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The Fine Art of Lying
From the critically acclaimed author of Who is Maud Dixon? comes a riveting new novel about a young wife and mother in a world of wealth and privilege, whose rash mistake sets off a domino effect of murder and betrayal.
In the beginning, there was art.
It was Clare Bast’s love of art that saved her from a bleak, predictable life in upstate New York, and drew her to the cultured world of Manhattan’s Upper East Side where she met Jed, her doting, affluent husband.
Despite her best efforts—including a half-finished PhD, abandoned when her daughter Sadie was born—Clare secretly can’t help but feel like an imposter in Jed’s one-percent, Park-Avenue life.
When the well-connected wife of Jed’s new boss introduces her to influential friends—a curator here, a gallerist there, an aficionado abroad—Clare feels an essential part of herself coming alive again. And when she discovers that an important work painted by the subject of her unfinished dissertation is hanging in the brownstone of a seductively attractive dealer, she believes fate is leading her where she belongs . . . until she finds herself at the scene of a gruesome murder and a stolen masterpiece. Caught in the perfectly wrong place at the perfectly wrong time, every clue the investigation uncovers points back to her.
Suddenly, Clare is trapped inside a dark and treacherous art world filled with unscrupulous dealers and international criminals. What, exactly, has she gotten herself into . . . and how is she going to get herself, and her family, out?
In the beginning, there was art.
It was Clare Bast’s love of art that saved her from a bleak, predictable life in upstate New York, and drew her to the cultured world of Manhattan’s Upper East Side where she met Jed, her doting, affluent husband.
Despite her best efforts—including a half-finished PhD, abandoned when her daughter Sadie was born—Clare secretly can’t help but feel like an imposter in Jed’s one-percent, Park-Avenue life.
When the well-connected wife of Jed’s new boss introduces her to influential friends—a curator here, a gallerist there, an aficionado abroad—Clare feels an essential part of herself coming alive again. And when she discovers that an important work painted by the subject of her unfinished dissertation is hanging in the brownstone of a seductively attractive dealer, she believes fate is leading her where she belongs . . . until she finds herself at the scene of a gruesome murder and a stolen masterpiece. Caught in the perfectly wrong place at the perfectly wrong time, every clue the investigation uncovers points back to her.
Suddenly, Clare is trapped inside a dark and treacherous art world filled with unscrupulous dealers and international criminals. What, exactly, has she gotten herself into . . . and how is she going to get herself, and her family, out?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Alexandra Andrews
2 books974 followersI'm a journalist-turned-copywriter-turned-novelist, with a brief stint as a graphic designer somewhere in there. I've lived in New York City for my entire life, except for the year and a half I spent in Paris writing Who Is Maud Dixon? I now live in Brooklyn with my husband and two children and am (theoretically) working on my second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,568 reviews
June 14, 2026
Alexandra Andrews sets The Fine Art of Lying in New York's art world, where nothing looks quite as polished as it seems and everyone appears to be hiding something.
You may recall Andrews from her debut novel Who Is Maud Dixon? (2021).
Her new thriller does not disappoint: addictive, twists aplenty, and very easy to keep reading "just one more chapter."
Prepare to stay up past midnight.
March 31, 2026
I had kind of a hard time with this one.
It’s interesting, on the whole, but I felt like it fell a little flat.
The whole premise of Clare, this girl who grew up as a “nobody” and then somehow found herself with this great guy Jed, who is part of NYCs elite. And her being thrusted into this world of money and power, being someone she could have never imagined becoming, and how one small encounter causes her entire life to turn upside down. And force Clare to look at everything and ask herself 2”what it is she truly wants in her life.
I thought the parts with Gabriel and Clare were great. The chemistry was there, with this underlying “danger” element. I loved their passion for art, and how that increased their attraction to each other. I don’t think I’ve ever routed for someone to cheat on their husband before hahaha.
Jed isn’t a bad guy, he actually seems nice and like someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly, but he’s been raised in a type of environment, and with a type of mother who has done everything for him, and placed certain expectations and pressure upon him.
Neither one, Jed or Clare are living the life they had originally wanted. And it’s sad that in their marriage they seem so far away from one another.
Things for me took a turn, after Gabriel. I won’t give spoilers, but I will say, that while there were some twists along the way, they didn’t really “hit” me. They didn’t pack a punch.
The entire prob last third of the book, I was like “ok. I wanna know what happens but I’m just kind of going through the motions.” I wish that there would have been more of a “wow” factor somehow, so that certain things that happened would have almost invigorated me back into the story.
This is not a bad book. I enjoyed it, but as I said, it just fell flat.
It’s interesting, on the whole, but I felt like it fell a little flat.
The whole premise of Clare, this girl who grew up as a “nobody” and then somehow found herself with this great guy Jed, who is part of NYCs elite. And her being thrusted into this world of money and power, being someone she could have never imagined becoming, and how one small encounter causes her entire life to turn upside down. And force Clare to look at everything and ask herself 2”what it is she truly wants in her life.
I thought the parts with Gabriel and Clare were great. The chemistry was there, with this underlying “danger” element. I loved their passion for art, and how that increased their attraction to each other. I don’t think I’ve ever routed for someone to cheat on their husband before hahaha.
Jed isn’t a bad guy, he actually seems nice and like someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly, but he’s been raised in a type of environment, and with a type of mother who has done everything for him, and placed certain expectations and pressure upon him.
Neither one, Jed or Clare are living the life they had originally wanted. And it’s sad that in their marriage they seem so far away from one another.
Things for me took a turn, after Gabriel. I won’t give spoilers, but I will say, that while there were some twists along the way, they didn’t really “hit” me. They didn’t pack a punch.
The entire prob last third of the book, I was like “ok. I wanna know what happens but I’m just kind of going through the motions.” I wish that there would have been more of a “wow” factor somehow, so that certain things that happened would have almost invigorated me back into the story.
This is not a bad book. I enjoyed it, but as I said, it just fell flat.
June 7, 2026
Clare Best, an art expert, is married into a wealthy family complete with a wicked MIL. She’s a stay-at-home mother with her career and PhD on hold.
She’s thrust into a world of wealth, privilege, and power when she’s introduced to an art gallery owner. Being immersed in the world of art makes her feel alive.
That is, until a death and a stolen masterpiece thrusts her into a world of murder, lies, and deception when she becomes the prime suspect.
I didn’t really care about the art world talk so the story had a slow beginning for me. Plus a stupid decision on Clare’s part didn’t help me root for her when things went sideways.
But at 30% the story really takes off and it’s worth hanging in through a slow start. The twists and surprises are there but I’d definitely categorize this as a literary fiction mystery, not a thriller.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. But I listened to most of it on audio, as Therese Plummer’s narration was excellent.
* All opinions are my own.
.
She’s thrust into a world of wealth, privilege, and power when she’s introduced to an art gallery owner. Being immersed in the world of art makes her feel alive.
That is, until a death and a stolen masterpiece thrusts her into a world of murder, lies, and deception when she becomes the prime suspect.
I didn’t really care about the art world talk so the story had a slow beginning for me. Plus a stupid decision on Clare’s part didn’t help me root for her when things went sideways.
But at 30% the story really takes off and it’s worth hanging in through a slow start. The twists and surprises are there but I’d definitely categorize this as a literary fiction mystery, not a thriller.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. But I listened to most of it on audio, as Therese Plummer’s narration was excellent.
* All opinions are my own.
.
Want to Read
August 2, 2026I really want to read this.
May 1, 2026
3.25⭐️ I wonder if my expectations would’ve been different if this had been presented as literary fiction with a splash of mystery. That’s really what it is…I wouldn’t call it a thriller. The writing is fantastic, but the plot and characters felt a bit lacking for me. Interestingly, I enjoyed the first half more than the second, which seems to go against a lot of other reviews. My suggestion: go in expecting lit fic, and you’ll probably enjoy it more.
June 7, 2026
The Fine Art of Lying
is Alexandra Andrews’s highly anticipated sophomore novel, coming 5 years after her debut
Who is Maud Dixon?
(which I have not yet read). I decided to pick this one up due to it being a book club pick and having just finished it literally this morning, I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. While the writing flowed well and this was a relatively quick, easy read, I did struggle somewhat with certain aspects of the story as well as the characters (which I will get back to in a bit).
First, I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with majority of the reviewers who mention that the thriller / suspense aspect of the book fell extremely flat. I think for me, the problem was the structure – the first half of the book focused mostly on setting up the background for the crime that eventually takes place, with the main protagonist Clare Bast trying to overcome the “imposter syndrome” she feels after marrying into an uber wealthy family and having to navigate the complicated dynamics that come with it. Clare ends up having an extramarital affair with a charismatic art dealer and soon finds herself sucked into the unfortunate predicament of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when a murder and robbery take place, The second half of the story then pivots to focusing on the mystery and, of course, figuring out what happened and why. The way the story unfolded, the “final reveal” ended up being anti-climactic and the “solving” part pertaining to the murder and robbery lacked any feeling of suspense or thrill. Sure, there were some surprising moments that I’m guessing were supposed to be “twists” but those were written in a way where the “twist” part barely registered.
Having said all that, one area where I seem to digress from many of the other reviewers is that, despite the lack of suspense / thriller elements, I actually liked the second half of the story more than the first half. The reason for this has more to do with me as a reader rather than problems with the book itself. With a few exceptions, I’m overall not a fan of the “rich people behaving badly” trope and unfortunately, this book not only had that in spades, the trope pretty much turned out to be the premise of the entire story. As such, I could not stand any of the characters in the story and especially not the protagonist Clare, who honestly irritated me to no end because she fit exactly the type of pathetically ridiculous “let me see how many stupid decisions I can get away with making and then berate myself endlessly over those decisions” character that I find frustrating and hugely annoying. As if that weren’t enough though, what made Clare even more annoying (for me at least) was how she kept trying to find excuses for her behavior and actions, but those excuses were not just ridiculous, but also contradictory and nonsensical. For example – one minute, Clare would be claiming that she was naïve, but then the next minute, she would say that she recognized she was being reckless, but oh well, whatever, she was going to forge ahead anyway knowing full well what the consequences would be; then later, she seems to contradict both of those excuses when she claims that she had merely “let her attention wander” and next thing she knew, she “became someone else” and failed to notice it in time. Clare was, of course, referring to her extramarital affair, which, because it occupied a huge swath of the book’s first half, was the reason why I preferred the second half of the book to the first half. No, it’s not because Clare was less irritating in the second half (she never stopped being annoying in my opinion), but because the second half was more focused on solving the mystery rather than Clare’s behavior and actions. Basically, for me, the first half of the story can be summed up as “Clare and her reckless actions makes a trainwreck of her life and even when she recognizes this, she keeps doing it anyway because she doesn’t seem to have the willpower to stop herself from being reckless” (the word “reckless” actually appears so many times throughout the book that I can’t help but wonder whether this is the author’s favorite word?).
Overall, I found this to be an okay read – not great but not horrible either (hence why I decided to rate this one 3 stars, which, for me, is the happy medium). I think the key with this one is to go into it with the right expectations – meaning don’t expect a thrill ride, but rather a slow-burn literary mystery of sorts that takes time to unravel. Some parts of the story also requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, but that’s to be expected given the nature of the genre. I usually enjoy literary mysteries more than suspense/thrillers, but this one in particular didn’t really work for me, mostly because of the unlikeable characters, though of course, this is just me and my specific tastes, so I would suggest also checking out other reviews before deciding whether to pick this up or not.
First, I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with majority of the reviewers who mention that the thriller / suspense aspect of the book fell extremely flat. I think for me, the problem was the structure – the first half of the book focused mostly on setting up the background for the crime that eventually takes place, with the main protagonist Clare Bast trying to overcome the “imposter syndrome” she feels after marrying into an uber wealthy family and having to navigate the complicated dynamics that come with it. Clare ends up having an extramarital affair with a charismatic art dealer and soon finds herself sucked into the unfortunate predicament of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when a murder and robbery take place, The second half of the story then pivots to focusing on the mystery and, of course, figuring out what happened and why. The way the story unfolded, the “final reveal” ended up being anti-climactic and the “solving” part pertaining to the murder and robbery lacked any feeling of suspense or thrill. Sure, there were some surprising moments that I’m guessing were supposed to be “twists” but those were written in a way where the “twist” part barely registered.
Having said all that, one area where I seem to digress from many of the other reviewers is that, despite the lack of suspense / thriller elements, I actually liked the second half of the story more than the first half. The reason for this has more to do with me as a reader rather than problems with the book itself. With a few exceptions, I’m overall not a fan of the “rich people behaving badly” trope and unfortunately, this book not only had that in spades, the trope pretty much turned out to be the premise of the entire story. As such, I could not stand any of the characters in the story and especially not the protagonist Clare, who honestly irritated me to no end because she fit exactly the type of pathetically ridiculous “let me see how many stupid decisions I can get away with making and then berate myself endlessly over those decisions” character that I find frustrating and hugely annoying. As if that weren’t enough though, what made Clare even more annoying (for me at least) was how she kept trying to find excuses for her behavior and actions, but those excuses were not just ridiculous, but also contradictory and nonsensical. For example – one minute, Clare would be claiming that she was naïve, but then the next minute, she would say that she recognized she was being reckless, but oh well, whatever, she was going to forge ahead anyway knowing full well what the consequences would be; then later, she seems to contradict both of those excuses when she claims that she had merely “let her attention wander” and next thing she knew, she “became someone else” and failed to notice it in time. Clare was, of course, referring to her extramarital affair, which, because it occupied a huge swath of the book’s first half, was the reason why I preferred the second half of the book to the first half. No, it’s not because Clare was less irritating in the second half (she never stopped being annoying in my opinion), but because the second half was more focused on solving the mystery rather than Clare’s behavior and actions. Basically, for me, the first half of the story can be summed up as “Clare and her reckless actions makes a trainwreck of her life and even when she recognizes this, she keeps doing it anyway because she doesn’t seem to have the willpower to stop herself from being reckless” (the word “reckless” actually appears so many times throughout the book that I can’t help but wonder whether this is the author’s favorite word?).
Overall, I found this to be an okay read – not great but not horrible either (hence why I decided to rate this one 3 stars, which, for me, is the happy medium). I think the key with this one is to go into it with the right expectations – meaning don’t expect a thrill ride, but rather a slow-burn literary mystery of sorts that takes time to unravel. Some parts of the story also requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, but that’s to be expected given the nature of the genre. I usually enjoy literary mysteries more than suspense/thrillers, but this one in particular didn’t really work for me, mostly because of the unlikeable characters, though of course, this is just me and my specific tastes, so I would suggest also checking out other reviews before deciding whether to pick this up or not.
November 10, 2026
The Fine Art of Lying is what happens when you throw a domestic thriller, an art-world mystery, and a Russian oligarch conspiracy into a blender with expensive champagne.
Clare is a former art history PhD student turned Park Avenue stay-at-home mom who feels increasingly out of place in her husband’s wealthy world. Then she meets a charming French art dealer, begins an affair, and gets pulled into a very messy situation involving a valuable painting, powerful people, and a whole lot of lying.
I had a blast with this. The writing is sharp, the pacing is fast, and the Manhattan art-world setting was delicious. But by the end, the twists had twists and the conspiracy had gotten out of hand.
Was it believable? Ehhh.
Was I entertained? Absolutely.
Fun, messy, clever, and gloriously over-the-top.
Clare is a former art history PhD student turned Park Avenue stay-at-home mom who feels increasingly out of place in her husband’s wealthy world. Then she meets a charming French art dealer, begins an affair, and gets pulled into a very messy situation involving a valuable painting, powerful people, and a whole lot of lying.
I had a blast with this. The writing is sharp, the pacing is fast, and the Manhattan art-world setting was delicious. But by the end, the twists had twists and the conspiracy had gotten out of hand.
Was it believable? Ehhh.
Was I entertained? Absolutely.
Fun, messy, clever, and gloriously over-the-top.
May 6, 2026
4 stars. Reese Book Club - May ‘26 pick. Set inside the NYC art scene, this follows Clare, from her predictable life in upstate NY, to her marriage into Jed’s one-percent Park Avenue life that includes motherhood, betrayal, money and murder. If you enjoy reading about messy rich people drama you’ll want to read this. It’s a good one. A great thriller, very twisty. This book pushed me to add “Who is Maud Dixon” to my ‘26 must-read backlist (I heard it’s just as twisty!) 🎧 Pub. 5/5/26
July 2, 2026
I hope I never have to read the word Longfin again
October 12, 2026
Set against the backdrop of the art world, The Fine Art of Lying is a thriller following a stay-at-home mother with a half-finished PhD. Clare Bast is a former art scholar; she only abandoned her dissertation after the birth of her daughter, instead living in her husband, Jed's, elite Manhattan life.
But Jed's connections pull her back into the art world, this time filled with influential curators, gallerists, and art dealers. In particular, she meets Gabriel Prévost, an art dealer in possession of a work painted by Blake Webley, the subject of her abandoned dissertation. Despite being comfortably married with a daughter she adores, Clare begins a passionate affair with Gabriel. After marrying into Jed's wealthy family, Clare always felt like an imposter. She felt like a nobody until she met him, moving into the upscale life of New York. But with Gabriel, she finds her true passion of art re-emerging, their chemistry strong over their love for mastery.
The story then pivots. Instead of a story just about cheating, things escalate when Clare finds herself stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. With a murder and art robbery, Clare finds herself as the primary suspect, with evidence seeming to pin her and her husband at the scene. The narrative unfolds, showing Clare take matters in her own hands to prove her innocence and right the wrong of the beloved artwork.
This novel was not what I was expecting. The first half and second half felt so distinct. Going into it, I simply thought it would be about the affair. The chemistry between Clare and Gabriel was written quite well, and I expected the narrative to focus on how Clare finds herself and returns to the art world, finishing her PhD. Instead, the first half simply served to set the scene for what became quite the convoluted art and murder mystery. The last few chapters start to read quickly, keeping me on my toes with who to trust.
In terms of the scene, I could tell the author did her homework in making references to artists and aesthetic eras. However, not being too familiar with the subject, I may of not appreciated it to its full extent. The key art-piece and artist that Clare's dissertation on was fictional, but I found it clever how it was incorporated. As with most mysteries, you do have to suspend some belief to get on board with the ending. Some characters acted too naively, and some pieces did not quite add up. Though in its entirety, I enjoyed this read. It was easy to tell myself just one more chapter!
But Jed's connections pull her back into the art world, this time filled with influential curators, gallerists, and art dealers. In particular, she meets Gabriel Prévost, an art dealer in possession of a work painted by Blake Webley, the subject of her abandoned dissertation. Despite being comfortably married with a daughter she adores, Clare begins a passionate affair with Gabriel. After marrying into Jed's wealthy family, Clare always felt like an imposter. She felt like a nobody until she met him, moving into the upscale life of New York. But with Gabriel, she finds her true passion of art re-emerging, their chemistry strong over their love for mastery.
The story then pivots. Instead of a story just about cheating, things escalate when Clare finds herself stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. With a murder and art robbery, Clare finds herself as the primary suspect, with evidence seeming to pin her and her husband at the scene. The narrative unfolds, showing Clare take matters in her own hands to prove her innocence and right the wrong of the beloved artwork.
This novel was not what I was expecting. The first half and second half felt so distinct. Going into it, I simply thought it would be about the affair. The chemistry between Clare and Gabriel was written quite well, and I expected the narrative to focus on how Clare finds herself and returns to the art world, finishing her PhD. Instead, the first half simply served to set the scene for what became quite the convoluted art and murder mystery. The last few chapters start to read quickly, keeping me on my toes with who to trust.
In terms of the scene, I could tell the author did her homework in making references to artists and aesthetic eras. However, not being too familiar with the subject, I may of not appreciated it to its full extent. The key art-piece and artist that Clare's dissertation on was fictional, but I found it clever how it was incorporated. As with most mysteries, you do have to suspend some belief to get on board with the ending. Some characters acted too naively, and some pieces did not quite add up. Though in its entirety, I enjoyed this read. It was easy to tell myself just one more chapter!
October 25, 2026
i honestly really enjoyed this book! it kept me on my feet the entire time and made me want to continue reading. it was a light and easy read, especially because i could relate to clare in more ways than one (minus the affair and murder accusations). if you’re looking for a book to read in a day, it’s this one.
May 8, 2026
never really felt like rooting for the MC, why wasn’t she clever? I was expecting that from the marketing. It wasn’t intriguing, the thriller aspect happens 50% in and then the twist was overly involved, pretty meh
May 26, 2026
"From the critically acclaimed author of Who is Maud Dixon? comes a riveting new novel about a young wife and mother in a world of wealth and privilege, whose rash mistake sets off a domino effect of murder and betrayal."
Clare Bast is an art expert living on Park Avenue with her husband and daughter. Although she married into wealth, Clare feels like an outsider but her love and knowledge of art is her salvation. When a family friend introduces her to a gallery owner who has acquired a painting she has studied, she enters a world of seduction, treachery, and murder. When Clare finds herself at the scene of a murder, she becomes the prime suspect. The walls are closing in quickly for Clare and her allies become fewer by the day. How will she prove her innocence and save her family?
This is a fantastic literary suspense with elements of family saga and thriller. I felt completely immersed in the elite art world and Manhattan scene. It is evident that Alexandra Andrews did her research. The characters are fully fleshed and jump off the page. The story is propulsive and I devoured this is in a day. I look forward to more novels by the author. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR. It is reminiscent of The Thomas Crown Affair.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Books and Alexandra Andrews for the gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
#TheFineArrOfLying #AlexandraAndrews #HarperBooks #ReesesBookClub #NetGalley #ARCreview #Bookreview #BestBooks #LiterarySuspense #bookrecommendations #TBR2026 #ShanthasBookEra #bookinfluencer #AnticipatedBooks #NewReleases #Bookstagram #NetGalleyReviewer #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
Clare Bast is an art expert living on Park Avenue with her husband and daughter. Although she married into wealth, Clare feels like an outsider but her love and knowledge of art is her salvation. When a family friend introduces her to a gallery owner who has acquired a painting she has studied, she enters a world of seduction, treachery, and murder. When Clare finds herself at the scene of a murder, she becomes the prime suspect. The walls are closing in quickly for Clare and her allies become fewer by the day. How will she prove her innocence and save her family?
This is a fantastic literary suspense with elements of family saga and thriller. I felt completely immersed in the elite art world and Manhattan scene. It is evident that Alexandra Andrews did her research. The characters are fully fleshed and jump off the page. The story is propulsive and I devoured this is in a day. I look forward to more novels by the author. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR. It is reminiscent of The Thomas Crown Affair.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Books and Alexandra Andrews for the gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
#TheFineArrOfLying #AlexandraAndrews #HarperBooks #ReesesBookClub #NetGalley #ARCreview #Bookreview #BestBooks #LiterarySuspense #bookrecommendations #TBR2026 #ShanthasBookEra #bookinfluencer #AnticipatedBooks #NewReleases #Bookstagram #NetGalleyReviewer #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks
May 23, 2026
3.5 stars
Look, I know that thrillers in general are super popular. But a book having twists shouldn’t automatically classify it as a thriller. If there are real questions that keep you guessing, it’s more of a mystery or simply fiction. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Although she moves in moneyed circles thanks to her wealthy husband, Clare sometimes feels like she doesn’t belong. She wasn’t raised among NYC’s elite like Jed was, and she knows her mother-in-law has never been impressed with her.
When she was young and growing up in upstate New York, it was art that brought her joy. She moved to the city after college, got a job at a museum, and started pursuing her doctorate. But then she met Jed, got married, gave birth to their daughter Sadie, and she put her work on hold.
But now that Sadie is in school, Clare is feeling restless and unmotivated. She can’t seem to make any progress on her dissertation but she wants to do something. The ultra-wealthy and connected wife of Jed’s boss introduces her to some influential figures in the art world, including Gabriel, a handsome dealer. Gabriel respects her knowledge and challenges her intellectually, but she can’t resist his charms, and they wind up having a tumultuous affair.
Suddenly living a double life, feeling guilty but not willing to give Gabriel up, takes its toll on Clare. And when she learns that he has a painting by the object of her dissertation in his apartment, she can’t miss that chance. But suddenly she finds herself in the midst of a brutal murder and a theft—and every clue points back to her.
I really liked the first half of the book more than the last half. The setup, the relationship, the murder—all of that was great, but the investigation and the “twists” kind of fell flat. I guess, as I said at the start of my review, I was expecting the book to be more thrilling. But it still was a captivating read.
Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
Look, I know that thrillers in general are super popular. But a book having twists shouldn’t automatically classify it as a thriller. If there are real questions that keep you guessing, it’s more of a mystery or simply fiction. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Although she moves in moneyed circles thanks to her wealthy husband, Clare sometimes feels like she doesn’t belong. She wasn’t raised among NYC’s elite like Jed was, and she knows her mother-in-law has never been impressed with her.
When she was young and growing up in upstate New York, it was art that brought her joy. She moved to the city after college, got a job at a museum, and started pursuing her doctorate. But then she met Jed, got married, gave birth to their daughter Sadie, and she put her work on hold.
But now that Sadie is in school, Clare is feeling restless and unmotivated. She can’t seem to make any progress on her dissertation but she wants to do something. The ultra-wealthy and connected wife of Jed’s boss introduces her to some influential figures in the art world, including Gabriel, a handsome dealer. Gabriel respects her knowledge and challenges her intellectually, but she can’t resist his charms, and they wind up having a tumultuous affair.
Suddenly living a double life, feeling guilty but not willing to give Gabriel up, takes its toll on Clare. And when she learns that he has a painting by the object of her dissertation in his apartment, she can’t miss that chance. But suddenly she finds herself in the midst of a brutal murder and a theft—and every clue points back to her.
I really liked the first half of the book more than the last half. The setup, the relationship, the murder—all of that was great, but the investigation and the “twists” kind of fell flat. I guess, as I said at the start of my review, I was expecting the book to be more thrilling. But it still was a captivating read.
Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
June 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️
Yawn.
THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS
Let’s write a book about a stereotypical woman who doesn’t know what she wants in life so she does what everyone thinks she should do…go to grad school, marry rich, have a child, and then whine and complain about how awful her life is, except her amazing little girl that she just can’t help loving. (Yes, you’ve read this book a 100 times).
Then let’s make sure we check off all the stereotype characters:
☑️ The mother-in-law who doesn’t like her and “runs” the family, including the protagonist’s “mother’s boy” husband
☑️ The kind and rule-following husband who works extra long hours to provide for the family he adores…so obviously he’s awful. Who would ever want to be married to him?
☑️ The entire world of rich people who are all super pretentious and only know how to have superficial conversations and look down on everyone
☑️ The irresistible older man that OF COURSE is French and is the only one capable of making our poor female lead FEEL something again
☑️ The detectives who don’t really investigate a murder, arrest at the simplest piece of evidence, and don’t look for any other suspects
☑️ The Russian villains involved in hedge funds and fraud.
☑️ And for some dumb reason, a bunny.
I actually had more snarky commentary about this book that I started to type out, but I realized I didn’t want to write any more about this book.
It’s not a thriller as billed. You’ll never be in suspense. There are no plot twists. It’s often hard to follow what people are covering up and why. And then suddenly everything is figured out and it’s over.
I honestly have no idea why any avid book reader would give this more than 3 stars.
Don’t read it.
Yawn.
THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS
Let’s write a book about a stereotypical woman who doesn’t know what she wants in life so she does what everyone thinks she should do…go to grad school, marry rich, have a child, and then whine and complain about how awful her life is, except her amazing little girl that she just can’t help loving. (Yes, you’ve read this book a 100 times).
Then let’s make sure we check off all the stereotype characters:
☑️ The mother-in-law who doesn’t like her and “runs” the family, including the protagonist’s “mother’s boy” husband
☑️ The kind and rule-following husband who works extra long hours to provide for the family he adores…so obviously he’s awful. Who would ever want to be married to him?
☑️ The entire world of rich people who are all super pretentious and only know how to have superficial conversations and look down on everyone
☑️ The irresistible older man that OF COURSE is French and is the only one capable of making our poor female lead FEEL something again
☑️ The detectives who don’t really investigate a murder, arrest at the simplest piece of evidence, and don’t look for any other suspects
☑️ The Russian villains involved in hedge funds and fraud.
☑️ And for some dumb reason, a bunny.
I actually had more snarky commentary about this book that I started to type out, but I realized I didn’t want to write any more about this book.
It’s not a thriller as billed. You’ll never be in suspense. There are no plot twists. It’s often hard to follow what people are covering up and why. And then suddenly everything is figured out and it’s over.
I honestly have no idea why any avid book reader would give this more than 3 stars.
Don’t read it.
August 23, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐
The Fine Art of Lying was… fine. 😂
I wanted this to have more of a thriller grip, but honestly? I was rarely on the edge of my seat. The mystery itself was interesting enough to keep me going, and I definitely had my theories 👀, but the pacing made it feel more like a slow burn mystery than an actual thriller.
And THESE CHAPTERS. 😭 Why were they so damn long?! There were times I felt like I had been reading the same chapter for three business days. The audiobook was a four week wait, so I had the ebook sitting there and basically told myself, girl, just push through. 😂
And Clare… 🤦🏽♀️ The decisions this woman made had me yelling at my book. I understood that she was unhappy and going through a period of change, but some of her choices were so questionable that I spent a good chunk of this book thinking, you could literally make this situation SO much easier for yourself.
The mystery did keep me guessing, though. I went through approximately 17 different suspects 😂 and the book did a good job throwing enough suspicious little details around to keep me theorizing.
The ending tied things together nicely, and I will give the book credit for making me rethink some of the things I’d been noticing throughout.
I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it, and I definitely didn’t get that, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, feeling I want from a thriller. But it kept me entertained enough to finish it, and apparently I was invested enough to build an entire conspiracy board in my head. 😂
Would I recommend it? Sure, if you’re looking for a slower mystery with messy characters and plenty of secrets. Just don’t go into it expecting a thriller that’s going to have you flying through the pages.
The Fine Art of Lying was… fine. 😂
I wanted this to have more of a thriller grip, but honestly? I was rarely on the edge of my seat. The mystery itself was interesting enough to keep me going, and I definitely had my theories 👀, but the pacing made it feel more like a slow burn mystery than an actual thriller.
And THESE CHAPTERS. 😭 Why were they so damn long?! There were times I felt like I had been reading the same chapter for three business days. The audiobook was a four week wait, so I had the ebook sitting there and basically told myself, girl, just push through. 😂
And Clare… 🤦🏽♀️ The decisions this woman made had me yelling at my book. I understood that she was unhappy and going through a period of change, but some of her choices were so questionable that I spent a good chunk of this book thinking, you could literally make this situation SO much easier for yourself.
The mystery did keep me guessing, though. I went through approximately 17 different suspects 😂 and the book did a good job throwing enough suspicious little details around to keep me theorizing.
The ending tied things together nicely, and I will give the book credit for making me rethink some of the things I’d been noticing throughout.
I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it, and I definitely didn’t get that, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, feeling I want from a thriller. But it kept me entertained enough to finish it, and apparently I was invested enough to build an entire conspiracy board in my head. 😂
Would I recommend it? Sure, if you’re looking for a slower mystery with messy characters and plenty of secrets. Just don’t go into it expecting a thriller that’s going to have you flying through the pages.
May 24, 2026
2.5⭐⭐
I was really excited for this book because I genuinely thought it was going to be a fresh take on a mystery thriller amongst the elite with historical art references....besides the longfin. Unfortunately, all of the characters are unlikable and unrelatable to me. Claire comes off as non-committal, unfeeling and flighty. She has no remorse for hurting others or her own sins and she's a terrible judge of character. She keeps suspecting people of being involved with Gabriel's death, accusing them while rolling a nat one charisma, and then when they charm her, she's like... Oh, maybe they're actually telling the truth because I have no ability to read emotions or literally call anyone's bluff and they seem genuine. Perhaps I will also lie to the police, put on my Nancy Drew scarf and try to solve the mystery of the missing painting all by myself. Perhaps I'll figure it out or perhaps not, but it doesn't matter because in the end I get the divorce I should have asked for before all this shit happened anyway. Although the real crime in all of this is that she had the money to pursue any career she wanted and instead spent hundreds of thousands on a freaking art degree.
I was really excited for this book because I genuinely thought it was going to be a fresh take on a mystery thriller amongst the elite with historical art references....besides the longfin. Unfortunately, all of the characters are unlikable and unrelatable to me. Claire comes off as non-committal, unfeeling and flighty. She has no remorse for hurting others or her own sins and she's a terrible judge of character. She keeps suspecting people of being involved with Gabriel's death, accusing them while rolling a nat one charisma, and then when they charm her, she's like... Oh, maybe they're actually telling the truth because I have no ability to read emotions or literally call anyone's bluff and they seem genuine. Perhaps I will also lie to the police, put on my Nancy Drew scarf and try to solve the mystery of the missing painting all by myself. Perhaps I'll figure it out or perhaps not, but it doesn't matter because in the end I get the divorce I should have asked for before all this shit happened anyway. Although the real crime in all of this is that she had the money to pursue any career she wanted and instead spent hundreds of thousands on a freaking art degree.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2026
Disliked this one
So dull!
So dull!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
For a long time it seems like The Fine Art of Lying is just a straightforward affair-plus-murder crime novel. Which isn't all that unusual, but is surprising since Andrews' first novel, Who Is Maud Dixon?, had some particularly noteworthy twists. Eventually there are twists in store. Structurally they are quite nice, though we end up in the very place you probably could have predicted 20 pages in if you decided to put a bet on it. It's enough to make you wish away the twists and turns.
That's the thing that's strangest about this book: it is at its best before it gets twisty. As soon as the mystery starts to pick up, the book itself loses all momentum and becomes characters explaining things for almost the entire last half.
There is also another major problem here: this is a book about an unhappy marriage. It is obviously unhappy to the reader, even though our protagonist insists (to the point of annoyance) that it is happy and that she loves her husband. And yet, Andrews has basically written herself into an impossible situation. If it turns out the marriage is just fine, then the reader will be frustrated because we haven't seen anything to make us believe that on the page. But if the relationship is going to fracture in a way that would feel earned, then you have to give us some runway to get there. The gap between Clare's actual life and what Clare insists she actually feels about it is irksome and it just keeps bubbling up in a way that makes things worse and worse though Clare never seems to really get that. It would be nice if Clare had some kind of epiphany, but the book is too stuck on explaining its way through its more complex plot elements than in letting any kind of character development happen. The moments when we have to wonder if we need to see Clare's husband Jed in a new light don't really land all that well, because despite Clare's insistence that he is such a nice guy, we have no real evidence of him being any kind of guy at all! He is, in the end, all plot device. Although it is nice to see the husband be the character-less plot device for a change.
Andrews brings you in very well, and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed her first novel. But ultimately I was really over this book. Feels rushed, as if it's checking boxes. Which is a shame, because once we get the full plot it is a good one. It just needs to be rolled out to the reader in a much sharper way. It feels like there is a big piece missing, some kind of b-plot or other character who could add some color or perspective. Clare is pretty one-note, it's hard to care all that much about her.
That's the thing that's strangest about this book: it is at its best before it gets twisty. As soon as the mystery starts to pick up, the book itself loses all momentum and becomes characters explaining things for almost the entire last half.
There is also another major problem here: this is a book about an unhappy marriage. It is obviously unhappy to the reader, even though our protagonist insists (to the point of annoyance) that it is happy and that she loves her husband. And yet, Andrews has basically written herself into an impossible situation. If it turns out the marriage is just fine, then the reader will be frustrated because we haven't seen anything to make us believe that on the page. But if the relationship is going to fracture in a way that would feel earned, then you have to give us some runway to get there. The gap between Clare's actual life and what Clare insists she actually feels about it is irksome and it just keeps bubbling up in a way that makes things worse and worse though Clare never seems to really get that. It would be nice if Clare had some kind of epiphany, but the book is too stuck on explaining its way through its more complex plot elements than in letting any kind of character development happen. The moments when we have to wonder if we need to see Clare's husband Jed in a new light don't really land all that well, because despite Clare's insistence that he is such a nice guy, we have no real evidence of him being any kind of guy at all! He is, in the end, all plot device. Although it is nice to see the husband be the character-less plot device for a change.
Andrews brings you in very well, and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed her first novel. But ultimately I was really over this book. Feels rushed, as if it's checking boxes. Which is a shame, because once we get the full plot it is a good one. It just needs to be rolled out to the reader in a much sharper way. It feels like there is a big piece missing, some kind of b-plot or other character who could add some color or perspective. Clare is pretty one-note, it's hard to care all that much about her.
September 25, 2026
4+ ⭐️s.
“The art market may as well have been custom designed for unscrupulous behavior. It was sometimes called the largest legal,unregulated business in the United States.”
Sophomore novel.
Fast paced.
Wealthy people.
Art world.
Intricately woven mystery.
Well written.
Excellent book.
“You never know people as well as you think you do.”
I’m going to try to find Alexandra Andrews’ debut novel and keep her on my list of authors to read.
I highly recommend The Fine Art of Lying!
There is an excellent interview on social media listed under A Mighty Blaze: Crime Time between Hank Phillippi Ryan and Alexandra Andrews, dated September 22, 2026.
“The art market may as well have been custom designed for unscrupulous behavior. It was sometimes called the largest legal,unregulated business in the United States.”
Sophomore novel.
Fast paced.
Wealthy people.
Art world.
Intricately woven mystery.
Well written.
Excellent book.
“You never know people as well as you think you do.”
I’m going to try to find Alexandra Andrews’ debut novel and keep her on my list of authors to read.
I highly recommend The Fine Art of Lying!
There is an excellent interview on social media listed under A Mighty Blaze: Crime Time between Hank Phillippi Ryan and Alexandra Andrews, dated September 22, 2026.
May 16, 2026
I love reading about rich people living in NYC, especially on the Upper East Side. I love the hectic atmosphere of the city and walking throgh the streets of Manhattan with the characters, hence I am always picking books which narrative involves New York. Adding the art scene makes it even more better.
Other than the above (on which the book definately deliver) its quite mediocre as most of Reese’s picks over the last 3 years and quite forgetable.
Other than the above (on which the book definately deliver) its quite mediocre as most of Reese’s picks over the last 3 years and quite forgetable.
May 15, 2026
No real twists. The art aspect was interesting, but overall not an engaging story
May 26, 2026
Clare married into a wealthy New York City family and is seemingly happy. She loves her young daughter and her lawyer husband, but she still personally stalled out on her art dissertation and unfulfilled. When she meets an art dealer, sparks fly and she starts an affair under the cover of working for him. But things go very wrong and Clare's life is under a microscope, and she must solve the mystery before it's too late.
This is the second book from the author of Who is Maud Dixon?, which I really liked, and it was a big hit. I liked this one too, although I cared way less about the art world and the stolen painting and affair storylines. One of the elements in her first book that really worked was the change in locations and I just kept waiting for that in this one (in vain.) So, this is a good book, but not something that will stick with me or stand out.
This is the second book from the author of Who is Maud Dixon?, which I really liked, and it was a big hit. I liked this one too, although I cared way less about the art world and the stolen painting and affair storylines. One of the elements in her first book that really worked was the change in locations and I just kept waiting for that in this one (in vain.) So, this is a good book, but not something that will stick with me or stand out.
April 25, 2026
Slow-burning, sinister, and sophisticated!
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 is a thought-provoking, character-driven thriller set in Manhattan that immerses readers into the life of Clare Bast, a mother and former art PhD student whose world is turned upside down when her lover, an affluent art dealer, is murdered in his home, leaving her as the primary suspect.
The writing is taut and intense. The characters are layered, guarded, and secretive. And the plot, including all the subplots, unfurls into a suspenseful tale about life, loss, family, drama, deception, mayhem, infidelity, disillusionment, corruption, power, money, art, murder, and the lingering weight of guilt.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 is a tight, intricate, cunning novel by Andrews that offers a sharp reminder that secrets have a way of corroding the soul and nothing is ever quite as it seems.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 is a thought-provoking, character-driven thriller set in Manhattan that immerses readers into the life of Clare Bast, a mother and former art PhD student whose world is turned upside down when her lover, an affluent art dealer, is murdered in his home, leaving her as the primary suspect.
The writing is taut and intense. The characters are layered, guarded, and secretive. And the plot, including all the subplots, unfurls into a suspenseful tale about life, loss, family, drama, deception, mayhem, infidelity, disillusionment, corruption, power, money, art, murder, and the lingering weight of guilt.
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 is a tight, intricate, cunning novel by Andrews that offers a sharp reminder that secrets have a way of corroding the soul and nothing is ever quite as it seems.
July 29, 2026
Clare is bored, deeply insecure, and feeling invisible in her marriage to an incredibly wealthy lawyer. To feel alive and intellectual again, she enters a seductive, high-society bubble:
- She enters into a passionate, clandestine affair with a charming French art dealer (Gabriel).
- She uses her secret knowledge of art history to play along in an elite world of multi-million-dollar transactions, thinking she is a clever player in a glamorous game.
- She walks into Gabriel's apartment to find him brutally murdered and a priceless masterpiece stolen.
- Instead of doing the logical thing and calling the police, she panics and cleans up the crime scene to hide her affair.
- Now she's a suspect in Gabriel's murder.
How will Clare prove her innocence? I asked myself that the entire time. Even though I correctly guessed the 'whodunnit' twist early on, the journey didn't lose any momentum. This thriller is incredibly fast-paced, full of suspense, and kept me hooked until the final page.
- She enters into a passionate, clandestine affair with a charming French art dealer (Gabriel).
- She uses her secret knowledge of art history to play along in an elite world of multi-million-dollar transactions, thinking she is a clever player in a glamorous game.
- She walks into Gabriel's apartment to find him brutally murdered and a priceless masterpiece stolen.
- Instead of doing the logical thing and calling the police, she panics and cleans up the crime scene to hide her affair.
- Now she's a suspect in Gabriel's murder.
How will Clare prove her innocence? I asked myself that the entire time. Even though I correctly guessed the 'whodunnit' twist early on, the journey didn't lose any momentum. This thriller is incredibly fast-paced, full of suspense, and kept me hooked until the final page.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Clare Bast lives in Manhattan with her husband Jed. After becoming pregnant with their daughter Sophie, she put her PhD studies on hold. Jeb works for a hedge fund and comes from an affluent family. At a party hosted by gallery owner Gabriel Prévost, Clare feels an immediate connection and is drawn back into the art world she misses. After a violent murder and theft of a valuable work of art, Clare becomes a suspect.
Alexandra Andrews' novel, Who Is Maud Dixon? (2021) was such an entertaining debut. The Fine Art of Lying was well worth the wait. It features a large cast of intriguing characters. Clare gets to show her smarts as she works to uncover the truth. And things get a bit complicated. It's an engaging book that will keep you guessing.
Many thanks to Harper Books for the gifted advance.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Alexandra Andrews' novel, Who Is Maud Dixon? (2021) was such an entertaining debut. The Fine Art of Lying was well worth the wait. It features a large cast of intriguing characters. Clare gets to show her smarts as she works to uncover the truth. And things get a bit complicated. It's an engaging book that will keep you guessing.
Many thanks to Harper Books for the gifted advance.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
June 18, 2026
2.5⭐️
The Fine Art of Lying follows a Manhattan stay-at-home mom who put her nearly completed PhD in history on hold after becoming pregnant with her daughter, Sadie. While she loves being a mother, it’s clear from the beginning that she’s struggling with a sense of unfinished ambition and wondering what her life might have looked like if she’d taken a different path.
Unfortunately, this one never quite came together for me.
My biggest issue was the main character’s motivation. Very early in the story, she begins an affair with a man she meets through a painting, and the decision felt completely out of step with everything I’d learned about her up to that point. Because I never fully bought into that choice, it became difficult to invest in the emotional fallout that drives much of the plot.
The pacing also felt uneven. Some major developments rushed by, while other sections dragged, and I found myself wishing for more depth from both the main character and the supporting cast. There are secrets, lies, and a death at the center of the story, but many of the revelations—particularly those involving her husband—felt only loosely connected to the larger narrative.
That said, I was curious enough to keep reading. I wanted to know how everything would ultimately fit together, and the mystery elements were compelling enough to keep the pages turning. While this book wasn’t my cup of tea, I can see it working better for readers who enjoy character-driven domestic suspense with morally complicated protagonists.
In the end, this author may simply not be the right fit for me. I’m glad I borrowed this one from the library rather than purchasing it, but your mileage may vary.
The Fine Art of Lying follows a Manhattan stay-at-home mom who put her nearly completed PhD in history on hold after becoming pregnant with her daughter, Sadie. While she loves being a mother, it’s clear from the beginning that she’s struggling with a sense of unfinished ambition and wondering what her life might have looked like if she’d taken a different path.
Unfortunately, this one never quite came together for me.
My biggest issue was the main character’s motivation. Very early in the story, she begins an affair with a man she meets through a painting, and the decision felt completely out of step with everything I’d learned about her up to that point. Because I never fully bought into that choice, it became difficult to invest in the emotional fallout that drives much of the plot.
The pacing also felt uneven. Some major developments rushed by, while other sections dragged, and I found myself wishing for more depth from both the main character and the supporting cast. There are secrets, lies, and a death at the center of the story, but many of the revelations—particularly those involving her husband—felt only loosely connected to the larger narrative.
That said, I was curious enough to keep reading. I wanted to know how everything would ultimately fit together, and the mystery elements were compelling enough to keep the pages turning. While this book wasn’t my cup of tea, I can see it working better for readers who enjoy character-driven domestic suspense with morally complicated protagonists.
In the end, this author may simply not be the right fit for me. I’m glad I borrowed this one from the library rather than purchasing it, but your mileage may vary.
May 15, 2026
Wish I DNFed
May 9, 2026
This is a three star read for me, but only because the affair at the beginning was so well written.
I liked the themes that this book was touching on: how one falls into a life they didn't choose, motherhood, passion, and technically growing up.
I enjoyed Clare's arc and didn't mind the affair as a means of her gaining herself back. I loved how she developed from being guided by inertia to making her own decisions.
However, the murder plot seemed too intellectual and abstract, and if I wasn't an art lover, I would have hated reading it. Further, I was not convinced at any point that Clare had the intelligence or skill to solve the murder by herself.
I also hated how Tasha is made to be this cartoon villain, and we can see that she is driving the plot from the start. Dorothy is a more nuanced villain and she is at least connected to the themes of motherhood and issues of social status. I wouldn't have minded Tasha not being involved at all if Dorothy was guilty of the crime.
All in all, it was a fun read but nowhere near as great as Who Is Maud Dixon.
I liked the themes that this book was touching on: how one falls into a life they didn't choose, motherhood, passion, and technically growing up.
I enjoyed Clare's arc and didn't mind the affair as a means of her gaining herself back. I loved how she developed from being guided by inertia to making her own decisions.
However, the murder plot seemed too intellectual and abstract, and if I wasn't an art lover, I would have hated reading it. Further, I was not convinced at any point that Clare had the intelligence or skill to solve the murder by herself.
I also hated how Tasha is made to be this cartoon villain, and we can see that she is driving the plot from the start. Dorothy is a more nuanced villain and she is at least connected to the themes of motherhood and issues of social status. I wouldn't have minded Tasha not being involved at all if Dorothy was guilty of the crime.
All in all, it was a fun read but nowhere near as great as Who Is Maud Dixon.
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