The first in a series so I am once again inclined to be lenient. As far as I know the series has three books written so far. Is their romance in the books ? Not particularly but I suspect its biding its time. The heroine has a father convicted of forgery and just out of prison. The heroine is confused and struggling to make her mark in the Art World. She is a restorer but she has a special talent. Alix London has The Connoisseur's Eye - If she can "feel" a connection with a painting she can tell if it is genuine or a fake. For myself who read the Jonathan Gash "Lovejoy" books many years ago (He was a "divvy" which mean't he could tell a genuine Antique from a fake) I had no trouble suspending my disbelief and I particularly enjoy those little nuggets of art history that pepper the text. There are crimes. The FBI fine Art Squad is involved. Cosy, compact, enjoyable and I think the series will improve.Added note : I then read the next two in the series and so I figure the books a great success ; a TV series perhaps rather than a classic film noir - Evidence if you need it that you cannot go wrong writing about Art in a Book The book started very promising, albeit a bit slow. What I really enjoyed about it had to do with the well researched US art world: the dealers, collectors, artists and forgers. The vivid descriptions of the New Mexico scenery were also very pleasing. Unfortunately the plot was basic, there were some interesting twists, but the ending just felt lazily thrown in and was disappointingly predictable. I found parts of the story improbable and implausible.An easy read, great for lazy afternoons.
Interesting and fun. No graphic sex or foul language, this husband & wife team know how to write.
—deelfine
mystery, murder, romance, fraud,and family relations. A little bit of everything.
—Sinnfreiheit
Amüsanter Krimi mit Künstlern, Kunstfälschern, Kunstbanausen und Mördern ...
—gbalaw
Okay mystery. Moved along well.
—Wendy
Not bad but not great either.
—BrookeRamos