Author: Reba White Williams
Published: June 2013
Publisher: Delos
Edition: ARC (advanced reader's copy)
ISBN 978939052001
Thank you to Samantha at JKS Communications for an ARC of Restrike. Receipt of such bears no influence over my opinion nor this review.
"Money and murder go hand in glove in the rarified art world of Reba White Williams’ exciting first novel, Restrike.
Cousins Coleman and Dinah Greene moved from North Carolina to New York after college to make their mark on the art world: Coleman is the editor of an influential arts magazine and Dinah is the owner of a print gallery in Greenwich Village. But their challenges are mounting as one of Coleman’s writers is discovered selling story ideas to a competitor and The Greene Gallery is in the red because sales are down.
When billionaire Heyward Bain arrives with a glamorous assistant, announcing plans to fund a fine print museum, Coleman is intrigued and plans to get to know Bain and publish an article about him. Dinah hopes to sell him enough prints to save her gallery. At the same time, swindlers, attracted by Bain’s lavish spending, invade the print world to grab some of his money.
When a print dealer dies in peculiar circumstances, Coleman is suspicious, but she can’t persuade the NYPD crime investigator of a connection between the dealer’s death and Bain’s buying spree. After one of Coleman’s editors is killed and Coleman is attacked, the police must acknowledge the connection, and Coleman becomes even more determined to discover the truth about Bain. In an unforgettable final scene, Coleman risks her life to expose the last deception threatening her, her friends, and the formerly tranquil print world."
My review:
Restrike was a fun read that both entertained and informed me. I have a close artist friend who has been exposing me to the local art scene through art walks and gallery visits, so this book definitely grabbed my attention!
Williams has penned her first mystery novel based in a field of which she has immense knowledge, which she readily imparts to the reader. The art scene is the "setting" for this who-dunit complete with shady masterminds who are experts in creating "forgeries" of prints, selling them at inflated costs. But art forgeries of any kind are a dangerous business and when people start dying, Coleman (art magazine owner, editor and writer) gets suspicious. She turns to those whom she believes she can trust as she prepares to expose the fraudulent activities in the print scene.
Restrike was a fun read that both entertained and informed me. I have a close artist friend who has been exposing me to the local art scene through art walks and gallery visits, so this book definitely grabbed my attention!
Williams has penned her first mystery novel based in a field of which she has immense knowledge, which she readily imparts to the reader. The art scene is the "setting" for this who-dunit complete with shady masterminds who are experts in creating "forgeries" of prints, selling them at inflated costs. But art forgeries of any kind are a dangerous business and when people start dying, Coleman (art magazine owner, editor and writer) gets suspicious. She turns to those whom she believes she can trust as she prepares to expose the fraudulent activities in the print scene.
" Restrike:
1. Verb: To hit again
2. Noun: A fine art print made later than the first edition, usually inferior, and often made after the artist's death."
Coleman's investigations turn up many suspects and she finds she doesn't know who to trust. As someone close to her is brutally killed; she reluctantly, for reasons best explained by the author, turns to her cousin Dinah to assist her in the investigation. The more she reveals, the greater the danger to her and those with whom she is associated. The web Williams weaves spins a quick read that is sure to keep you guessing. Just when you think you have it figured out, voila! You're wrong, or are you?
If you are a patron of the arts, love a good mystery, or both; Restrike comes highly recommended!
For More Information, Please Visit RebaWhiteWilliams.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate all my visitors and your comments so please introduce yourself, ask or make suggestions. I'd love to hear from you. This blog is a no-award zone. I appreciate the acknowledgment but your kind words are enough.
No spam please!