Review by AnnaLibri -- Isabella's Painting by Ellen Butler
Posted: 15 Oct 2019, 12:23
[Following is a volunteer review of "Isabella's Painting" by Ellen Butler.]
2 out of 4 stars
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As Isabella’s Painting begins, Karina Cardinal is with her boyfriend, Patrick Dunne, at his parents’ annual Christmas party. What Karina expects to be a typical high society soirée takes an unusual turn when she interrupts Patrick’s father in his study and a painting seems to disappear behind a secret panel when she enters the room. For the rest of the evening, she wonders what Mr. Dunne is hiding.
Unable to shake the suspicion, Karina embarks on a dogged Internet search for more information on the mysterious painting. What she learns shocks her: the painting hidden in Mr. Dunne’s study is a Vermeer masterpiece stolen from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in one of the most infamous heists of all time. As she determines what to do next, Karina learns that she and Patrick’s family could be in grave danger thanks to the priceless artwork. She also finds out her relationship with Patrick isn’t quite what she thought it was.
I was excited to read Isabella’s Painting and found a mystery novel centered on something other than a murder to be a refreshing change. Karina Cardinal makes for a fun, albeit somewhat cliché, protagonist. The cast of supporting characters, including Karina’s family and colleagues, was equally likeable and believable. Best of all, as someone who is interested in art and loves visiting museums, I loved that author Ellen Butler centered the book on the true story of the unsolved 1990 Gardner Museum heist, in which $500 million worth of art was stolen.
The book certainly started off entertaining and clever, and as a museum devotee who cannot resist a good mystery, I related to Karina’s eagerness to find out what Patrick’s father was hiding behind that panel in the study, and how he came to have it in the first place. Unfortunately, that mystery resolves itself fairly early, and as a result, much of the second half consists of violence and relationship drama. While I understand that the violence was meant to convey the danger in which Karina’s newfound knowledge has put her, it felt very contrived by that point in the book and lacked any urgency or suspense. I also thought that her problems with boyfriend Patrick were a little overdone, considering that the central story already provided plenty of drama on its own.
There were some glaring errors in spelling and grammar in the text, all of which could have been avoided with a more thorough editing job.
Overall, I would rate this novel 2 out of 4 stars. . The concept is imaginative, and the book does get off to a great start with an unusual premise and a good cast of characters. Its focus on the Gardner Museum theft should be especially appealing to art lovers. However, some mystery readers may find Isabella’s Painting poorly paced and lacking in suspense.
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Isabella's Painting
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
2 out of 4 stars
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As Isabella’s Painting begins, Karina Cardinal is with her boyfriend, Patrick Dunne, at his parents’ annual Christmas party. What Karina expects to be a typical high society soirée takes an unusual turn when she interrupts Patrick’s father in his study and a painting seems to disappear behind a secret panel when she enters the room. For the rest of the evening, she wonders what Mr. Dunne is hiding.
Unable to shake the suspicion, Karina embarks on a dogged Internet search for more information on the mysterious painting. What she learns shocks her: the painting hidden in Mr. Dunne’s study is a Vermeer masterpiece stolen from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in one of the most infamous heists of all time. As she determines what to do next, Karina learns that she and Patrick’s family could be in grave danger thanks to the priceless artwork. She also finds out her relationship with Patrick isn’t quite what she thought it was.
I was excited to read Isabella’s Painting and found a mystery novel centered on something other than a murder to be a refreshing change. Karina Cardinal makes for a fun, albeit somewhat cliché, protagonist. The cast of supporting characters, including Karina’s family and colleagues, was equally likeable and believable. Best of all, as someone who is interested in art and loves visiting museums, I loved that author Ellen Butler centered the book on the true story of the unsolved 1990 Gardner Museum heist, in which $500 million worth of art was stolen.
The book certainly started off entertaining and clever, and as a museum devotee who cannot resist a good mystery, I related to Karina’s eagerness to find out what Patrick’s father was hiding behind that panel in the study, and how he came to have it in the first place. Unfortunately, that mystery resolves itself fairly early, and as a result, much of the second half consists of violence and relationship drama. While I understand that the violence was meant to convey the danger in which Karina’s newfound knowledge has put her, it felt very contrived by that point in the book and lacked any urgency or suspense. I also thought that her problems with boyfriend Patrick were a little overdone, considering that the central story already provided plenty of drama on its own.
There were some glaring errors in spelling and grammar in the text, all of which could have been avoided with a more thorough editing job.
Overall, I would rate this novel 2 out of 4 stars. . The concept is imaginative, and the book does get off to a great start with an unusual premise and a good cast of characters. Its focus on the Gardner Museum theft should be especially appealing to art lovers. However, some mystery readers may find Isabella’s Painting poorly paced and lacking in suspense.
******
Isabella's Painting
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon