The Namatjira Connection (Book 16)

Genevieve Lenard #16

by Estelle Ryan

Looted artworks. Italian Mafia. Deepfakes.The weekend in Italy is supposed to be a family event—a celebration as well as a break for the whole team to enjoy everything Naples has to offer. As it is, Doctor Genevieve Lenard is hard-pushed to keep an autistic shutdown at bay while surrounded by boisterous relatives and friends. When armed police interrupt the festivities to arrest a cousin for murder, relaxation becomes the last thing on her mind and staying in the moment, the foremost. A mere glimpse at the ‘irrefutable’ evidence is enough for Genevieve to know she and her team have their work cut out to prove the family member is being set up. When they realise they are dealing with the most brutal of mafias—the Camorra, and they uncover the clan’s end goal, the stakes are suddenly extremely high. And terrifying. Never in her wildest dreams could Genevieve imagine someone planning something as deplorable as this. Something as ruthless. Something that can cause such immeasurable harm. With more questions than answers, Genevieve and her team have to find and stop this clan before thousands of people lose their lives.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Italy, Suspense, Contemporary, Thriller, Art

387 pages, Paperback

Published January 12, 2024

About the author

Estelle Ryan was born in South Africa and spent her childhood being surrounded by African beauty, nature and diversity of cultures. Her first trip to Europe at the tender age of 16 transformed her world into a much larger place, endless in its possibilities and places to explore. For most of her adulthood she’s travelled all over the world, lived on a few continents, explored numerous cultures and still is insatiable in the quest to still the hunger for more life experiences.

She’s written for numerous international magazines, was the editor of a European lifestyle magazine and has seven romance novels published under a pseudonym. With her interest in international politics, arts, crime, behavioural psychology, criminal psychology and music, she decided to combine all these elements in her writing. And so Genevieve and the team came into being.

She is an unabashed coffeeshopaholic. Good coffee, ambience and music in the perfect combination is all that is required to turn a mundane coffee shop into her 'office'. The appropriate coffee shop is chosen depending on the mood, the weather, the type and amount of work that needs to be done, and of course the craving of the day. All of her books have been written in numerous coffee shops all over the world.

Reviews

[Maryann Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Namatjira Connection, the 16th book in Estelle Ryan's Dr. Genevieve Lenard series. The book includes the regular characters, Genevieve, Colin, Manny, Vinny, and introduced a potential new member of the team. I have enjoyed the evolution of Genevieve's character and her relationship with the team members throughout the series. This is not my favorite Lenard novel, however it is a satisfying read. It can be read as a stand-alone, yet I recommend starting with book one, The Gauguin Connection, and reading the series in chronological order. 3.5 stars.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG when is Book 17 coming?

Well that's quite a cliffhanger to leave us on. I'd sort of guessed some of the plot along the way but hellfire, Estelle did it again. When will these books be a tv or film franchise?

[Pontiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

When in Italy for Vinnie and Roxy’s wedding, their host, Vinnie’s cousin Carlo is accused of murder. He’s innocent, but is also dying, and asks Vinnie to look after his two children, whom he recently learned about.

Everyone bands together to help Cub clear his cousin’s name, and a lawyer is brought in to help. Jazzy and Daniel were a couple in the past, but she moved for a job, so now he couches for her with the team.

They discover that the Camarro mafia are big in Naples, and the leader has set up Carlo and kills others they talk to as they get closer to the truth.

They explore some tunnels, learn all about Vesuvius, then finally out together Marco, the Camarro leader’s, plan.

They have help from an important source, and from Jazzy, as well as the police inspector, Stefano.

It’s great to see everyone working on this mafia crime, and for Daniel to find his person. I love the kids Roxy and Vinnie take on raising, and how Vinnie isn’t insecure about his “swimmers” not working.

I also love the artist Namatjiri that Colin talked about, as challenging colonialism has been happening for generations on a global scale.

Lastly, this instalment refers to how people mange’s during the pandemic, the fears and the sanitization, and tge devastating loss of so many.

Another excellent book. Waiting for the next one.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put it down

Another case the team inadvertently stumble into as Vinnie and Roxy hold a second wedding ceremony and reception at his cousin Carlos stunning home near Naples.

Vinnie hasn't been in contact with Carlos for 15 years; Carlos shut out his entire family and cut all contact, but before the cousins who once as close as brothers can reestablish their relationship Carlos reveals he has 7 year old twins and then a heavily armed police guard arrives and arrests him for murdering an art dealer.

Pulling strings, the team abandons the festivities, leaving the children with Roxy and Nikki and head into a world of deep fakes and AI, cancel culture, stolen artworks, and the Camora a mafia group that have been ruining lives and running the region for decades.

Truly engrossing and unputdownable. Rich in detail with captivating characters who are all compelling in their own ways. As always, when a new book in the series arrives, I gallop compulsively through it and then have to reread the entire series straight through again... as a neurodiverse person, we need more authors who portray autism positively, we're not all nonverbal, we are as equally diverse in our abilities and capabilities as neurotypical people are...

Thank you Estelle

[anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I’m going to take another break from this series. The books are so plot-heavy that you have to concentrate and stay constantly invested. This time I was tired and ended up skipping a lot, so the book didn’t give me as much enjoyment as I wanted.

I liked getting a glimpse of Vinnie and Roxy’s reception, but I wish the proposal and actual wedding had been included too. I really enjoy reading about the more intimate interactions—like Colin cuddling Genevieve or them spooning while sleeping—and I wish there were more of those details in the series.

Another issue for me is how quickly time passes. By this 16th book, ten years have passed in book years since the first one. The characters aren’t getting any younger, and I’m worried they’ll end up dying of old age if this pace continues.

I also didn’t like Yasmine, who’s clearly a new permanent addition to the team. Her personality felt too similar to Roxy’s or Francine’s, and she seemed like she was trying too hard to be accepted.

“Aw, poor Vinnie pooh-bear.” Yasmine grabbed Vinnie and hugged him hard. He tried to shake her off, but she held on, snort-laughing. “I’ll tell Roxy to make you some hot chocolate when we get home.”

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in this series, all the more welcome as it had been a while since the last one. There were a handful of typos, but nothing that distracted me too much from the story. And, based on the ending, I think there's another adventure to come, which also makes me happy as these characters are always enjoyable to meet up with.

In this case, Vinnie and Roxy are getting married and have been offered the use of his cousin Carlo's estate near Naples. So, of course, the whole gang comes along. Everything is going great until an armed unit of the Carabinieri show up to arrest cousin Carlo for the murder of a local art dealer. Though he claims innocence, the evidence is irrefutable: they have a video!

The gang jumps quickly into action, getting permission to assist in the investigation. Colin's knowledge of art is instrumental, as is Genevieve's ability to read people. The others also reach out to contacts and use their skills to research the local Mafia clans, stolen art, and this geologic history of Vesuvius.

And, as is usually the case with these books, I learned about an artist new-to-me: the Namatjira of the title. Definitely looking forward to #17.

[M J Gorence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mount Vesuvius provides the backdrop for the anticipated nuptials of Vince and Roxy, two characters whom readers of the Genevieve Lenard series have fondly adopted in their cache of favorites. However idyllic the setting appears, it is soon disturbed by death and deception. Dr. Genevieve and Colin find themselves, along with others that readers have come to know, involved in proving that Carlo, Vinnie's cousin and host for the wedding celebration, is not the perpetrator but the victim of a murder and art heist.
The landscape of Naples and surrounding Campagnia give readers a true depiction of this section of southern Italy. Estelle Ryan introduces the work of Namatjira, an Australian artist, whose fame may not be as familiar as the names of others in her repertoire of art masters. Weaving the history of Naples, the power of the mafia, and the art of stolen masterpieces provides a web of intrigue to the narrative. However, at the end of the work, E. Ryan leaves the reader with the unsolved mystery of the Mondi and an introduction to Yasmine, whose story has yet to be told.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

LOVE Genevieve Lenard and her team! This book was very entertaining... and a bit scary! It almost jumped the shark for me, but then I realized that everything in this book is probably already possible, which is the scary part.

I so appreciate how Genevieve represents a non-neurotypical, and how much she's been able to adapt and change to those who love her and whom she loves. In this book, Roxy and Vince get married - in Italy! At the home of Vinnie's cousin, so we get lots of Vinnie's aunts and family.

Of course, stolen art is discovered in the course of a murder investigation, after Vinnie's cousin (the host in Italy) is arrested for the murder. And what art! I appreciate the links in the Kindle book, so that I can look up each masterpiece online to truly immerse myself in the story.

Genevieve and her team are on it, working with the Italian police and an old friend of Daniel's... or should I say old flame? Sparks!

Great book - Great Read!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the most recent in this series, I realized I had purchased, but not got around to reading this one, which is #16, and ties directly to #17. So, I backed up one to read about the group's visit to Italy for Vinnie and Roxie's wedding at the home of Vinnie's cousin. During the reception, Vinnie is arrested for murder, based on a video of him doing it. As Ginny using her ability to read micro expressions and body language affirms he is telling the truth when he proclaims his innocence, the team starts working to find out who is framing him. This is a particularly intriguing investigation with mafia types trying for a particularly bloody distraction as they escape to their dream island. The interaction between the investigative team and local police officials is gratifying and the addition of a couple more young children to the "family" is heartwarming. And yes of course there is a tie to a famous artist (this time from Australia).

[Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to previous books in the series, I found this one disappointing.

Dr. Genevieve Lenard is non-neurotypical. In the first book of the series, The Gaugin Connection, she’s a reclusive loner. She works for a high-end insurance company analyzing data, which includes her deep knowledge of body language and facial movement. As the series progresses, she starts to gather people around her, and becomes more open to many things that would have previously sent her into a shutdown. She and her ever-enlarging team develop a reputation for solving art crimes.

Each book focuses attention on a particular artist, some well known, like Gaugin, and some not so well known, like Namatjira.

It’s an interesting series with an intriguing protagonist, but this one felt, well, shallow. Superficial, compared to its predecessors. Still a worthwhile read.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these books for two main reasons, the interesting group interactions and the way Genevieve analyses information gathered by the group and reaches conclusions to solve the cases.
There were some interesting group interactions, although Manny is becoming increasingly annoying, but there seemed to be a lot of standing around talking about bad guys and their crimes with not much else going, When things finally began to happen it felt very random and irritatingly disjointed. Also there is a lot of talking around an issue, going off at tangents and over the same ground several times.
It wasn’t until nearly the end of the book when Genevieve’s analysis made a contribution, even then it was so obvious, even I had already come to the same conclusion.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the fifteen prior books in this series, I have finally read enough to begin to know which breadcrumbs dropped by the author to follow. I am still learning which ones to ignore. This actually adds to my enjoyment of the series because I still need to keep reading to see if I am correct in my assumptions.
The last few chapters before the denouement were like riding a roller coaster with each chapter ending at the crest of a hill so that I just had to keep reading to learn what happened next in the story. Few authors provide such interesting denouement chapters at the end of their books as Estelle Ryan. She not only gently guides the reader through the ending, she also whets the appetite for the next book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read with Genevieve and team!

I really enjoyed another art crimes case opened and closed by Genevieve Lenard and her colorful team. The setting of this one - Naples, Italy, with the mention of a large array of artists and artworks was especially enjoyable.
However, the overall “construction” of this read seemed a bit sloppier than others by Estelle Ryan. I caught at least a half dozen typos, and Manny’s idioms were far overdone. I’m excited that Ryan has recently released several more in this series, but I do hope the editing is cleaned up in those.
Still, my favorite series will have me coming back as long as there are more to read.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a long wait for a subpar book. Too much narrative regarding volcano, tunnels, history not enough explanation regarding actual plot. So long since last book, who can remember what was going on, then boom, a book set in Italy around a second wedding? Perhaps the series should have ended with book 15. Plus the fact that I actually had to buy the book to read it - not in any libraries save one as an audible book. What's that about? Luckily, I had Amazon points to use. If I had actually paid more than $3, I would have been very unhappy. A snooze fest.

[Pam Venne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Estelle Ryan book, and I felt like I was entering the middle of a series with too many names of people whose roles and relationships I did not know. While I understand that cursing happens in special ops teams, I did not anticipate how much there would be in the book.

Dr. Genvieve Leonard is on the autism spectrum, and the writer helps readers understand how their minds function. Perhaps this is the reason for the series.

If you are going to read anything in this series, I would suggest you start at the beginning and not at the latest novel.

[Janise Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for cold winter's evenings.

Having read all of the Dr. Genevieve Lenard books (in order), I am enjoying the main character 's neurodiverse mind when listening (or reading) "normal people's speech. Her reactions cross my mind in my daily life, when I hear the same euphimisms. I believe that exemplifies why she is a memorable character. This book is a cliffhanger, as expected, though I was able to figure out 2 clues, unlike usual, when 0 or 1 are my scores. I hope you enjoy the read. It's worth the time.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rounded up to a 4 here. Book 16 in this series and the constant pointing out of Genevieve’s neurodiverse brain is getting labor-some. I skipped every paragraph elaborating on how she dealt with it, because I’ve already read that paragraph in so many books in this series. She also goes on too much about how much of a team they are as well as exaggerating the personalities. No need to redevelop each character in each book.

The story itself was fun. Let that be the focus!

[Lance Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always captivating

The story told from Jen-girl's perspective is always a refreshing take. It reflects a subtle way of communicating meaning as related or interpreted by various cultural lenses. As much as I love the female characters, the new "Francine" is a little too much like the original "Francine" and I wished for a different nuance in female personalities. Maybe someone who is more straightforward?

[Debi Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good storyline with interesting facts about the artist Albert Namatjira, deepfaking, Naples and Vesuvius.
I enjoyed the introduction to the new characters, especially Yasmine (Jazzy). I often wonder why this series has not been assigned to Audible.
Please don't make us wait to long for book 17.

[Dana Saint · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Genevieve Lenard books. I was afraid there wouldn’t be any more. I am so glad to know she will have another story. Genevieve is amazing, she fights hard to be in the world of the neurotypical. I she accepts herself and and her family for who they are. That is a lesson we should all learn. I was so glad Vinnie and Roxy got married. Loved the story, even with the sad parts.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous book in the Dr. Genevieve Lenard series and another success by Estelle Ryan! Loved it!! I did miss some of the characters’ usual quirkiness, like not calling Manny handsome in front of strangers and it felt a little rushed, but as usual I loved the plot and characters in general. Can’t wait for the cliffhanger to be solved in the next book.

[Wendy Hampton]

What a great group of characters!

Italian maffia, brutal. Murders, and deep fake video of an innocent victim. Art treasures hidden in secret rooms and underground tunnels are a fascinating story I couldn't put down until the end! Every book with Dr Genevieve leaves tense until the final scene. Gosh I hope the series continues quickly!

[Anne Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This series continues to captivate me, even after 16 entries in the series! The characters are fascinating and complex, the plots are twisty and intelligent, and the suspense keeps me on my toes! As with every entry in this series, I continue to learn so much about not just the art world, but politics and history around the world. The lead, Genevieve Lenard, a brilliant woman with autism, drew me to this series, and her battle to use her strengths, and fight her weaknesses to solve crime and protect her team continue to draw me in.

This latest entry takes us to Italy for Vinnie and Roxie's wedding, and the team is quickly drawn into investigating new art crimes involving organized crime families, and threats from Mt Vesuvius.

I highly recommend this entire series for the art crime, international intrigue, and a touch of romance.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this novel. I’m not very charitable and am very tired of Genevieve’s ‘disease’. Tired of all the things she sees, perceives, analyses. This trip to grander than grand place near Naples, where Vinnie got married a second time. Then the drama unfolded but everyone is always kind, kissing each other and winking. All that winking surely is bad for you!

[Melanie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Mystery

I love this series! The mysteries that Genevieve and the team solve are interesting with many twists and turns. I love the art and other historical references given in the books and enjoy working through the clues with the team. I love that Daniel may have found his person in this book. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Kim Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy this series. My only comment on this one would be if it is the first time you’ve read this author, you may not have the full appreciation for all the characters as they are added and developed over time as the series progresses. This book has them all but without a lot of background on each. Nevertheless, a good story

[Loretta Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very formulaic and predictable while Genevieve's "family" continues to grow with the addition of Yasmine and the twins. At this rate, they'll need to permanently move into the twins' villa to house them all! I loved the first books in this series, but now they just seem tired and repetitive, almost like they are written by AI at this point.

[Annmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story this was. I loved it. Genevieve and the rest of the characters are so wonderfully written that they feel like friends every time I pick up one of the books. I’m just sad that now I have to wait for the next one.

[Laurie Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Long Wait is over…. for now!

Finally another book! It was wonderful! I love the quirkiness of the characters, the respect they give each other, and the friendly teasing! The plot was intriguing and almost believable!😬

[Laurie Fite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books! Not only are they good mysteries, nut I always learn something when I read them. It was fun to see the development of the characters I have grown to love over the prior 15 books. Well-written, perfectly paced, and a joy to read!