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The Art Collector's Daughter
Love, art, and obsession, set between Nazi occupied Paris and rural Ireland.
As the Germans advance on Paris in 1940, a young Jewish girl, Sylvie Vasseur, is sent by her father to rural Ireland to live with the Courtney family. He also sends his valuable art collection – including a portrait of Sylvie by the renowned Mateus, Girl on a Swing.
Sylvia is seduced by the narcissistic elder son Nicholas Courtney when she is eighteen, but he abandons her when he discovers she is pregnant. To avoid the inevitable social stigma, Sylvie marries his brother Peter.
In Dublin, she becomes involved in the art scene, achieving critical acclaim as a painter. But, trapped in a loveless marriage, she continues to be obsessed with Nicholas. Until, unexpectedly, secrets from her father’s past emerge, leading her to question everything she once believed. Shortly after, she is found drowned on a Wexford beach.
Seventeen years later, Claire Howard, struggling art historian, is hired by the Courtney family to record Sylvie’s lifeworks. Fascinated by the artist and working with Sylvie’s son Sam, Claire travels between Dublin and Paris, eventually unravelling a labyrinth of deceit and lies that threaten to endanger her life.
As the Germans advance on Paris in 1940, a young Jewish girl, Sylvie Vasseur, is sent by her father to rural Ireland to live with the Courtney family. He also sends his valuable art collection – including a portrait of Sylvie by the renowned Mateus, Girl on a Swing.
Sylvia is seduced by the narcissistic elder son Nicholas Courtney when she is eighteen, but he abandons her when he discovers she is pregnant. To avoid the inevitable social stigma, Sylvie marries his brother Peter.
In Dublin, she becomes involved in the art scene, achieving critical acclaim as a painter. But, trapped in a loveless marriage, she continues to be obsessed with Nicholas. Until, unexpectedly, secrets from her father’s past emerge, leading her to question everything she once believed. Shortly after, she is found drowned on a Wexford beach.
Seventeen years later, Claire Howard, struggling art historian, is hired by the Courtney family to record Sylvie’s lifeworks. Fascinated by the artist and working with Sylvie’s son Sam, Claire travels between Dublin and Paris, eventually unravelling a labyrinth of deceit and lies that threaten to endanger her life.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2020
267 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Derville Murphy
3 books26 followersArt, history, and books are my passion and now I am lucky enough to be able to combine all three. For many years I worked as an art consultant. During this time, I also painted and exhibited my own work. But about fifteen years ago, I decided to go back to college to get a deeper knowledge of art and history. While I was there, I got hooked on the detective work that is involved in historical research. However, I found that days spent pouring over ancient volumes in dusty libraries don’t always yield the results to tell a compelling story. And I started thinking about, painting, and telling stories, as a way for me to get a clearer understanding of the past.
As well as painting and writing, I am an avid reader, a member of a rowdy book club, and a writing group, and these friends have given me great support on my journey to become a writer. I also love cooking and drinking good white wine and having the craic. To burn all of the calories I consume in this way, I cycle madly, walk and swim in the Irish Sea – whenever it’s not Baltic – which is not often, to be honest! My husband, who is my best friend, and I, have two daughters both amazing young women of whom I am enormously proud: and we are grandparents of adorable one-year-old twins. I am writing this and thinking, my life like most peoples has not been without its ups and downs – but having family and friends to stand by you is the greatest blessing of all. I hope you enjoy my books and get as much enjoyment from reading them as I have had writing them
The Art Collector’s Daughter is my debut novel and I have another one in the pipeline. So, watch this space! My second novel is based on my research into the life of Margaret Allen, a Victorian Irish artist, who was written out of history because her paintings sympathised with the Irish nationalist cause.
As well as painting and writing, I am an avid reader, a member of a rowdy book club, and a writing group, and these friends have given me great support on my journey to become a writer. I also love cooking and drinking good white wine and having the craic. To burn all of the calories I consume in this way, I cycle madly, walk and swim in the Irish Sea – whenever it’s not Baltic – which is not often, to be honest! My husband, who is my best friend, and I, have two daughters both amazing young women of whom I am enormously proud: and we are grandparents of adorable one-year-old twins. I am writing this and thinking, my life like most peoples has not been without its ups and downs – but having family and friends to stand by you is the greatest blessing of all. I hope you enjoy my books and get as much enjoyment from reading them as I have had writing them
The Art Collector’s Daughter is my debut novel and I have another one in the pipeline. So, watch this space! My second novel is based on my research into the life of Margaret Allen, a Victorian Irish artist, who was written out of history because her paintings sympathised with the Irish nationalist cause.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 11, 2020
I chose this book because I love art, I love history and I really love thrillers.
Even though I have enjoyed the overall reading experience, there were still some elements which were interfering with the joyful experience. I'm giving 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.
Let's start with the positive things: I liked the general beautiful descriptions of the scenery and when the narrator started explaining the thought process of each character. It was captivating and immersive! I also really loved the WWII theme paired with art and Dublin (I love this city).
The epilogue was fantastic; it shed a total different light on the story and gave a nice turn of the ending.
Unfortunately, even though the story itself was very compelling, I didn't like the dialogues between any characters. Even though I may be picky here, the dialogues felt just too weak compared to the rest. As soon as the interaction between characters was more complex or started getting long, it didn't feel like a conversation between two characters. It was more like a monologue of one character with the other throwing in questions.
The long dialogue between Sam and Claire or that between Nicholas and Leo contained only spoken words without any kind of description how the characters acted non-verbally. Imagine, when you talk to someone, you would normally also communicate non-verbally like eyes getting wide, trembling hands, and so on. Unfortunately, this sometimes made the situation artificial and wooden. Also, the frequent use of italic font to demonstrate the shouting was not improving the reading experience because the effect got lost in the end.
If there would have been less words during the dialogues, it would have been more effective. I feel like the author tried to explain too much through direct speech of the characters.
I also think that the book was more a historical fiction than a thriller. Even though the last few pages definitely were more like a thriller, most of the book was dealing with Sylvie and her tragic life. I really loved Sylvie so much and I deeply felt for her. And unfortunately, the suspenseful moments or any turning events were coming too late into the story. If the book would not have been marketed as a historical thriller, I might have enjoyed it even more.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
Even though I have enjoyed the overall reading experience, there were still some elements which were interfering with the joyful experience. I'm giving 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.
Let's start with the positive things: I liked the general beautiful descriptions of the scenery and when the narrator started explaining the thought process of each character. It was captivating and immersive! I also really loved the WWII theme paired with art and Dublin (I love this city).
The epilogue was fantastic; it shed a total different light on the story and gave a nice turn of the ending.
Unfortunately, even though the story itself was very compelling, I didn't like the dialogues between any characters. Even though I may be picky here, the dialogues felt just too weak compared to the rest. As soon as the interaction between characters was more complex or started getting long, it didn't feel like a conversation between two characters. It was more like a monologue of one character with the other throwing in questions.
The long dialogue between Sam and Claire or that between Nicholas and Leo contained only spoken words without any kind of description how the characters acted non-verbally. Imagine, when you talk to someone, you would normally also communicate non-verbally like eyes getting wide, trembling hands, and so on. Unfortunately, this sometimes made the situation artificial and wooden. Also, the frequent use of italic font to demonstrate the shouting was not improving the reading experience because the effect got lost in the end.
If there would have been less words during the dialogues, it would have been more effective. I feel like the author tried to explain too much through direct speech of the characters.
I also think that the book was more a historical fiction than a thriller. Even though the last few pages definitely were more like a thriller, most of the book was dealing with Sylvie and her tragic life. I really loved Sylvie so much and I deeply felt for her. And unfortunately, the suspenseful moments or any turning events were coming too late into the story. If the book would not have been marketed as a historical thriller, I might have enjoyed it even more.
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
September 9, 2020
"The Art Collector's Daughter: A Stylish Historical Thriller" by Derville Murphy was a beautifully written novel.
Multiple timelines alternating throughout this book brings a level of suspense not normally felt in historical fiction. Missing high value art collections were an unfortunate occurrence during and after WWII, so what makes this story so different? Sylvie Vasseur remembers Henrique Mateus painting her on a swing. So where is this famous portrait of Sylvie now?
In 1940, before the Nazi's enter Paris, a young Jewish girl, is sent by her parents, Paul and Hanna Vasseur, to live safely in Knockaboy, Ireland with friends Daniel and Nora Courtney and their sons, Nicholas and Peter. She struggles to assimilate and suffers night terrors from fear that Hitler will find her. When she is told her parents are probably dead she dreams of being back in Paris remembering their apartment and all the art on their walls. She has dreams of one day going to art school and becoming an artist.
In a loveless marriage, living with her husband Peter and son Sam, Sylvie has established her name in the Dublin art scene with the guidance of her mentors and benefactors, Jennifer and Maxwell Ambrose. As their sole heir, she is now able to live a more privileged and independent life. Then Sam's uncle visits Sylvie while Peter is away and everything changes once again! Tragically, in 1965, Sylvie dies from drowning at age 33.
Seventeen years later, Art Historian Claire Howard is hired by Nicholas Courtney to record the life and works of his late sister-in-law, Sylvie Vasseur. Nicholas also offers Claire the assistance of his nephew, Sam, an Art History student, to speed-up the cataloging process and to help curtail the cost of the project. As the timelines continue to alternate, a relationship develops between Claire and Sam as they work through cleaning and organizing Sylvie's studio and cataloging her art. The suspense heightens as they fly to Paris to speak with Leo Bonnard and later meet in Knockaboy to speak to Nora Courtney concerning the missing art collections from Paris.
I love WWII Historical Fiction mixed with the topic of missing high-value art collections resulting from the Nazi invasion. What seems to be lacking from this book are the back stories for characters in WWII Paris. Details concerning Emile & Odetta Bonnard and Paul & Hanna Vasseur would have added so many dimensions to this lovely story. I have questions that can't be answered and that unsettles me after reading such a beautifully written book. Regardless of this one thing, it is a read I will remember for a long time and will most likely read again and again.
I highly recommend this book!
___________________________________
Thank you to BookSirens and Derville Murphy for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Multiple timelines alternating throughout this book brings a level of suspense not normally felt in historical fiction. Missing high value art collections were an unfortunate occurrence during and after WWII, so what makes this story so different? Sylvie Vasseur remembers Henrique Mateus painting her on a swing. So where is this famous portrait of Sylvie now?
In 1940, before the Nazi's enter Paris, a young Jewish girl, is sent by her parents, Paul and Hanna Vasseur, to live safely in Knockaboy, Ireland with friends Daniel and Nora Courtney and their sons, Nicholas and Peter. She struggles to assimilate and suffers night terrors from fear that Hitler will find her. When she is told her parents are probably dead she dreams of being back in Paris remembering their apartment and all the art on their walls. She has dreams of one day going to art school and becoming an artist.
In a loveless marriage, living with her husband Peter and son Sam, Sylvie has established her name in the Dublin art scene with the guidance of her mentors and benefactors, Jennifer and Maxwell Ambrose. As their sole heir, she is now able to live a more privileged and independent life. Then Sam's uncle visits Sylvie while Peter is away and everything changes once again! Tragically, in 1965, Sylvie dies from drowning at age 33.
Seventeen years later, Art Historian Claire Howard is hired by Nicholas Courtney to record the life and works of his late sister-in-law, Sylvie Vasseur. Nicholas also offers Claire the assistance of his nephew, Sam, an Art History student, to speed-up the cataloging process and to help curtail the cost of the project. As the timelines continue to alternate, a relationship develops between Claire and Sam as they work through cleaning and organizing Sylvie's studio and cataloging her art. The suspense heightens as they fly to Paris to speak with Leo Bonnard and later meet in Knockaboy to speak to Nora Courtney concerning the missing art collections from Paris.
I love WWII Historical Fiction mixed with the topic of missing high-value art collections resulting from the Nazi invasion. What seems to be lacking from this book are the back stories for characters in WWII Paris. Details concerning Emile & Odetta Bonnard and Paul & Hanna Vasseur would have added so many dimensions to this lovely story. I have questions that can't be answered and that unsettles me after reading such a beautifully written book. Regardless of this one thing, it is a read I will remember for a long time and will most likely read again and again.
I highly recommend this book!
___________________________________
Thank you to BookSirens and Derville Murphy for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
December 8, 2023
Mind blown! This may be because I love historical fiction, am fascinated by Irish culture and can't resist a strong female lead, but I think this book is fantastic. One of my favorites this year maybe.
The plot is so thick with so many layers, I couldn't help but to get lost in the mystery of it all. Especially since I didn't realise I was uncovering a murder until half way through the novel! ... maybe I should have paid more attention the the blurb.
Beautifully written. Would definitely recommend.
The plot is so thick with so many layers, I couldn't help but to get lost in the mystery of it all. Especially since I didn't realise I was uncovering a murder until half way through the novel! ... maybe I should have paid more attention the the blurb.
Beautifully written. Would definitely recommend.
September 22, 2020
***NOVEL THOUGHTS***
++Thanks to Book Sirens for this ARC in exchange for a review++
This is a complicated story with difficult themes, a mystery surrounding the death of Sylvie, the art collector's daughter, the intrigue of art theft and tangled relationships. It follows three timelines: WWII Nazi occupation of France, the mid-twentieth century, and into the 1980s and bounces back and forth between them as the author advances the story unraveling the complexity of the art world from France to Ireland.
Sylvie, at age 8, already a beauty with a feisty and willful personality, is painted by family friend Mateus in a piece he calls "The Girl on the Swing." But all around rumbles the threat of the Nazis, the evacuation of the Jews in France and soon it is necessary to save Sylvie's life by sending her to live with a family friend in neutral Ireland. Her parents hope to join her when they can but her father must first empty his gallery of valuable art treasures before the Nazis confiscate them for Hitler's own pleasure. Her father sends them as her inheritance to Ireland should her parents not make it themselves. But what has become of the art and where are her parents?
Sylvie makes her life with her 'adoptive' Irish Catholic family as best as she can. Her "father" is cold and ruthless and her "mother" is weak and intimidated by him. It is a difficult household to live in as she feels more of a tenant than a family member. Of her 'brothers,' she is closer to Peter, who is kind and gentle and seems to care deeply for her while Nicholas is a self-centered, self-obsessed man who manipulates to get what he wants and doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. When she turns 18, he seduces her and leads to an unwanted pregnancy. A marriage would be too confining for Nicholas so she is left to figure it out on her own. By some luck, Peter discovers her secret and because he has held a long hidden love for her, offers to marry her to save her reputation and they raise Sam together but the marriage isn't strong enough to endure her restlessness and boredom. By chance, she befriends a couple who are in the art world and their love of art blooms in her. Over the years, she learns she has a skill and passion for art as her own birth father did and she begins to develop a name for herself as a local artist. It stirs her like no other relationship in her life has filled. Even her son Sam has never felt he could get her love and attention, even his collection of dead creatures hardly makes her notice him. Peter turns to gambling and drinking as their marriage deteriorates and Nicholas swoops in to fill the empty place in Sylvie's bed.
Twenty years after Sylvie's mysterious death, Nicholas hires Claire, a graduate from the local university in Art History to catalog all the artwork left behind in Sylvie's neglected art studios as well as clean up looking for any journals or other paperwork from her past. Nicholas makes it clear that she will also be working with Sam, who has been studying art history after a suspicious change of career. Right from the start, Claire gets the creeps from Nicholas, not liking or trusting him. As she begins to dig into Sylvie's world, Claire gets more and more suspicious as she turns over one page in her story, another secret emerges. While she knows that she must share what she is discovering with her boss Nicholas, she also feels he is holding something back from her. Will finding out his secret put her in danger?
While art is the primary subject, it is not too art heavy which I found appealing. The very complicated characters though are what moves the story along. Sylvie is a tragic character, suffering all her life from lack of a stable, loving relationship and that translates to how she raises Sam. He also suffers from abandonment issues. The way he latches on to someone he feels affection with is very stifling and suffocating. Nicholas is a classic narcissist and liar and he is the character the reader hates. Peter was brought up in the shadow of his brother and father who both were strong personalities so he is looking for love from Sylvie to fill the gaps left by his family and unfortunately, Sylvie is unable to be that person. While the story is strong from the time that Sylvie arrives in Ireland, the time before is less developed so I wasn't sure where the relationship with Daniel, Emile and Paul came from. The middle section of the book has great energy and action in it and as it leads to the end of story, finally many of the story lines come together. I liked how the author presents two versions of Sylvie's death especially as we see Sam's personality issues come out. That made the twist at the end all the more satisfying.
++Thanks to Book Sirens for this ARC in exchange for a review++
This is a complicated story with difficult themes, a mystery surrounding the death of Sylvie, the art collector's daughter, the intrigue of art theft and tangled relationships. It follows three timelines: WWII Nazi occupation of France, the mid-twentieth century, and into the 1980s and bounces back and forth between them as the author advances the story unraveling the complexity of the art world from France to Ireland.
Sylvie, at age 8, already a beauty with a feisty and willful personality, is painted by family friend Mateus in a piece he calls "The Girl on the Swing." But all around rumbles the threat of the Nazis, the evacuation of the Jews in France and soon it is necessary to save Sylvie's life by sending her to live with a family friend in neutral Ireland. Her parents hope to join her when they can but her father must first empty his gallery of valuable art treasures before the Nazis confiscate them for Hitler's own pleasure. Her father sends them as her inheritance to Ireland should her parents not make it themselves. But what has become of the art and where are her parents?
Sylvie makes her life with her 'adoptive' Irish Catholic family as best as she can. Her "father" is cold and ruthless and her "mother" is weak and intimidated by him. It is a difficult household to live in as she feels more of a tenant than a family member. Of her 'brothers,' she is closer to Peter, who is kind and gentle and seems to care deeply for her while Nicholas is a self-centered, self-obsessed man who manipulates to get what he wants and doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. When she turns 18, he seduces her and leads to an unwanted pregnancy. A marriage would be too confining for Nicholas so she is left to figure it out on her own. By some luck, Peter discovers her secret and because he has held a long hidden love for her, offers to marry her to save her reputation and they raise Sam together but the marriage isn't strong enough to endure her restlessness and boredom. By chance, she befriends a couple who are in the art world and their love of art blooms in her. Over the years, she learns she has a skill and passion for art as her own birth father did and she begins to develop a name for herself as a local artist. It stirs her like no other relationship in her life has filled. Even her son Sam has never felt he could get her love and attention, even his collection of dead creatures hardly makes her notice him. Peter turns to gambling and drinking as their marriage deteriorates and Nicholas swoops in to fill the empty place in Sylvie's bed.
Twenty years after Sylvie's mysterious death, Nicholas hires Claire, a graduate from the local university in Art History to catalog all the artwork left behind in Sylvie's neglected art studios as well as clean up looking for any journals or other paperwork from her past. Nicholas makes it clear that she will also be working with Sam, who has been studying art history after a suspicious change of career. Right from the start, Claire gets the creeps from Nicholas, not liking or trusting him. As she begins to dig into Sylvie's world, Claire gets more and more suspicious as she turns over one page in her story, another secret emerges. While she knows that she must share what she is discovering with her boss Nicholas, she also feels he is holding something back from her. Will finding out his secret put her in danger?
While art is the primary subject, it is not too art heavy which I found appealing. The very complicated characters though are what moves the story along. Sylvie is a tragic character, suffering all her life from lack of a stable, loving relationship and that translates to how she raises Sam. He also suffers from abandonment issues. The way he latches on to someone he feels affection with is very stifling and suffocating. Nicholas is a classic narcissist and liar and he is the character the reader hates. Peter was brought up in the shadow of his brother and father who both were strong personalities so he is looking for love from Sylvie to fill the gaps left by his family and unfortunately, Sylvie is unable to be that person. While the story is strong from the time that Sylvie arrives in Ireland, the time before is less developed so I wasn't sure where the relationship with Daniel, Emile and Paul came from. The middle section of the book has great energy and action in it and as it leads to the end of story, finally many of the story lines come together. I liked how the author presents two versions of Sylvie's death especially as we see Sam's personality issues come out. That made the twist at the end all the more satisfying.
September 3, 2020
Wow, what a remarkable story. It managed to pull me into its world and kept me there all the way through. I was very sad for Sylvie. Her destiny was so tragic and she never had anything or anyone besides art. Given the circumstances, she never really stood a chance. There were many villains in this story but Nicholas was the worst. He betrayed her on so many levels and deserved to pay for it. The ending wasn't satysfing in that prospect.
I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens.
I received an ARC of the book via Book Sirens.
August 11, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Art Collector’s Daughter by Derville Murphy is a story adeptly woven into an era of history that embodies trauma and mystery. The story utilizes with grace and intrigue the horrors of WWII, and paints a heartbreaking traumatic story about a young Jewish girl separated from her parents. Sent away from France before the German advance to live in Ireland, Sylvie Vasseur’s life is catapulted down a path of turmoil, trauma, heartbreak, deception and art.
Murphy has written an astonishingly convincing piece of historical fiction with this novel. Not only do the characters themselves feel like they’re real enough to be a part of that era, but Murphy’s storytelling is what really sells it. The story alternates perspectives on a every couple or few chapter basis and was admittedly a bit of a jarring surprise at first. However, I was hooked by the first few pages so I read onward anyway - a few chapters in I realized how well the alternating perspectives work for the story as a whole. A great many novels I’ve read alternate perspectives based on character and hardly ever break the basic chronology of the story save for a flashback or too. However, Murphy takes a different approach by alternating between eras for the perspectives of more modern day characters connected to the story and the past historical characters in the story. Although likely not revolutionary, this flashback-flashforward storytelling drives the story forward at a pace that left me craving more after each chapter.
Murphy does an admirable job of tackling difficult themes such as abuse, trauma, death, manipulation, heartbreak, the morality of complicity and effects of mental illness. I was surprised at the number of difficult themes that were so elegantly designed to fit into the plot. After finishing the book I felt an overwhelming sadness for Sylvie. Which, after a quick online search to try to define exactly how much of the novel was fiction, I was surprised to find myself feeling even more sad that my searches pointed toward Sylvie just being a fictional character after all. As I mulled over the book I had just spent the entire day chewing through, I started to feel relieved, lest she be based on someone of another name, that hopefully the exact set of challenges she faced were fictional along with her. I knew, though, in my heart that her story was still indicative of what child refugees may have faced at the time. Then it hit me full force why the story left me so sad, it wasn’t so much the characters themselves, or the sad plot points. No. It was that period in our world’s history - WWII, Hitler, the Holocaust - that made such a tragic series of events seem perfectly at home in that era of history. The fact that the trauma from those events made the rest of the tragic story ever so plausible was a cruel irony that was not lost on me. I chastised myself internally for not paying more mind to the obviousness of this from the beginning.
There were parts of this book that made me cry. Parts that made me cringe in disgust and parts that made me angry. While this novel is very well written, and very enjoyable, I would also say that it is not for the faint of heart or those of severe past trauma - that it is as much a history lesson that drives home some darker nuances about the time period as it is a fictional tale, and some may not respond to that as well as others.
Overall though, I loved this novel, it kept me on my toes, and kept me invested in the story and the characters all the way through. I’d say it strikes a good balance of entertainment and somber history. I couldn’t get it out of my head while reading and even now afterward that this novel would make an exceptional film if produced with care and attention to the nuances of the storytelling.
The Art Collector’s Daughter by Derville Murphy is a story adeptly woven into an era of history that embodies trauma and mystery. The story utilizes with grace and intrigue the horrors of WWII, and paints a heartbreaking traumatic story about a young Jewish girl separated from her parents. Sent away from France before the German advance to live in Ireland, Sylvie Vasseur’s life is catapulted down a path of turmoil, trauma, heartbreak, deception and art.
Murphy has written an astonishingly convincing piece of historical fiction with this novel. Not only do the characters themselves feel like they’re real enough to be a part of that era, but Murphy’s storytelling is what really sells it. The story alternates perspectives on a every couple or few chapter basis and was admittedly a bit of a jarring surprise at first. However, I was hooked by the first few pages so I read onward anyway - a few chapters in I realized how well the alternating perspectives work for the story as a whole. A great many novels I’ve read alternate perspectives based on character and hardly ever break the basic chronology of the story save for a flashback or too. However, Murphy takes a different approach by alternating between eras for the perspectives of more modern day characters connected to the story and the past historical characters in the story. Although likely not revolutionary, this flashback-flashforward storytelling drives the story forward at a pace that left me craving more after each chapter.
Murphy does an admirable job of tackling difficult themes such as abuse, trauma, death, manipulation, heartbreak, the morality of complicity and effects of mental illness. I was surprised at the number of difficult themes that were so elegantly designed to fit into the plot. After finishing the book I felt an overwhelming sadness for Sylvie. Which, after a quick online search to try to define exactly how much of the novel was fiction, I was surprised to find myself feeling even more sad that my searches pointed toward Sylvie just being a fictional character after all. As I mulled over the book I had just spent the entire day chewing through, I started to feel relieved, lest she be based on someone of another name, that hopefully the exact set of challenges she faced were fictional along with her. I knew, though, in my heart that her story was still indicative of what child refugees may have faced at the time. Then it hit me full force why the story left me so sad, it wasn’t so much the characters themselves, or the sad plot points. No. It was that period in our world’s history - WWII, Hitler, the Holocaust - that made such a tragic series of events seem perfectly at home in that era of history. The fact that the trauma from those events made the rest of the tragic story ever so plausible was a cruel irony that was not lost on me. I chastised myself internally for not paying more mind to the obviousness of this from the beginning.
There were parts of this book that made me cry. Parts that made me cringe in disgust and parts that made me angry. While this novel is very well written, and very enjoyable, I would also say that it is not for the faint of heart or those of severe past trauma - that it is as much a history lesson that drives home some darker nuances about the time period as it is a fictional tale, and some may not respond to that as well as others.
Overall though, I loved this novel, it kept me on my toes, and kept me invested in the story and the characters all the way through. I’d say it strikes a good balance of entertainment and somber history. I couldn’t get it out of my head while reading and even now afterward that this novel would make an exceptional film if produced with care and attention to the nuances of the storytelling.
January 20, 2021
This was an intriguing book, based on just the sort of premise I love - research into a past crime, including plenty of library action at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France and National Library of Ireland.
I felt the author hampered themselves a little. First of all, with the exception of Claire Howard and Leo Bonnard, all the characters are quite horrible. She blames this on attachment issues - Sylvia Vasseur is referred to many times as narcissistic and her son Sam is described as having sociopathic personality disorder. It’s quite a challenge to make neuro-typical readers care for these characters. Add into the mix Nicholas and Daniel Courtney who are simply selfish, money-grubbing, awful men and the cowardly lying toad Professor Dillon, and the cast of characters is really quite off-putting!
Dipping into different timelines was a great way to reveal the detail in the plot, but I think they could have done with a tighter edit - Sylvie’s timeline was repeatedly told just before Claire’s, and each time gave me enough information to guess the upcoming twist. It would have read better the other way round in each case - Claire’s investigation into Sylvie’s life, followed by Sylvie’s own timeline to give us, in each part of the progress of the story, a little more nuance than the archival researcher can discover.
Leading always with Claire’s story would also have foregrounded the sympathetic characters, and perhaps allowed more detail of their friendship. That seemed a missed opportunity - there are so few stories that explore platonic friendships like theirs that I wanted to know more.
That said, the plot itself is a good one, and I loved the blend of crime and literary fiction. The landscape descriptions were also vibrant and lush. I know the Dublin scenes were really accurate and so assume the Wexford ones were too - I’ve never been there but very much want to go after reading this novel.
All in all, this is a well-written book with an unusual story to tell. 4/5; would recommend.
I felt the author hampered themselves a little. First of all, with the exception of Claire Howard and Leo Bonnard, all the characters are quite horrible. She blames this on attachment issues - Sylvia Vasseur is referred to many times as narcissistic and her son Sam is described as having sociopathic personality disorder. It’s quite a challenge to make neuro-typical readers care for these characters. Add into the mix Nicholas and Daniel Courtney who are simply selfish, money-grubbing, awful men and the cowardly lying toad Professor Dillon, and the cast of characters is really quite off-putting!
Dipping into different timelines was a great way to reveal the detail in the plot, but I think they could have done with a tighter edit - Sylvie’s timeline was repeatedly told just before Claire’s, and each time gave me enough information to guess the upcoming twist. It would have read better the other way round in each case - Claire’s investigation into Sylvie’s life, followed by Sylvie’s own timeline to give us, in each part of the progress of the story, a little more nuance than the archival researcher can discover.
Leading always with Claire’s story would also have foregrounded the sympathetic characters, and perhaps allowed more detail of their friendship. That seemed a missed opportunity - there are so few stories that explore platonic friendships like theirs that I wanted to know more.
That said, the plot itself is a good one, and I loved the blend of crime and literary fiction. The landscape descriptions were also vibrant and lush. I know the Dublin scenes were really accurate and so assume the Wexford ones were too - I’ve never been there but very much want to go after reading this novel.
All in all, this is a well-written book with an unusual story to tell. 4/5; would recommend.
June 8, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from LibraryThing in return for an honest review.
Sylvie Vasseur father was an art collector in 1940's France. He also happens to Jewish. As the German's advance through France, he sends his young daughter to stay with the Courtney family in Ireland where he intends to meet up with her after laying out the groundwork to try and save his paintings. However he never rejoins his daughter and his collection is lost.
Sylvie did not lead an easy life, she is seduced by Nicholas Courtney only to be abandoned when he discovers she is pregnant. She agrees to marry his brother Peter in order to protect herself and her unborn child. Several years later she becomes involved in the Irish art scene and becomes a successful painter. But Nicholas isn't done with her when secrets from her father’s past emerge, leading her to question everything she knew. Only to be found drowned shortly after that under mysterious circumstances.
Seventeen years later, Claire Howard is hired by Nicholas Courtney to inventory the works of his former sister-in-law, Sylvie (Vasseur) Courtney. With the help of Sylvie's son Sam, discovers a series of lies that may have lead to Sylvie's death. Ones that may lead to her own demise...
I really enjoyed this story. It switched between Sylvie's perspective and Claire's as well as a few other minor characters. It was well researched and engaging. That being said I did find all the characters to be rather unlikeable. However that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. The mystery sucked me in and I could not wait to find out what happened next.
Sylvie Vasseur father was an art collector in 1940's France. He also happens to Jewish. As the German's advance through France, he sends his young daughter to stay with the Courtney family in Ireland where he intends to meet up with her after laying out the groundwork to try and save his paintings. However he never rejoins his daughter and his collection is lost.
Sylvie did not lead an easy life, she is seduced by Nicholas Courtney only to be abandoned when he discovers she is pregnant. She agrees to marry his brother Peter in order to protect herself and her unborn child. Several years later she becomes involved in the Irish art scene and becomes a successful painter. But Nicholas isn't done with her when secrets from her father’s past emerge, leading her to question everything she knew. Only to be found drowned shortly after that under mysterious circumstances.
Seventeen years later, Claire Howard is hired by Nicholas Courtney to inventory the works of his former sister-in-law, Sylvie (Vasseur) Courtney. With the help of Sylvie's son Sam, discovers a series of lies that may have lead to Sylvie's death. Ones that may lead to her own demise...
I really enjoyed this story. It switched between Sylvie's perspective and Claire's as well as a few other minor characters. It was well researched and engaging. That being said I did find all the characters to be rather unlikeable. However that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. The mystery sucked me in and I could not wait to find out what happened next.
September 7, 2020
The book is set in two different timelines running parallely throughout the book. One is the during 1940s at the time Hitler had invaded France. Sylvie Vasseur's father, Paul, who is a famour Art Collector, sends her ahead of them to stay with Daniel and Nora Courtney (their friends) in Ireland. Paul and his wife are unable to make it there and are killed in one of the concentration camps in Auschwitz.
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The other, is 1980s where Claire is hired by Nicholas to make an inventory of the art by Sylvie Vasseur who died in the 1960s under suspicious circumstances.
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Claire is accompanied by Sam, Sylvie's son, for the task and together they uncover the truth about Paul's Art Collection which was assumed to be lost or destroyed by the Gestapo since he considered it as Degenerate Art.
.
The story had a lot of intriguing facets to it. The descriptions of artists and their paintings, the World War setting, the life of Sylvie as a child, a teenager and as a grown woman all so beautifully imbibed in the story.
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The story had a lot of characters which could get little confusing until you get the grip of the story but it was tactfully handled by the author. The end of the story left me a little dissatisfied because of too many plot twists.
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Overall, it was a fast-paced, gripping and enjoyable read. I loved the storytelling style of the author and recommend this book to anyone who loves plot twists and parallel timelines in a story.
.
The other, is 1980s where Claire is hired by Nicholas to make an inventory of the art by Sylvie Vasseur who died in the 1960s under suspicious circumstances.
.
Claire is accompanied by Sam, Sylvie's son, for the task and together they uncover the truth about Paul's Art Collection which was assumed to be lost or destroyed by the Gestapo since he considered it as Degenerate Art.
.
The story had a lot of intriguing facets to it. The descriptions of artists and their paintings, the World War setting, the life of Sylvie as a child, a teenager and as a grown woman all so beautifully imbibed in the story.
.
The story had a lot of characters which could get little confusing until you get the grip of the story but it was tactfully handled by the author. The end of the story left me a little dissatisfied because of too many plot twists.
.
Overall, it was a fast-paced, gripping and enjoyable read. I loved the storytelling style of the author and recommend this book to anyone who loves plot twists and parallel timelines in a story.
October 26, 2020
The Art Collector's Daughter by Deville Murphy is a well researched debut novel.
I liked the multi historical time line of the story going between WWII France, the 40's, 50's and 60's in Ireland and the 80's in Ireland.
I enjoyed the development of the story and of the characters and how they all fit together as the story progresses.
However, the reason why I only gave it three stars was because of the editing, I feel the editor of the novel didn't do a good job making the novel flow between chapters and sometimes even during a chapter from one page to the next one. Also the use of wrong names, in one point the use of the name Sylvie when referring to Claire and the use several times of "my father" when talking about "my grandfather ". Mistakes that are easy to caught with an extra editing reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked the multi historical time line of the story going between WWII France, the 40's, 50's and 60's in Ireland and the 80's in Ireland.
I enjoyed the development of the story and of the characters and how they all fit together as the story progresses.
However, the reason why I only gave it three stars was because of the editing, I feel the editor of the novel didn't do a good job making the novel flow between chapters and sometimes even during a chapter from one page to the next one. Also the use of wrong names, in one point the use of the name Sylvie when referring to Claire and the use several times of "my father" when talking about "my grandfather ". Mistakes that are easy to caught with an extra editing reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 26, 2020
This was a well-written story about what happened to the daughter--and the art--of a fictional Jewish art collector and dealer from Paris prior to World War II. Knowing of Hitler's degenerate art program, the man smuggled his child and his art out of France before it fell to the Nazis. He had plans to escape himself, as well, but these did not succeed.
Many of the characters, particularly Claire and Silvie, are well-rounded and engaging, and the mystery of what happened to Silvie and her father's artwork kept me interested right up until the very end.
I wasn't entirely satisfied with how the story resolved; however (and I won't say more about that for fear of spoiling it for other readers.)
Still, this was an excellent book that I enjoyed reading, and I'd recommend it for art lovers, people interested in WWII, and those interested in thinking about the extent to which people become complicit in the crimes of their ancestors.
Note: I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
Many of the characters, particularly Claire and Silvie, are well-rounded and engaging, and the mystery of what happened to Silvie and her father's artwork kept me interested right up until the very end.
I wasn't entirely satisfied with how the story resolved; however (and I won't say more about that for fear of spoiling it for other readers.)
Still, this was an excellent book that I enjoyed reading, and I'd recommend it for art lovers, people interested in WWII, and those interested in thinking about the extent to which people become complicit in the crimes of their ancestors.
Note: I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
As I began reading, the different threads of the story time line created confusion, but then it totally added to my enjoyment of the story. Having read many many books where the German occupation and holocaust were the focus of the plot, it was definitely refreshing to read this one where it was relevant but not the main focus. Sylvie was unfortunately raised by greedy and dishonest “friends” of her father, a Jewish artist. She inherited his talent and also his naivety in choosing the wrong people to trust. Impregnated by one brother who used her she married the other who loved her. The fall out of her lack of love for her husband had continuous repercussions for years and affected many, including her son, Sam. Nicholas was truly a despicable man and Sylvie never was strong enough to keep him out of her life. Loved the mystery of the “lost” paintings. 3 1/2 stars. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 14, 2023
Too long, too convoluted
It took a long time to figure out the bare bones of the story, and at the end I found myself disliking every character, because they were all devoid of character. The basic story was interesting; I don't know why the author portrayed everyone as weak and self absorbed. It left a bad taste.
It took a long time to figure out the bare bones of the story, and at the end I found myself disliking every character, because they were all devoid of character. The basic story was interesting; I don't know why the author portrayed everyone as weak and self absorbed. It left a bad taste.
February 13, 2024
Poorly written. There were so many grammatical errors. Apparently, this book was published without someone editing it. It failed to keep my interest. Although it is classified as historical fiction revolving around World War II, I did not find that it focused on that aspect.
October 3, 2020
The Art Collector’s Daughter is the debut novel of Derville Murphy, a Dublin based Irish author. Published by Poolbeg in August 2020, the novel is unique in that it is an historical thriller. This is an unusual genre that exposes history and yet is skilfully amalgamated with murder, mystery and suspense, whereby the story is engineered from the foundation of historical truth. Murphy who holds a PhD in Art and Architecture from UCD, also holds a MPhil in Irish Art History from TCD is well placed to tell this story. The novel stretches through two different parallel timelines and two different settings; spanning from 1939/40 Nazi occupied Paris and 1959/82 Dublin/Wexford.
Hitler’s contempt for modern art, referred to as ‘Entartete Kunst’ which is the German phrase for ‘Degenerate Art’ was an attempt to ridicule art and bring it under German control. Expressionism was particularly singled out and German museums and art galleries were purged of modern art from 1937 onwards. Some 15,000 pieces of art were removed and about 5,000 of these were burnt. Artist’s such as Picasso, Klee and Munch who were each heavily influenced by the Cubist Art movement were among Hitler’s ridiculed art works.
The novel starts in Paris 1939 when Hitler was intent on supressing – radical distorted figures and objects – Modernism. Works were eliminated if they were abstract or expressionistic, but also if the work was by a Jewish artist. Gallery owners attempted to hide and protect the precious art work and the opening chapter of the novel sets the scene; Three art collectors meet in Paris; a French man, an Irish man and a Jewish man;
“All our futures look perilous now Poland has fallen, and Britain and France have declared war on the Krauts.”
“If I leave, they will confiscate my paintings – and if I stay, they will confiscate my paintings – and God knows what will become of my family.”
The Art Collector’s Daughter is a traumatic story about a Jewish girl, Sylvie Vasseur, separated from her parents and sent to Ireland to live with her father’s friend, Daniel Courtney, his wife Nora and their two boys. Sylvie grows up with the Courtney family, but is seduced by the narcissistic older son, Nicholas, whom she later claims to be in love with. By the age of eighteen, an artist herself, she is now pregnant and alone in Dublin. Peter the younger brother comes to her rescue much to the chagrin of Daniel. However, the Courtney family have their own dark secrets and will do anything to safeguard the truth being uncovered. Jump forward to Dublin 1982; Claire Howard an art historian is employed to record Sylvie’s lifeworks and finds herself pulled into a dark and twisted world of lies and deceit. Endangering her own life, she uncovers a labyrinth of complications reaching back to Hitler’s hidden degenerate artworks and exposes the real culprits.
This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat and it will keep you guessing until the last page.
Hitler’s contempt for modern art, referred to as ‘Entartete Kunst’ which is the German phrase for ‘Degenerate Art’ was an attempt to ridicule art and bring it under German control. Expressionism was particularly singled out and German museums and art galleries were purged of modern art from 1937 onwards. Some 15,000 pieces of art were removed and about 5,000 of these were burnt. Artist’s such as Picasso, Klee and Munch who were each heavily influenced by the Cubist Art movement were among Hitler’s ridiculed art works.
The novel starts in Paris 1939 when Hitler was intent on supressing – radical distorted figures and objects – Modernism. Works were eliminated if they were abstract or expressionistic, but also if the work was by a Jewish artist. Gallery owners attempted to hide and protect the precious art work and the opening chapter of the novel sets the scene; Three art collectors meet in Paris; a French man, an Irish man and a Jewish man;
“All our futures look perilous now Poland has fallen, and Britain and France have declared war on the Krauts.”
“If I leave, they will confiscate my paintings – and if I stay, they will confiscate my paintings – and God knows what will become of my family.”
The Art Collector’s Daughter is a traumatic story about a Jewish girl, Sylvie Vasseur, separated from her parents and sent to Ireland to live with her father’s friend, Daniel Courtney, his wife Nora and their two boys. Sylvie grows up with the Courtney family, but is seduced by the narcissistic older son, Nicholas, whom she later claims to be in love with. By the age of eighteen, an artist herself, she is now pregnant and alone in Dublin. Peter the younger brother comes to her rescue much to the chagrin of Daniel. However, the Courtney family have their own dark secrets and will do anything to safeguard the truth being uncovered. Jump forward to Dublin 1982; Claire Howard an art historian is employed to record Sylvie’s lifeworks and finds herself pulled into a dark and twisted world of lies and deceit. Endangering her own life, she uncovers a labyrinth of complications reaching back to Hitler’s hidden degenerate artworks and exposes the real culprits.
This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat and it will keep you guessing until the last page.
September 12, 2020
I got The Art Collector’s Daughter by Deville Murphy, from BookSirens for a fair and honest review
In 1940 Sylvia Vassuer a young Jewish girl, is sent to Ireland along with her father’s art collection, which includes a painting of her on a swing painted by Mateus Called the Girl on the Swing
Sylvia is the seduced by Nicholas Coutney, the eldest son of the family she is sent to live with, becoming pregnant she marries the younger brother Peter in a loveless marriage to avoid the social stigma.
In Dublin Sylvia becomes the toast of the art world while having an affair with Nicholas, at the same time she finds out that what she was told about the paintings that may have been destroyed while being sent Ireland may not be the truth.
Shortly after this Revelation Sylvia is found drowned on the Irish coast.
Seventeen years later Catherine Howard a strugling art historian is asked out of the blue to Catalogue Sylvia’s Art, by the Courtney Family. Helped by Sam Sylvia’s son they may find they are in just as much danger as Sylvia.
The Art Collector’s Daughter is your standard Mystery Thriller along the Lines of, Some one finds something out, in this story it is Catherine a struggling poor Art Historian, who’s former lecturer feels she is not good at her job.
Catherine, however proves the lecturer wrong and is able to do the task, putting her life in danger as she tries to finish it.
However the novel is one step above that type of novel as I liked the way that Derville Murphy had characters in the book that are not just 2 dimensional, with each one having a different motive for their actions in the novel. With these actions being what you would expect them to do.
In addition this was a wonderful book to read as the writting was nice and light and fitted well in the style of the novel, which made it easy to follow the twist and turns in the book, and there were a number of them.
So is, The Art Collector’s Daughter by Derville Murphy, worth a read, if you like novels which are very good entertainment and enjoyable to read, with a bit of mystery thrown in then you should read The Art Collector’s Daughter.
In 1940 Sylvia Vassuer a young Jewish girl, is sent to Ireland along with her father’s art collection, which includes a painting of her on a swing painted by Mateus Called the Girl on the Swing
Sylvia is the seduced by Nicholas Coutney, the eldest son of the family she is sent to live with, becoming pregnant she marries the younger brother Peter in a loveless marriage to avoid the social stigma.
In Dublin Sylvia becomes the toast of the art world while having an affair with Nicholas, at the same time she finds out that what she was told about the paintings that may have been destroyed while being sent Ireland may not be the truth.
Shortly after this Revelation Sylvia is found drowned on the Irish coast.
Seventeen years later Catherine Howard a strugling art historian is asked out of the blue to Catalogue Sylvia’s Art, by the Courtney Family. Helped by Sam Sylvia’s son they may find they are in just as much danger as Sylvia.
The Art Collector’s Daughter is your standard Mystery Thriller along the Lines of, Some one finds something out, in this story it is Catherine a struggling poor Art Historian, who’s former lecturer feels she is not good at her job.
Catherine, however proves the lecturer wrong and is able to do the task, putting her life in danger as she tries to finish it.
However the novel is one step above that type of novel as I liked the way that Derville Murphy had characters in the book that are not just 2 dimensional, with each one having a different motive for their actions in the novel. With these actions being what you would expect them to do.
In addition this was a wonderful book to read as the writting was nice and light and fitted well in the style of the novel, which made it easy to follow the twist and turns in the book, and there were a number of them.
So is, The Art Collector’s Daughter by Derville Murphy, worth a read, if you like novels which are very good entertainment and enjoyable to read, with a bit of mystery thrown in then you should read The Art Collector’s Daughter.
November 28, 2023
This is a haunting tale-and it has stayed with me. It is hard to imagine the life of orphan (Sylvie) 8 yrs old fleeing her Parisian home-escaping to the countryside in Ireland because of her Jewish heritage and converting to Catholicism, to fit in - no idea of the whereabouts of her Mama and Papa. Foisted on the foreign foster family the Courtneys, a distant business associate of her Fathers, had to traumatically impact her psyche and foment a tremendous feeling of abandonment. Her loss of identity was exacerbated through the betrayal by the same associate - who pilfered Sylvies inheritance which her Father had entrusted to him for safe keeping and eventually forced her into a lifestyle of subsistence servitude. However, Sylvie being a wilful and determined child and then beautiful woman managed to elevate her status in society through her natural talent as an artist. This was something she had been drawn to as a young child by exposure to artists and their paintings in her Papas Paris gallery. It seemed her commitment to painting kept her grounded and sane.
The story plays on after Sylvie's suspicious death when an art historian (Claire) begins to unravel her personal documents and unfinished canvases. Claires suspicions are aroused by the attention of an over zealous' Nicholas Courtney and after a short term fling with Sylvies' son Sam, (the son
born under a cloud and tolerated rather than bonded with).Inevitably questions arise as to truth - Was Sylvie the distant party going narcissist they claimed or was she a child out of step with their world?/ Her beauty was it a blessing or a curse??? Was she used by the Courtneys or was there some degree of true affection amongst all the dysfunction???Did her Father leave behind a legacy of valuable paintings and if so what happened to them??? The ending left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied - I like to see the baddies get their comeuppence. Not so-
All in all - the twists and turns of Sylvie's story were engaging.
The story plays on after Sylvie's suspicious death when an art historian (Claire) begins to unravel her personal documents and unfinished canvases. Claires suspicions are aroused by the attention of an over zealous' Nicholas Courtney and after a short term fling with Sylvies' son Sam, (the son
born under a cloud and tolerated rather than bonded with).Inevitably questions arise as to truth - Was Sylvie the distant party going narcissist they claimed or was she a child out of step with their world?/ Her beauty was it a blessing or a curse??? Was she used by the Courtneys or was there some degree of true affection amongst all the dysfunction???Did her Father leave behind a legacy of valuable paintings and if so what happened to them??? The ending left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied - I like to see the baddies get their comeuppence. Not so-
All in all - the twists and turns of Sylvie's story were engaging.
August 15, 2020
Finding the Truth
Claire Howard is hired by the Courtney family to catalog an art collection by Sylvie Courtney. Sylvie was sent by her father to Ireland to stay with the Courtney family during WWII when the Nazi Germany Army occupied Paris. He sent his art collection to his friend in Paris and some were shipped to Ireland before they could be confiscated by the Nazi's. It is said that Sylvia's father's collection was taken by the Nazi's. Claire is cataloging the collection of paintings that Sylvia painted in Ireland. She works with Sam Courtney, Sylvie's son. As they work they find information that all is not as it seems, not the lost paintings nor the death of Sylvie. Soon Claire is in danger.
I enjoyed reading this story. The story was told of Sylvie in wartime and in current time. It was an interesting story that told a little of how the art of the Jewish people was looted and confiscated by the Nazi's during the war and some friends that would do anything to hide their involvement with the loss of those art items.
The book flowed well and I could go between the historical periods with ease. I thought the characters were well suited to the story and it was well written. There were some twists and turns, and the ending was unexpected. The book has mystery, romance, suspense and was captivating to the end. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Derville Murphy and Book Sirens for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in the review are all my own.
Claire Howard is hired by the Courtney family to catalog an art collection by Sylvie Courtney. Sylvie was sent by her father to Ireland to stay with the Courtney family during WWII when the Nazi Germany Army occupied Paris. He sent his art collection to his friend in Paris and some were shipped to Ireland before they could be confiscated by the Nazi's. It is said that Sylvia's father's collection was taken by the Nazi's. Claire is cataloging the collection of paintings that Sylvia painted in Ireland. She works with Sam Courtney, Sylvie's son. As they work they find information that all is not as it seems, not the lost paintings nor the death of Sylvie. Soon Claire is in danger.
I enjoyed reading this story. The story was told of Sylvie in wartime and in current time. It was an interesting story that told a little of how the art of the Jewish people was looted and confiscated by the Nazi's during the war and some friends that would do anything to hide their involvement with the loss of those art items.
The book flowed well and I could go between the historical periods with ease. I thought the characters were well suited to the story and it was well written. There were some twists and turns, and the ending was unexpected. The book has mystery, romance, suspense and was captivating to the end. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Derville Murphy and Book Sirens for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in the review are all my own.
October 28, 2020
I enjoyed this book, it's different from what I normally read. But I do enjoy a good historical fiction, this was more of an Irish historical fiction.
I enjoyed reading about the art, about the story of Sylvie Vasseur, the Courtney family, Claire and the rest of the characters. The book was slow moving at 1st it took well into the 3rd chapter to actually understand what was going on. Things were introduced in the prologue, 1st, 2nd & 3rd chapters but it didnt explain how it all tied in together. Once it started tying in together and I was able to enjoy the book more.
Once it started getting going I was really able to get into the book. It did keep me guessing until the end! I thought for sure I knew exactly what happened but that opinion changed about 4 times before it came out what happened. I'm so glad they waited until the very end to say exactly what happened, otherwise it would've left the book a little boring knowing what happened 3/4 of the way through the book.
This is a good 1st book by Derville Murphy. I'm looking forward to reading more of what shes going to write.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Poolbeg Press for the advanced ARC. I am honored you chose me. I was only asked t ok give my honest opinion of what I thought of the book, and this is my honest opinion.
I enjoyed reading about the art, about the story of Sylvie Vasseur, the Courtney family, Claire and the rest of the characters. The book was slow moving at 1st it took well into the 3rd chapter to actually understand what was going on. Things were introduced in the prologue, 1st, 2nd & 3rd chapters but it didnt explain how it all tied in together. Once it started tying in together and I was able to enjoy the book more.
Once it started getting going I was really able to get into the book. It did keep me guessing until the end! I thought for sure I knew exactly what happened but that opinion changed about 4 times before it came out what happened. I'm so glad they waited until the very end to say exactly what happened, otherwise it would've left the book a little boring knowing what happened 3/4 of the way through the book.
This is a good 1st book by Derville Murphy. I'm looking forward to reading more of what shes going to write.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Poolbeg Press for the advanced ARC. I am honored you chose me. I was only asked t ok give my honest opinion of what I thought of the book, and this is my honest opinion.
June 19, 2021
A great read! This book took us back to the terrible time of the Nazi invasion of France. It was heartbreaking to read how Paul and Hannah's flight to safety led to betrayal after the lengths they had gone to, to send their beloved daughter Sylvie to safety in Ireland.
Sylvie's life in Ireland was somewhat troubled as she yearned for her parents and the love that they had bestowed.
Throughout the book runs the story of the painting "the girl on a swing " painted by Mateus, a famous painter of her father's day which was a very precious piece of work.
Daniel Courtney, the head of the family who took Sylvie in was an ambitious, cold man who had no qualms in controlling Sylvie's life and finances although her parents had trusted them with her care. 'Aunt' Nora was kinder to Sylvie but Daniel was in charge. Sylvie was an accomplished artist in her own right but unfortunately died in very tragic circumstances in her prime.
There were lots of twists and turns to the story which had me enthralled to the nail biting end.
I loved this debut novel and will look for further books by this author.
Sylvie's life in Ireland was somewhat troubled as she yearned for her parents and the love that they had bestowed.
Throughout the book runs the story of the painting "the girl on a swing " painted by Mateus, a famous painter of her father's day which was a very precious piece of work.
Daniel Courtney, the head of the family who took Sylvie in was an ambitious, cold man who had no qualms in controlling Sylvie's life and finances although her parents had trusted them with her care. 'Aunt' Nora was kinder to Sylvie but Daniel was in charge. Sylvie was an accomplished artist in her own right but unfortunately died in very tragic circumstances in her prime.
There were lots of twists and turns to the story which had me enthralled to the nail biting end.
I loved this debut novel and will look for further books by this author.
June 19, 2021
A great read! This book took us back to the terrible time of the Nazi invasion of France. It was heartbreaking to read how Paul and Hannah's flight to safety led to betrayal after the lengths they had gone to, to send their beloved daughter Sylvie to safety in Ireland.
Sylvie's life in Ireland was somewhat troubled as she yearned for her parents and the love that they had bestowed in her.
Throughout the book runs the story of the painting "the girl on a swing " painted by Mateus, a famous painter of her father's day which was a very precious piece of work.
Daniel Courtney, the head of the family who took Sylvie in was an ambitious, cold man who had no qualms in controlling Sylvie's life and finances although her parents had trusted them with her care. 'Aunt' Nora was kinder to Sylvie but Daniel was in charge. Sylvie was an accomplished artist in her own right but unfortunately died in very tragic and mysterious circumstances in her prime.
There were lots of twists and turns to the story which had me enthralled to the nail biting end.
I loved this debut novel and will look for further books by this author.
Sylvie's life in Ireland was somewhat troubled as she yearned for her parents and the love that they had bestowed in her.
Throughout the book runs the story of the painting "the girl on a swing " painted by Mateus, a famous painter of her father's day which was a very precious piece of work.
Daniel Courtney, the head of the family who took Sylvie in was an ambitious, cold man who had no qualms in controlling Sylvie's life and finances although her parents had trusted them with her care. 'Aunt' Nora was kinder to Sylvie but Daniel was in charge. Sylvie was an accomplished artist in her own right but unfortunately died in very tragic and mysterious circumstances in her prime.
There were lots of twists and turns to the story which had me enthralled to the nail biting end.
I loved this debut novel and will look for further books by this author.
December 1, 2020
When Catherine Howard is hired to organize and catalogue the belongings of a long dead artist, she stumbles upon a mystery dating back to the 1940’s when a young Jewish girl, Sylvia Vassuer, is sent to England as a way to keep her safe. It is slowly uncovered that several paintings her Father’s vast collection are also sent to her for safe keeping. But these paintings are unaccounted for when it comes time to inventory her belongings. The mystery deepens when it appears the Sylvia might not have died from an accident but rather, she might have been murdered and that murder has been covered up for decades. Now Catherine has to decide who she can trust with this knowledge.
Wonderfully written, the flashbacks provide so much depth to the story and the world during that tragic period. I found myself engrossed with the story and wanting to ‘read just on more chapter’.
Wonderfully written, the flashbacks provide so much depth to the story and the world during that tragic period. I found myself engrossed with the story and wanting to ‘read just on more chapter’.
November 6, 2021
Sylvie Vasseur a young French Jewish girl is sent by her parents to rural Ireland to escape the war. When she is 18 she is seduced by Nicholas Courtney the narcissistic elder son of the family she lived with. He abandons her when she becomes pregnant and to avoid scandal Sylvie marries his brother Peter.
In Dublin she becomes involved in the art scene, achieving critical acclaim as a painter. Some years later she is found drowned on a Wexford beach.
Seventeen years after this, Claire Howard a struggling art historian is hired by the Courtney family to record Sylvie's life works, eventually unravelling a labyrinth of deceit and lies that threaten to endanger her life.
It's a good story with some unexpected twists along the way.
In Dublin she becomes involved in the art scene, achieving critical acclaim as a painter. Some years later she is found drowned on a Wexford beach.
Seventeen years after this, Claire Howard a struggling art historian is hired by the Courtney family to record Sylvie's life works, eventually unravelling a labyrinth of deceit and lies that threaten to endanger her life.
It's a good story with some unexpected twists along the way.
September 22, 2020
During the 1940's Paul Vasseur is the owner of an art gallery in Paris. His personal collection of fine art includes paintings by Picasso, Braque, Rousseau, and others. Before the Germans can lock down Paris, Paul and his wife, Hanna, secretly send their young daughter, Sylvie, to live with Paul's friend, Daniel Courtney, and his family in Ireland. Paul and Hanna try in vain to escape to safety, but they are caught and sent to a German concentration camp.
Sylvie grows up with Daniel’s sons, Nicholas and Peter, and Daniel’s wife, Nora. She longs to go to college and study art, but is not allowed to do so. Instead, Daniel says there are no funds for art school and enrolls Sylvie in secretarial courses, which she dislikes intensely. Unfortunately, she becomes pregnant, and her unborn child’s father does not offer to marry her. She marries a close friend, and life is terribly hard for the threesome.
Sometime later, Sylvie befriends Jennifer and Maxwell Ambrose, and this couple nurtures her as a young artist and helps her art career along. She is just beginning to enjoy both her personal and professional life when she dies suddenly in a drowning accident.
For the rest of this review and more reviews, visit my blog at readmanybooks.blogspot.com!
Sylvie grows up with Daniel’s sons, Nicholas and Peter, and Daniel’s wife, Nora. She longs to go to college and study art, but is not allowed to do so. Instead, Daniel says there are no funds for art school and enrolls Sylvie in secretarial courses, which she dislikes intensely. Unfortunately, she becomes pregnant, and her unborn child’s father does not offer to marry her. She marries a close friend, and life is terribly hard for the threesome.
Sometime later, Sylvie befriends Jennifer and Maxwell Ambrose, and this couple nurtures her as a young artist and helps her art career along. She is just beginning to enjoy both her personal and professional life when she dies suddenly in a drowning accident.
For the rest of this review and more reviews, visit my blog at readmanybooks.blogspot.com!
February 4, 2021
I just loved reading this historical fiction novel of WW2 intertwined with the events of 1939-45 in Europe. I’ve been reading WW2 history for at least 50 years and yet I still learnt something new. I like books I read to flow chronologically and if they don’t they usually put me off after a few chapters but NOT this time. I’ve been seriously reviewing books now for over fifteen years and I can say without any doubt, that for a first novel, this is exceptionally well put together. Congratulations. I look forward to Derville’s next work.
I received this review copy for an honest review as a LibraryThing reviewer.
I highly recommend this book and gladly award it 4 out of 5 stars.
I received this review copy for an honest review as a LibraryThing reviewer.
I highly recommend this book and gladly award it 4 out of 5 stars.
August 15, 2020
This was a great historical thriller. You don’t usually get history with a thriller so this was unusual. Claire, an unemployed art historian is hired to handle a famous artist’s effects. While reviewing her correspondence she comes upon a mystery that she sets out to understand. There are many dark twists and turns as she is sucked into the artist’s life. You really don’t find out the truth until the epilogue. The characters are well developed and interesting. The art world described is fascinating.
October 19, 2020
A Wonderful Read.
A great story very well told and a lovely read. Life for ordinary French people during the Nazi invasion - very atmospheric and chilling – so easy to walk into danger. The Dublin scenes brought me back to familiar places that have changed a lot over the years – nostalgia at its best. Very well written.
The thriller aspect was unusual in such a book and each time I thought I’d got a handle on ‘whodunnit’ I was proved wrong – kept me interested until the very last page. A wonderful debut.
A great story very well told and a lovely read. Life for ordinary French people during the Nazi invasion - very atmospheric and chilling – so easy to walk into danger. The Dublin scenes brought me back to familiar places that have changed a lot over the years – nostalgia at its best. Very well written.
The thriller aspect was unusual in such a book and each time I thought I’d got a handle on ‘whodunnit’ I was proved wrong – kept me interested until the very last page. A wonderful debut.
January 6, 2022
Another absolutely astonishing creation by Derville Murphy. This book had me in tears at times and really left me feeling shocked in places and I find that is a sign of an amazing writer to move its readers so much emotionally. I loved the way there was an unexpected ending and several twists along the way. I definitely have a new interest in historical fiction and look forward to more books from Derville Murphy. Highly recommended if you want a book you cannot leave down and keeps you hanging in there until the very final pages!
October 26, 2021
Intriguing tale of murder, mystery, love, betral and art history. The story spans generations of 3 families all linked through art and and art theft. The Art Colector's Daughter is a real gem of a book and kept me engrossed even though I know nothing about art history. I will definitely be looking for Dervilles other books.
January 21, 2022
Dual time lines, connected by a mystery of art that disappeared during WWII. Sylvie is an art collector’s daughter who was sent to live in Ireland during the Nazi occupation in Paris. Her chaotic life comes to an untimely death. 40 years later, researchers are looking into Sylvie’s past, her art, her death and lost art.
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