What do you think?
Rate this book
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.
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.
405 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
About the author
Reba White Williams
6 books32 followersReba White Williams was an American author, philanthropist, and expert on fine art prints. As a novelist, her influences include Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. She and her husband, Dave, built the world's largest private collection of American prints; they also founded the Print Research Foundation. She and Dave Williams are also co-creators of the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction.
White Williams was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and grew up in Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. After moving to New York City, she worked as a library assistant/research analyst for McKinsey & Company, vice-president and securities analyst for Mitchell, Hutchins, contributing editor for Institutional Investor magazine, and director of special projects and member of the board of directors at Alliance Capital Management.
White Williams was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and grew up in Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina. After moving to New York City, she worked as a library assistant/research analyst for McKinsey & Company, vice-president and securities analyst for Mitchell, Hutchins, contributing editor for Institutional Investor magazine, and director of special projects and member of the board of directors at Alliance Capital Management.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Want to Read
July 14, 2015Thrilled to have won this! I can't wait to get it and to read it.
June 2, 2013
Restrike by Reba White Williams is the first book in the Coleman and Dinah Greene Mystery series. Telling the story of the Greene cousins who grew up in a poor family, but have turned things around and are both heavily involved in the New York art scene. Dinah runs a small gallery specializing in prints while Coleman runs an art magazine featuring East Coast artists.
When a rich man moves into town with plans on opening a print museum both of the Greene women are drawn into the drama that follows him. Bain is buying some very rare prints at auctions for well over the estimated sales value and when one of the sellers winds up dead Coleman begins to look into it for her magazine. She is unable to come up with anything on Bain and has to fight her attraction to him to investigate him honestly.
I was a bit hesitant about this book after seeing the cover (I have an ARC and the cover is slightly different than the one pictured). I actually put off reading this for a timed review until darn near the last minute, as it turns out that didn't end up being a problem. I really enjoyed the book and had fun reading it. Reba did a good job providing a lot of suspects to keep the reader guessing about what is really happening. Each of the characters also has a strong personality and rich backstory.
I can't speak to the realism of the story as I have never been to New York and have absolutely no experience with the kind of art that is discussed. Even without a background in the basis of the story it is easy to enjoy. If you enjoy stories with strong female characters and a good amount of mystery this is a book to check out.
Review copy received from a literary publicity agency.
When a rich man moves into town with plans on opening a print museum both of the Greene women are drawn into the drama that follows him. Bain is buying some very rare prints at auctions for well over the estimated sales value and when one of the sellers winds up dead Coleman begins to look into it for her magazine. She is unable to come up with anything on Bain and has to fight her attraction to him to investigate him honestly.
I was a bit hesitant about this book after seeing the cover (I have an ARC and the cover is slightly different than the one pictured). I actually put off reading this for a timed review until darn near the last minute, as it turns out that didn't end up being a problem. I really enjoyed the book and had fun reading it. Reba did a good job providing a lot of suspects to keep the reader guessing about what is really happening. Each of the characters also has a strong personality and rich backstory.
I can't speak to the realism of the story as I have never been to New York and have absolutely no experience with the kind of art that is discussed. Even without a background in the basis of the story it is easy to enjoy. If you enjoy stories with strong female characters and a good amount of mystery this is a book to check out.
Review copy received from a literary publicity agency.
May 23, 2013
RESTRIKE by Reba White Williams (Coleman & Dinah Greene Mystery #1)
The art world of New York City offers plenty to see and gossip about, especially when a VERY wealthy and attractive man shows up, starting his own print gallery as a history of the medium. The talk of the town generates a lot of buzz-- even more so when evidence shows up that the most recently bought prints were actually stolen, and their provenance a fabrication. Another item turns out to be a restrike -- meaning someone stole the original plates that the artist used to print them, and faked a new print to look like an old one done by the original artist.
If that sounds straightforward, it is because this is just the tip of the iceberg. Grab yourself some push pins, string and a cork board -- you might not be able to follow it all otherwise. There are old grudges, family secrets, competition of different types, at least two murders, and cheating, cheating, and more cheating! It is sure to keep you tuned in until the final pages.
ENDING: Sets up next book nicely, with humor.
TAGS: art, print artworks, restrikes, art magazines, old family secrets, murders, cheating, sex play, Southern, old money, new money, richness, riches, born family, created family.
Permalink: http://martysreads.blogspot.com/2013/...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/...
The art world of New York City offers plenty to see and gossip about, especially when a VERY wealthy and attractive man shows up, starting his own print gallery as a history of the medium. The talk of the town generates a lot of buzz-- even more so when evidence shows up that the most recently bought prints were actually stolen, and their provenance a fabrication. Another item turns out to be a restrike -- meaning someone stole the original plates that the artist used to print them, and faked a new print to look like an old one done by the original artist.
If that sounds straightforward, it is because this is just the tip of the iceberg. Grab yourself some push pins, string and a cork board -- you might not be able to follow it all otherwise. There are old grudges, family secrets, competition of different types, at least two murders, and cheating, cheating, and more cheating! It is sure to keep you tuned in until the final pages.
ENDING: Sets up next book nicely, with humor.
TAGS: art, print artworks, restrikes, art magazines, old family secrets, murders, cheating, sex play, Southern, old money, new money, richness, riches, born family, created family.
Permalink: http://martysreads.blogspot.com/2013/...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/...
February 10, 2013
My review:
Restrike by Reba White Williams was a nice and cozy mystery with a solid plot and interesting characters. I enjoyed how the story developed, the settings and the twists and turns.
Coleman and Dinah are cousins who are both closely connected to the art world. Coleman has an art magazine and Dinah has an art gallery dealing mostly with prints. Coleman is finding out, that somebody from the magazine is selling her articles to a competitor before they even see the print on paper. Coleman is determined to find out who that person is and let the thief to deal with the consequences. Dinah needs to sell lots of prints to save her gallery.
Both Dinah and Coleman are drawn into the world of art forgery, swindle and the body count keep increasing. Nothing is as it seems and the author keeps surprising the reader more than once.
I liked the setting of the art world and how the author developed the story. I truly enjoyed both Coleman and Dinah who were very different, but still closely connected to each other and to the art as well. There were many interesting characters who gave extra spice to the story.
Restrike is a great mystery and I can't wait to read more writing from Reba White Williams! I highly recommend Restrike to mystery lovers!
Restrike by Reba White Williams was a nice and cozy mystery with a solid plot and interesting characters. I enjoyed how the story developed, the settings and the twists and turns.
Coleman and Dinah are cousins who are both closely connected to the art world. Coleman has an art magazine and Dinah has an art gallery dealing mostly with prints. Coleman is finding out, that somebody from the magazine is selling her articles to a competitor before they even see the print on paper. Coleman is determined to find out who that person is and let the thief to deal with the consequences. Dinah needs to sell lots of prints to save her gallery.
Both Dinah and Coleman are drawn into the world of art forgery, swindle and the body count keep increasing. Nothing is as it seems and the author keeps surprising the reader more than once.
I liked the setting of the art world and how the author developed the story. I truly enjoyed both Coleman and Dinah who were very different, but still closely connected to each other and to the art as well. There were many interesting characters who gave extra spice to the story.
Restrike is a great mystery and I can't wait to read more writing from Reba White Williams! I highly recommend Restrike to mystery lovers!
February 15, 2016
Restrike by Reba White Williams bills itself as an art world mystery centered in New York City, and starring the cousins Dinah and Coleman as amateur sleuths. While the book did improve slightly towards the end, overall the first half was a slog of a read, and the plot was convoluted, a bit too convenient, and the mystery seemed to just kind if unravel by chance with very little significant puzzle pieces actually uncovered by the sleuths. Overall the book was written on the typical Romantic novel level, and there was a fair number of grammatical/context errors which were missed by the editor. Only recommended for those who are looking for a fluffy mystery with some thrill, but still a comfortable read. Given 1 star or a "below average rating".
June 26, 2013
Two cousins raised as sisters solve a crime with the help of numerous supporting characters in the art world of NYC. The story, at times, was a bit snooty and pretentious and I caught myself rolling my eyes a few times. Though the cousins were "poor" growing up, somehow they still managed to go to a private high school, Duke and Columbia. That doesn't seem all that poor to me. The dialog was off in a few places and could have been streamlined some to get to the real point. I don't need to read "how are you? I'm fine". A simple "greetings were exchanged" would have been less cumbersome and tedious to read.
June 17, 2013
This was a decent mystery, but I definitely don't get all of the four star reviews. I may or may not read the others that are to come.
August 3, 2020
I won the book Bloody Paw Prints from Goodreads quite a while back but had never read it. Got ready to start on it when I realized it was #3 in a series. Being the kind of reader that I am, I knew I had to go back and find 1 and 2 and read them first. Haven't read #2 yet, but it's going to be next.
I really liked this book. I know nothing about the art world, especially prints, but I found this very interesting. (Never knew Rembrandt did prints, I thought just canvases.)
The main characters Coleman and Dinah were very engaging, and I absolutely LOVED Dolly. She sounds like a real....doll. (I'm a sucker for dogs!!) I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I really liked this book. I know nothing about the art world, especially prints, but I found this very interesting. (Never knew Rembrandt did prints, I thought just canvases.)
The main characters Coleman and Dinah were very engaging, and I absolutely LOVED Dolly. She sounds like a real....doll. (I'm a sucker for dogs!!) I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
June 14, 2018
I enjoyed this book, but I felt I was coming in in the middle of the story. There were several characters that I had a hard time keeping track of as well. That being said, I want to read the next in the series.
June 27, 2013
From Goodreads:
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 Thoughts:
This is the second art-related book I have read in the past few months. I was never good at art, I embraced the teasing during art class in high school and I can’t tell you a Monet from a Manet… wait are those even real artists? Well, that settles it. I know nothing about art. But in both of the books I have read about the art world, I have fallen so deep into the scenery, I’ve had a hard time digging myself out.
I never knew there was such a thing as a restrike until I read this book.
re•strike (v. riˈstraɪk; n. ˈriˌstraɪk): a new print made from an old lithographic stone, metal engraving, woodcut, or the like
That’s my art lesson for the day. Thank you, come again. I have to say the more I read about the glamour and glitz of the New York art scene, the more intrigued I am. I enjoy the few museums I’ve been to, but that’s just not my world in West Virginia. The only museum in my town is the Mothman Museum…. Yes, I’m serious. I may need to do a little more reading up on this high society.
Now to the book: Williams has anything a girl could want in this book. Lust, wealth, murder, scandal … and a couple of hotties to keep the pages turning if you can’t get into the art. Although there were times I had no idea what I was reading about, the art wasn’t too technical, but anything over paint by number is too much for me, I breezed through this book. There were so many different agendas in this book and skeletons hid behind the corners, you can’t put it down until you know if the same person is behind all the drama, or if it’s just coincidence that it all happens at once.
I’ve read so many murder mysteries in the past few years, I fancy myself an amateur sleuth. I can normally figure out who the bad guy(s) is(are) before the author reveals them. But Williams had me stunned in this one. I said out loud, “Really? That’s the killer?” I was a bit shocked, not who I expected and not for the motive.
I really like Coleman and her drive and passion in her career. I am excited to see where the next book in the series takes her. I also liked Dinah, but I’m hoping she loses her controlling, possessive, jerk of a husband. Not that it bothers me too much…. But even more than both of them, I absolutely loved Rachel’s character. She played her own little role in London, but boy is she fierce. She finds out a partner is out to get her and she pulls out all the stops to make sure she doesn’t lose her name or her fortune. I hope that she will make some more appearances in the series and maybe help out a little if the future mysteries cross the pond.
I give Restrike 5 out of 5 bookmarks.
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 Thoughts:
This is the second art-related book I have read in the past few months. I was never good at art, I embraced the teasing during art class in high school and I can’t tell you a Monet from a Manet… wait are those even real artists? Well, that settles it. I know nothing about art. But in both of the books I have read about the art world, I have fallen so deep into the scenery, I’ve had a hard time digging myself out.
I never knew there was such a thing as a restrike until I read this book.
re•strike (v. riˈstraɪk; n. ˈriˌstraɪk): a new print made from an old lithographic stone, metal engraving, woodcut, or the like
That’s my art lesson for the day. Thank you, come again. I have to say the more I read about the glamour and glitz of the New York art scene, the more intrigued I am. I enjoy the few museums I’ve been to, but that’s just not my world in West Virginia. The only museum in my town is the Mothman Museum…. Yes, I’m serious. I may need to do a little more reading up on this high society.
Now to the book: Williams has anything a girl could want in this book. Lust, wealth, murder, scandal … and a couple of hotties to keep the pages turning if you can’t get into the art. Although there were times I had no idea what I was reading about, the art wasn’t too technical, but anything over paint by number is too much for me, I breezed through this book. There were so many different agendas in this book and skeletons hid behind the corners, you can’t put it down until you know if the same person is behind all the drama, or if it’s just coincidence that it all happens at once.
I’ve read so many murder mysteries in the past few years, I fancy myself an amateur sleuth. I can normally figure out who the bad guy(s) is(are) before the author reveals them. But Williams had me stunned in this one. I said out loud, “Really? That’s the killer?” I was a bit shocked, not who I expected and not for the motive.
I really like Coleman and her drive and passion in her career. I am excited to see where the next book in the series takes her. I also liked Dinah, but I’m hoping she loses her controlling, possessive, jerk of a husband. Not that it bothers me too much…. But even more than both of them, I absolutely loved Rachel’s character. She played her own little role in London, but boy is she fierce. She finds out a partner is out to get her and she pulls out all the stops to make sure she doesn’t lose her name or her fortune. I hope that she will make some more appearances in the series and maybe help out a little if the future mysteries cross the pond.
I give Restrike 5 out of 5 bookmarks.
June 21, 2013
As seen on my blog:
I have absolutely zero knowledge about the buy and sell world of art, and even less about the potential crimes that occur within it. What I do know, is that Restrike was the perfect way to become acquainted with both aspects. There was little opportunity for me to feel bombarded with art lingo, and the story line had just enough scandal to keep me reading until the very end.
Restrike made me realize how much I missed reading mysteries. Prologue: Crime is committed, check. There are several witnesses who may have seen something, check. Anticipation instilled for following the clues and eventually catching the culprit, double check. After we meet the main leads, it's only a short while until the ball gets rolling, potential suspects are laid out, and you're wracking your brain trying to pinpoint the bad guy before the author reveals him. I enjoyed every last second of the thrill. The main characters, Dinah and Coleman Greene, were great as a team, and entertaining in their own individual storylines. However, I didn't grow deeply attached to them, and felt like their back stories could have used some more depth.
The plot of Restrike was multi-faceted, and involved some surprisingly dark elements. It explored paths that lead to forgery, theft, murder, and domestic and sexual abuse. The majority of the juicy bits/twists occurred at the end, and I could not have predicted 90% of them. Reba White Williams had me guessing until the very last second, and then dropped bombs of ALL sizes. I especially enjoyed what I learned about art: the selling and buying of obscure prints, the work and stress that goes into owning an art gallery and running an art magazine, and the ends to which people might go to secure the most coveted pieces. Restrike was what mysteries should be: exciting, and fast-paced. It also didn't hurt that some of the characters more personal moments, could have been moments borrowed from real life.
I look forward to reading future installments featuring the Greene cousins.
Recommended for Fans of: Mystery, Thriller, and Contemporary.
----------
*DISCLAIMER* I received this book as a print copy from the publisher, in order to participate in the blog tour
I have absolutely zero knowledge about the buy and sell world of art, and even less about the potential crimes that occur within it. What I do know, is that Restrike was the perfect way to become acquainted with both aspects. There was little opportunity for me to feel bombarded with art lingo, and the story line had just enough scandal to keep me reading until the very end.
Restrike made me realize how much I missed reading mysteries. Prologue: Crime is committed, check. There are several witnesses who may have seen something, check. Anticipation instilled for following the clues and eventually catching the culprit, double check. After we meet the main leads, it's only a short while until the ball gets rolling, potential suspects are laid out, and you're wracking your brain trying to pinpoint the bad guy before the author reveals him. I enjoyed every last second of the thrill. The main characters, Dinah and Coleman Greene, were great as a team, and entertaining in their own individual storylines. However, I didn't grow deeply attached to them, and felt like their back stories could have used some more depth.
The plot of Restrike was multi-faceted, and involved some surprisingly dark elements. It explored paths that lead to forgery, theft, murder, and domestic and sexual abuse. The majority of the juicy bits/twists occurred at the end, and I could not have predicted 90% of them. Reba White Williams had me guessing until the very last second, and then dropped bombs of ALL sizes. I especially enjoyed what I learned about art: the selling and buying of obscure prints, the work and stress that goes into owning an art gallery and running an art magazine, and the ends to which people might go to secure the most coveted pieces. Restrike was what mysteries should be: exciting, and fast-paced. It also didn't hurt that some of the characters more personal moments, could have been moments borrowed from real life.
I look forward to reading future installments featuring the Greene cousins.
Recommended for Fans of: Mystery, Thriller, and Contemporary.
----------
*DISCLAIMER* I received this book as a print copy from the publisher, in order to participate in the blog tour
August 2, 2013
So this was a strange one to review, because unlike many of the quotes on the back cover, I didn't really feel like it was very similar to Agatha Christie's books. I thought the author had a very unique style, one that I liked. Williams doesn't use long descriptions--she doesn't waste words, but scripts out a scene and the characters using just enough words (a talent that is not common in current day fiction, I find). I liked that she also managed to explain the art world without making me feel like an idiot. That said, I think someone interested in art and auctions might have been a little bit more interested. I know I feel excited when people sort of slip in things I actually know about.
Coleman and Dinah had side stories running through that I liked to read about. I thought it made them very human. I did want to hear more about Rachel than Dinah though, so hopefully we will see her in the rest of the series. I didn't think the side stories overpowered the main one, but would have liked the main one to be made even more suspenseful. I think there's a difference between a story being powerful and I-must-read-more-can't-leave-this-seat as opposed to I-can't-figure-out-who-the-killer/thief/criminal mastermind-is-and-kind-of-want-to-know. Many books have guessable endings--this one DID NOT, which I was very glad about, but it could have had more POW behind it.
Something that I felt she could have done a little better was smooth the journey from one scene to the next. The way she did it made things feel slightly abrupt, even for me, and I LOVE minimalist writing (I am perfectly happy with dialogue describing the entire scene, for instance). Also, the beginning was very vivid, but because Williams was so effective in describing the character I got really irritated with the character. And as much as this was definitely an example of good writing, because it portrayed character and scene so well, it meant I began the book feeling peeved. To readers who haven't read the book yet--this character is very minor, so just power through.
I am a little surprised that there will be more than one novel, because Coleman and Dinah seem such specific characters, but am interested in learning how Williams figures out a mystery for them to solve.
This is a review of an advanced copy I received from Goodreads.
Coleman and Dinah had side stories running through that I liked to read about. I thought it made them very human. I did want to hear more about Rachel than Dinah though, so hopefully we will see her in the rest of the series. I didn't think the side stories overpowered the main one, but would have liked the main one to be made even more suspenseful. I think there's a difference between a story being powerful and I-must-read-more-can't-leave-this-seat as opposed to I-can't-figure-out-who-the-killer/thief/criminal mastermind-is-and-kind-of-want-to-know. Many books have guessable endings--this one DID NOT, which I was very glad about, but it could have had more POW behind it.
Something that I felt she could have done a little better was smooth the journey from one scene to the next. The way she did it made things feel slightly abrupt, even for me, and I LOVE minimalist writing (I am perfectly happy with dialogue describing the entire scene, for instance). Also, the beginning was very vivid, but because Williams was so effective in describing the character I got really irritated with the character. And as much as this was definitely an example of good writing, because it portrayed character and scene so well, it meant I began the book feeling peeved. To readers who haven't read the book yet--this character is very minor, so just power through.
I am a little surprised that there will be more than one novel, because Coleman and Dinah seem such specific characters, but am interested in learning how Williams figures out a mystery for them to solve.
This is a review of an advanced copy I received from Goodreads.
June 8, 2013
Restrike is book one in a new mystery series starring cousins Coleman and Dinah Green and set in the New York art world. Coleman is the editor and owner of ArtSmart, an influential magazine, and Dinah has recently opened her own print gallery in Greenwich Village.
Mysterious billionaire Heyward Bain arrives on the scene with plans to open a print museum. Coleman sees the opportunity to snag an interview with him while Dinah is trying to sell him some of her gallery’s prints. Sales are down and she could use the income. She would like to move her gallery to a better location but is encountering resistance from her jealous husband who has provided the financing for her current gallery.
After some rare, expensive prints that haven’t been seen in years show up at auction, the seller is found dead, setting off a series of events. Meanwhile, many of Coleman’s ideas are showing up in a rival magazine before she can publish them. One of her employees is selling her ideas, but who did it? Then one of her employees turns up dead and soon Coleman is fearing for her own safety as she begins to ask questions someone doesn’t want answered.
When it comes to fine art I know what I like when I see it, but I don’t know much about the art world itself or the terminology, such as the word ‘restrike’.
re·strike -
a new print made from an old lithographic stone, metal engraving, woodcut, or the like.
The meaning of the book’s title soon becomes apparent when supposedly old prints begin to show up on the market and are in pristine condition. The author’s extensive background in art shines through as she creates an informative, detailed, yet never overwhelming world in the New York art scene.
Coleman and Dinah are well-developed and interesting characters. As we learn more about their background we learn how Coleman became a strong, independent woman while newly married Dinah is just beginning to discover her own resolve.
It didn’t take me long to become fully engaged in the plot. Fast-paced and energetic, this a page-turner that’s hard to put down. The mystery builds along several story lines, eventually coming together as the connections between the characters are exposed.
A good choice for an enjoyable summer read.
Mysterious billionaire Heyward Bain arrives on the scene with plans to open a print museum. Coleman sees the opportunity to snag an interview with him while Dinah is trying to sell him some of her gallery’s prints. Sales are down and she could use the income. She would like to move her gallery to a better location but is encountering resistance from her jealous husband who has provided the financing for her current gallery.
After some rare, expensive prints that haven’t been seen in years show up at auction, the seller is found dead, setting off a series of events. Meanwhile, many of Coleman’s ideas are showing up in a rival magazine before she can publish them. One of her employees is selling her ideas, but who did it? Then one of her employees turns up dead and soon Coleman is fearing for her own safety as she begins to ask questions someone doesn’t want answered.
When it comes to fine art I know what I like when I see it, but I don’t know much about the art world itself or the terminology, such as the word ‘restrike’.
re·strike -
a new print made from an old lithographic stone, metal engraving, woodcut, or the like.
The meaning of the book’s title soon becomes apparent when supposedly old prints begin to show up on the market and are in pristine condition. The author’s extensive background in art shines through as she creates an informative, detailed, yet never overwhelming world in the New York art scene.
Coleman and Dinah are well-developed and interesting characters. As we learn more about their background we learn how Coleman became a strong, independent woman while newly married Dinah is just beginning to discover her own resolve.
It didn’t take me long to become fully engaged in the plot. Fast-paced and energetic, this a page-turner that’s hard to put down. The mystery builds along several story lines, eventually coming together as the connections between the characters are exposed.
A good choice for an enjoyable summer read.
May 25, 2013
4 stars
Restrike: Coleman and Dinah Greene Mystery No. 1
I would like to see if their will be no. 2 I would read it. I was trying to figure out who did what and I was kept guessing. Some of the ending I did not like but that has nothing to do with the story really.
I like Coleman and Dinah. They both worked hard from the time they were children and continue the work.
Coleman has her own art magazine. She is single and does not think she wants to get married ever. She sews and makes a lot of her own clothes. Someone is stealing story ideas from her magazine.
Dinah owns a print gallery and lives above it. Her husband Jonathon is rich and wants to control her. They have not been married long. Her gallery is in the wrong spot and she wants to change it.
Their is going to be a new museum opening in NYC about art prints. Heyward Bain is mega rich is opening it. He does not talk about his past. Where he got his money or anything about himself. He is very curious about Coleman.
Coleman wants to interview Heyward Bain for her magazine. She thinks he is handsome and would not mind dating him. She is also interested in Simon who is buying the prints for Heyward's museum. He is keeping secrets too.
A man who is selling the prints to be auctioned off is murdered right before the prints are bought. The police do not think it is related to art. Coleman does and wants to find out.
The crimes start to add up and threaten Coleman's life. Their are a lot of suspects. The police are not putting the cases together like Coleman and friends are gathering.
I did not put the book down till I had finished and it left me wanting to see what happens next in their lives.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when finished by Netgally.
June 1st 2013 PUB. Delos (fiction imprint of Axios Press) JKSCommunications ISBN:9781939052001 350 pages
Restrike: Coleman and Dinah Greene Mystery No. 1
I would like to see if their will be no. 2 I would read it. I was trying to figure out who did what and I was kept guessing. Some of the ending I did not like but that has nothing to do with the story really.
I like Coleman and Dinah. They both worked hard from the time they were children and continue the work.
Coleman has her own art magazine. She is single and does not think she wants to get married ever. She sews and makes a lot of her own clothes. Someone is stealing story ideas from her magazine.
Dinah owns a print gallery and lives above it. Her husband Jonathon is rich and wants to control her. They have not been married long. Her gallery is in the wrong spot and she wants to change it.
Their is going to be a new museum opening in NYC about art prints. Heyward Bain is mega rich is opening it. He does not talk about his past. Where he got his money or anything about himself. He is very curious about Coleman.
Coleman wants to interview Heyward Bain for her magazine. She thinks he is handsome and would not mind dating him. She is also interested in Simon who is buying the prints for Heyward's museum. He is keeping secrets too.
A man who is selling the prints to be auctioned off is murdered right before the prints are bought. The police do not think it is related to art. Coleman does and wants to find out.
The crimes start to add up and threaten Coleman's life. Their are a lot of suspects. The police are not putting the cases together like Coleman and friends are gathering.
I did not put the book down till I had finished and it left me wanting to see what happens next in their lives.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it when finished by Netgally.
June 1st 2013 PUB. Delos (fiction imprint of Axios Press) JKSCommunications ISBN:9781939052001 350 pages
October 1, 2013
Cousins Coleman and Dinah Greene came to New York to take the city's art world by storm after their college educations. Coleman bought an art magazine, ArtSmart, that quickly became known as the place for witty relevant articles about all that was happening in the art world. Dinah opened a gallery after her marriage to Jonathan, specializing in art prints. Things seem to be going well.
But trouble has a way of entering paradise. Coleman's magazine is being targeted by a California upstart that somehow seems to find out all her article ideas and get them to print before she can. She must have a spy, as unseemly as it is to suspect the staff that helped her build the magazine. Dinah's galley is in financial trouble, a victim of a poor location and customers who are scarce on the ground.
Things are also brewing in the art world. A reclusive billionaire, Heyward Bain, has come to town to start a print museum. Both Coleman and Dinah get involved with him due to their careers. It becomes evident that the man Heyward hired to bid on exclusive prints for him, is cheating him as the prints he uncovers turn out to be stolen. An art dealer no one has heard of is murdered, and then one of Coleman's editors is also killed. Soon Coleman and Dinah seem to be targeted as well, and it's unclear if their sleuthing is the reason. Can they uncover the mysteries before they are brought down?
This is the first Coleman and Dinah Greene mystery, and Reba White Williams has created a delightful pair of detectives. Full of Southern charm, gutsy and resourceful with tons of contacts, this pair can uncover crimes that the police don't have the resources to understand. The differing lifestyle choices of the cousins and their strong relationship make this book a jewel to read. This book is recommended for mystery lovers.
But trouble has a way of entering paradise. Coleman's magazine is being targeted by a California upstart that somehow seems to find out all her article ideas and get them to print before she can. She must have a spy, as unseemly as it is to suspect the staff that helped her build the magazine. Dinah's galley is in financial trouble, a victim of a poor location and customers who are scarce on the ground.
Things are also brewing in the art world. A reclusive billionaire, Heyward Bain, has come to town to start a print museum. Both Coleman and Dinah get involved with him due to their careers. It becomes evident that the man Heyward hired to bid on exclusive prints for him, is cheating him as the prints he uncovers turn out to be stolen. An art dealer no one has heard of is murdered, and then one of Coleman's editors is also killed. Soon Coleman and Dinah seem to be targeted as well, and it's unclear if their sleuthing is the reason. Can they uncover the mysteries before they are brought down?
This is the first Coleman and Dinah Greene mystery, and Reba White Williams has created a delightful pair of detectives. Full of Southern charm, gutsy and resourceful with tons of contacts, this pair can uncover crimes that the police don't have the resources to understand. The differing lifestyle choices of the cousins and their strong relationship make this book a jewel to read. This book is recommended for mystery lovers.
March 19, 2014
I had high hopes for this one. I did learn something about prints and the New York art/social scene and how I was bored by reading about a large group of people getting dressed and meeting each other for meals at various restaurants.
It was kind of like Sex in the City without any of the fun of caring about the main characters. The two main characters are ostensibly cousins involved in the art world :Dinah and Coleman Greene.
However, we spend alot of time in other peoples' POV. I also felt like their actions and feelings were conveniently turned on and off alot. Dinah is supposedly happily married but wants to leave her husband after one disagreement? Coleman is "in love" with Bain but then just conveniently forgets about him once Rob is on the scene?
Mysteries are great when you care about the danger the sleuths are in, here I just didn't care, possibly because of the unneringly light tone of the prose and over-summarized action, but possibly also because the New York art scene isn't my cup of tea.
Actually, no. I LOVE reading People magazine because I have that bordering-on-stalkery fascination with knowing the intimate details of celebrities and social elite because they are real people to me. I find the same kind of fascination with books that seduce me into caring about the rich characters who constantly notice the brand-names of other peoples' suits and talks about "their Jimmy Choos" and can get into exclusive restaurants just by smiling at the Maitre'd....but this book didn't seduce me.
I think if the narrative had focused on one or more of the cousins more, if we had spent more time in their emotional lives, it would have been more exciting. Instead I got a bit of a confusing array of characters going out to lunch and selling prints here and there and financing each other's galleries and art magazines.
It was kind of like Sex in the City without any of the fun of caring about the main characters. The two main characters are ostensibly cousins involved in the art world :Dinah and Coleman Greene.
However, we spend alot of time in other peoples' POV. I also felt like their actions and feelings were conveniently turned on and off alot. Dinah is supposedly happily married but wants to leave her husband after one disagreement? Coleman is "in love" with Bain but then just conveniently forgets about him once Rob is on the scene?
Mysteries are great when you care about the danger the sleuths are in, here I just didn't care, possibly because of the unneringly light tone of the prose and over-summarized action, but possibly also because the New York art scene isn't my cup of tea.
Actually, no. I LOVE reading People magazine because I have that bordering-on-stalkery fascination with knowing the intimate details of celebrities and social elite because they are real people to me. I find the same kind of fascination with books that seduce me into caring about the rich characters who constantly notice the brand-names of other peoples' suits and talks about "their Jimmy Choos" and can get into exclusive restaurants just by smiling at the Maitre'd....but this book didn't seduce me.
I think if the narrative had focused on one or more of the cousins more, if we had spent more time in their emotional lives, it would have been more exciting. Instead I got a bit of a confusing array of characters going out to lunch and selling prints here and there and financing each other's galleries and art magazines.
July 6, 2013
Cousins Dinah and Coleman Greene move from their family home in North Carolina to New York City to make names for themselves in the art world. Dinah owns a print gallery and Coleman is the editor of a major arts magazine.
Unfortunately, the women have their hands full with all kinds of problems. Dinah’s gallery isn’t doing well financially and her husband would prefer her to stay home and have his babies. Meanwhile, someone on Coleman’s staff is selling her ideas to a competing magazine.
Wealthy Heyward Bain arrives in town giving Dinah and Coleman hope for their companies. Dinah wants to sell Bain some prints while Coleman wants to do a story on him. When an art dealer is murdered, along with one of Coleman’s writers, not to mention that she herself is attacked, they become more and more suspicious of Bain.
Along with a private investigator and Dinah’s husband, they conduct their own investigation and discover that Bain isn’t all he seems. However, he’s not the only suspicious character. Dinah and Coleman find out they can’t trust anyone, except each other.
This is the first book in the Coleman and Dinah Green Mystery series and I was hooked right from the beginning. The author paints a wonderful picture of New York City and the art world. She draws you right in with her character portrayals and a storyline that won’t let you rest. I simply couldn’t put it down until I knew “whodunit” and the reasons behind the crimes. I can’t wait for the second book in the series. I will be right there to read it!
FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Unfortunately, the women have their hands full with all kinds of problems. Dinah’s gallery isn’t doing well financially and her husband would prefer her to stay home and have his babies. Meanwhile, someone on Coleman’s staff is selling her ideas to a competing magazine.
Wealthy Heyward Bain arrives in town giving Dinah and Coleman hope for their companies. Dinah wants to sell Bain some prints while Coleman wants to do a story on him. When an art dealer is murdered, along with one of Coleman’s writers, not to mention that she herself is attacked, they become more and more suspicious of Bain.
Along with a private investigator and Dinah’s husband, they conduct their own investigation and discover that Bain isn’t all he seems. However, he’s not the only suspicious character. Dinah and Coleman find out they can’t trust anyone, except each other.
This is the first book in the Coleman and Dinah Green Mystery series and I was hooked right from the beginning. The author paints a wonderful picture of New York City and the art world. She draws you right in with her character portrayals and a storyline that won’t let you rest. I simply couldn’t put it down until I knew “whodunit” and the reasons behind the crimes. I can’t wait for the second book in the series. I will be right there to read it!
FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 11, 2013
This mystery’s synopsis sounds like a typical murder mystery cozy, but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and complexity of this story. I learned much about art prints including that a restrike is a print made from an original plate but after the original prints were made, usually of inferior quality and after the death of the artist. This definition given at the beginning of the story, comes into play later.
The story is a departure from the typical woman-sleuth, first-person-viewpoint driven novel in that more than one of the characters tries to solve parts of the mystery. Written in third-person, the different viewpoints find different facts before discovering that there is power in pooling knowledge. This mystery is complex, and refreshingly more about art forgery and theft than murder.
The main mystery centers on an art theft that is so subtle the perpetrators might have gotten away with it, if not for that one mistake that unravels a broader conspiracy of theft, fraud and manipulation of the auction process. If the gallery owner had any less than the highest of scruples and integrity, the extensive criminal activity might not have been discovered. The glimpse into the art world is interesting, as is the background on art auctions. Some of the relationships become a little convoluted in the end, but this seems to set up the next in the series. The novel starts out a little slowly, but draws the reader in so cleverly, that by page 50 it becomes almost impossible to put down. This is a wonderful first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next one!
Thanks to the Book Club Cookbook website for their giveaway contest, and selecting me to receive a free copy.
The story is a departure from the typical woman-sleuth, first-person-viewpoint driven novel in that more than one of the characters tries to solve parts of the mystery. Written in third-person, the different viewpoints find different facts before discovering that there is power in pooling knowledge. This mystery is complex, and refreshingly more about art forgery and theft than murder.
The main mystery centers on an art theft that is so subtle the perpetrators might have gotten away with it, if not for that one mistake that unravels a broader conspiracy of theft, fraud and manipulation of the auction process. If the gallery owner had any less than the highest of scruples and integrity, the extensive criminal activity might not have been discovered. The glimpse into the art world is interesting, as is the background on art auctions. Some of the relationships become a little convoluted in the end, but this seems to set up the next in the series. The novel starts out a little slowly, but draws the reader in so cleverly, that by page 50 it becomes almost impossible to put down. This is a wonderful first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next one!
Thanks to the Book Club Cookbook website for their giveaway contest, and selecting me to receive a free copy.
February 1, 2013
First I want to thank JKS for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book. I loved every minute of it. I am such a huge fan of mysteries and women heroine that the minute I started to read this book I could not put it down. I had to finish it in one sitting to find out what was going on and who the players were and why they were doing what they were doing. Plus this author took the time to describe things in detail and for any art lover you know you love to read and hear about the finer details so I loved that. I love to go to the museum once a month to see what has changed and what new displays they have. In my local town of Worcester, Ma we have a museum that hosts different things all the time and I love to go see the new displays and read all about the paintings or sculpture.
In Restrike we meet cousins Coleman and Dinah who love the art world. Dinah is an owner of her own print art gallery and Coleman is an editor for the art world. Coleman discovers that someone is stealing her stories and selling them to a competitor. Coleman is determined to find out who it is and why they are doing that. In the mean time Dinah's gallery is going in the red and she needs financial backing. With all this crazy stuff going on for the cousins they come into a bigger mess when they discover someone is selling forgery art prints. Dinah thinks she may have a man who can help her get out of the red but this guy is a billionaire and he is being targeted as well. What are these counsins going to do? Will they both survive this crazyness of there lives or will they get sucked into the seedy art world.
In Restrike we meet cousins Coleman and Dinah who love the art world. Dinah is an owner of her own print art gallery and Coleman is an editor for the art world. Coleman discovers that someone is stealing her stories and selling them to a competitor. Coleman is determined to find out who it is and why they are doing that. In the mean time Dinah's gallery is going in the red and she needs financial backing. With all this crazy stuff going on for the cousins they come into a bigger mess when they discover someone is selling forgery art prints. Dinah thinks she may have a man who can help her get out of the red but this guy is a billionaire and he is being targeted as well. What are these counsins going to do? Will they both survive this crazyness of there lives or will they get sucked into the seedy art world.
July 14, 2013
Restrike is another first book in a series and it really wowed me. Not only are Coleman and Dinah looking into the murder of a print dealer, but the book is so much more than that.
My only gripe with this book is the cover. It reminds me of Murder She Wrote ...its too 80s and really doesn't help pull readers to one of the best mysteries I've read.
And this book is so much more than a cozy. There's a lot going on with all the characters. Plus there are several mysteries within mysteries. Like what is the connection between Simon and Heyward Bain? Who is selling stories from ArtSmart to another magazine?
This is really what keeps the pages turning. I don't know much about the art world, but after reading this book, I felt like I knew something.
I loved getting different points of view...Coleman and Dinah are really two very different people. Coleman is more sophisticated and gutsy...Dinah is a little bit wishy washy and her husband...I hated him. This is one relationship that I really can't route for, Jonathan is just to controlling for me, even though it is apparent that he loves Dinah and Dinah loves him.
For the most part this felt like a different sort of cozy. It is a little bit longer (nearly 400 pages) and though their is a police investigation there's a whole lot more to this story than just a murder.
The author gives you clues to make you think you know who did it..but in the end, she kind of throws you a curve ball.
I loved getting to know all of the characters and I really am anxious to see where Reba takes them in the next book.
Definitely a great read for the cozy mystery lovers out there.
My only gripe with this book is the cover. It reminds me of Murder She Wrote ...its too 80s and really doesn't help pull readers to one of the best mysteries I've read.
And this book is so much more than a cozy. There's a lot going on with all the characters. Plus there are several mysteries within mysteries. Like what is the connection between Simon and Heyward Bain? Who is selling stories from ArtSmart to another magazine?
This is really what keeps the pages turning. I don't know much about the art world, but after reading this book, I felt like I knew something.
I loved getting different points of view...Coleman and Dinah are really two very different people. Coleman is more sophisticated and gutsy...Dinah is a little bit wishy washy and her husband...I hated him. This is one relationship that I really can't route for, Jonathan is just to controlling for me, even though it is apparent that he loves Dinah and Dinah loves him.
For the most part this felt like a different sort of cozy. It is a little bit longer (nearly 400 pages) and though their is a police investigation there's a whole lot more to this story than just a murder.
The author gives you clues to make you think you know who did it..but in the end, she kind of throws you a curve ball.
I loved getting to know all of the characters and I really am anxious to see where Reba takes them in the next book.
Definitely a great read for the cozy mystery lovers out there.
February 4, 2016
Got this through a giveaway and Wow!
Cousins Dinah Greene, owner/director of Greene Gallery, and Coleman Greene, publishers/editor of ArtSmart magazine, are part of the New York print arts scene. These two main characters are faced with a number of problems and mysteries.
Coleman has found that a new arts magazine on the west coast is publishing her upcoming articles before she even gets them in print. Where is the leak that will cause her business to plummet? Dinah wants to grow her gallery business but is handicapped by the location and pressure of her new husband’s ideas.
Thrown into the mix are two grisly murders of ArtSmart writers who have been researching to find the leak at the magazine: Hayward Bain, a southerner who has arrived in New York with plans and money to open a print museum and fill it with prime works of art, with his assistant Simon Fanshawe-Davies.
The cousins find themselves trying to solve who killed the two reporters, how Bain knows so much about the cousins’ southern background and yet lets little be known about himself, even though he comes from the same part of the country as the cousins. Questionable methods of how some of the prints are obtained from collections, shady characters and red herrings all set in the New York Art Scene.
The characters are well developed with current and background information given, the plot moves with a good smooth rhythm and keeps you wanting to read more. For me this is a good ‘anytime’ read. Being the first in a series, I will keep an eye out for the next book.
Cousins Dinah Greene, owner/director of Greene Gallery, and Coleman Greene, publishers/editor of ArtSmart magazine, are part of the New York print arts scene. These two main characters are faced with a number of problems and mysteries.
Coleman has found that a new arts magazine on the west coast is publishing her upcoming articles before she even gets them in print. Where is the leak that will cause her business to plummet? Dinah wants to grow her gallery business but is handicapped by the location and pressure of her new husband’s ideas.
Thrown into the mix are two grisly murders of ArtSmart writers who have been researching to find the leak at the magazine: Hayward Bain, a southerner who has arrived in New York with plans and money to open a print museum and fill it with prime works of art, with his assistant Simon Fanshawe-Davies.
The cousins find themselves trying to solve who killed the two reporters, how Bain knows so much about the cousins’ southern background and yet lets little be known about himself, even though he comes from the same part of the country as the cousins. Questionable methods of how some of the prints are obtained from collections, shady characters and red herrings all set in the New York Art Scene.
The characters are well developed with current and background information given, the plot moves with a good smooth rhythm and keeps you wanting to read more. For me this is a good ‘anytime’ read. Being the first in a series, I will keep an eye out for the next book.
February 8, 2013
Restrike by Reba White Williams
I wanted to read this book because there is an art forgery and I had recently watched a movie about something similar.
Cousins Coleman Greene runs the art magazine. Dinah run the print gallery, both in Greenwich Village, NY.
Coleman has a mystery going on with a magazine on the west coast always printing a week prior to her magazine the same articles and she asks others to help her solve who it could be.
Dinah has her own mystery also-how did the man who's now dead get his hands on the 'skating girl' and the next day it sold for mucho bucks.
Everything that is made, from clothes to shoes to food and hotels has a label, a designer label and the two of them know all the names. It gets to be a bit much at times as I'm just a country girl and can't be swayed by a label.
Love all the detailed descriptions and although there are many characters in the book it's easy to keep them straight.
The book also follows Rachel Ransomme who is overseas and is heavily into art as she's very well trained to spot a fraud.
Murders, places being bugged, forgeries and hidden funds are just a few things going on in this action packed book.
Grand finale is at the end where all the pieces come together and family from the past make an appearance.
Love that this will be part of a series of books using some of the same characters, can't wait to see what next they will uncover.
I wanted to read this book because there is an art forgery and I had recently watched a movie about something similar.
Cousins Coleman Greene runs the art magazine. Dinah run the print gallery, both in Greenwich Village, NY.
Coleman has a mystery going on with a magazine on the west coast always printing a week prior to her magazine the same articles and she asks others to help her solve who it could be.
Dinah has her own mystery also-how did the man who's now dead get his hands on the 'skating girl' and the next day it sold for mucho bucks.
Everything that is made, from clothes to shoes to food and hotels has a label, a designer label and the two of them know all the names. It gets to be a bit much at times as I'm just a country girl and can't be swayed by a label.
Love all the detailed descriptions and although there are many characters in the book it's easy to keep them straight.
The book also follows Rachel Ransomme who is overseas and is heavily into art as she's very well trained to spot a fraud.
Murders, places being bugged, forgeries and hidden funds are just a few things going on in this action packed book.
Grand finale is at the end where all the pieces come together and family from the past make an appearance.
Love that this will be part of a series of books using some of the same characters, can't wait to see what next they will uncover.
May 19, 2013
Art Forgery, Romance and Murder
Coleman owns and edits an art magazine. Her cousin, Dinah, has a print gallery. Although born in the South, they're making their way in the New York art world. There are some clouds on the horizon. Coleman believes that one of her writers is stealing her ideas and selling them to another publication. Dinah wants a bigger gallery in a better location, but her husband Jonathan, who is also her backer, want to keep her close to home.
Enter Heyward Bain, a millionaire who wants to start a print museum. Soon very expensive prints that haven't been seen for years start appearing at auction. Then the supposed seller is found dead. Coleman believes he's been killed because of his connection to the prints, but the police don't believe her. Being Coleman, she has to find out what happened. Dinah agrees and their zany detecting begins.
This is a fun novel and very fast paced. The author has done a good job with the New York art world setting and even takes readers on a side trip to Britain. The characters are amusing if not particularly realistic. They remind me of characters in a sitcom.
The novel has several plot lines. They all converge at the end, but I felt that some of the rationale was stretched to accommodate the revelations. Still the book is fluffy and fun. I recommend it for reading at the beach or on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
Coleman owns and edits an art magazine. Her cousin, Dinah, has a print gallery. Although born in the South, they're making their way in the New York art world. There are some clouds on the horizon. Coleman believes that one of her writers is stealing her ideas and selling them to another publication. Dinah wants a bigger gallery in a better location, but her husband Jonathan, who is also her backer, want to keep her close to home.
Enter Heyward Bain, a millionaire who wants to start a print museum. Soon very expensive prints that haven't been seen for years start appearing at auction. Then the supposed seller is found dead. Coleman believes he's been killed because of his connection to the prints, but the police don't believe her. Being Coleman, she has to find out what happened. Dinah agrees and their zany detecting begins.
This is a fun novel and very fast paced. The author has done a good job with the New York art world setting and even takes readers on a side trip to Britain. The characters are amusing if not particularly realistic. They remind me of characters in a sitcom.
The novel has several plot lines. They all converge at the end, but I felt that some of the rationale was stretched to accommodate the revelations. Still the book is fluffy and fun. I recommend it for reading at the beach or on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
December 3, 2015
Cousins Coleman and Dinah Greene moved to New York after college to make their mark on the art world: Coleman edits an influential arts magazine and Dinah owns a print gallery in Greenwich Village.
Then billionaire Heyward Bain arrives in town, announcing plans to fund a fine print museum. Coleman is intrigued and plans to write a piece on him, while 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 unable to convince the police to treat the crime as art-related. Worse, she finds her magazine getting scooped on more and more stories. Following a second murder, Coleman is the victim of a mugging and an attempted poisoning. Dinah, in the meantime, struggles to make her husband see that she will never prosper unless the gallery finds a better location.
Moving between New York and London, Restrike (the term refers to copies made after the first edition) gives readers an insider’s look at the art world. I liked the characters, although Dinah seemed less well-defined than Coleman, and I enjoyed the mystery. Multiple motives keep readers in suspense, and while neither of the leads ever seemed in serious jeopardy, I nonetheless enjoyed Restrike very much. This is the first in the Coleman and Dinah Greene mystery series.
Then billionaire Heyward Bain arrives in town, announcing plans to fund a fine print museum. Coleman is intrigued and plans to write a piece on him, while 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 unable to convince the police to treat the crime as art-related. Worse, she finds her magazine getting scooped on more and more stories. Following a second murder, Coleman is the victim of a mugging and an attempted poisoning. Dinah, in the meantime, struggles to make her husband see that she will never prosper unless the gallery finds a better location.
Moving between New York and London, Restrike (the term refers to copies made after the first edition) gives readers an insider’s look at the art world. I liked the characters, although Dinah seemed less well-defined than Coleman, and I enjoyed the mystery. Multiple motives keep readers in suspense, and while neither of the leads ever seemed in serious jeopardy, I nonetheless enjoyed Restrike very much. This is the first in the Coleman and Dinah Greene mystery series.
May 16, 2013
Absolutely loved Restrike! I struck up a fancy for the New York art world when I first read Steve Martin's Object of My Affection a few years ago, and Restrike expanded into this better than I could have hoped!
Williams does a wonderful job of intertwining her characters into the mystery of the intriguing art-world of New York City. Coleman Greene discovers some brow-raising instances that all seem to be somewhat connected -- Story ideas appearing in the magazine of her competitor, rather than her own. Various prints selling for extraordinary prices. One mysterious billionaire, Heyward Bain, who seems to involve himself hugely, but says very little. Even the death of a New York art dealer.
Coleman is convinced these are related, but cannot convince NYPD of their involvement with art.
Williams is meticulous in entangling her readers right into the mind of Coleman and Dinah, and cleverly asks the questions already brewing in your mind while trying to make sense of the mysterious events throughout the novel. All of the mystery and tension culminates into an ending just as extravagant as each painting in a gallery - and I can't wait to see where Reba goes with the next in the series.
If you love New York, the business of art and appreciate the wit and brains of strong, southern women - you will absolutely love this book!
Williams does a wonderful job of intertwining her characters into the mystery of the intriguing art-world of New York City. Coleman Greene discovers some brow-raising instances that all seem to be somewhat connected -- Story ideas appearing in the magazine of her competitor, rather than her own. Various prints selling for extraordinary prices. One mysterious billionaire, Heyward Bain, who seems to involve himself hugely, but says very little. Even the death of a New York art dealer.
Coleman is convinced these are related, but cannot convince NYPD of their involvement with art.
Williams is meticulous in entangling her readers right into the mind of Coleman and Dinah, and cleverly asks the questions already brewing in your mind while trying to make sense of the mysterious events throughout the novel. All of the mystery and tension culminates into an ending just as extravagant as each painting in a gallery - and I can't wait to see where Reba goes with the next in the series.
If you love New York, the business of art and appreciate the wit and brains of strong, southern women - you will absolutely love this book!
February 18, 2013
Murder mysteries are always exciting to read. They allow the reader to escape reality and play detective for a few hours. And then there's always that moment of anticipation when the perp is finally revealed.
Williams does a brilliant job of keeping the suspense alive with each turn of the page, and there is never a dull moment as murder, greed, hidden pasts and family secrets grip the art world.
There are a multitude of interesting characters, and even though the story's main focus is the murder of a print dealer and Coleman's determination to discover the truth about his death, each character has their own side-story which kept the story flowing and added to the main plot. The mystery unraveled at a good pace, revealing some very surprising truths about certain characters.
All these truths, along with the many twists and turns within the plot, culminate in one thrilling ending with even more surprises.
I enjoyed every minute spent amongst the pages of this fantastic read. Lovers of suspense and mystery will be riveted by this book.
Williams does a brilliant job of keeping the suspense alive with each turn of the page, and there is never a dull moment as murder, greed, hidden pasts and family secrets grip the art world.
There are a multitude of interesting characters, and even though the story's main focus is the murder of a print dealer and Coleman's determination to discover the truth about his death, each character has their own side-story which kept the story flowing and added to the main plot. The mystery unraveled at a good pace, revealing some very surprising truths about certain characters.
All these truths, along with the many twists and turns within the plot, culminate in one thrilling ending with even more surprises.
I enjoyed every minute spent amongst the pages of this fantastic read. Lovers of suspense and mystery will be riveted by this book.
July 16, 2013
Restrike is a pretty good mystery. For the most part, I liked the overall story. There is a lot packed into this book, so it takes a bit of sorting through to figure out what is going on initially. I kind of felt like there were too many characters to keep track of at times. Despite that, the mystery was well planned out with twists that will surprise you. One of them, I wasn't expecting at all. I know nothing, really, about the art world or about prints, but that didn't really make a difference to the story. I felt like the author gave me enough information to be comfortable with the topic.
Dinah and Coleman are great characters. I was happy when Dinah finally got a backbone and stood up to her husband. I also like Coleman. She is a likeable character who values her family and friends. I also liked her side-kick, Dolly. They are definitely characters I would like to see in future books. It looks like this is the start to a series, so I look forward to the further adventures of Coleman and Dinah.
Dinah and Coleman are great characters. I was happy when Dinah finally got a backbone and stood up to her husband. I also like Coleman. She is a likeable character who values her family and friends. I also liked her side-kick, Dolly. They are definitely characters I would like to see in future books. It looks like this is the start to a series, so I look forward to the further adventures of Coleman and Dinah.
July 28, 2013
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
Overall, I'd say it was about a 3.5. There were quite a few characters, all tangled together in various ways, and the setting frequently jumped back and forth among their different locations. I never lost track of the characters, but I did lose track of the locations on occasion--not so much that it was truly annoying, and I was pretty sure I knew which place she meant each time, but it was enough to niggle at me and take me out of the story a little. With so many characters, Williams was basically managing about 3-4 different potential bad guys, and she did it fairly well, so the final reveal worked, even if it wasn't necessarily what you expected, which I guess is a sign of a decent mystery story. The main characters, Coleman and Dinah, were likeable enough, but never managed to reach the point of being truly engaging, and unfortunately that's what you need to really sell a series. I'd entertain the notion of reading about their continuing activities, but I don't see myself seeking them out.
Overall, I'd say it was about a 3.5. There were quite a few characters, all tangled together in various ways, and the setting frequently jumped back and forth among their different locations. I never lost track of the characters, but I did lose track of the locations on occasion--not so much that it was truly annoying, and I was pretty sure I knew which place she meant each time, but it was enough to niggle at me and take me out of the story a little. With so many characters, Williams was basically managing about 3-4 different potential bad guys, and she did it fairly well, so the final reveal worked, even if it wasn't necessarily what you expected, which I guess is a sign of a decent mystery story. The main characters, Coleman and Dinah, were likeable enough, but never managed to reach the point of being truly engaging, and unfortunately that's what you need to really sell a series. I'd entertain the notion of reading about their continuing activities, but I don't see myself seeking them out.
August 12, 2016
I enjoy a good mystery, so I thought I would really enjoy this book. Overall, though, I found it rather unbelievable and bordering on the side of ridiculous. The characters, their connections, their backgrounds, and their interactions just seem a bit contrived - as we move from one page to the next we get more and more complexity of relationships that just seem either too convenient or don't really seem to fit in with the plot. And I saw on the book jacket that the story has been described as a good glimpse into the New York City art scene, which, no this is not a 'typical' day in the New York City art scene, so don't be deceived.
I'm giving this 2 stars instead of 1 simply because there was one single piece of the mystery that I hadn't figure out by the time it was revealed, but I usually expect more than that from a mystery novel.
(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
I'm giving this 2 stars instead of 1 simply because there was one single piece of the mystery that I hadn't figure out by the time it was revealed, but I usually expect more than that from a mystery novel.
(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
June 27, 2013
I really enjoyed reading "Restrike." It was a fast-paced story with lots of action, lots of fascinating characters, and plenty of intriguing suspense to keep the reader captivated from the first chapter.
Reba Williams guides her readers through the amazing world of art wheeling and dealing in this mystery. And while the novel is set in New York City and other locales, it's Southern flavor shines through in the two main characters, Coleman and Dinah Greene, loyal cousins who stick by each other through thick and thin. I'm looking forward to more adventures from these two Southern belles with grit in the future.
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a rollicking, adventurous thriller that is character driven and rapidly paced. I guarantee you won't be able to put it down! I know I wasn't able to!
Reba Williams guides her readers through the amazing world of art wheeling and dealing in this mystery. And while the novel is set in New York City and other locales, it's Southern flavor shines through in the two main characters, Coleman and Dinah Greene, loyal cousins who stick by each other through thick and thin. I'm looking forward to more adventures from these two Southern belles with grit in the future.
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a rollicking, adventurous thriller that is character driven and rapidly paced. I guarantee you won't be able to put it down! I know I wasn't able to!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews