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Art History Mystery #1
Stolen Light
Cuba 1958: American-born William Delany’s sugar plantation is attacked by rebels. He is killed and his priceless art collection is presumed taken as plunder.
Fifty years later, Delaney’s widow dies, and his daughter, Helen Gilmore, endeavoring to understand the father her mother never spoke about, is determined to retrieve what she can of his legacy. In her quest to track down her father’s art collection she enlists the help of a young writer named Erika Shawn. Together with seasoned art historian Harrison Wheatley, the two begin their quest to uncover what they can about Delany’s collection.
What begins as an academic exercise quickly escalates to something much more sinister. When Helen is brutally murdered and Erika is anonymously warned to drop the assignment, they press on undeterred to uncover the culprits and find justice for Helen.
Their dogged determination to find Helen’s killer as well as the stolen artwork lead them to what may be an historical find. Their sleuthing is complicated by their intensifying attraction, as irresistible and, likely as threatening as their mission.
Fifty years later, Delaney’s widow dies, and his daughter, Helen Gilmore, endeavoring to understand the father her mother never spoke about, is determined to retrieve what she can of his legacy. In her quest to track down her father’s art collection she enlists the help of a young writer named Erika Shawn. Together with seasoned art historian Harrison Wheatley, the two begin their quest to uncover what they can about Delany’s collection.
What begins as an academic exercise quickly escalates to something much more sinister. When Helen is brutally murdered and Erika is anonymously warned to drop the assignment, they press on undeterred to uncover the culprits and find justice for Helen.
Their dogged determination to find Helen’s killer as well as the stolen artwork lead them to what may be an historical find. Their sleuthing is complicated by their intensifying attraction, as irresistible and, likely as threatening as their mission.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2015
20 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 18, 2017
I read my first novel by Claudia Riess, and was entranced with the characters. I fell in love with Ms. Riess’ characters, Erika Shawn and Harrison Wheatley, in her beautifully conjured art history lesson within a fun romance and who-done-it. As an artist myself, I very much enjoyed traveling through New York’s current art community back in time to Cuba and Florence in a fabulous story. The novel is a painting itself, rich with art and the artist’s who create masterpieces. I found myself casting the characters in Ms. Riess’ fast-paced story in a future movie or TV series, and great fun imagining what actress and actor might be cast as the lovely Erika and the handsome, haunting character of Harrison. I am looking forward to reading “Semblance of Guilt” as soon as it is released.
Received this book through Goodreads giveaway.
Received this book through Goodreads giveaway.
May 15, 2024
Wonderful Art Mystery
This was a delightful surprise. The mystery is artfully crafted, filled with wonderful and not so wonderful characters, but the best part is the way the love of art, the explanations and the feelings about art are made a part of the story. Highly recommend.
This was a delightful surprise. The mystery is artfully crafted, filled with wonderful and not so wonderful characters, but the best part is the way the love of art, the explanations and the feelings about art are made a part of the story. Highly recommend.
November 24, 2015
I received this book from a Goodreads contest.
"Stolen Light" is a fun mystery involving stolen art, the misattribution of artists, and, peripherally, the Cuban Revolution. Romance is also in the air between our principal characters. I enjoyed the story itself. In fact I think the general plot was a great story idea. However, "Stolen Light" reads like a work ready for an early round of editing. For example, I think the author should trust her readers' ability to remember the identities of minor characters without the need for reintroduction. The flow of dialogue could also use significant revision. Some information should come straight from the narrator (or should be reworded to flow more like natural spoken conversation). What stuck out the most for me, though, was a combination of the hasty development of the budding romance and the thinly veiled damsel-in-distress identity of Erika (because for all the pointed defiance and exuded self-reliance, she really was a standard woman-in-need-of-rescuing).
All that being said, let me emphasize that I enjoyed "Stolen Light". (In fact, I read it in just a few days--and I have less than one hour a day available for reading unless I stay up past my bedtime.) I would not waste time critiquing it if I thought it was destined for the tawdry romance categorization. I don't. I think this could be a successful mainstream mystery novel, with some rewriting under the guidance of a professional editor.
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
"Stolen Light" is a fun mystery involving stolen art, the misattribution of artists, and, peripherally, the Cuban Revolution. Romance is also in the air between our principal characters. I enjoyed the story itself. In fact I think the general plot was a great story idea. However, "Stolen Light" reads like a work ready for an early round of editing. For example, I think the author should trust her readers' ability to remember the identities of minor characters without the need for reintroduction. The flow of dialogue could also use significant revision. Some information should come straight from the narrator (or should be reworded to flow more like natural spoken conversation). What stuck out the most for me, though, was a combination of the hasty development of the budding romance and the thinly veiled damsel-in-distress identity of Erika (because for all the pointed defiance and exuded self-reliance, she really was a standard woman-in-need-of-rescuing).
All that being said, let me emphasize that I enjoyed "Stolen Light". (In fact, I read it in just a few days--and I have less than one hour a day available for reading unless I stay up past my bedtime.) I would not waste time critiquing it if I thought it was destined for the tawdry romance categorization. I don't. I think this could be a successful mainstream mystery novel, with some rewriting under the guidance of a professional editor.
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
January 22, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways. The story is very good, it has mystery, romance and art history in it. Also, it does get a little complicated and I was afraid I would not understand the ending, but I was wrong. The solution to the mystery was very clearly explained at the end and the reader knows exactly what happened. Very interesting story, it will definitely take you away from every day life.
October 30, 2015
I won this novel in a goodreads drawing.
It's an old fashioned romance (I'm talking Harlequin, not the 19 century) about art experts drawn into a conspiracy dating back to 1958 Cuba. There's a lot of art history and inside stuff about the art world, but it doesn't get in the way or distract. Apparently, the author has a bit of a fetish for chinos, though.
Not bad, though a trifle quaint.
It's an old fashioned romance (I'm talking Harlequin, not the 19 century) about art experts drawn into a conspiracy dating back to 1958 Cuba. There's a lot of art history and inside stuff about the art world, but it doesn't get in the way or distract. Apparently, the author has a bit of a fetish for chinos, though.
Not bad, though a trifle quaint.
January 29, 2016
I received the book through a Good Reads giveaway. Some of the art descriptions were beyond my familiarity of art, but nothing overwhelming. The mystery was well laid out and came together in the end. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
August 18, 2017
Finished reading the book and it is absolutely a wonderful read
January 27, 2016
This was a Goodreads give away contest win. This is my honest rating of this book.
November 26, 2015
A mystery, conspiracy, and romance. Really enjoyed the story. I won this book through goodreads.
January 1, 2017
A mystery with a switch and twist that makes it invigorating.
January 4, 2017
thank you goodreads! an excellent book. the banter between the two main characters is clever and engaging. great mystery. i know virtually nothing about art so the book was informative also.
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April 18, 2017In compliance with FTC guidelines, I have won this book through the Goodreads Giveaways.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews