A Dangerous Talent

Alix London #1

by Charlotte Elkins, Aaron Elkins

Alix London has a promising career as an art consultant, a sumptuous condo in Seattle’s toniest neighborhood, a gorgeous figure, and a presence that exudes Ivy League breeding and old money. She has it all…or does she? Only Alix knows that the image she presents to the world is a carefully constructed mirage that veils an embarrassing truth. A brilliant, once-promising art student, the daughter of a prominent New York art conservator, her world was left in ruins when her father went to prison for art forgery. Now a Harvard dropout with an emptied bank account, she is languishing in a career that has produced little more than a lucky house-sitting gig. But all of that changes when Alix meets Christine Lemay, a novice art collector with money to burn and a hot tip on a recently discovered painting by American master Georgia O’Keeffe. Chris hires Alix to perform the authentication, an assignment that finally could launch Alix into the big leagues. But soon after her arrival in Santa Fe, she finds herself tangled up in a web of forgery, deceit—and murder. Anxious to avoid becoming the next victim, she teams up with FBI Special Agent Ted Ellesworth—and gets a little unlikely help from her roguish father—to uncover the truth behind the painting and those who would kill to have it. Sharp, witty, and devilishly fun, A Dangerous Talent offers an insider’s look into the surprisingly treacherous contemporary art world.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Art, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Audiobook

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 2012

About the author

Charlotte Elkins (born July 4, 1948) is an American author who teamed with her husband, writer Aaron Elkins, to write a series of mystery novels about Lee Ofsted, a struggling female professional golfer.

Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Aaron Elkins)

Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic

Reviews

[Matt Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book. My main problem with it was the stilted writing. It felt amateurish. I had a hard time imagining a person saying things the way these people said things. And everything was explained in detail. If there was ever innuendo in the dialogue, the person would have to explain it out in detail - I guess to make sure the reader understood exactly what they meant?

While the story kept me interested, it really didn't have a lot of surprises and there wasn't a lot of tension.

Overall, it was just average. I didn't feel as though I had wasted my time reading the book, but I also didn't love every minute of reading the book.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dangerous Talent by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins is the first book in the Alix London Mystery series. Alix London is trying to overcome the stigma of her fathers art forgery conviction and sets herself up as an art restorer and consultant. She is hired by a wealthy novice art collector to authenticate a recently discovered painting by American master Georgia O'Keeffe, only to find the gallery owner murdered and her own life in jeopardy. I enjoyed this book very much. Alix is a capable, intelligent and likeable character and we learn about the interesting world of art forgery and fraud. An engaging and enjoyable mystery and I'm looking forward to continuing with the series.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Alix London series, and the first Charlotte and Aaron Elkins book that I have read. I enjoyed this, but there were a lot of things going on at the end and I was a little confused as to who did what. Still, it was good and I'll probably read more in this series and maybe try some other Elkins' series.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I enjoyed the series by Aaron Elkins featuring the skeleton detective, I am happy to report that this first book in the Alix London series was a pleasant visit to the world of art forgery in the environs of New Mexico with a visit to Ghost Ranch of O'Keefe fame. Our main character Alix has had a lot to overcome with her father's reputation in art fraud, but she manages to figure out who is behind the shenanigans resulting in murder and attempted murders before she becomes the latest victim. With this success she has been invited to join the art squad working for the FBI. I look forward to following her adventures in subsequent books.
Charlotte Elkins, wife of Aaron, may have had a little help from him with this series.


Kinidle Unlimited

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022 bk 255. I'm not sure how I overlooked this series - I have most of the other books written by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins. But sometimes you become glad you missed it earlier so that it becomes a delight in the now. An art restorer/consultant is hired to authenticate a Georgia O'Keefe painting - but things turn ugly quickly. Her family background doesn't help matters when the FBI steps in. Well done, well researched title that I thorougly enjoyed.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still debating how I feel about this book. It was okay in parts, good in parts and ehhh in other areas.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dangerous Talent by Charlotte & Aaron Elkins
Alix London Series Book #1
4 stars

Alix London has a promising career as an art consultant, a sumptuous condo in Seattle’s toniest neighborhood, a gorgeous figure, and a presence that exudes Ivy League breeding and old money. She has it all…or does she? Only Alix knows that the image she presents to the world is a carefully constructed mirage that veils an embarrassing truth. A brilliant, once-promising art student, the daughter of a prominent New York art conservator, her world was left in ruins when her father went to prison for art forgery. Now a Harvard dropout with an emptied bank account, she is languishing in a career that has produced little more than a lucky house-sitting gig. But all of that changes when Alix meets Christine Lemay, a novice art collector with money to burn and a hot tip on a recently discovered painting by American master Georgia O’Keeffe. Chris hires Alix to perform the authentication, an assignment that finally could launch Alix into the big leagues. But soon after her arrival in Santa Fe, she finds herself tangled up in a web of forgery, deceit—and murder. Anxious to avoid becoming the next victim, she teams up with FBI Special Agent Ted Ellesworth—and gets a little unlikely help from her roguish father—to uncover the truth behind the painting and those who would kill to have it. Sharp, witty, and devilishly fun,

The art world is a complete mystery to me. I could no more tell you what the philosophy is behind an artists work than I could build a rocket...so this mystery about the art world was a good and challenging read for me. I found the book to generally be an easy reading mystery but was not as challenging or tightly written as the mysteries I normally read. The character of Alix London was intelligent and very likable but I was weary of the F.B.I. agent at first. He constantly insisted that Alix was a prime suspect in the murder of an art gallery owner and is probably a forger herself in spite of the fact there was not one shred of evidence to support this assumption. Of course they dislike and distrust each other because they are actually attracted to each other: a bit too much romance for me. The identity of the murderer becomes obvious early in the book, It would have been better if that had been reserved for later...but overall it was a very worthwhile read.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dangerous Talent byAaron Elkins is a pleasant read. Alex London, Seattle-based art expert is still reeling from that her adored father, famous and successful art expert Geoffrey London is a criminal. His art crimes unveiled by the FBI, Geoffrey is now released from jail but Alix is not ready to see him. Meanwhile, she's busy creating a career as an art "consultant." Her first job brings her to New Mexico and the art capitol of Santa Fe. but when the murders begin, starting with the nearly successful attempt on Alix, the question of a possible Georgia.O'Keefe forgery becomes a matter of life or death.

The story reads smoothly and Alix is an engaging heroine. But the best for me was the strong depiction of New Mexico, the life, history, and geography.

I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, A Cruise to Die for. In addition to checking in on Alix, I get to go to another favorite place I dream about: Italy. This series is my vacation in an armchair favorite!

[Julia DeBarrioz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great fun, I really enjoyed it. I have to admit I went into this expecting not to like Alix. Poor little rich girl who lost everything boo hoo and all that. Almost immediately I was proved wrong, and by the end I really adored her, her father, and her friend Chris.

Also add in that it deals with painting, O'Keefe, and the Sante Fe art scene, and that's basically three of my favorite things thrown into one fun murder mystery.

I have to say that I appreciated the author really seems to understand painting? There's nothing more annoying than trying to read about an art form you hold dear, written by someone who knows nothing about it or has unrealistic ideas about it, but Elkins really gets it and it shows through the writing.

I also cackled at the way the author skewers the pretensions of the art world. It is never advisable to put art made of perishable materials on your wall indeed. Philistines. XD

The audio version is pure gold.

-----

Update: 2nd read: I loved it even more than the first time. So good! I've got to read more of this series.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good little mystery--quick and entertaining. I liked the setting of Santa Fe and the art scene and the emphasis on Georgia O'Keeffe's work. The main character Alix London is an art restorer and consultant as well as escaping the pain and notoriety of being the daughter of an infamous art forger and I like the father-daughter dynamics. I'd give the next one in the series a try when it comes out.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good first in series. The characters are likeable, and the background of art restoration and forged paintings is slightly different.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description: Alix London is restoring a valuable painting and is thankful for the job. The daughter of a convicted art forger, once a notable art conservator, she is trying to make it in the art world with the baggage left by her father. A chance meeting with a newly rich art collector lands her a job to authenticate an undiscovered Georgia O’Keefe painting. Alix finds herself in New Mexico. What she doesn’t expect is that her talent becomes dangerous — even to the point of death. Hers!

Review: Georgia O’Keefe art fans will surely enjoy A Dangerous Talent by the Elkins husband & wife team. This book is also a must-read first for the next three books in the series. The reader needs to know how Alix got to where she is in those books; the path certainly wasn’t an easy one.

Alix calls her father Geoff, not Dad or Daddy, and began to do so long before his art forgery was discovered. Their relationship is strained. He calls her; she doesn’t call him. Most of the art world expects her to change her name; she doesn’t. Determined to carve her own path in the world of art, she doggedly moves forward — even if it does seem to be one inch at a time.

Then the tall & statuesque Chris LeMay enters the picture. Chris, who has tons of money, has a friend in Taos, New Mexico with an undiscovered painting by non-other than famed American painter, Georgia O’Keefe. AND she wants Alix to authenticate it AND Chris is picking up the tab for everything.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg regarding this story. Twists and sub-plots are there for the reader to enjoy and solve. The pacing of the book is quite good. When I personally thought the story might be starting to drag, I’d soon discovered it was adding another puzzlement to the equation.

Things get hairy for our Alix — and anyone who happens to be with her at the time. Quite an enjoyable mystery. Plus I learned more about Georgia O’Keefe, an added bonus. Rating: 4.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars

#ADangerousTalent #CharlotteAndAaronElkins #KindleUnlimited
Title: A Dangerous Talent
Series: An Alix London Mystery, #1
Author: Charlotte and Aaron Elkins
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Format: Kindle (read), free audible from Kindle Unlimited, Audible
Pages: 271
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Cover: Strongly projects that story will take place in the southwest U.S.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alix London is trying to build a career as an art restorer and as an art consultant, nine years after her father, Jeffrey London, once a noted art restorer, was convicted of art forgery. She's on the coolest of terms with her father, now out and in the art importing business, who nevertheless persists in trying to maintain contact with her.

Then one day she's approached for a job that could be the true start of her consulting career. A woman just beginning in collecting art wants Alix to evaluate a Georgia O'Keeffe painting she has been offered. Soon she's on a chartered plane from Seattle to Santa Fe.

In a matter of days, she's survived a murder attempt, thwarted the theft of the painting, and met a handsome but provoking and, in her opinion, highly suspect art dealer from Boston.

Oh, and she's being described in news reports as the daughter of the notorious Jeffrey London, which isn't going to do her art consulting career any good.

And this is all just the start.

It's fast-paced, exciting, and definitely meets some interesting characters along the way--both new friends and new enemies.

Most of them prove to be a lot more cmplicated than they seem on first impressions.

It's a lot of fun. Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars // I agree with other reviewers that this book often has too much detail and overexplaining. I caught myself doing the hand rolling "get on with it" motion more than once.

The story itself wasn't bad. It wasn't great, and it won't even crack a top 100 list, but it was fine and kept me captivated all the way to the end.

Briefly, "art expert" Alix London lands her first client, who needs London to authenticate a painting. There isn't enough time to go through the usual authentication process (lab tests), so London has to rely on other fact-finding methods, such as checking media archives.

London's sleuthing leads her to believe the painting is a fake, especially when someone tries to kill her. This leads into a mystery of "what is really going on" and "who is involved here?" It's a surprise who was behind it and why, but it's not a shocking or necessarily satisfying reveal. You're content that there is a resolution by the end.

Throughout this process (it happens over a few days) you meet other characters in London's life and you come to know her background (and theirs). You can tell it's all a setup for future books in a series.

The story ends with London becoming an art consultant for the FBI. There was also a spark of romance between London and another FBI agent at the very end, so I imagine future books in the series will have that balance of case vs. progression of London's personal life, which will be nice.

If you like art and "mysteries" that are wrapped up in chicklit, this would be a good series for you.

[Jane Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A low-slung Lamborghini, a semi on the wrong side of the curvy, narrow New Mexican mountain road—will Alix London and Christine LeMay avoid being forced off the road and down a cliff? What has this to do with a possible art forgery?

The story moved along at a good pace and kept me guessing. But, I found the mastermind behind the mystery to be a let-down. Overall, I enjoyed this read and will move on to A Cruise to Die For, the next installment in the series.

See my full review, www.janecairns.com.

[Jennifer S. Alderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent art mystery! I really like Alix London and her notorious, yet lovable, family. This is a well-built mystery set in a gorgeous location about an artist I admire - what is not to love?

[Kristina Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Good mystery, even if at times somewhat predictable. I loved the characters too. I am excited to jump into a new series.

[Ladyhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the same vein as Aaron Elkin's Oliver Gideon series, these fab mysteries take the reader to remote, yet famous locals with rich history! Book 1 visits Ghost Ranch New Mexico and the robust Santa Fe art scene for the sake of a painting by the famous Georgia O'Keeffe. Book 2 finds Alix, our Art Consultant, on a coveted trip to Greece aboard a luxury yacht.

About to begin book 3. Sad there are only 4 books in this series!

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your basic good murder mystery. Not too gory. A good, absorbing escape. Likable characters, interesting setting, plausible plot.

[Donna LaValley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is number 1 of a series starring Alix London, a skilled restorer of old paintings who is breaking into the better-paid role of “art consultant” to wealthy patrons. She has what’s known as a “connoisseur’s eye” meaning she can spot a fake with something like intuition, and only later can innumerate the reasons why she knows. (this is a real thing called “rapid cognition” –see Blink by Malcolm Gladwell- we do it with people all the time, don’t we?)

Anyway, Alix’s father was a renown, respected art restorer too, until he began making fabulous forgeries and then got caught and went to prison. He’s out now, and the relationship is iffy. People sizing up Alix assume she might be shady too.

Alix is flown to New Mexico to assess a Georgia O’Keefe painting for a possible buyer. The reader enjoys descriptions of the towns, resorts, countryside, and art galleries there. The characters are fine (nothing too wonderful) in fact my favorite character is her father, and then his post-felon friends. Alix is maybe laced up a bit too tight, trying to hold herself above suspicion in anything. She’s aloof but the authors give her a good appetite to make up for it.

Murders happen, there is suspense, action, a whiff of romance, and interesting info about Georgia O’Keefe and the art of forgery. The book is well done! I like the series and plan to read them all!

[HoopoeGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery isn't usually my genre, but art history is. Alix's art restoration profession and the plot centering around a forgery is what sold me on giving this mystery book a try. I'm glad I did because the coverage of the art world, and the black market world behind it, was very well presented. Elkins clearly did her research and I loved the twist around Alix's legitimacy being overshadowed by her father's illegal past. Especially once she starts to understand what led him down that path.

The mystery itself was good, but it was really the art narrative that kept me going. Alix is a spunky, independent protagonist, and one I'd like to keep reading to see how she deals with creating a name for herself in the art community. Kudos to Elkins for creating a mystery world that a non-mystery reader wants to continue to discover. The book wasn't quite a 4-star, but not really as low as a 3-star either. Wish we had the half star options so I could better represent it here with a 3.5-star rating.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spunky female art historian solving a mystery? Part Indiana Jones, part The Librarians? Count me in!

I thoroughly enjoyed A Dangerous Talent, and Alix was a great protagonist. I could've lived without the contrived romance with FBI agent Ted, but overall the art history focus and Alix's intelligence has made me a fan. I'm all for the next adventure.

[Imjussayin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dangerous Talent: Alix London
Chronological order recommended.

In A Nutshell: Alix London is an art consultant standing in the shadows of her art forger father. Her career looks to be taking off when she meets the very wealthy Christine Lemay. But their journey to Santa Fe ends in murder and mayhem and a threat to Alix's life. If Alix is to understand the chaos around her, she needs her father's help, and that could muddy her clean waters. A genuinely interesting easy to read story that captures the pretensions of the art world and the vagaries of life.

The Plot:Alix London is trying to get back on her feet but find herself in an artworld web of lies and deceit, topped off with murder. So Alix finds herself in the unenviable position of having to prove her innocence.

The Protagonist(s):Alix is a poor little rich girl. Her father was caught and convicted of forgery. And her life of luxury evaporated along with his imprisonment. Alix chose to drop out of Harvard but is trying to reinvent herself as an art consultant to wealthy patrons. Alix comes over as resentful and unforgiving, which is an unusual place for a protagonist.

I like Alix she has a fire in her belly and is determined to use her artistic gifts to make a comfortable living. But I don't understand her resentment toward her father. It certainly got my passions going.

The supporting cast is a provocative mix. Alix's new client friend Christine Lemay, a novice art collector, is a lovely person. She is a wonderfully effusive woman and a good contrast with the conservative Alix. But the author's description is unflattering and disappointing. Christine is 6' 2" and made out to be awkward and unattractive because of that and her curvy body. Christine enjoys eating so there is also a tacit message about food and weight. Rather cheap shots at women. Ted the FBI agent (who is destined to be the love interest) is ramped up. However, around chapter 17 the dialogue with Ted becomes unrealistic overbearing and far-fetched. But I all round loved Alix's dad, Jeffrey London, and wished he had a more significant part in the story. Jeffrey, once a noted art restorer, is a warm gentleman with a great mind.

I like the way the background story unfolds. The art world is well developed and convincing. The husband and wife author team seem to know their way around art. The murder is not too taxing though aspects of the plot seem far-fetched. And although there is nothing gory in the story, I would not label it as a cosy. But the romances are sufficiently dull to qualify for one.

It's an enjoyable modern art mystery that will keep your attention, with a mix blend of friends and enemies, a trendy art scene, and murder. Readers of Juliet Blackwell's Art Lover's mystery may along with fans of light mysteries should enjoy this book.

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Book Rating
Sexual Content: u
Language: u
Violent: u
Would I read the next one or reread ?: Yes

My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1*Finished the book but didn't like it not fulfilled
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.

[Gail Sacharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I try to read everything Aaron Elkins writes, especially his Gideon Oliver series, I haven't read his collaborations with his wife, Charlotte, as arduosly. I did read most of their other series together about golfer, Lee Ofsted, who gets involved in mysterious happenings &, though it was interesting, it wasn't my cup of tea. So I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this series he wrote with Charlotte about Alix London, art consultant. But, since I very much prefer art to golf as an interest, I really enjoyed this one & will read more in this series. Alix is trying to get her life together & get her art consulting business off the ground. Broke, due to the fact her artist father was arrested for art forgery, sentenced to prison, & just finished serving his sentence & she secretly made over her college tuition money to him to help him get back on his feet, she still harbors animosity & embarrassment for his bad behavior. Carrying the London name into the art world after his notoriety has not helped her reputation. Finally, she's grabbed at the chance to do a consultation for new-wealth businesswoman Chris LeMay which involves them flying to Santa Fe to view a newfound O'Keeffe that Chris has contracted to buy for $3 million if Alix gives her the go-ahead after her inspection. The picture is at the gallery of Chris's oldest friend & ex-IT startup partner, Liz, who has spent her money freely on her gallery, art, toy boys, & booze. Not impressed with Liz's blowzy looks, loud manner, & inebriation when she picks them up at the airport, Alix is shaken, & nearly blown away, when the private casita Chris booked for her at the hotel explodes from a gas leak. Later, at Liz's gallery show, Alix becomes suspicious when Liz seems surprised to see her arrive in one piece. The suspicions are raised higher when Alix thinks the O'Keeffe may be a fake. Could Liz be trying to pull a fast one on her old friend Chris & could she have had anything to do with the explosion that nearly took Alix out? And who's the annoying, phony-Boston-accented (but good-looking) guy hanging around Liz & the gallery? Is he mixed up in this possible scam, too? This art consulting is turning out to be a lot tougher--& more dangerous__ than she could have imagined. This was a good & fun adventure with likeable characters, lots of interesting art history info, & plenty of action & a little romance to keep the pages turning.

[Jasmyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dangerous Talent was a really fun read. I won't vouch for the accuracy of the artistic facts, I'm not an expert in that area. However, the main character, Alix London, is. Alix has an interesting history in the art world, and it's a history that doesn't really help her reputation. With a father convicted for forgery, she's had a hard time finding clients that will trust her.



But she does have a few, and the newest one, Christine Lemay, has decided she just must have a Georgia O'Keefe. And so begins Alix's first trip into mystery and mayhem. Chris and Alix are a great team. Chris is the loud and wonderfully outrageous woman that doesn't care what anyone thinks, and is a nice balance to Alix's much more conservative nature.



A simple trip to view and authenticate Chris's painting turns out to involve a dead body, an explosion, and an FBI agent. With a great mix of mystery and action, and maybe the beginnings of something with a certain hunky guy. This may not top the list of all-time favorites, but A Dangerous Talent was something I was very happy to stumble upon.

[Emma Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. Liked It and was drawn to the book immediately. A lot of reviews said that people guessed who the murderer or the culperat was very early in the book, but I certainly wasn't sure till the end. It could of been a number of people but as 2 people died, one of the people I thought It could of been wasn't the main culperat in the murder. I had liked Alex London, the woman who played the part of the art connoisseur for Chris LeMay, and that is how Alex gets wrapped up in this whole murder mystery. This was an easy read and very easy to understand and delve into as It doesn't deal with art in a deep sense and to read about art is interesting even though I have no real interest in art history or in the arts but It was enough to just hold my attention! The ending was also good and makes you wonder what Alex London will get involved with now as the police have asked her to get involved on certain parts of their cases again!! Definitely a good book for people who enjoy a good mystery and murder solving.

[Diane Rapport · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alix London is building back her once promising art career. Her reputation was ruined when her father went to prison for a series of art forgeries. Now Alix is finally beginning to feel she’s making progress. She got a new client, and the two of them are off to New Mexico to potentially purchase a Georgia O’Keefe painting. But is anything ever really that simple? There’s the drunk art dealer with a “thing” for young artists, a well dressed man hanging around - well, everywhere - sporting a blatantly fake Baah-stan accent.. then there’s the explosion, the murder….well it’s a hectic couple of days. And of course, Alix’s father is out of prison, and he’s ready and willing to help his daughter - not that she’s interested in seeing him at all.

Great insight into a portion of the art world. The beauties of New Mexico are now on my travel bucket list thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions. An interesting plot that leads you all around the mulberry bush, and enough personality to set me up for volume two. A fast, fun way to spend a weekend!

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was a pleasant read and it was clear that the authors had done their "homework" in writing it. The repair of the painting in the opening and the geography and details of Santa Fe, Taos, and the Ghost Ranch seemed plausible.

The book reminded me of a bit of Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon character in that he comes from a family with a strong painter/art background and he's an art restorer but then the two novel series depart. While Gabriel is a member of the Israeli Intelligence agency, Alix London is just starting out and the background she brings with her comes from her father's prison time for art forging. I do like that by the end of the novel, she's invited to consult for the FBI's Art Squad with some additional perks.

I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series. Oh, and the Kindle editions are affordable.

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't want to fully rag on this because I did manage to finish it but ....this was really bad. The writing was ridiculously amateurish for a duo that's written dozens of books before this....this bordered on feeling like low-tier YA at times. Beyond cringey dialogue, bizarre pacing, and unnecessary plot devices (why did we get a whole sub-plot about alix's failed marriage, it literally did not advance plot or character development in any way), there were literal MiStAkEs--not plot holes even, actual narrative errors-- in this book. I first thought maybe I got like, a pre-release copy or something. There's a section where a recently deceased character is interviewed about her OWN murder because our authors couldn't keep her name straight from one of our main protagonists. That's when they lost me. This felt like a high schooler's draft of a novel--and that's insulting to high schoolers.