This mysterys synopsis sounds like a typical murder mystery cozy, but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and complexity of this story. I learned much about art prints including that a restrike is a print made from an original plate but after the original prints were made, usually of inferior quality and after the death of the artist. This definition given at the beginning of the story, comes into play later.

The story is a departure from the typical woman-sleuth, first-person-viewpoint driven novel in that more than one of the characters tries to solve parts of the mystery. Written in third-person, the different viewpoints find different facts before discovering that there is power in pooling knowledge. This mystery is complex, and refreshingly more about art forgery and theft than murder.

The main mystery centers on an art theft that is so subtle the perpetrators might have gotten away with it, if not for that one mistake that unravels a broader conspiracy of theft, fraud and manipulation of the auction process. If the gallery owner had any less than the highest of scruples and integrity, the extensive criminal activity might not have been discovered. The glimpse into the art world is interesting, as is the background on art auctions. Some of the relationships become a little convoluted in the end, but this seems to set up the next in the series. The novel starts out a little slowly, but draws the reader in so cleverly, that by page 50 it becomes almost impossible to put down. This is a wonderful first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next one!

Thanks to the Book Club Cookbook website for their giveaway contest, and selecting me to receive a free copy.

Share/Like this Review?