Jonathan K (Max Outlier)’s Reviews > The Lost Masterpiece > Status Update

While it's possible Manet may have been a womanizer, the fact that Tamara gets involved with the attorney who tries to prevent the Manet family from taking the painting from her makes this more soap opera than mystery. I think I'll quit while I'm ahead.

In the acknowledgements the author thanks several people saying without them the book would have never seen the light of day. From the sound of it, she' didn't think much of it either, lol. At least I enjoyed Metropolis and the Art Forger :)

Sorry folks but this pales in comparison to the Art Forger. The author chose to combine the recovery of an Impressionist masterpiece with soap. Not only with characters in the present but those hundreds of years previous. The title is a misnomer. In other words don't judge a book by the title, lol

I have to say I'm deeply disappointed. While the elements of the Manet in the past and rightful owner of it in the present, the author adds a heavy dash of soap that ruins the mystery. At least where I'm concerned

Hmmm.. A mixed bag of 19th century soap and intrigue. I'll continue with hopes it improves

I feel the romance between Berthe and Manet is a bit too far melodramatic for my tastes though it's possible the author is more dialed into the late 1800s than I am. I'm hoping the B plot is more focused on art than soap

I love stories about famous artists from yesteryear, their journeys unlike any of the contemporary types. And while a different, many of the books in the Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva have plots involving works of art since Allon is known restoring them as well as a maestro of spy operations

Nicely done. Parallel plots from different periods in time, the thread holding them together, a priceless painting by the impressionist, Eduoard Manet. The A plot reveals its existence when Tamara learns of it , the B plot, the story of who and how it was created. Among those involved was Tamara's great great great great grandmother.

Not every day we see an author fictionalize the days of Manet, Renoir and Degas nor how Manet, a married master artist seeks to cheat on his wife by seducing the daughter of an affluent family his mother has grown close with. The B plot, we will learn how he painted the piece the woman in the present inherits

Looks like it will be interesting..a young woman working for a biotech start up is called by member of a Holocaust organization informing her a great great grandparent who was one of the millions the Nazi's stole masterpiece art works wants to return a Manet worth tens of millions..the story toggles back to the days Manet was alive and these sort of plots are fun