Maestra

Starred review from February 1, 2016
The talents of Judith Rashleigh, the sardonic narrator of Hilton’s deliciously Highsmithian thriller, the first of a trilogy, are clearly underutilized as an assistant at a top London art auction house and as a hostess at a seedy nightclub where she moonlights. But a mark she hooks at the club—middle-aged, married, and morbidly obese James—proves to be her ticket to the Riviera. With the aid of a femme fatale facility that surprises even herself, she enters a dangerous beau monde of possibility seemingly as limitless as the view of the Mediterranean from the billionaire’s yacht onto which she wangles her way. That is, if she can stay one step ahead of the law. As Judith assumes and sheds identities as effortlessly as her Louboutins during a twisty series of increasingly treacherous escapades (several X-rated), Hilton (Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince as Lisa Hilton) artfully conjures a glossy world where just about everything—and everyone—has its price. Optioned by Sony Pictures, this hot title has already sold rights in more than 25 countries. Agent: Toby Mundy, TMA Creative Management (U.K.).

February 15, 2016
Hilton's novel about a woman with exotic sexual appetites and a penchant for murdering those who cross her mixes blood and sex the way a bartender slaps together martinis. Judith Rashleigh works as an assistant in a large London art house known as British Pictures. While toiling under the repugnant Rupert, she finds occasional employment working in a club where gentlemen of wealth spend the evening in the company of a beautiful woman. No sex is involved, but it wouldn't bother Judith if it was: she has the sexual appetite of a 16-year-old boy and is open to any and all partners. While having detailed coitus with almost everyone she meets, Judith stumbles on a nefarious scheme to defraud a hapless art buyer with Rupert behind the wheel. At first she's not aware that it's Rupert's swindle and tries to expose it, which earns her a pink slip. She and another woman at the club accompany one of her regulars, an enormously fat married man named James, to France, where they slip some drugs into his drink so they can party, and, before they know it, James is dead. For Judith, that's when the fun begins. Hilton's character spends the bulk of the book killing people--sometimes viciously; having minutely described sex, often with total strangers and with an emphasis on overweight men; and dropping the names of rich people's playgrounds, unusual and luxurious foods, and all the designer clothes she buys and wears. Judith, it seems, likes the best of everything. Readers are promised that Judith's depraved tour of Europe will continue. Billed as erotic suspense, this is not a book for suspense fans; it's more a portrait of a sociopathic woman with a voracious appetite for sexual adventure.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 1, 2016
All of the ingredients in Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels have been remixed in debut author Hilton's delicious, twenty-first-century psychological thriller. Maestra is at once glamorous, edgy, decadent (like rich but somewhat bitter dark chocolate), erotic, and irresistible. In her vicious heels, Judith Rashleigh moves from art-brokerage underling to successful confidence woman at an astonishing pace. Rashleigh is just full of surprises. She is ruthless and, yet, unlike Ripley, she is vulnerable, still grappling with haunting memories of her earlier life as a chippy little loser. This is hard to reconcile with the smart cookie she has turned out to be, moving around Europe under an assortment of names and, like Mr. Ripley, cannibalized identities. Across the five books of the Ripliad, Ripley's kill count is 10, but if the pace of this first book of a projected trilogy continues, Rashleigh will no doubt best his score. Hilton also folds in soupcons of Gone Girl and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. (The book is a gift for readers who delight in vengeful female protagonists.) The detailed sex scenes will also appeal to fans of the Fifty Shades series. You can bet your Christian Louboutin stilettos they will love it. Optioned for film with adaptation by Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

March 15, 2016

Judith Rashleigh, an assistant in a prestigious London art auction house, is summarily fired when she discovers that her boss is behind a fake painting that was put up for auction. Luckily, Judith also moonlights as a hostess at a champagne bar, where she meets the wealthy and married James. He soon whisks her off to the South of France. James's (mostly) accidental death starts Judith on her path of debauchery. She hooks up with the nouveau riche in Italy and schemes her comeback. Amoral, vicious, and true to her ambitions, Judith is a female Tom Ripley (Patricia Highsmith's con artist protagonist)--doing all she can to survive and further her entree into the upper echelon of society. VERDICT The first of a planned trilogy, Hilton's debut is not for the faint of heart as Judith's exploits--from sex parties to murders--are described graphically. Still, with the book already optioned for a movie, interest will be high for this scandalous, thrilling tour through Europe and the art world. [See Prepub Alert, 11/15/15.]--Lynnanne Pearson, Skokie P.L., IL

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2015

First in a trilogy starring confidence woman Judith Rashleigh, this erotic thriller was won by Putnam in a seven-figure preempt. In addition, rights have been sold in 22 territories, and Columbia Pictures grabbed film rights. So it's big.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.