Mirror

by Joseph Geary

Curator of the Modern Art Museum in New York, Ellen Lindz is troubled by the appearance of a stranger. An old man with an innocent question. He is curious about the dimensions of a painting. The last major work by the martyr-suicide Franklin Koenig before his spectacular self-immolation in 1958, MIRROR only recently showed up in New York where it sold for USD23 the highest price ever paid for a piece of post-war art. The seller, Linda Carey, was Koenig's lover in his last tortured months. The buyer was the Modern Art Museum. Prompted by the stranger's doubts, Ellen asks questions of her own and discovers a doctored catalogue which puts the painting's authenticity in doubt - and her own reputation on the line. Determined to clear her name, Ellen sets out to uncover the truth about MIRROR. Only one person will have the answers. But, in going after Linda Carey, who disappeared into thin air after the MIRROR sale, Ellen makes a shocking discovery. What is the truth behind the layers of lies? Who is the stranger asking questions? Why did Koenig set fire to himself and most of his work all those years ago? The answers lie in the past, in the cultural cold war of 1950s America - and a secret that could blow apart the multi-billion dollar art market. A secret that someone will kill to keep.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is what shines here, as the writing is neither the best or worst out there and the characters are adequate, with relationships that don't always make sense. "The first time Jay had touched her was at [her father's] funeral. She was seventeen years old. But for a long time now he'd been more of an uncle." Yeah, no. Still, it was entertaining and if it hasn't been made into a movie, it easily could be. Or a better writer, with a better understanding of human behavior and human relationships could set the plot in a different time and place and have something really wonderful.