What do you think?
Rate this book
Posing For Picasso: A gripping unputdownable supernatural psychological thriller
‘A powerful mix of the supernatural and police investigation.’ Peter James
‘Stone’s trademark imagination runs riot as the traditional spooky chiller meets hardcase crime head-on. Intriguing, smart and very entertaining.’ Paul Finch
‘A novel that is dark, disturbing and utterly tremendous entertainment.’ Ken Bruen
‘Confidently blends the supernatural and the Gothic with the crime novel. Satisfyingly gruesome; genuinely spooky.’ Mike Ripley
An acclaimed supernatural crime novel by USA TODAY Bestseller Samantha Lee Howe (writing as Sam Stone), re-edited and in the author’s preferred edition.
It was Annabel, and something was wrong with the features … He thought he saw a triangle, not an irregular jigsaw shape after all. And it was missing from her face. As if a sharp pastry cutter mould had been stamped through her skull.
Someone is killing young girls in New York. Horrific murders where the bodies are being mutilated and parts harvested for unknown reasons. Detective Jake Chandler has a mystery on his hands, and even though there seems to be a connection to the Russian artist Avgustin Juniper, Juniper himself seems innocent and as confused as everyone else as to what is happening.
So why is Juniper painting all the murdered women, and what is stalking the artist? Something wants to return … something which was also known to Pablo Picasso … and only Chandler can stop it.
‘Stone’s trademark imagination runs riot as the traditional spooky chiller meets hardcase crime head-on. Intriguing, smart and very entertaining.’ Paul Finch
‘A novel that is dark, disturbing and utterly tremendous entertainment.’ Ken Bruen
‘Confidently blends the supernatural and the Gothic with the crime novel. Satisfyingly gruesome; genuinely spooky.’ Mike Ripley
An acclaimed supernatural crime novel by USA TODAY Bestseller Samantha Lee Howe (writing as Sam Stone), re-edited and in the author’s preferred edition.
It was Annabel, and something was wrong with the features … He thought he saw a triangle, not an irregular jigsaw shape after all. And it was missing from her face. As if a sharp pastry cutter mould had been stamped through her skull.
Someone is killing young girls in New York. Horrific murders where the bodies are being mutilated and parts harvested for unknown reasons. Detective Jake Chandler has a mystery on his hands, and even though there seems to be a connection to the Russian artist Avgustin Juniper, Juniper himself seems innocent and as confused as everyone else as to what is happening.
So why is Juniper painting all the murdered women, and what is stalking the artist? Something wants to return … something which was also known to Pablo Picasso … and only Chandler can stop it.
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2018
6 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Sam Stone
57 books96 followers'Mistress of the grisly and the glutinous' - GRAHAM MASTERTON
'A deceptively readable date with darkness – watch your step! This book is lit for the much more discerning chick (and cock) who likes to walk in the shadows. Relax with it, but be prepared for sudden jewels and little masterpieces – and the rug to be pulled from under your feet.’ - TANITH LEE on Killing Kiss.
GENRE AUTHOR.
Award winning genre writer Sam Stone began writing aged 11 after reading her first adult fiction book, The Collector by John Fowles.
Sam's writing has appeared in many anthologies for poetry and prose. Like all good authors she drew on her own knowledge and passions to write her first novel which the Silver Award for Best Horror Novel in ForeWord Magazine's book of the year awards in 2007.
In September 2008 the novel was re-edited and republished by The House of Murky Depths as KILLING KISS. Sequels, FUTILE FLAME and DEMON DANCE went on to become finalists in the same awards for 2009/2010. Both novels were later Shortlisted for The British Fantasy Society Awards for Best Novel and DEMON DANCE won the award for Best Novel in 2011. Sam also won Best Short Fiction for her story FOOL'S GOLD which first appeared in the NewCon Press Anthology THE BITTEN WORD.
In 2011 Sam was commissioned by Reeltime Pictures to write a monologue for their talking heads style DOCTOR WHO spin-off, WHITE WITCH OF DEVIL'S END. She was also co-script editor with David J Howe. The six part drama, starring Damaris Hayman, was released on DVD to much critical acclaim in Nov 2017 by Koch Media as part of boxset called THE DAEMONS OF DEVIL'S END. Sam also edited and wrote a story in the novelisation inspired by the drama for Telos Publishing also called THE DAEMONS OF DEVIL'S END.
Other works include official Sherlock Holmes stories for Constable and Robinson and Titan. Sam also wrote a Dorian Gray story for Big Finish’s successful series THE CONFESSIONS OF DORIAN GRAY.
Sam was commissioned by Telos to write several sequels to her hugely successful Steampunk Novella ZOMBIE'S AT TIFFANY'S. The audio rights were subsequently bought by Spokenworld Audio and were made available for download in Halloween 2013. In January 2015 the first novel of her new post-apocalyptic trilogy, JINX TOWN - Book 1˗ THE JINX CHRONICLES, was published by Telos and was been followed by Book 2: JINX MAGIC in 2016. The final part JINX BOUND was published in July 2018.
The rights for Sam’s supernatural thriller, POSING FOR PICASSO were acquired by Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta’s publishing house, Wordfire Press, in 2016. Peter James said that it was ‘A powerful mix of the supernatural and police investigation’.
An eclectic and skilled writer Sam also has a BA (Hons) in English and Writing for Performance and an MA in Creative Writing, which means that she is often invited to talk about writing in schools, colleges and universities in the UK. Sam is also frequently invited to appear as a guest at literary events, conventions and Comic Cons in the UK, USA and Canada.
'A deceptively readable date with darkness – watch your step! This book is lit for the much more discerning chick (and cock) who likes to walk in the shadows. Relax with it, but be prepared for sudden jewels and little masterpieces – and the rug to be pulled from under your feet.’ - TANITH LEE on Killing Kiss.
GENRE AUTHOR.
Award winning genre writer Sam Stone began writing aged 11 after reading her first adult fiction book, The Collector by John Fowles.
Sam's writing has appeared in many anthologies for poetry and prose. Like all good authors she drew on her own knowledge and passions to write her first novel which the Silver Award for Best Horror Novel in ForeWord Magazine's book of the year awards in 2007.
In September 2008 the novel was re-edited and republished by The House of Murky Depths as KILLING KISS. Sequels, FUTILE FLAME and DEMON DANCE went on to become finalists in the same awards for 2009/2010. Both novels were later Shortlisted for The British Fantasy Society Awards for Best Novel and DEMON DANCE won the award for Best Novel in 2011. Sam also won Best Short Fiction for her story FOOL'S GOLD which first appeared in the NewCon Press Anthology THE BITTEN WORD.
In 2011 Sam was commissioned by Reeltime Pictures to write a monologue for their talking heads style DOCTOR WHO spin-off, WHITE WITCH OF DEVIL'S END. She was also co-script editor with David J Howe. The six part drama, starring Damaris Hayman, was released on DVD to much critical acclaim in Nov 2017 by Koch Media as part of boxset called THE DAEMONS OF DEVIL'S END. Sam also edited and wrote a story in the novelisation inspired by the drama for Telos Publishing also called THE DAEMONS OF DEVIL'S END.
Other works include official Sherlock Holmes stories for Constable and Robinson and Titan. Sam also wrote a Dorian Gray story for Big Finish’s successful series THE CONFESSIONS OF DORIAN GRAY.
Sam was commissioned by Telos to write several sequels to her hugely successful Steampunk Novella ZOMBIE'S AT TIFFANY'S. The audio rights were subsequently bought by Spokenworld Audio and were made available for download in Halloween 2013. In January 2015 the first novel of her new post-apocalyptic trilogy, JINX TOWN - Book 1˗ THE JINX CHRONICLES, was published by Telos and was been followed by Book 2: JINX MAGIC in 2016. The final part JINX BOUND was published in July 2018.
The rights for Sam’s supernatural thriller, POSING FOR PICASSO were acquired by Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta’s publishing house, Wordfire Press, in 2016. Peter James said that it was ‘A powerful mix of the supernatural and police investigation’.
An eclectic and skilled writer Sam also has a BA (Hons) in English and Writing for Performance and an MA in Creative Writing, which means that she is often invited to talk about writing in schools, colleges and universities in the UK. Sam is also frequently invited to appear as a guest at literary events, conventions and Comic Cons in the UK, USA and Canada.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 19, 2018
First off I just want to say that I think that cover is absolutely stunning and it fits so perfectly with the story. It’s a really intriguing cover and it’s definitely what first drew me to this book. I just loved how there’s pieces of her missing and the smoke/light coming out of her. It really does give me supernatural vibes. Such an awesome cover!
I loved how this book was supernatural, crime thriller and urban fantasy all rolled into one! I love these genres so having them all in one book was awesome! I’m curious to know how the author came up with the idea for this story because I really loved it. It’s definitely a unique and interesting plot. The models of a painter being targeted and gruesomely murdered? A dangerous supernatural creature wanting to return? Yes, please!
Honestly the author did a fantastic job with the plot, it was very compelling all the way through and I struggled to put this book down. I liked the characters, they were well fleshed out and had strong personalities. It was easy to get behind them or want to know more about them. I really liked Detective Chandler, he had a tragic backstory and I liked how there was a lot of focus on that. I appreciated that the author took time to explain his past and how that affected him currently. It just reminded me that he was human and was part of the mundane world rather than the supernatural like some of the other characters.
The plot was very fast paced and I loved that! Usually I find with crime thrillers after someone dies or a body is found the plot stalls for a little bit and it gets quite boring. But there was a sense of urgency with this and everyone was coming together trying to figure out why these girls were dying and racing to save the next girl. As soon as one girl died, another girl was chosen and all of their deaths were different than the last so I spent ages trying to figure out why! Never would have guessed that by the way, I did not have a clue.
It was interesting seeing what the connection was to Pablo Picasso and I liked his diary entries that were scattered throughout. It felt like I was being given a piece of the puzzle but I still didn’t manage to solve it! The author did explain the connection to Picasso at various intervals which was awesome and I loved how she kept going back to it!
The one thing that I found disappointing was that not even halfway through the book I guessed who the killer was. Obviously the author didn’t mean to make it so obvious (at least I hope not!) but I just immediately knew and so the ending was not a “big reveal” or a surprise to me. I’m sad that I was expecting it but it was still a good ending, it just might have been better if I hadn’t guessed it very early on!
However, while I did guess who the killer was I did not know their motive and I didn’t actually guess that! It was interesting finding out why they were killing the models and that’s really where the plot got creative and the supernatural was in its element. I was pleased with the ending, I think everything was wrapped up nicely.
Despite guessing who the killer was, I did really enjoy this! It was very enthralling and there was still a lot that I didn’t manage to guess. I actually had to rely on the author to explain some things to me and she did a great job with that! It was easy to understand a lot of the supernatural parts regarding some of the characters once it was all explained. I didn’t feel lost at any point so that’s good! I hope she decides to write another supernatural/crime thriller book in the future, I’d definitely be interested!
A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book for review!
I loved how this book was supernatural, crime thriller and urban fantasy all rolled into one! I love these genres so having them all in one book was awesome! I’m curious to know how the author came up with the idea for this story because I really loved it. It’s definitely a unique and interesting plot. The models of a painter being targeted and gruesomely murdered? A dangerous supernatural creature wanting to return? Yes, please!
Honestly the author did a fantastic job with the plot, it was very compelling all the way through and I struggled to put this book down. I liked the characters, they were well fleshed out and had strong personalities. It was easy to get behind them or want to know more about them. I really liked Detective Chandler, he had a tragic backstory and I liked how there was a lot of focus on that. I appreciated that the author took time to explain his past and how that affected him currently. It just reminded me that he was human and was part of the mundane world rather than the supernatural like some of the other characters.
The plot was very fast paced and I loved that! Usually I find with crime thrillers after someone dies or a body is found the plot stalls for a little bit and it gets quite boring. But there was a sense of urgency with this and everyone was coming together trying to figure out why these girls were dying and racing to save the next girl. As soon as one girl died, another girl was chosen and all of their deaths were different than the last so I spent ages trying to figure out why! Never would have guessed that by the way, I did not have a clue.
It was interesting seeing what the connection was to Pablo Picasso and I liked his diary entries that were scattered throughout. It felt like I was being given a piece of the puzzle but I still didn’t manage to solve it! The author did explain the connection to Picasso at various intervals which was awesome and I loved how she kept going back to it!
The one thing that I found disappointing was that not even halfway through the book I guessed who the killer was. Obviously the author didn’t mean to make it so obvious (at least I hope not!) but I just immediately knew and so the ending was not a “big reveal” or a surprise to me. I’m sad that I was expecting it but it was still a good ending, it just might have been better if I hadn’t guessed it very early on!
However, while I did guess who the killer was I did not know their motive and I didn’t actually guess that! It was interesting finding out why they were killing the models and that’s really where the plot got creative and the supernatural was in its element. I was pleased with the ending, I think everything was wrapped up nicely.
Despite guessing who the killer was, I did really enjoy this! It was very enthralling and there was still a lot that I didn’t manage to guess. I actually had to rely on the author to explain some things to me and she did a great job with that! It was easy to understand a lot of the supernatural parts regarding some of the characters once it was all explained. I didn’t feel lost at any point so that’s good! I hope she decides to write another supernatural/crime thriller book in the future, I’d definitely be interested!
A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book for review!
September 15, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this novel at first, as it’s an unusual cross-over between supernatural fiction and a detective story, but it quickly drew me in, and the twists and turns in the plot keep me guessing and intrigued all the way through. A splendid work of imagination. Imaginative and Intriguing!
February 3, 2018
Pablo Picasso once said: ‘Every now and then one paints a picture that seems to have opened a door and serves as a stepping stone to other things.'
Sam Stone’s gripping novel ‘Posing for Picasso’ is something of a departure for the author and feels like a positive step to other, exciting possibilities. The novel’s energy is located is Stone’s innovative fusion of myth, body horror, the supernatural and crime. The result is a central conceit that is highly imaginative and compelling.
This is an exiting, sexy and at times chilling novel and I’m looking forward to reading more in this vein from Stone.
Sam Stone’s gripping novel ‘Posing for Picasso’ is something of a departure for the author and feels like a positive step to other, exciting possibilities. The novel’s energy is located is Stone’s innovative fusion of myth, body horror, the supernatural and crime. The result is a central conceit that is highly imaginative and compelling.
This is an exiting, sexy and at times chilling novel and I’m looking forward to reading more in this vein from Stone.
August 20, 2018
Stone’s first attempt at a mystery novel leaves me saying, “Play it again, Sam”! A supernatural whodunnit with a bit of art history, and some blush worthy sex scenes thrown in for good measure. Interspersed with true clues and false leads, keeps you guessing up until the very end. Job well done!
January 6, 2019
The book seems relatively ordinary at first; the only strangeness is that somehow a person apparently got into Juniper’s apartment and killed Annabel without leaving any trace. As we go through the motions with lawyers and interrogations and gallery openings I wasn’t yet wholly drawn in. Once things start to pick up, however, and we get into the paranormal meat of the story, I became spellbound. There’s a mysterious creature ‘stealing’ parts of women in order to renew itself. And it isn’t the only unusual being out there. Eventually we end up with four major suspects, and the author keeps us guessing right up until the end. Even then she manages to slip some surprises into the narrative that I totally wasn’t expecting. I’m deliberately avoiding talking about the supernatural beings because they’re unveiled so nicely within the narrative that I don’t want to deny you that pleasure if you plan to read the book yourself.
The characters are fantastic and have a surprising amount of depth despite the fact that they each seem a little one-note when they’re first introduced. Juniper seems like the stereotype of the womanizing, charming artist, but he turns out to have a certain lovely naivete and trustingness to him. Cassandra seems like the typical hard-ass lawyer at first, but she comes to develop her own feelings for Juniper. Lauren and Jake make an interesting couple, and each of them is experimenting with getting back into the dating game. Gemma seems like the most straightforward, unfeeling character of them, but if anything she turns out to have some of the most depth.
This is a wonderful thriller, has some delightful horror to it, and has some fantastic paranormal world-building within its pages as well. If you enjoy any of the above, I think you’ll enjoy this book! (Note: explicit sex contained therein.)
Consider my rating a 4.5
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/01/r...
The characters are fantastic and have a surprising amount of depth despite the fact that they each seem a little one-note when they’re first introduced. Juniper seems like the stereotype of the womanizing, charming artist, but he turns out to have a certain lovely naivete and trustingness to him. Cassandra seems like the typical hard-ass lawyer at first, but she comes to develop her own feelings for Juniper. Lauren and Jake make an interesting couple, and each of them is experimenting with getting back into the dating game. Gemma seems like the most straightforward, unfeeling character of them, but if anything she turns out to have some of the most depth.
This is a wonderful thriller, has some delightful horror to it, and has some fantastic paranormal world-building within its pages as well. If you enjoy any of the above, I think you’ll enjoy this book! (Note: explicit sex contained therein.)
Consider my rating a 4.5
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/01/r...
September 24, 2019
What a masterpiece!
I love Sam's books, and this does not fail to live up to my expectations, and indeed exceed them. From the first introductory paragraph, to the final sentence, I was gripped. I was drawn into the world of Picasso/Avgustin and didn't want to leave.
A fabulous storyline, combining all my favourite genres; crime, fantasy, supernatural, thriller. The development of the drama as the story unfolds; its' twists, turns, surprises keep you turning the page eager for more. Growing to love the characters and supporting them through the storyline. A real rollercoaster of emotions.
Sam Stone is a true mistress of suspense.
5 Stars *****
10/10
PERFECT! Highly recommended
I love Sam's books, and this does not fail to live up to my expectations, and indeed exceed them. From the first introductory paragraph, to the final sentence, I was gripped. I was drawn into the world of Picasso/Avgustin and didn't want to leave.
A fabulous storyline, combining all my favourite genres; crime, fantasy, supernatural, thriller. The development of the drama as the story unfolds; its' twists, turns, surprises keep you turning the page eager for more. Growing to love the characters and supporting them through the storyline. A real rollercoaster of emotions.
Sam Stone is a true mistress of suspense.
5 Stars *****
10/10
PERFECT! Highly recommended
November 6, 2019
It's not often I read through the night, but when I truly am absorbed with every facet of the story, I can't help myself. Sam Stone does a fantastic job of setting the scene and bringing the reader through the story.
With many detective novels they try to make sure that the reader can put it together too (ie they arent 'solving' based on information not included in the narrative), however most are done poorly and are too obvious, even with twists. Well written detective novels are ones that you want to go back and read again to see all the layers of the story. This is one such story.
With many detective novels they try to make sure that the reader can put it together too (ie they arent 'solving' based on information not included in the narrative), however most are done poorly and are too obvious, even with twists. Well written detective novels are ones that you want to go back and read again to see all the layers of the story. This is one such story.
August 4, 2023
A brilliant thriller, with a touch of the supernatural mixed in. When you think of past figures from history trying to return with murder involved, I doubt Picasso is the first person who would spring to mind. I love how unique the premise is - an artist accidentally mixed up in murder, a tense investigation in a race to find the killer, and...Pablo Picasso trying to return from the grave. I enjoyed Stone's writing style, and enjoyed getting to know Chandler and Juniper. I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you're looking for a new author to try out, and love thrillers, then you should definitely grab this one!
March 19, 2023
A passionate Artist finds his inspiration, but does he have control of what he is painting or is someone, or something else, driving him to do so? Crimes start happening to those he paints. Is he responsible?
Having to ’piece’ together who is causing these crimes could keep you guessing till the end. I found it creepy, which is right up my alley. lol.
Having to ’piece’ together who is causing these crimes could keep you guessing till the end. I found it creepy, which is right up my alley. lol.
August 13, 2019
I loved that this mystery had some historical aspects as well, it really added to the story. Overall I really enjoyed the book and had a good time reading it.
September 12, 2019
Posing for Picasso has a original storyline with some violent sex just thrown in. The characters are interesting and the storyline was interesting.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews