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The Art of Scandal
Uninspired artist Katie's life in New York, and almost everyone in it, has been about as genuine as a Prada handbag from Chinatown. When it all comes crashing down she flees back to Ireland. There she finds her dormant artistic inspiration unexpectedly reignited in a small rural town. However, it is not the beautiful landscape that has captured her imagination. It is the local men. Katie sets out to create a collection of nude male portraits but before long the story of her project grows a skin as it winds its way in whispers and murmurs around the town. Speculation is rife about what she is offering the men in return for their life-modelling. Assumptions and accusations soon turn Katie's utopian escape into a minefield.
322 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Susan Loughnane
1 book2 followersSusan Patricia Loughnane is an award winning Irish actress, author and columnist. She is best known for playing the lead role of Debbie in the hit RTÉ drama Love/Hate opposite Aidan Gillen, for which she won the 2013 Irish Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her first fiction novel 'The Art of Scandal' is being published by Poolbeg Press in October 2014.
Loughnane's first role was on the Irish hidden-camera comedy TV series Anonymous[2] as the daughter of Pamela Flood's character Doreen. While training in New York City, Loughnane starred in the short film 50 Ways, which debuted at the Traverse City Film Festival in July 2010. She then appeared as Elaine in Single-handed for ITV and RTE. Prior to this Loughnane was also a contestant on Britain's Next Top Model. Susan has completed filming Love/Hate season 4 and Loving Miss Hatto for BBC and also feature film 'The Food Guide to Love'. She also played the guest role of Chloe in Hollyoaks in August 2013, and returned for a longer stint in November of that year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_L...
Loughnane's first role was on the Irish hidden-camera comedy TV series Anonymous[2] as the daughter of Pamela Flood's character Doreen. While training in New York City, Loughnane starred in the short film 50 Ways, which debuted at the Traverse City Film Festival in July 2010. She then appeared as Elaine in Single-handed for ITV and RTE. Prior to this Loughnane was also a contestant on Britain's Next Top Model. Susan has completed filming Love/Hate season 4 and Loving Miss Hatto for BBC and also feature film 'The Food Guide to Love'. She also played the guest role of Chloe in Hollyoaks in August 2013, and returned for a longer stint in November of that year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_L...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 24, 2015
Not my kind of book and I don't think I'm the target audience BUT it was quite entertaining I must say!
April 24, 2017
Great debut novel. Since I was just in Ireland, it made me nostalgic to return! I could picture the countryside and the characters in the small town.
July 19, 2019
Very funny. Worth reading.
March 30, 2026
Has a great setting and the local characters are so colourful and entertaining.
The romance was gripping for the first two thirds. But the direction it then took felt far too forced for the sake of plot; the characters had to take a dose of stupid pills to make such bad decisions all of a sudden. I found myself rolling my eyes at certain points, thinking “nobody would think/do/conclude that”. Also, keeping the love interest shrouded in mystery for most of the book, only to info-dump a tragic back-story toward the end in one casual conversation that never really gets mentioned again - a seriously bad decision.
The ending was far too rushed and resulted in a very inorganic tying up of loose ends. And in many cases, there was no tying up at all. Some characters were just left floating or suddenly disappeared, never to be mentioned again.
The main antagonist had every opportunity to make a fantastic villain, and with the proper attention and presence, could have been compared to the priest in ‘Chocolat’ by Joanne Harris. But the author gave her very little screentime or focus, shoe-horned in her evil revelations, and just brushed off her biggest crime in the end with no gravity or consequences. So disappointing!
The scene at the beginning with the telephone in the hallway should have been cut by the editor. It was boring, added nothing noteworthy to the story, and wasn’t necessary to reveal the main character.
Ultimately this book had all of the right elements and characters in place, but needed a serious edit in terms of pacing and the ending needed far more attention and development.
The romance was gripping for the first two thirds. But the direction it then took felt far too forced for the sake of plot; the characters had to take a dose of stupid pills to make such bad decisions all of a sudden. I found myself rolling my eyes at certain points, thinking “nobody would think/do/conclude that”. Also, keeping the love interest shrouded in mystery for most of the book, only to info-dump a tragic back-story toward the end in one casual conversation that never really gets mentioned again - a seriously bad decision.
The ending was far too rushed and resulted in a very inorganic tying up of loose ends. And in many cases, there was no tying up at all. Some characters were just left floating or suddenly disappeared, never to be mentioned again.
The main antagonist had every opportunity to make a fantastic villain, and with the proper attention and presence, could have been compared to the priest in ‘Chocolat’ by Joanne Harris. But the author gave her very little screentime or focus, shoe-horned in her evil revelations, and just brushed off her biggest crime in the end with no gravity or consequences. So disappointing!
The scene at the beginning with the telephone in the hallway should have been cut by the editor. It was boring, added nothing noteworthy to the story, and wasn’t necessary to reveal the main character.
Ultimately this book had all of the right elements and characters in place, but needed a serious edit in terms of pacing and the ending needed far more attention and development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2017
Very funny
June 11, 2020
Funny and enjoyable. Would like to read more by this author
February 26, 2015
Delightful story. Very fun book of modern Ireland. Some "oh no" moments. I didn't want it to end. More please, Susan Loughnane. I love your writing style. Reminds me of Cecilia Ahern.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews