The Ming and I by Tamar Myers (1997, Paperback, Reissue)

Fortyish, divorcee Abby Timberlake owns an antique store, but what could be more antique then her Momma who lives in a time warp ala Beaver's mom, June Cleaver, with pearls, heels, and full-skirted dresses. Momma is locked in the fifties and Abby's other family and friends are all a bit strange. Her friend CJ is called Calamity Jane for good reason. Abby refers to her ex as a rattlesnake and his new twentyish wife as silicone Tweetie. Her cat Dimitri and her handsome cop boyfriend Greg seem normal by comparison. When a car tosses a lady with a dirty old vase through Abby's Den of Antiquities store front window, Abby finds that the vase is a genuine Ming. Abby can't keep her hands on it as it and dead bodies keep popping up in strange places. The setting is the Carolinas, the dialogue is snappy, and Abby's sleuthing is hilarious. A very funny mystery with crazy characters.