet another murder takes place. As usual there is a wealth of knowledge about antiques distilled by Lovejoy on his journey through England, but I felt there was too much violence in the story to really enjoy it ..."