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The Black Painting
An old-money East Coast family faces the suspicious death of its patriarch and the unsolved theft of a Goya painting rumored to be cursed
There were four cousins in the Morse family: perfect Kenny, the preppy West Coast lawyer; James, the shy but brilliant medical student; his seductive, hard-drinking sister Audrey; and Teresa, youngest and most fragile, haunted by the fear that she has inherited the madness that possessed her father.
Their grandfather summons them to his mansion at Owl’s Point. None of them has visited the family estate since they were children, when a prized painting disappeared: a self-portrait by Goya, rumored to cause madness or death upon viewing. Afterward, the family split apart amid the accusations and suspicions that followed its theft.
Any hope that their grandfather planned to make amends evaporates when Teresa arrives to find the old man dead, his horrified gaze pinned upon the spot where the painting once hung. As the family gathers and suspicions mount, Teresa hopes to find the reasons behind her grandfather’s death and the painting’s loss. But to do so she must uncover ugly family secrets and confront those who would keep them hidden.
There were four cousins in the Morse family: perfect Kenny, the preppy West Coast lawyer; James, the shy but brilliant medical student; his seductive, hard-drinking sister Audrey; and Teresa, youngest and most fragile, haunted by the fear that she has inherited the madness that possessed her father.
Their grandfather summons them to his mansion at Owl’s Point. None of them has visited the family estate since they were children, when a prized painting disappeared: a self-portrait by Goya, rumored to cause madness or death upon viewing. Afterward, the family split apart amid the accusations and suspicions that followed its theft.
Any hope that their grandfather planned to make amends evaporates when Teresa arrives to find the old man dead, his horrified gaze pinned upon the spot where the painting once hung. As the family gathers and suspicions mount, Teresa hopes to find the reasons behind her grandfather’s death and the painting’s loss. But to do so she must uncover ugly family secrets and confront those who would keep them hidden.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2018
138 people are currently reading
2841 people want to read
About the author
Neil Olson
5 books26 followersNeil Olson, the grandson of Greek immigrants, works in the publishing industry and lives in New York City with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
December 10, 2017
Why This Book
I stumbled on this via NetGalley several months ago. The cover was creepy and it revolved around a family mystery involving a missing painting and the death of a grandfather. I had to add it to my TBR, then they awarded it to me. I am trying to clear off all NetGalley books by 12/31 so I can start the new year with a clean slate, so this was last week's choice.
Plot, Characters & Setting
The Morse family head passes away, leaving behind a few children and four grandchildren, all after his money to varying levels or degrees. He may or may not have a lot, they're unsure. Yet there was a mysterious Goya painting that had been stolen and could still be lurking around. The family all come home to his Owl's Point, New England estate to attend the funeral and will after someone finds him dead. Each family member, particularly the cousins, are all a bit kooky and very focused on the painting. As the story unfolds, you learn different components of the past, especially where everyone was the day the painting went missing. We soon learn the grandfather may have been murdered and the family begins pointing fingers at one another, including their grandfather's housekeeper and confidant, Ilsa. There's also a small fantasy element in knowing the painting might have a ghost that makes anyone who views it go mad.
Approach & Style
I read this ~300 page novel in 5 hours over a weekend. It's told in third-person POV with a perspective from each of the major family members. I read it on my iPad via Kindle Reader.
Key Feedback
This was a tough read; I found myself skimming way too often. I very much looked forward to the family drama, suspense and mystery elements. These all existed, but something was missing. It was very difficult to connect with the characters, everything was quite vague. It felt like the story focused on the smallest of details and went on for pages on actions that had no true bearing on character development or plot. That said, the writing style and tone were very strong. The author clearly writes well, but I think the characters didn't match the plot in this book. In the end, I enjoyed parts of it, but it could have been so much more with a different approach. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others as a good read, but there's nothing bad about it. It just didn't have a great impact on me, perhaps I am the wrong audience for it.
Questions & Final Thoughts
So much about this book had potential. And for some readers, it's probably going to be quite strong. For me, the most memorable component was that it just always felt 10% off the mark in terms of what I like in a family drama. I am curious to see other works by this author in the future, as I think the writing and talent is present.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
I stumbled on this via NetGalley several months ago. The cover was creepy and it revolved around a family mystery involving a missing painting and the death of a grandfather. I had to add it to my TBR, then they awarded it to me. I am trying to clear off all NetGalley books by 12/31 so I can start the new year with a clean slate, so this was last week's choice.
Plot, Characters & Setting
The Morse family head passes away, leaving behind a few children and four grandchildren, all after his money to varying levels or degrees. He may or may not have a lot, they're unsure. Yet there was a mysterious Goya painting that had been stolen and could still be lurking around. The family all come home to his Owl's Point, New England estate to attend the funeral and will after someone finds him dead. Each family member, particularly the cousins, are all a bit kooky and very focused on the painting. As the story unfolds, you learn different components of the past, especially where everyone was the day the painting went missing. We soon learn the grandfather may have been murdered and the family begins pointing fingers at one another, including their grandfather's housekeeper and confidant, Ilsa. There's also a small fantasy element in knowing the painting might have a ghost that makes anyone who views it go mad.
Approach & Style
I read this ~300 page novel in 5 hours over a weekend. It's told in third-person POV with a perspective from each of the major family members. I read it on my iPad via Kindle Reader.
Key Feedback
This was a tough read; I found myself skimming way too often. I very much looked forward to the family drama, suspense and mystery elements. These all existed, but something was missing. It was very difficult to connect with the characters, everything was quite vague. It felt like the story focused on the smallest of details and went on for pages on actions that had no true bearing on character development or plot. That said, the writing style and tone were very strong. The author clearly writes well, but I think the characters didn't match the plot in this book. In the end, I enjoyed parts of it, but it could have been so much more with a different approach. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others as a good read, but there's nothing bad about it. It just didn't have a great impact on me, perhaps I am the wrong audience for it.
Questions & Final Thoughts
So much about this book had potential. And for some readers, it's probably going to be quite strong. For me, the most memorable component was that it just always felt 10% off the mark in terms of what I like in a family drama. I am curious to see other works by this author in the future, as I think the writing and talent is present.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
January 19, 2018
1.5 for the Goya parts
This was a book that might encourage one to go into a reading slump. There was a lot going for it, a creepy house, a rich family with lots of secrets, and the piece de resistance...a painting that supposedly had a demon living inside it. The demon supposedly gave fortune and perhaps a bit of fame to the person who owned the painting. In exchange for this largess, the demon must be set free eventually by destroying the painting. But really, who is going to destroy a painting worth millions? However, someone has stolen the painting and that is what this novel is about. The "who stole the Goya?" was evident from the get go but I still held on thinking that this book would get better. It didn't.
Enter a cast of characters, a whole plethora of characters that made this book hard to follow as each one popped up intermittently and tended to prolong any kind of story line making the reader utter many "ughs" as well as quite a few roll of the eyes.
It was really a shame that a book that started out with such promise ran down itself into blah, blah, blah.
This was a book that might encourage one to go into a reading slump. There was a lot going for it, a creepy house, a rich family with lots of secrets, and the piece de resistance...a painting that supposedly had a demon living inside it. The demon supposedly gave fortune and perhaps a bit of fame to the person who owned the painting. In exchange for this largess, the demon must be set free eventually by destroying the painting. But really, who is going to destroy a painting worth millions? However, someone has stolen the painting and that is what this novel is about. The "who stole the Goya?" was evident from the get go but I still held on thinking that this book would get better. It didn't.
Enter a cast of characters, a whole plethora of characters that made this book hard to follow as each one popped up intermittently and tended to prolong any kind of story line making the reader utter many "ughs" as well as quite a few roll of the eyes.
It was really a shame that a book that started out with such promise ran down itself into blah, blah, blah.
August 7, 2017
There is no doubt that Goya's paintings are disturbing. And this mysterious and suspenseful was just as disturbing.
15 years after the theft of the supposedly cursed painting, the four cousins are summoned back to the house of their grandfather. When Teresa and Audrey arrive they find the man dead. His face a frozen mask of horror and fear.
Questions fly as they find out the boys had all ready met with the grandfather and now not only is the man dead, but his housekeeper is missing.
When the entire family descends on the manor we quickly see that they are a cursed bunch. Whether the painting actually was possessed by a demon or whether the fear was instilled deliberately these were some very messed up characters!
Teresa, who has some mysterious illness that we never found out exactly what it was, was probably the only innocent in the bunch however I felt the characters weren't developed to the point that we knew or cared about any of them.
In the end it appeared greed was the motive for everyone's actions and whether they were all stark raving mad to begin with or became that way later isn't clear.
The tale is a fine idea, but the character development I felt was lacking.
Netgalley/Hanover Release January 09, 2018
15 years after the theft of the supposedly cursed painting, the four cousins are summoned back to the house of their grandfather. When Teresa and Audrey arrive they find the man dead. His face a frozen mask of horror and fear.
Questions fly as they find out the boys had all ready met with the grandfather and now not only is the man dead, but his housekeeper is missing.
When the entire family descends on the manor we quickly see that they are a cursed bunch. Whether the painting actually was possessed by a demon or whether the fear was instilled deliberately these were some very messed up characters!
Teresa, who has some mysterious illness that we never found out exactly what it was, was probably the only innocent in the bunch however I felt the characters weren't developed to the point that we knew or cared about any of them.
In the end it appeared greed was the motive for everyone's actions and whether they were all stark raving mad to begin with or became that way later isn't clear.
The tale is a fine idea, but the character development I felt was lacking.
Netgalley/Hanover Release January 09, 2018
August 3, 2017
Can't quite put my finger on why this didn't resonate with me but it didn't. It may have been because I couldn't warm up to any of the characters and the whole story seemed rather flat.
Or, maybe it was just my mood. Sometimes that happens.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
Or, maybe it was just my mood. Sometimes that happens.
Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
June 9, 2017
Four cousins summoned back by their grandfather...
The death of a family patriarch...
An old, mysterious house...
A painting by Goya that has a demon lurking inside it...
And a family with dark secrets...
This is what you can expect when you read The Black Painting by Neil Olson, scheduled to be released in January of 2018.
The mystery surrounding who took the painting from the parsimonious, rapacious grandfather (after he has quite possibly obtained it from the black market) remains mysterious throughout the novel. The main character, Teresa, is charged with the unraveling of the Goya painting disappearance.
There was a myriad of characters, and it was quite easy to get lost when reading along. Some of the characters, I felt, were very forgettable, and possibly even excessive, however, Olson spins a mystery reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel.
Overall, I rated this novel 3 out of 5 stars for the creativity and suspense created within this gripping novel by Olson.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I would like to thank Netgalley, Hanover Square Press, and the talented author Neil Olson for the opportunity to read and review The Black Painting.
The death of a family patriarch...
An old, mysterious house...
A painting by Goya that has a demon lurking inside it...
And a family with dark secrets...
This is what you can expect when you read The Black Painting by Neil Olson, scheduled to be released in January of 2018.
The mystery surrounding who took the painting from the parsimonious, rapacious grandfather (after he has quite possibly obtained it from the black market) remains mysterious throughout the novel. The main character, Teresa, is charged with the unraveling of the Goya painting disappearance.
There was a myriad of characters, and it was quite easy to get lost when reading along. Some of the characters, I felt, were very forgettable, and possibly even excessive, however, Olson spins a mystery reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel.
Overall, I rated this novel 3 out of 5 stars for the creativity and suspense created within this gripping novel by Olson.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I would like to thank Netgalley, Hanover Square Press, and the talented author Neil Olson for the opportunity to read and review The Black Painting.
February 20, 2018
I’ve often enjoyed novels about art and art history So much can be hidden in works of art that they are the perfect topic to base a mystery on. I remember reading a few years ago, that art curators had discovered in a portrait a miniature self-portrait of the artist rendered as the reflection in the pupil of eye the subject painted century’s before. I digress, but this is an example of the fascinating things that make the art world the perfect setting for a novel.
Neil Olson apparently agrees as both of his novels to date center around works of art, in this case a supposed fifteenth painting created during Francisco Goya’s Black Painting phase, a self-portrait reputedly able to induce death or madness in those who view it. In this, Olson’s second noel, wealthy New England patriarch Arthur Morse has summoned his many offspring and descendants home to his estate to discuss…who knows? The first of his grandchildren arrive to find him dead on the floor, his face a mask of terror and his sightless eyes gazing fixedly at the spot where his prized possession, the aforementioned cursed Goya self-portrait, would have stood had it not been stolen several years ago under mysterious circumstances. As the rest of the family arrives, the reader begins to see that this odd assemblage is about as far from being a big happy family as one can imagine. Past events, including the disappearance of the painting have left them paranoid, suspicious, traumatized, and unable to trust each other. What is happening at Owl’s Point is anybody’s guess but you can be sure that a lot of ugly secrets will be uncovered before the whole story is revealed.
Olson writes with a sensitivity most often found in female authors, which allows him to focus on the inner angst and psychological torment of the Morse family’s many members, especially Teresa, art history student and youngest granddaughter, who suffered an unknown trauma during the original events and whose discovery of her grandfather’s body threatens to send her over the deep end again.
My impression of this book was that it focused too much on the dysfunctional Morse family and not enough on the mystery. Olson can definitely write but I’d like to see him tighten up his plot and focus more on the mystery that is ultimately what keeps the reader engaged.
*The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Neil Olson apparently agrees as both of his novels to date center around works of art, in this case a supposed fifteenth painting created during Francisco Goya’s Black Painting phase, a self-portrait reputedly able to induce death or madness in those who view it. In this, Olson’s second noel, wealthy New England patriarch Arthur Morse has summoned his many offspring and descendants home to his estate to discuss…who knows? The first of his grandchildren arrive to find him dead on the floor, his face a mask of terror and his sightless eyes gazing fixedly at the spot where his prized possession, the aforementioned cursed Goya self-portrait, would have stood had it not been stolen several years ago under mysterious circumstances. As the rest of the family arrives, the reader begins to see that this odd assemblage is about as far from being a big happy family as one can imagine. Past events, including the disappearance of the painting have left them paranoid, suspicious, traumatized, and unable to trust each other. What is happening at Owl’s Point is anybody’s guess but you can be sure that a lot of ugly secrets will be uncovered before the whole story is revealed.
Olson writes with a sensitivity most often found in female authors, which allows him to focus on the inner angst and psychological torment of the Morse family’s many members, especially Teresa, art history student and youngest granddaughter, who suffered an unknown trauma during the original events and whose discovery of her grandfather’s body threatens to send her over the deep end again.
My impression of this book was that it focused too much on the dysfunctional Morse family and not enough on the mystery. Olson can definitely write but I’d like to see him tighten up his plot and focus more on the mystery that is ultimately what keeps the reader engaged.
*The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
May 26, 2017
Thank you to the author, Neil Olson, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing me an advanced reader copy of this book.
I rated this book 2.5 stars. I was so disappointed with this book because it had so much promise. The setting and atmosphere lured me in: an old, mysterious house, a painting by Goya that supposedly has a demon lurking inside it, and a family with dark secrets. All this sounds great, right?
This book is a case study in what happens when characters aren't fully developed, and when the storyline meanders without truly committing to a plot. I really, really wanted to love this book, but the creepy old house and painting completely got left behind after the beginning of the book. Teresa, the main character, was also supposed to be hiding a dark past or secret that I stopped caring about because it was only alluded to a few times.
The overall plot is that Teresa's grandfather passes away, and her relatives descend upon his southern manor to see what he has left behind for them. The grandfather was mean and cruel, and there was an ordeal with him acquiring (potentially via black market) the Goya painting that curses those who look at it. The Goya painting was stolen, and it's unclear who took it. Teresa is charged with uncovering the mystery of the stolen painting, and potentially undergoing a mysterious surgery so that she can receive money from her grandfather's will. There are so many side plots taking place in this book that I got lost and was constantly re-reading the book to make sure I at least attempted to follow it.
I also had such a difficult time following the immense cast of characters because none of them were fully developed. I often had no clue who they were when they popped up into the narrative. By the time I was 80% into the book, I didn't care about the characters, and I didn't care about the ending. It's a huge bummer, because again, the book started strong and faded due to the confusing cast of unpredictable, unreliable, and stiff characters.
I rated this book 2.5 stars. I was so disappointed with this book because it had so much promise. The setting and atmosphere lured me in: an old, mysterious house, a painting by Goya that supposedly has a demon lurking inside it, and a family with dark secrets. All this sounds great, right?
This book is a case study in what happens when characters aren't fully developed, and when the storyline meanders without truly committing to a plot. I really, really wanted to love this book, but the creepy old house and painting completely got left behind after the beginning of the book. Teresa, the main character, was also supposed to be hiding a dark past or secret that I stopped caring about because it was only alluded to a few times.
The overall plot is that Teresa's grandfather passes away, and her relatives descend upon his southern manor to see what he has left behind for them. The grandfather was mean and cruel, and there was an ordeal with him acquiring (potentially via black market) the Goya painting that curses those who look at it. The Goya painting was stolen, and it's unclear who took it. Teresa is charged with uncovering the mystery of the stolen painting, and potentially undergoing a mysterious surgery so that she can receive money from her grandfather's will. There are so many side plots taking place in this book that I got lost and was constantly re-reading the book to make sure I at least attempted to follow it.
I also had such a difficult time following the immense cast of characters because none of them were fully developed. I often had no clue who they were when they popped up into the narrative. By the time I was 80% into the book, I didn't care about the characters, and I didn't care about the ending. It's a huge bummer, because again, the book started strong and faded due to the confusing cast of unpredictable, unreliable, and stiff characters.
November 28, 2018
Nothing invokes more sympathy than a tale about squabbling, over-privileged, entitled rich brats squabbling over money when their equally asshole-y patriarch grandfather dies unexpectedly.
The Morse cousins have been persona non grata ever since a priceless Goya painting disappeared from their grandfather's study years ago.
Suspicions arose between the family on the theft of the lurid self-portrait of the famous artist which legend says can cause madness and insanity if you look at it.
When their grandfather calls the cousins to his estate, Theresa, the youngest, hopes to finally make amends but that is shattered when she discovers his dead body.
As the hunt for the painting is revitalization and the cousins eye one another warily, Theresa takes it upon herself to search for the truth of her grandfather's death, revealing family secrets of her own troubled past and disturbed father and those of the Morses.'
Talk about hating on all of the characters, which I did.
Not only were they unlikeable, not one of them was clever or witty or smart, just cliche and sad. A soap opera has nothing on the problems and issues of the Morse cousins.
We have the sexually promiscuous Audrey, who hooks up with pretty much anyone she can take advantage of (which I get, because if she's been treated like an object all her life, that's all she knows);
her very oh so fragile brother, who we later learn had seen the painting, which explain his numerous neuroses;
but we can't leave Theresa behind, since madness also runs in the family, after her father's suicide, she has 'spells,' and conveniently had been incapacitated with such a 'spell' on the day the painting was stolen all those years ago;
hey, let's not also forget the pedophile uncle and caretaker;
the hiring of an investigator, Dave, who hooks up with Audrey (ewwww) who also loves to infantilize his name to Davie. Ugh, gag me with a spoon.
I thought The Black Painting was about, you know, a painting!
I thought it was about Goya, the creepy legend and madness and insanity and his brilliant artistry. It was none of those things and I feel cheated!
I really disliked the author's portrayal of all the female characters; not even Theresa was depicted as a strong, empowered female, despite having figured out where the painting was all this time.
Instead, I got a cast of ridiculous characters, who are neither brilliant or compelling and when the painting is finally brought to light, it feels less like "Oh my gawd, YES!" and more like Oh, my gawd, is this over yet?
The Morse cousins have been persona non grata ever since a priceless Goya painting disappeared from their grandfather's study years ago.
Suspicions arose between the family on the theft of the lurid self-portrait of the famous artist which legend says can cause madness and insanity if you look at it.
When their grandfather calls the cousins to his estate, Theresa, the youngest, hopes to finally make amends but that is shattered when she discovers his dead body.
As the hunt for the painting is revitalization and the cousins eye one another warily, Theresa takes it upon herself to search for the truth of her grandfather's death, revealing family secrets of her own troubled past and disturbed father and those of the Morses.'
Talk about hating on all of the characters, which I did.
Not only were they unlikeable, not one of them was clever or witty or smart, just cliche and sad. A soap opera has nothing on the problems and issues of the Morse cousins.
We have the sexually promiscuous Audrey, who hooks up with pretty much anyone she can take advantage of (which I get, because if she's been treated like an object all her life, that's all she knows);
her very oh so fragile brother, who we later learn had seen the painting, which explain his numerous neuroses;
but we can't leave Theresa behind, since madness also runs in the family, after her father's suicide, she has 'spells,' and conveniently had been incapacitated with such a 'spell' on the day the painting was stolen all those years ago;
hey, let's not also forget the pedophile uncle and caretaker;
the hiring of an investigator, Dave, who hooks up with Audrey (ewwww) who also loves to infantilize his name to Davie. Ugh, gag me with a spoon.
I thought The Black Painting was about, you know, a painting!
I thought it was about Goya, the creepy legend and madness and insanity and his brilliant artistry. It was none of those things and I feel cheated!
I really disliked the author's portrayal of all the female characters; not even Theresa was depicted as a strong, empowered female, despite having figured out where the painting was all this time.
Instead, I got a cast of ridiculous characters, who are neither brilliant or compelling and when the painting is finally brought to light, it feels less like "Oh my gawd, YES!" and more like Oh, my gawd, is this over yet?
December 28, 2019
I noped my way out of The Black Painting at 50%. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read it, but the Audio Book was a hard no for me. The narrator didn't spark my interest, and the story meandered too much to really benefit from the format.
The premise of The Black Painting sounded promising. I do love Goya's work, and the idea of a cursed painting tickled me. But 50% of the way through there was minimal discussion about the art, and way too much time spent with one-dimensional characters. And don't even get me started on the way the women are written. There are no strong female characters, and I was constantly distracted by the fact that the female characters were objectified, and far too often described in terms of their breasts.
Add to that a stream of rhetorical questions from the protagonist, Teresa, and repetitive settings and characterisation, and there was just no way I could bring myself to finish it. Definitely interested to know if the physical reading experience is any different, but the Audio Book is undoubtedly not a recommendation from me.
The premise of The Black Painting sounded promising. I do love Goya's work, and the idea of a cursed painting tickled me. But 50% of the way through there was minimal discussion about the art, and way too much time spent with one-dimensional characters. And don't even get me started on the way the women are written. There are no strong female characters, and I was constantly distracted by the fact that the female characters were objectified, and far too often described in terms of their breasts.
Add to that a stream of rhetorical questions from the protagonist, Teresa, and repetitive settings and characterisation, and there was just no way I could bring myself to finish it. Definitely interested to know if the physical reading experience is any different, but the Audio Book is undoubtedly not a recommendation from me.
July 31, 2017
This book reminds me of the gothic mysteries I read as a young teenager - a crazy family, money to inherit, secrets everywhere, a mysterious painting. A quick, entertaining read.
(A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.)
(A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.)
October 21, 2017
Not sure why I read this book since I didn't much like any of the characters and I'm not a fan of Goya's art.
June 22, 2018
More of a mystery novel than anything supernatural. This novel was pretty good, and kept me entertained throughout it. The cast was a mix of horrible people, only a couple with some redeeming properties. Goya and his paintings being the best, or course.
Emily Woo Zeller was the Narrator, and she was very good at this. I will have to find more of her audiobooks.
This novel gets 3.5 stars, and is recommended to art lovers, and mystery lovers.
Emily Woo Zeller was the Narrator, and she was very good at this. I will have to find more of her audiobooks.
This novel gets 3.5 stars, and is recommended to art lovers, and mystery lovers.
February 13, 2018
Sadly, this is another disappointing book club book. But perhaps worse than the other duds we've been choosing lately. It was filled with annoying, yet flat and one-dimensional characters and a story that spun around really telling nothing - certainly not as much about the painting or the curse as might have been hoped.
We're desperate for a book club book that is going to knock our socks off. Unfortunately this wasn't the one to do that for us...again. :-(
We're desperate for a book club book that is going to knock our socks off. Unfortunately this wasn't the one to do that for us...again. :-(
November 28, 2022
I thought I would love the book because of all the elements that connect to me, but somehow I couldn’t get into the story and abandoned it half way through. But that’s just me I guess.
April 18, 2018
3 1/2 stars
Looking at some of the prior low reviews for this book, I was happy to find it well written, good characters, a believable mystery- with a good dose of creepiness thrown in- and the ending had a good twist. There was a sag of momentum mid book and questionable road trip in the last third of the book but an otherwise readable interesting story.
Looking at some of the prior low reviews for this book, I was happy to find it well written, good characters, a believable mystery- with a good dose of creepiness thrown in- and the ending had a good twist. There was a sag of momentum mid book and questionable road trip in the last third of the book but an otherwise readable interesting story.
April 2, 2019
Малко над два месеца ми отне прочитането на този трилър... За идея бих дал 4*, а за изпълнение- 2*...
Очаквах историята да бъде по-мистична, по-завладяваща, по-фантастична... Трудно ми беше началото... докато влезна във филма вече бях преполовил книгата, а там забих много жестоко... може би не беше правилноят момент, може би просто не е моята книга...
Признавам, че финалът не го очаквах, но ми беше много захаросан...
Очаквах историята да бъде по-мистична, по-завладяваща, по-фантастична... Трудно ми беше началото... докато влезна във филма вече бях преполовил книгата, а там забих много жестоко... може би не беше правилноят момент, може би просто не е моята книга...
Признавам, че финалът не го очаквах, но ми беше много захаросан...
October 5, 2017
I read this in page-proof, with the blurb describing it as a 'psychological thriller'. This description is a bit extreme for me as I don't think it really worked on that level. It was readable, but certainly not gripping, in the way that a truly good Crome novel should be. Some of the relationships between family members I found unconvincing, as was the 'fear' of the Goya painting in question.Not one I would recommend.
June 4, 2017
Fun, satisfying family drama with nods to Agatha Christie.
March 20, 2018
The Black Paintings is the name given to a group of fourteen paintings by Francisco Goya from the later years of his life, likely between 1819 and 1823. They portray intense, haunting themes, reflective of both his fear of insanity and his bleak outlook on humanity. So, when I discovered this book, I was excited especially with the awesome blurb.
Unfortunately, the Black Painting by Neil Olson is a complex tale. The author clearly writes well, but I think the characters didn't match the plot in this book. The story told a tale of three children and four grandchildren who returned to their father/grandfather's home, where he was found dead looking at an empty space where one of the Black Painting, that presumably own by the family by illegal way, went missing 15 years ago. So, one of the grandchild was given the task of finding the painting and who stole it.
It had so many possibilities but did not deliver. It got boring way too fast with lots of characters and lack of development. I just wanted to know what happen to the painting. I don't need an elaborate tale of what a jumble up a family could be.
Unfortunately, the Black Painting by Neil Olson is a complex tale. The author clearly writes well, but I think the characters didn't match the plot in this book. The story told a tale of three children and four grandchildren who returned to their father/grandfather's home, where he was found dead looking at an empty space where one of the Black Painting, that presumably own by the family by illegal way, went missing 15 years ago. So, one of the grandchild was given the task of finding the painting and who stole it.
It had so many possibilities but did not deliver. It got boring way too fast with lots of characters and lack of development. I just wanted to know what happen to the painting. I don't need an elaborate tale of what a jumble up a family could be.
August 25, 2022
Много рядка бозица се оказа тая книга, въпреки суперлативите на гърба под анотацията. А започна любопитно и обещаващо - фабулата се завъртя около една картина на Гоя - обвита в мистерия петнадесета представителка на серията му Черни картини (известни са четиринадесет на брой, издирете ги в гугъл), първоначално рисувани като стенописи в къщата извън Мадрид, където художникът се е оттеглил в края на живота си, впоследствие прехвърлени на платно. Дотук добре, ама нищо, нищичко не се случи в почти двеста и петдесет страници, до финалните двадесетина, когато Олсън изсипа с черпака уж шокиращите си разкрития, семпли и рехави като цялото му повествование... 2,5/5
December 31, 2020
Interesting book revolving around a “cursed” painting. A lot of family drama and family secrets... surrounded all by the specter of a painting by Goya which is supposed to depict his madness... everyone who owns this painting has died. The death of the family patriarch brings all the family together...who will get what or how much? ...but wait...where is the painting? .... is a demon free? ...read and find out.
Read
November 13, 2018DNF for now, just not holding my attention. May go back to it since the writing was decent and it had promise but it’s just not what I’m in the mood for
January 9, 2018
The three children and four grandchildren of Alfred Morse, a wealthy art collector, have been called to his home on the Connecticut coast. Teresa, one of the grandchildren, finds him dead in his study; he has a horrified expression on his face which is turned towards the spot where a Goya self-portrait once hung. That painting, believed by several of the family members to be so disturbing that it caused misfortune or death, was stolen 15 years earlier. Teaming up with Dave Webster, a private investigator hired by one of her uncles, Teresa sets out to find out what caused her grandfather’s death and who stole the painting.
The book piqued my interest because of its use of one of Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings. The twist added, however, stretched my credulity. I know that those paintings are dark and disturbing, but I find it difficult to believe that a self-portrait could be so horrific that it could cause death. People actually believe a painting can be cursed? There is also the added problem of a plot which lacks focus. There are a number of sub-plots so the narrative meanders. There are sex scenes that do not develop character or advance the plot; they seem included only for titillation. People like Marc, Teresa’s ex-boyfriend, are mentioned as if they might be important but then are never referred to again. Then there are statements like “She had been hearing Ramón’s voice in her head a lot for the last two days” even though there has been no prior mention of this preoccupation. There are also several fight scenes; at times it is difficult to know who is fighting whom. The feeling given is one of disjointedness; even the dialogue gives this impression. For instance, Dave mentions, “’You would have a hard time convincing [Pete] of [how lucky he is]’” and Teresa replies with “’I’ve been dreaming of my dad [Ramón] a lot lately.’”
Another major problem is characterization. The seven family members all remain flat characters so it is difficult to differentiate amongst them or to connect to them. There is an attempt at direct characterization (“Teresa was good at reading people”) but this description is inaccurate. The family as a whole can only be described as dysfunctional; everyone has issues with everyone else and no one trusts anyone. Not one of them is likeable. And because the characters are not developed, I found myself not caring about what happened to them.
The book is repetitive in its use of certain elements. People keep meeting in the woods and mysterious figures are constantly seen roaming there. Then there’s the spooky house and the mysterious housekeeper who knows a great deal but won’t talk. Teresa conveniently forgets and remembers things: “Who had said that? Where had Teresa just heard it?” and “then a vision pushed in upon her” and “How the hell could she have forgotten? Yet she had, completely, until now” and “Another vision intruded on Teresa’s mind.” Other characters also have strange memory lapses; one person cannot remember a cousin’s address: “’I slept on a bench. When I woke up I remembered the address, so I went there.’” Using memories in this way is not a sophisticated literary technique.
The long lists of questions also become tiresome. Teresa, in particular, thinks in long sequences of questions: “What had they forgotten, and what had their imaginations created over the years? And how would they ever know now which was which?” and “Had her mother known? What would she think, what would the aunts and uncles think? Would they be as indulgent as her cousins?” and “Who had her father really been, and what had he done that severed him from his family? What did her visions mean, or did they mean anything? Would she be the same person without them? Was she brave enough to find out?” and “What was he doing here? What had he learned, and why did he make Teresa so uneasy?” and “What was he doing now? Had Philip dismissed him or was he still on the case? If so, why had he not contacted Teresa?” and “Was it in Philip and Miranda, as well? And if so, how had she and James avoided it?” and “What was wrong with her? What was wrong with all of them? What was this demon in the blood of the entire family?” And this is not an exhaustive list!
This is not a book I can recommend. Plot, characterization and writing style all have issues. There are no thrills to be found in this thriller.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
The book piqued my interest because of its use of one of Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings. The twist added, however, stretched my credulity. I know that those paintings are dark and disturbing, but I find it difficult to believe that a self-portrait could be so horrific that it could cause death. People actually believe a painting can be cursed? There is also the added problem of a plot which lacks focus. There are a number of sub-plots so the narrative meanders. There are sex scenes that do not develop character or advance the plot; they seem included only for titillation. People like Marc, Teresa’s ex-boyfriend, are mentioned as if they might be important but then are never referred to again. Then there are statements like “She had been hearing Ramón’s voice in her head a lot for the last two days” even though there has been no prior mention of this preoccupation. There are also several fight scenes; at times it is difficult to know who is fighting whom. The feeling given is one of disjointedness; even the dialogue gives this impression. For instance, Dave mentions, “’You would have a hard time convincing [Pete] of [how lucky he is]’” and Teresa replies with “’I’ve been dreaming of my dad [Ramón] a lot lately.’”
Another major problem is characterization. The seven family members all remain flat characters so it is difficult to differentiate amongst them or to connect to them. There is an attempt at direct characterization (“Teresa was good at reading people”) but this description is inaccurate. The family as a whole can only be described as dysfunctional; everyone has issues with everyone else and no one trusts anyone. Not one of them is likeable. And because the characters are not developed, I found myself not caring about what happened to them.
The book is repetitive in its use of certain elements. People keep meeting in the woods and mysterious figures are constantly seen roaming there. Then there’s the spooky house and the mysterious housekeeper who knows a great deal but won’t talk. Teresa conveniently forgets and remembers things: “Who had said that? Where had Teresa just heard it?” and “then a vision pushed in upon her” and “How the hell could she have forgotten? Yet she had, completely, until now” and “Another vision intruded on Teresa’s mind.” Other characters also have strange memory lapses; one person cannot remember a cousin’s address: “’I slept on a bench. When I woke up I remembered the address, so I went there.’” Using memories in this way is not a sophisticated literary technique.
The long lists of questions also become tiresome. Teresa, in particular, thinks in long sequences of questions: “What had they forgotten, and what had their imaginations created over the years? And how would they ever know now which was which?” and “Had her mother known? What would she think, what would the aunts and uncles think? Would they be as indulgent as her cousins?” and “Who had her father really been, and what had he done that severed him from his family? What did her visions mean, or did they mean anything? Would she be the same person without them? Was she brave enough to find out?” and “What was he doing here? What had he learned, and why did he make Teresa so uneasy?” and “What was he doing now? Had Philip dismissed him or was he still on the case? If so, why had he not contacted Teresa?” and “Was it in Philip and Miranda, as well? And if so, how had she and James avoided it?” and “What was wrong with her? What was wrong with all of them? What was this demon in the blood of the entire family?” And this is not an exhaustive list!
This is not a book I can recommend. Plot, characterization and writing style all have issues. There are no thrills to be found in this thriller.
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
June 17, 2017
I rounded up to 4 stars because of Olson's use of the Goya paintings.
Goya's Black Paintings are mysterious enough in appearance and in creation, but Neil Olson's novel gives an even more sinister legacy to the black painting owned by the patriarch of the Morse family.
Fifteen years earlier, Alfred Arthur Morse's black painting was stolen, causing accusations, suspicion, and the estrangement of family members. Now, the four cousins have been summoned to their grandfather's estate. Teresa and Audrey arrive together, but it is Teresa who discovers their grandfather's body in his study--in front of the space where the black painting had hung before its disappearance.
Teresa is intent on finding out more about the original theft and about her grandfather's death. Family secrets emerge.
Whether or not the painting was haunted, there is plenty of suspense and mystery surrounding the Morse family's association with the painting. A clever use of Goya's dark and nightmarish paintings to inspire a curse and a mystery.
(The book never mentions which black painting Morse owned; perhaps a totally fictitious one, but the cover partially reveals one painting from the series.)
read in April; A Garden Carried in the Pocket post scheduled for Dec. 18.
NetGalley/Hanover Square Press
Mystery/Suspense. Jan. 9, 2018. Print length: 320 pages.
Goya's Black Paintings are mysterious enough in appearance and in creation, but Neil Olson's novel gives an even more sinister legacy to the black painting owned by the patriarch of the Morse family.
Fifteen years earlier, Alfred Arthur Morse's black painting was stolen, causing accusations, suspicion, and the estrangement of family members. Now, the four cousins have been summoned to their grandfather's estate. Teresa and Audrey arrive together, but it is Teresa who discovers their grandfather's body in his study--in front of the space where the black painting had hung before its disappearance.
Teresa is intent on finding out more about the original theft and about her grandfather's death. Family secrets emerge.
Whether or not the painting was haunted, there is plenty of suspense and mystery surrounding the Morse family's association with the painting. A clever use of Goya's dark and nightmarish paintings to inspire a curse and a mystery.
(The book never mentions which black painting Morse owned; perhaps a totally fictitious one, but the cover partially reveals one painting from the series.)
read in April; A Garden Carried in the Pocket post scheduled for Dec. 18.
NetGalley/Hanover Square Press
Mystery/Suspense. Jan. 9, 2018. Print length: 320 pages.
February 22, 2019
Прокълнатата картина носи нещастие: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
В центъра на сюжета е предполагаема картина на Франсиско Гоя, част от прочутия му цикъл черни (или мрачни) картини, изрисувани по стените на къщата, която той обитава в заника на дните си, когато е глух, ужасен от войните и с недобри очаквания за бъдещето на човечеството. Според фамилното предание на семейство Морс те притежават една от тези картини, в която е вселен демон от самия Гоя – и той е способен да убива и умее да въздейства на хората, които я гледат. От поколение на поколение тази легенда се предава, а картината стои надлежно заключена в кабинета на патриарха на семейството, знаков колекционер и човек с тежък характер и множество врагове. До деня на едно погребение, когато е открадната и цяло десетилетие никой не знае какво е станало в този странен и объркан ден.
Издателство "Милениум"
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
В центъра на сюжета е предполагаема картина на Франсиско Гоя, част от прочутия му цикъл черни (или мрачни) картини, изрисувани по стените на къщата, която той обитава в заника на дните си, когато е глух, ужасен от войните и с недобри очаквания за бъдещето на човечеството. Според фамилното предание на семейство Морс те притежават една от тези картини, в която е вселен демон от самия Гоя – и той е способен да убива и умее да въздейства на хората, които я гледат. От поколение на поколение тази легенда се предава, а картината стои надлежно заключена в кабинета на патриарха на семейството, знаков колекционер и човек с тежък характер и множество врагове. До деня на едно погребение, когато е открадната и цяло десетилетие никой не знае какво е станало в този странен и объркан ден.
Издателство "Милениум"
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
May 27, 2017
So glad I read this absorbing, terrifying book during the day, otherwise I'm sure it would have resulted in some serious insomnia or nightmares. It's wonderful though: a well-written and compelling mystery that is easy to follow despite the myriad of characters and key events involved. About halfway through, I started to prepare myself for imminent disappointment because the narrative had just set expectations so high and the ending couldn't possibly deliver, but it did. Think Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History' combined with The Grand Budapest Hotel and you have something like Olson's Black Painting.
NB: I received an ARC of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
NB: I received an ARC of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
A mystery surrounding a lost painting by Goya? A disfunctional family? An old house full of secrets?
Yes, please.
This book really engrossed me. I enjoyed all of the characters and it was so atmospheric. The characters were plausible, perhaps with the exception of Audrey who at times felt a bit over the top but hey, she was an over the top kind of girl. My only gripe was that I figured out the mystery fairly early on, however that didn't take away from my enjoyment. The multi-cultural elements, the twisted love interests, and the supernatural aspect made this a very enjoyable read.
A mystery surrounding a lost painting by Goya? A disfunctional family? An old house full of secrets?
Yes, please.
This book really engrossed me. I enjoyed all of the characters and it was so atmospheric. The characters were plausible, perhaps with the exception of Audrey who at times felt a bit over the top but hey, she was an over the top kind of girl. My only gripe was that I figured out the mystery fairly early on, however that didn't take away from my enjoyment. The multi-cultural elements, the twisted love interests, and the supernatural aspect made this a very enjoyable read.
November 7, 2017
I thought this book was going to be better. I didn't care about the characters. The mystery around the painting was interesting, but not enough to hold my attention. It had potential, but I think it fell short.
November 19, 2017
Teresa's Grandfather owned a black painting by Goya. Supposedly it put a curse on the family causing all sorts of problems - they are certainly dramatically dysfunctional. It was stolen 15 years ago causing a rift through the family that never healed. However, Teresa has now been summonded back to the house at Owl's Point by her Grandfather.
I knew nothing about Goya's black paintings before I stated this book so that was an interesting addition to the storyline. Personally I felt the author over dramatised the horrific nature of this painting - could a painting really be so shocking that it caused someone to die from a heart attack?
There are numerous twists and turns in this book and for the most part they were well constructed. The plot was pretty solid and I felt everything did make sense and come together in the end. There were a few fight scenes where I lost track of who was fighting who & why but it slotted together again quickly afterwards.
There are two plot devices which I have come to dislike over recent years. One is the use of twins and the mistakes over their identity - there are far more twins in fiction that in reality! Thankfully there wasn't a twin in sight in this book. However, the author did employ the other of my dislikes and that is amnesia. Amnesia is not that common in reality but very common in fiction where the memory conveniently returns at a critical point. In this book, Teresa has epilepsy (nice to see this in fiction particularly as it was well described including the disorientation and fatigue afterwards). When Teresa has a seizure she looses track of reality and some memories of the time around the seizure. This is quite sound and has a good basis in reality. What isn't so sound is that these memories come back at convenient moments - Grrrrrr.
I appreciated the characters in this book. Although many of them weren't that nice most of them managed a redeeming feature. James was quite odd but loved his cousin, Teresa and wanted to take care of her. Audrey had a very damaged character but she was trying to protect her brother, James. In all they were a very dysfunctional family where the therapists could have made a fortune but they weren't all bad.
I did enjoy this book. I found the story flowed well and it was easy to read. There are plenty of well thought out twists & turns for the reader to get their teeth into. I may have considered a five star review had the author not used the cliched amnesia plot device. I will be more than happy to read any other books by this author.
This book was sent to me via Netgalley.
I knew nothing about Goya's black paintings before I stated this book so that was an interesting addition to the storyline. Personally I felt the author over dramatised the horrific nature of this painting - could a painting really be so shocking that it caused someone to die from a heart attack?
There are numerous twists and turns in this book and for the most part they were well constructed. The plot was pretty solid and I felt everything did make sense and come together in the end. There were a few fight scenes where I lost track of who was fighting who & why but it slotted together again quickly afterwards.
There are two plot devices which I have come to dislike over recent years. One is the use of twins and the mistakes over their identity - there are far more twins in fiction that in reality! Thankfully there wasn't a twin in sight in this book. However, the author did employ the other of my dislikes and that is amnesia. Amnesia is not that common in reality but very common in fiction where the memory conveniently returns at a critical point. In this book, Teresa has epilepsy (nice to see this in fiction particularly as it was well described including the disorientation and fatigue afterwards). When Teresa has a seizure she looses track of reality and some memories of the time around the seizure. This is quite sound and has a good basis in reality. What isn't so sound is that these memories come back at convenient moments - Grrrrrr.
I appreciated the characters in this book. Although many of them weren't that nice most of them managed a redeeming feature. James was quite odd but loved his cousin, Teresa and wanted to take care of her. Audrey had a very damaged character but she was trying to protect her brother, James. In all they were a very dysfunctional family where the therapists could have made a fortune but they weren't all bad.
I did enjoy this book. I found the story flowed well and it was easy to read. There are plenty of well thought out twists & turns for the reader to get their teeth into. I may have considered a five star review had the author not used the cliched amnesia plot device. I will be more than happy to read any other books by this author.
This book was sent to me via Netgalley.
April 4, 2018
This one may just have you staying away from artwork for the rest of your life!
A Goya painting has been rumored to cause madness to anyone who stares at it too long. One clan, by the name of Morse, has that particular painting in their family. It hung on a wall in their grandfather’s estate, a mansion named Owl’s Point, before the painting was suddenly stolen.
There are four cousins in the Morse family: One is a lawyer living on the West Coast; one is a med student who is genius-level; one is what you would call a hard-partying, hard-drinking gal; and the last, the youngest, is a girl by the name of Teresa who carries with her a deep-seeded fear that she is going to ‘go the way of’ her own father—a man who died of madness.
Out of the blue these four cousins get a call that they must immediately come to the old family estate. This is most definitely something that not one out of the four wants to do, seeing as that the last time they were there they were accused and vilified by their grandfather when that Goya painting disappeared from the mansion. In fact, that was the beginning of the end for the family as the fights sent them running their separate ways.
Attempting to have faith, they try to believe that their grandfather, now that he’s getting old, wants to get the family back together and put all the bad behind them. But when they arrive at Owl’s Point and Teresa sees that the old man is dead, all of them know that the worst is yet to come. Add to that the fact that the grandfather was literally dead with his eyes wide open…staring at the bare wall where the Goya painting used to hang.
This is an incredible plot with unknown twists that all readers who love mystery and suspense will thrive on.
A Goya painting has been rumored to cause madness to anyone who stares at it too long. One clan, by the name of Morse, has that particular painting in their family. It hung on a wall in their grandfather’s estate, a mansion named Owl’s Point, before the painting was suddenly stolen.
There are four cousins in the Morse family: One is a lawyer living on the West Coast; one is a med student who is genius-level; one is what you would call a hard-partying, hard-drinking gal; and the last, the youngest, is a girl by the name of Teresa who carries with her a deep-seeded fear that she is going to ‘go the way of’ her own father—a man who died of madness.
Out of the blue these four cousins get a call that they must immediately come to the old family estate. This is most definitely something that not one out of the four wants to do, seeing as that the last time they were there they were accused and vilified by their grandfather when that Goya painting disappeared from the mansion. In fact, that was the beginning of the end for the family as the fights sent them running their separate ways.
Attempting to have faith, they try to believe that their grandfather, now that he’s getting old, wants to get the family back together and put all the bad behind them. But when they arrive at Owl’s Point and Teresa sees that the old man is dead, all of them know that the worst is yet to come. Add to that the fact that the grandfather was literally dead with his eyes wide open…staring at the bare wall where the Goya painting used to hang.
This is an incredible plot with unknown twists that all readers who love mystery and suspense will thrive on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews