When a prolific international criminal takes one of Doctor Genevieve Lenard’s friends hostage in his own flat, she is hard pushed to believe his motivation. Calling on her expertise as a nonverbal communications specialist, she sees the genuine fear and desperation behind this thief’s blustering demand to help him stop the Collector.
For almost a year, the Collector has evaded Genevieve and her team, leaving behind a trail of stolen artworks, burned-down museums and blown-up galleries. And innocent victims.
Grudgingly cooperating with this thief and his associates, Genevieve and her team track the Collector to the cobbled alleyways of Lisbon, Portugal, where they have only one chance to stop this merciless killer from exacting revenge that took decades to plan—an action that would have an irreversible political and economic impact on a global scale.
Estelle Ryan was born in South Africa and spent her childhood being surrounded by African beauty, nature and diversity of cultures. Her first trip to Europe at the tender age of 16 transformed her world into a much larger place, endless in its possibilities and places to explore. For most of her adulthood she’s travelled all over the world, lived on a few continents, explored numerous cultures and still is insatiable in the quest to still the hunger for more life experiences.
She’s written for numerous international magazines, was the editor of a European lifestyle magazine and has seven romance novels published under a pseudonym. With her interest in international politics, arts, crime, behavioural psychology, criminal psychology and music, she decided to combine all these elements in her writing. And so Genevieve and the team came into being.
She is an unabashed coffeeshopaholic. Good coffee, ambience and music in the perfect combination is all that is required to turn a mundane coffee shop into her 'office'. The appropriate coffee shop is chosen depending on the mood, the weather, the type and amount of work that needs to be done, and of course the craving of the day. All of her books have been written in numerous coffee shops all over the world.
After discovering at the end of the last book that we were going to have to suffer “The Collector” again, I was a bit reluctant to start reading The Malhoa Connection. However I really enjoy Genevieve, so I had no choice. I was quite happy with the start of the book, but once the ‘group of four’ became involved I found the story became ‘messy’ and as it developed I couldn’t help feeling, would they really show this lack of judgement. In fact the author seemed to make the whole group particularly unobservant and stupid at crucial moments. There is a chaotic but reasonably satisfactory ending to the story, although some of it didn’t really make sense. There were aspects of the book I really liked, but overall I couldn’t give more than 3 stars. Another indication I struggled with the story was it took me a week to finish the book, I’ve never taken more than two days to finish any of the previous ‘Genevieve Lenard’ books. Incidentally the crime that motivated the Collector was perpetrated in the UK and unlike the author suggests in the book there is no statute of limitations for this crime in the UK.
I always enjoy this series, where you learn a bit about artists and a bit about people with autism and also get to solve a good mystery. This one was particularly suspenseful, especially towards the end. And I always enjoy how the relationships between the various characters continue to grow. This time we're in Portugal which added to the pleasure for me since I have visited there a couple of times myself. This is one of a handful of series where I always pre-order the new book, and I've always been glad I did.
I was happy to buy and read the 15th book in this series. I will buy the next one too. After reading this book, I went and re-read all the others to enjoy Ryan's writing again. I have done this after each of the last few books since there is only about one book per year and I enjoy seeing the progress of her writing and her characters.
However, there was one thing that bothered me about this book: the references to the Covid pandemic. There were a few of them stuck in there rather awkwardly, as if the book were written just as the pandemic started and someone said to Ryan "you better put something in there". However, the character of Genevieve is paranoid about germs and examples are given in each book. Many examples. In this book, her character barely reacts to the Covid pandemic. There is not one reference to wearing masks.
I understand there is a long time between the writing of the book and the actual publication, sometimes a year. It would have been better to avoid any reference to Covid until it could be done properly. Our lives have been irrevocably changed by this deadly virus in just over one year and the few brief references to it in this book are jarring. The next book should incorporate this virus throughout since it has changed our lives so much and Genevieve should be reacting to this in the same way we have. In fact, her highly developed character demands it.
I will continue to buy and read Ryan's books in this series. I enjoy her suspenseful stories and learning about art and European politics. The commitment to recognizing current events is an important part of the appeal of the stories too. The Covid virus was mishandled here in the book but it was, we hope, a once in a lifetime event.
I have read all of the previous books in this series, but I was disappointed in The Malhoa Connection. There were too many f-bombs. Manny was repeatedly rubbing his hands hard across his face. (Seemed like on every page.) And the plot was too predictable. Maybe it's time to retire Genevieve and the gang.
“A decades old crime. A torment not forgiven. Ice-cold revenge.”
When I started reading Malhoa, I had no idea how correct that chilling tagline would be. Genevieve – at the beginning of the series – was an insurance fraud investigator who, over time, has developed an affinity for solving crimes on the international level, especially with an artistic bent of some sort. Through the years, she’s put together a team of experts who complement her skills admirably. Together, they “get their man”.
But this latest in the series is an investigation with a twist. Right from the start, her own team is put in harm’s way when one of them is taken hostage in his own apartment. And in order to get to the bottom of the larger plot that she “sees” is there, the team finds itself cooperating with a thief and his associates. All the way to the streets of Lisbon.
As always, Ryan’s narrative is filled with information. About the particular artist highlighted. About how our minds work. About how painstakingly Genevieve continues to learn to adapt and involve herself in a neuro-typical world. All while keeping us turning pages obsessively till the very last one.
The Malhoa Connection – another masterpiece of craftsmanship – well-developed, thoroughly researched, impeccably written. Don’t hesitate to pick it up; and then, treat yourself by going back to the beginning and learning to love these characters the same way I have, one mission at a time. I cannot wait for the next adventure!
A fire at the Portuguese consulate in Strasbourg is recognized as one related to The Collector, whom Genevieve and her team have been after for over a year.
When Armand, a thief Colin knows, finds out who he really is and draws them to Daniel’s place, he explains his fear of The Collector and that he and 3 other thieves want to help catch this cruel individual.
Armand and his group are in Portugal, and though Jake and Inge seem helpful, Paulo is volatile and distrustful.
They uncover some connections between several companies and The Collector, and when Jake offers his source a meeting with all of them, she agrees, but then the building basement they’re all in is set on fire.
The evidence mounts when Francine identifies the Wraith, a hacker she met long ago, and the suspicion grows that she is The Collector.
But, it appears it could also be her uncle, the president of Angola, so they all tread carefully when they find his house and go in to search it.
A final confrontation has Genevieve meeting with The Collector and trying to save some high powered people.
A great book, with lots of pieces uncovered in interesting ways. I like Inge, Armand, and Jake, and it’s great to have Daniel involved and have Vinnie solve some of the challenges they face.
This is my favourite series, with lots of depth and characters who feel like real people, in all their glories and foibles.
Warning: This book deals with adult themes. What a great adventure story. In the past I have commented on Estelle Ryan telling about most of the action sequences after they occur. She still does that in the beginning of this book. The technique helps to move the plot along while explaining some of the characters' motivations in each book. In The Malhoa Connection, she is spending more words telling us what is happening in real time during more scenes and not as recollections after one of Dr. Lenard's shutdown episodes. Showing the action as it happens makes the build up to the final action sequence and that scene itself incredibly memorable because it was so well written. Her excellent use of dialog and her ability to paint a word picture of the characters' emotions are among the reasons I love this series and have a hard time putting the books down once I begin one. It is also worth noting that after all of these adventures with the growing team, that Dr. Lenard is finally shown struggling to have more control over her neurodivergence - and succeeding.
I'm always excited when a new book in this series is available, but I wait to read it until I can assure myself of time to savor every page. The complicated plots and multitude of characters take concentration for me. Every character is given the attention they deserve and the main characters, an unlikely family group, have become book friends. Especially Colin. Sigh. This book is an adventure to Portugal, with so much action involved along with the superior brain power of Dr Genevieve, Jenny, a high functioning autistic genius. She is the catalyst that brought this group together and they protect her with their lives. She is the one who benefits most from the loving care of this group as the prison of autism seems to be loosening some of its hold on her. I loved the mind games and many twists of this adventure involving a strong and moral politician, past sins of a nation and revenge. Can't wait for their next case!
I love these books so much! The insight they give neurotypical people of how the brain of someone with autism works is invaluable. Many members of the "team" are a bit odd in one way or another, and we love them all for it. The way they all interact and treat each other like family is so endearing, and enlightening. Also, the exposure to all of these different artists and their works is very enriching. I had the standard "Art Appreciation" class in college, but there are only a couple of painters among the fifteen showcased so far that I had ever heard of. Whenever I see that a new Estelle Ryan is expected to come out, I pre-order it and put it on my calendar so I can anticipate its eventual arrival on my Kindle appropriately!
I continue to really enjoy this series. The characters are admirable, though not without faults, and each new book is like getting back to meet with old friends.
Here, they're finally able to get a bead on "The Collector" an art thief who's been burning galleries and stealing paintings for the last year. The catalyst is a thief known to Colin who comes to them with a plan and more information on this person -- all he wants is immunity from prosecution. They're wary, but Genevieve's ability to read Armando's face as he explains himself forces him to be honest with them.
As usual, Genevieve has to fight her own instinct to shut down when things get difficult -- and in this case she's forced to confront not just the remnants of violence, but violence in her presence. But to keep her and her team safe, she has to figure out how to get her mind to move past the horror.
.. months have passed since their last case, the world is struggling with the pandemic, and the mysterious Collector has been actively involved in more hype and heists. But their hands are tied as the heists have been carried out across the globe.
When a thief, Arnaud, breaks into Daniel's apartment and demands to speak to one of Colin's aliases along with Manny and Genevieve things take a rapid turn and they are all heading to Portugal for what they hope will be the final showdown..
But can they trust this gang of criminals? Are they truly trying to stop the Collector or are they just hoping for the haul to end all hauls? With Genevieve under intense pressure can she spot the misleading cues without shutting down and in time to stop The Collector's final showdown?
Estelle Ryan has become one of my favorite authors, the one I recommend to others. I was very excited to get this book yesterday. In this one, Genevieve is once again involved in art theft, and once again pretty far from home. But this art theft took place in Strasbourg and burned down a whole museum, so Genevieve really needed to see to an ending to this crime. Once again, we have a cast of colorful characters, especially the members of Genevieve's team. We have watched these people grow through the other books in this series, and I looked forward to their growth through this book. As always, the story has meat to it and all the little nuances are gently illuminated. I could have read this in one (long) sitting, but I didn't. I highly recommend this book.
I was really happily surprised at this addition to the series. It still had the slow build to a dynamic confrontation, but the nuances of the crime were outlined in detail and in such a way to keep you guessing until the very end. There was obviously a great deal of research into cybercrime and this was presented extremely well, complex yet integral to the storyline. I also appreciated how the pandemic was integrated into the plot as it is a global event and so many lives were affected. It makes sense to include it and describe how Genevieve and the team responded to this very real threat. This, of course, could be a standalone novel, but it makes much more sense to understand the history of all the characters. I highly recommend this great addition to the series.
When I was notified that The Malhoa Connection was about to be released, I went back into my library and reread the previous 14 books. (Amazing what you can do during lock-down) I wanted to brush up on all the characters.I finished book 14 the day this was issued.
The Malhoa Connection is as exciting as the others. It is fast reading, over much too quickly, but it packs a lot of adventure in a small space.
Genevieve has grown emotionally through the series. The other characters are the same smart, witty, erasable group of friends anyone would wish to have. Love the series.
I have bought and e dry one of these books and waited months for this one to become available. Much to my disappointment it became apparent immediately this one was going to be a chore to read. Not because the characters or the story line was boring or disappointing but the addition of one of my favorite people used the F or MF word through the entire book. What happened that the author that writes great stories felt the need to populate this otherwise good book with foul language. I am so disappointed since I will probably not buy the next one.
Each of the books in the Genevieve Leonard series has a different feel, as relationships deepen and new characters appear. We've also run all over Europe and been introduced to a wide variety of artists, political issues and languages. I've been reading mystery series for sixty years and in my opinion this is perhaps the most truly original and deeply thought out I have ever read. As well as very well written. Wholeheartedly recommended.
I’ve followed this series since the beginning and look forward to each new book. The plot in this one kept me in suspense trying to figure out the twists which came fast and furious. I love the characters and watching how they develop as a team. I have 2 friends on the spectrum and reading about Genevieve’s character has helped me understand and communicate with them better.
Learning about art, autism, history and music is fun but, truth be told, I’d read these just for the stories. They never fail to give me pleasure.
Another edge of your seat entry into the Genevieve Lenard series. I love catching up with this cast of characters, this time on the trail of catching not just an art thief, but a brutal character who has involved others in their crimes by blackmail and threats. The team is approached by one such person who is involved with three other unwilling cohorts in these schemes. There really isn't anyone they can fully trust, no one seems to be who they say they are, and there are some truly brutal scenes. In the end, the team comes through, but not without leaving some scars along the way.
I love Estelle Ryan's books and this one did not disappoint. Having read all of the books in this series, I feel that Genevieve, Colin, Vinnie, Fran, Manny and the rest of the team are like old friends. This adventure finds them traveling to Portugal to try to unravel the identity of the Collector and stop his/her crime spree. They face several dangerous situations, including being trapped in a burning basement with no easy escape.
Filled with excitement, adventure, mystery, laughter and love, this was truly an enjoyable read!
Just when I think Estelle Ryan can't get better, she does. In the latest installment in this series, Genevieve and the team face extreme danger from a violent psychopath. In the process of uncovering the villain, two thieves become allies, and we find out more about Daniel. I stayed up most of the night reading, because I couldn't put the book down.
Once again. Magnificent. Touchingly written, sensitive to the challenges faced on the autism spectrum this series gets better and better. Imagining all sorts of options. Genevieve and Francine as potential mothers? Why is Daniel single? Will we see more of Bree? Will Eric become lawyer? I hope Phillip feels better soon - this worried me in these pandemic times. Thank you Estelle. Relax now. Have a coffee. Think about the next book. LOL.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story line and new characters were extremely well thought out.
Once the released date was given, I re- read all the other books in the series. These are books that you never tire of. They make you smile, they give an insight into various artists, and they make you think how an autistic person perceives the world around them.
Hope we do not have to wait over a year for the next book.
It would be nice if Inge and Armando had their own series.
Love,love,loved it. Once you read any of these books you will be hooked. The cast of characters are a diverse bunch who flourish within this very cool group and the stories are at once so incredibly well written and convoluted, yet totally entertaining in a page turning way. I started reading and finished in the same evening. Couldn’t stop! I always hate when I read that last page!
Another sensational installment in the Genevieve Lenard mysteries. This one takes us to Portugal to catch The Collector with the help of 4 other criminals. These crimes/mysteries are always so well done - you can tell Estelle does a lot of research and she paces out the action/clues so well. The only drawback might be the lack of Phillip. I missed him!
I’m still waiting for a big backstory on Colin though!!
Once again Estelle takes us on a journey through the eyes of Genevieve, whose neurodiverse mind offers insights and nuance to daily life. The mystery is very good and calls back to prior entries in the series. Character development is excellent. Me. Ryan's characters are nuanced and realistic. In all her books, 's. Ryan educates the reader about neurodiversity, art, and much more. Well done!
I was critically ill 7 years ago. During recovery I was trying to find something to keep me focused on something besides feeling bad. I stumbled across Genevieve and her team and fell in love. The character development, relationships, twists and turns are wonderful and engaging. While not an expert on Autism at all, I appreciated the insight into both neurotypical and neurodiverse minds. Great read, great series! Ready for more!
Love this series….the characters are great and the plots about art thriving are very interesting….my only negative thought is about doc Lenard, Genevieve, sometimes she is portrayed as a brainiac, austic, but then we go thru sections where she is coddled and made out like a baby….I know autism is a bit chaotic to understand, but those wild swings almost seem like there is two people in one….don’t know if I’m explaining it right, but her austic portrayal begins to annoy me….
As always, the uniquely wonderful, Neuro divergent Genevieve Lenard and her mismatched, yet perfectly complimentary crew of law enforcement and former criminals kept me riveted for hours.Another twisty, exciting chapter in this excellent series! And...don't miss the links to the authors website. Its,always great fun to see the actual artwork and locations; and to hear the music described in her stories.
This book felt very similar to the 11th in the series, The “Netscher Connection”. The setup was nearly the same: the characters in a foreign country, and the villain being a woman whose origin story involved being sexually assaulted by privileged men. It gave me a lot of déjà vu, like reading the same plot in a different setting. Aside from that, the book was okay, though I didn’t like how much Francine got hurt during the case.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.