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The May Carousel
Behind the canvas of one Master Artist often lies the masterpiece of another.
Peter Lawson is a master artist who has been dead for sixteen years.
Now, a dramtic portrait has surfaced that the experts claim was painted by Peter Lawson, ten years after his very public funeral.
Hopefully, the experts are wrong. Killing Peter Lawson a second time might be a tad awkward...
Jason Allen is determined to find the truth of Peter's death. He will start by finding the model of the painting, Kay McCann, a master artist in her own right.
To find Kay, Jason must rely on Jake Thorton, a ruthless ally who bases his priorities on the fleeting politics of 1970.
Kay holds truths Jason never knew existed. Truths that are glorious, truths that are dangerous, timeless truths that will destroy both heart and soul.
Peter Lawson is a master artist who has been dead for sixteen years.
Now, a dramtic portrait has surfaced that the experts claim was painted by Peter Lawson, ten years after his very public funeral.
Hopefully, the experts are wrong. Killing Peter Lawson a second time might be a tad awkward...
Jason Allen is determined to find the truth of Peter's death. He will start by finding the model of the painting, Kay McCann, a master artist in her own right.
To find Kay, Jason must rely on Jake Thorton, a ruthless ally who bases his priorities on the fleeting politics of 1970.
Kay holds truths Jason never knew existed. Truths that are glorious, truths that are dangerous, timeless truths that will destroy both heart and soul.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 30, 2012
The dainty-looking lass gracing "The May Carousel's" cover is Kay McCann--a promising California artist and teacher whose personality and life are anything but picture-perfect. Brandishing only a blue streak, she rescues her seemingly soft-spoken English art model, Jason Allen, from a carjacking. Jason, like Kay, is also not what he seems because once he accepts Kay's offer to mend his wounds, his secret plan for her is hatched. And once Kay lets Jason through her apartment door, the plan is well on its way; and soon, so are they--from L.A. to London in a tantalizing search for the man who painted Kay's portrait, Peter Lawson: an internationally-renown "artist" thought to be dead...until now.
"The May Carousel" adds warmth, maturity, and a degree of realism to the spy genre. It's largely British in tone but more reminiscent of a John Buchan or Alfred Hitchcock romantic mystery than an edgy Ian Fleming or John le Carre Cold War story. Much like the artwork that populates the novel, author Leslie Wooddavis's characters are well-drawn. Some gravitate more toward the greater good that espionage purports to protect. But for the most part, their lives are more colorful than those living in le Carre's gray surroundings; and their personalities, deeper than the martini-sipping swagger of the typical 007 stick figure.
Kay McCann is a refreshingly humorous and self-reliant woman who is slowly drawn into suave art dealer Jason Allen's plan. But genuine love, trust, and friendship begin to sway Jason's thoughts. And Kay recovers the love, trust, and friendship that she thought was lost--felt only in fleeting flashbacks. It all makes for a potent story that builds to a truly stunning--though regrettably sensible--conclusion that will catch most readers by surprise.
If the story itself is compelling, the pace does lag in places--particularly in the middle. The beginning has a strong hook, with the introduction of Jake Thorton (Jason's smarmy American associate who is as adept at the art of deception as he is art dealing). But once the proceedings reach London, the novel spends too much time sorting through a love triangle. Luckily, a few car chases and Kay's melees with would-be kidnappers help put things back in perspective, Though it bolsters the novel's romantic angle (and will undoubtedly please and keep that crowd engaged) the excessive romantic complexities almost undermine the greater idea: That art and romance are tactics in a bigger game being played.
Still, Leslie Wooddavis triumphs in delivering a first-rate read--effective storytelling highlighted by a memorable cast of characters brought to life by a plot and dialog that switch from sentimental to self-controlled on a dime. But best of all, "The May Carousel" is unique in its ability to add human warmth to the spy story scene--a genre that is typically a cold-blooded battle royal of barbs, bullets, and bombs.
"The May Carousel" adds warmth, maturity, and a degree of realism to the spy genre. It's largely British in tone but more reminiscent of a John Buchan or Alfred Hitchcock romantic mystery than an edgy Ian Fleming or John le Carre Cold War story. Much like the artwork that populates the novel, author Leslie Wooddavis's characters are well-drawn. Some gravitate more toward the greater good that espionage purports to protect. But for the most part, their lives are more colorful than those living in le Carre's gray surroundings; and their personalities, deeper than the martini-sipping swagger of the typical 007 stick figure.
Kay McCann is a refreshingly humorous and self-reliant woman who is slowly drawn into suave art dealer Jason Allen's plan. But genuine love, trust, and friendship begin to sway Jason's thoughts. And Kay recovers the love, trust, and friendship that she thought was lost--felt only in fleeting flashbacks. It all makes for a potent story that builds to a truly stunning--though regrettably sensible--conclusion that will catch most readers by surprise.
If the story itself is compelling, the pace does lag in places--particularly in the middle. The beginning has a strong hook, with the introduction of Jake Thorton (Jason's smarmy American associate who is as adept at the art of deception as he is art dealing). But once the proceedings reach London, the novel spends too much time sorting through a love triangle. Luckily, a few car chases and Kay's melees with would-be kidnappers help put things back in perspective, Though it bolsters the novel's romantic angle (and will undoubtedly please and keep that crowd engaged) the excessive romantic complexities almost undermine the greater idea: That art and romance are tactics in a bigger game being played.
Still, Leslie Wooddavis triumphs in delivering a first-rate read--effective storytelling highlighted by a memorable cast of characters brought to life by a plot and dialog that switch from sentimental to self-controlled on a dime. But best of all, "The May Carousel" is unique in its ability to add human warmth to the spy story scene--a genre that is typically a cold-blooded battle royal of barbs, bullets, and bombs.
July 23, 2022
Bit of a strange book not for me
May 4, 2015
An unusual espionage story featuring artists, art dealers and romance.
Want to Read
February 15, 2016they try to find the artist, portrait surfaces that was painted after an artist, british mystery, espionage
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews