A Painted Smile

Diana Porteous #3

by Frances Fyfield

Young, rich widow Diana Porteous has inherited a vast collection of paintings, but she feels without purpose again. Then her beloved stepgrandson comes up with the idea for an exhibition of portraits with the title 'A Question of Guilt'. It starts as a joke, but soon they are preparing the huge wine cellar of the old schoolhouse by the sea, in spite of those with misgivings as to its suitability. Soon Di has plenty to occupy her: a mysterious woman encourages Di and her friend Sarah Fortune, both natural thieves, to steal from a public collection. And then there's the life-drawing class, where an artist dies and someone steals from him, placing his finds in the cellar. A novel of conundrums, paintings, moral uncertainties and family relationships, A Painted Smile continues the adventures of two of Frances Fyfield's most beloved characters and will win over many more fans of quality fiction.

Genres: Crime

348 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2015

About the author

Aka Frances Hegarty.

Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, who lives in London and in Deal, by the sea which is her passion. She has won several awards, including the CWA Silver Dagger.

She grew up in rural Derbyshire, but spent most of her adult life in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. She was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English at Newcastle University and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. She also worked for the Metropolitan Police.

Years later, writing became her real vocation. She also writes short stories for magazines and radio and is occasionally a contributor to Radio 4, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this novel but sadly I never really felt that I ever got fully into the characters and plot. The book is well written as you would expect from such a talented author but the plot never ever gripped me, making me want to read more.

I am sure that other readers will love the character relationships etc. but sadly for me the book failed to capture my imagination.

The book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Little Brown Book group for a supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review,

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frances Fyfield never fails to produce good stories with strong characters.
This mystery is set in the art world featuring two of her familiar characters, thieves who steal from a collection and an artist who dies in mysterious circumstances.
All in all a great read.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Little, Brown Book Group U K via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Janet Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have enjoyed this more if I had realized it was part of a series and had read the first two. Many of the plot lines were already established long before this book, so I missed some of the nuances. Still enjoyable, but not overwhelming.

[Suzy Dominey · Rating 2 out of 5]

should have read the series from the beginning as mid series didn't engage me

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite. Third book in the Diana Porteous series. Reading a Fyfield book is a must for a lovely summer day, ideally by the sea or lakeside. This series sings. The words are used with such economy and she paints the scene and dialogue much like the oil artworks so consumed by Di, Saul, Patrick and Steven. The plan afoot this time is for the ersatz family to steal back paintings to liberate them for showing from a gallery derelict in its' mandate to bring in the public for viewing. Di wants to host an exhibit in the newly restored schoolhouse cellar with it's soaring arches and ambience. The better plan is Patrick's theme and the circuitous by which delicious oils are taken, housed, returned and mounted for an exhibition in said gallery above along with Diana's. This third book can be read without the first two but the back story really pulls this one to an ending that promises more, so do read all the books in order, meet all the characters, redheaded Sarah Fortune, Quig, Uncle Jones, Peg and Grace the dog. Fyfield has a rare gift and honed skill, maybe not a painted herself but her words shape themselves into the most unusual and perfect stories. I must share bits from the book: :'...she could mourn the person who had once looked after her and forget the person who had tried to kill her. Grace's memory was one to admire. Forgetting was easier than forgiving.' More: 'She thought more of her father...how it was turning out that she was surely better off having a father than not having one at all.' Lovely.

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it would have been better if I had read the first 2 books

[Margaret Haigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok read, nicely written but just didn’t seem to go anywhere.

[Cindy.Sherban · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the further dev't of the characters. Is there a book 4 forthcoming? So much left to tell/resolve.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a crime novel, the plot was a little too tame for me personally and the characters were a little too privileged and I didn't really care for most of them. Obviously I liked the dog.

But I really enjoyed Frances Fyfield's writing, so I will almost definitely pick up another of her books some time.

[Elaine Kozak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not read previous works in series so didn't bring any previous knowledge of characters and dynamics. It may have helped. Writing has an evanescent quality to it that pulls one through but narrative is hollow and the ending head-scratching.