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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 books883 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 583 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.
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.
.
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.
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.
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
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 27, 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 28, 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.
June 5, 2026
Disliked this one
So dull!
So dull!
May 7, 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.
May 17, 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 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.
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.
May 15, 2026
Wish I DNFed
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 30, 2026
Pleasantly surprised, I went into this book not expecting to really like it but I usually trust Reese's picks. It is not really a thriller more of a fiction with some mystery but I really enjoyed it.
It was set in the NY art scene which I have no real knowledge in and don't necessarily care for, but the mystery made up for it.
I felt like Jed was kind of a wimp and total momma's boy so I never cared for his character. I enjoyed Clare's character more and actually preferred her with Gabriel. It was passionate and exciting. They shared interests and he seemed to believe in her. I don't condone cheating but with a MIL like Dorothy (eek she was THE worst) and a husband like Jed I didn't blame her🫣
It was set in the NY art scene which I have no real knowledge in and don't necessarily care for, but the mystery made up for it.
I felt like Jed was kind of a wimp and total momma's boy so I never cared for his character. I enjoyed Clare's character more and actually preferred her with Gabriel. It was passionate and exciting. They shared interests and he seemed to believe in her. I don't condone cheating but with a MIL like Dorothy (eek she was THE worst) and a husband like Jed I didn't blame her🫣
June 10, 2026
This novel follows an art historian who becomes caught up in a murder investigation following her affair. Although it’s marketed as a thriller, it reads more like literary fiction with a mystery subplot. Overall, the story felt underwhelming, with predictable twists and a protagonist whose limited self-awareness and tendency to avoid accountability often made for a frustrating reading experience.
May 12, 2026
The beginning had me charged up and so intrigued, but the twist became so obvious towards the middle that it made the rest boring.
Would probably read something else by this author in the future however as I liked it more than I didn’t.
Would probably read something else by this author in the future however as I liked it more than I didn’t.
June 14, 2026
Super entertaining slow burn mystery with loads of drama, big and little lies, and many twists. I listened on audio, and loved Thérèse Plummer’s narration.
May 18, 2026
5⭐️s- I devoured this one! Juicy thriller filled with lies, scandal, murder and drama! I requested the arc and was lucky enough to grab a copy. Loved it and was Unputdownable. The characters made this book and enjoyed the whole cast. Kind of reminded me of somewhere between Sex and the City - especially Bunny - And Friends & Neighbors with all that scandal. I didn’t guess the murderer and the getting there was super suspenseful and twisty. I can see this thriller being hot this summer! Loved the art angle too!
✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Harper Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Harper Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
May 19, 2026
I realized something about myself while reading this book. I can be so judge-y. 👩⚖️ Therefore, if a character makes a stupid mistake, the book enjoyment goes way down. But that's a me thing.
June 1, 2026
I’m a @reesesbookclub fan, but this one just didn’t hit for me. I was intrigued enough to finish, but all of the characters are so awful that I just did not care about them.
June 23, 2026
Loved the intricate mystery of this book! So enjoyable! I could see it being a movie!
May 28, 2026
A fascinating read about the art world! 🖼️
About three-quarters of the way through the plot’s momentum plateaued for me. Definitely read more like a lit fic than a true thriller, IMO! I agree with other reviewers that overall, the ending fell a bit flat and lacked in the “wow” department.
About three-quarters of the way through the plot’s momentum plateaued for me. Definitely read more like a lit fic than a true thriller, IMO! I agree with other reviewers that overall, the ending fell a bit flat and lacked in the “wow” department.
May 27, 2026
4.5 - I couldn't put it down
May 20, 2026
4.25 rounded down! I really enjoyed this one. The first 50%+ was fast paced and twisty. I kind of knew who did it from the beginning but there were so many twists and turns to get there. I loved being immersed in the art world and the dishy Upper East side upper crust. Highly recommend this one!
May 15, 2026
Ok I enjoyed this book and was hooked all the way through. I was also surprised to see my culprit guess was wrong. I could totally see this as a movie.
June 11, 2026
I picked up this book because it was the Reese bookclub pick for May. It was interesting, I liked it. I breezed through it, wanting to find out what happens next but I did feel like there were a couple of parts that could have been trimmed down a little, as they didn’t really add much to the story. I don’t really know what else to say except that I’d rate it 4-4.5⭐️ solid read!
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