A Willful Corpse: An Art of Murder Mystery

by Helen A. Harrison

Where there’s a will, there’s murder.

In the high-stakes game of authenticating artwork by Jackson Pollock, the foremost expert, a feisty character known for his hair-trigger temper, is certain that a bunch of bogus paintings are up for consideration. He believes they’re clever forgeries painted by a member of the late artist’s inner circle. Private detective TJ Fitzgerald is hired to track down the source.
Is it one of Pollock’s drinking buddies, his art dealer, or perhaps his lover?

As the evidence piles up and the culprit’s identity is about to be revealed, a fatal accident derails the investigation. Was it really an accident? Fitzgerald believes it was murder, with the forger as suspect number one. But the victim’s multiple wills suggest other motives. As one lead after another fails to pan out, a chance encounter sends the detective in a new, more sinister, direction.

Genres: Fiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2025

About the author

Helen A. Harrison is an art historian, museum director and journalist who specializes in modern American art. From 1978-2006, she wrote art reviews and feature articles for the Long Island section of The New York Times. She is currently the director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in East Hampton, New York. The museum, a National Historic Landmark, is the former home and studio of Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)
and Lee Krasner (1908-1984), two of the foremost Abstract Expressionist painters.

Reviews

[Denis Wheller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is 1986 and a man has just fallen in front of an NY subway train. Accident, suicide or murder? To find out we must go back a couple of months, to a meeting of the Board which was set up to authenticate the works of Jackson Pollock (1912 – 1956) and his wife Lee Krasner (1908 – 1984), the leading artists in the field of Abstract Expressionism. The job of the Board is to create a definitive record of all valid works and create a Catalogue Raisonné. With an artist as troubled and chaotic as Pollock there are lots of not-well-recorded paintings, a fruitful field for forgery, so much of the work has been examining ‘new’ discoveries and either authenticating or rejecting them based on artistic features, material and provenance. The Board’s expert on Pollock is the renowned Francis Valentine O’Connor PhD, who has been there from the beginning, while the Krasner expert is the recently appointed Ellen Jamieson, whose main credential is that she worked as Krasner’s assistant and is completely familiar with all her work, including examples which are currently unlocated. She also has experience as a researcher and investigator, the latter mainly because of her husband TJ Fitzgerald who is a PI and has been frequently involved with the Art world. It is therefore fitting that when Francis believes there is a serial forger at work he should engage TJ (and Ellen) to investigate, surreptitiously. But does this put a target on his back?
This is the fourth book in a series featuring Ellen and TJ, and focuses very much on the author’s own specialism (she is the director of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in East Hampton, New York). So, although the protagonists here are entirely fictional, everything and everyone else in the story is real, making this an alternative history (a kind of SciFi or Fantasy). It is strongly written and solidly plotted as a whodunnit, with lots of accurate detail. Indeed my only concern is that she gets a bit carried away in establishing Ellen’s Krasner background, which I found made it lose pace. That aside its an excellent read. I think a 4.5 rounded to 5 is appropriate.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[Lydia Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen A. Harrison’s A Willful Corpse is a brilliant blend of art, mystery, and human intrigue the kind of story that pulls you in with its atmosphere and keeps you hooked with its sharp intelligence. As someone who genuinely enjoys a good whodunit, this book gave me exactly what I was craving: a mystery that’s not just about solving a crime, but about peeling back the layers of greed, ego, and obsession in the art world.

From the very beginning, Harrison paints a vivid picture of the competitive and sometimes cutthroat environment surrounding art authentication. You can practically feel the tension when the foremost expert starts calling out possible forgeries of Jackson Pollock’s work. What I loved most was how real and flawed these characters felt especially TJ Fitzgerald, the private detective. He’s not your cliché tough guy; he’s clever, observant, and surprisingly human in his doubts and persistence.

The pacing is perfect never rushed, never dull. Each chapter feels like another brushstroke in a larger masterpiece. As the story unfolds, every clue, every misdirection, and every suspicious character adds depth to the mystery. The forgeries, the multiple wills, the supposed “accident” it all intertwines beautifully, and just when I thought I had figured it out, Harrison threw in a twist that genuinely surprised me.

What makes A Willful Corpse stand out is how it balances intellect and emotion. It’s not only about murder and deceit but also about legacy, authenticity, and the value we place on art and truth. The writing is sharp yet elegant, filled with vivid details that make you feel like you’re right there in the studios, the galleries, and the smoky backrooms where secrets fester.

By the end, I was left with that satisfying mix of closure and curiosity the hallmark of a great mystery. Helen A. Harrison has crafted a story that’s as thought provoking as it is entertaining. If you love mysteries with substance, strong characterization, and an authentic look into the art world, A Willful Corpse is absolutely worth reading.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I struggled to stick with this one at first. The first chapter which involves a mysterious subway “accident” grabbed my attention right away, but that’s followed with a lot of board room politicking and a roomful of egocentric characters who are generally not likable. However, once I plowed through the early chapters and the action really began, I could not put this down. The plot is cleverly constructed and moves along at a rapid pace. I appreciated the author’s respectful treatment of a particular kind of disease as well.

I had not read the author’s earlier books featuring TJ Fitzgerald, but I will seek them out.

[Eira Hawthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, Witty, and Full of Intrigue

A Willful Corpse is a sharp and engaging mystery set in the cutthroat world of art authentication. Helen A. Harrison delivers a perfect mix of colorful characters, tangled motives, and sly twists. Private detective TJ Fitzgerald is relentless and likable, leading readers through a web of forgeries, grudges, and murder with style. Smart, suspenseful, and satisfyingly unpredictable.