This book was alright. I liked the idea for the story but I wish it was a little more in-depth with the story line.

Good stuff, not great. I'm a fan of art and heists and this fit, along with the thriller aspects. It's not totally realistic, but has good pacing and a good ending. It's a little weak on "art" if that's what you're seeking, but is a fun read overall.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

Mikky dos Santos, art forger, con woman, Europol agent take a commission to examine and curate the extensive art collection of the Chedwell family in anticipation of a distribution to the second generation, now in their fifties. Mikky’s job is made considerably more difficult by missing records, claims and counter claims among the hears that assets have been diverted. Mikky is pulled this way and that by the heirs and their claims but steadfastly works toward and honest inventory until Roberto, the eldest and slipperiest, draws the young curator into a corrupt deal to certify that the Ruby Pear, a multi-million dollar necklace is in the inventory even though Mikky hasn’t seen it. Roberto has to her variously that his brother, Marco stole when he left three years ago, that it’s hidden, or that no one knows its whereabouts.
Although Mikky wears a tattoo of Munch’s The Scream on one arm and a full-color tattoo of John the Baptist’s bleeding head, she is not Lizbeth Salander or Gunnie Rose. Mikky is an inside investigator who leads with her emotions more than clever tricks or hand-to-hand combat. Ms. Pytell presents us with a series of characters, each of whom turn out to be different from what we thought. It will keep you guessing.

Recently reviewed Janet Pywell's TRUTHFUL LIES and found it to be a compelling work that flowed well and accentuated the moral weaknesses of some of her characters. Family dynamics were on major display in the book and served to reveal an exciting plot with an unexpected conclusion.

I was hoping for more details of the past of the main character, Mykky, as her life and experiences would certainly add to her involvement in the unfolding dynamics. But the author did a good job of keeping her in the thick of events, especially her interaction with the wealthy family on display.

Thank you for the opportunity to review.

Charlie Casper

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
This book was mildly fun to read, but there wasn't enough in-depth information about art for me, something I was hoping for. The mystery was a bit predictable and the characters just ok. I wish I could have liked the story more, as I was looking forward to the read, but it all seemed a bit unrealistic and superficial. It would have been nice if Mikki's character was more fleshed out, but it could be that I should have read the previous books in the series first.

A truly fantastic plot, very intricate and unpredictable, as well as great writing with excellent characters.