Murder Painted Blue

by Beth Pratt

Véronique Berri’s life is complicated. She’s been trying unsuccessfully to give up her life as a cat burglar. Trying to keep herself occupied, she’s given tours at the Musée d’Orsay and now she’s working on earning her doctorate in art history. But tempting opportunities for theft keep presenting themselves and Véronique is finding it hard not to fall off the wagon. When she’s invited to a re-creation of Yves Klein’s Monotone Symphony at a prominent Paris art gallery, she contemplates stealing one of Klein’s paintings that she saw earlier, but when she’s about to take it, she finds it’s now been switched with a fake. Things go from bad to worse when the body of art historian Thérèse Durand is found with a rolled painting in her hand, naked and painted International Klein Blue, a color patented by the famed artist. When Véronique sees a man who looks suspiciously like her lover, Andrew McFadden leave the scene of the crime, she wonders what else could possibly go wrong. She soon finds out when this same man follows her home, and she realizes the man is not Andrew who is still missing from her life. As circumstances pull Véronique towards the crime, and as the circles of suspects widen, Véronique fears she could be the next victim found dead, painted blue.

ebook

First published August 14, 2013

Reviews

[Dianne Ascroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Murder Painted Blue immediately after I finished the first Veronique Berri novel, A Portrait of Murder. I enjoyed the first book so much that I was keen to start the second – and I wasn’t disappointed. Everything I said in my review in praise of A Portrait of Murder applies to the sequel.

This second cosy mystery in the Veronique Berri series moved along at a steady pace and kept me wanting to turn the page. There were lots of twists and turns to the plot and several suspects kept me guessing ‘who dunnit’. I was sure I had solved the case until I was proved wrong in the last chapter.

The story is again set in Paris’ art world. The setting was familiar but still fresh to me. I enjoyed glimpsing into it once more and it added depth to the murder investigation, providing complex motives for the killer’s and other characters’ actions.

All my favourite characters were back for the second book. Veronique is as gutsy as ever and McFadden is just as alluring. Mme Pavel, who is my favourite, is still slightly dotty but she has also developed into an accomplice in Veronique and McFadden’s escapades. This added to the plot’s humour and tension. A new character, Ewan McFadden, made an appearance and he brought out previously unexplored aspects of Veronique and McFadden. I detested him when he first appeared but gradually warmed to him as the story progressed.

This novel was a very entertaining, light hearted escape and I enjoyed it immensely. The first chapter of book three is included after the last chapter. I couldn’t resist, of course, and I quickly found myself slipping into the continuing escapades of Veronique and McFadden. The third one will take me to the south of France and I’m looking forward to its release. I plan to stick with Veronique, McFadden and Mme Pavel.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. The setting in Paris and the characters were unique. I would read more books by this author.

[Java Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. Started slow. Needs a proofreader. I like this series very much.