The Paris Secret

September 15, 2017
Long-lost paintings are not the only secrets a fine-art agent uncovers when she catalogs the contents of a Paris apartment that's been shuttered for 73 years.Flora Sykes is the head of European operations for Beaumont Fine Art Agency and the daughter of a former chief auctioneer at Christie's. She knows how to put a price on priceless works of art, but her new clients, the Vermeil family, may cost her the rest of her career when they hire her to search their recently discovered property despite the patriarch's request to leave it locked until after his widow's death. Inside the home are hundreds of sketches and paintings--including works by Matisse, Dali, Pissarro, and Renoir--that her clients hope to bring to auction. The contrast between the moldy curtains and the colorful artwork gives the house an addictive image-gallery feel even before the skeletons emerge from the closet. But when the trail leading to where the artwork was purchased goes cold, Flora is faced with two chilling scenarios: in one, the artwork can't be verified and loses its value; in the other, it can be traced to an unthinkable source, and the family loses its reputation. At the same time, Flora is stunned by tragic news involving her brother--news that stays hidden until the final chapters, when revealing it will cost Flora more than her pride. Like her paintings, Flora handles her secrets with care, and she considers people's emotions as well as the facts as she attempts to solve the mystery in the Vermeils' home and her own. So why does the Vermeils' son, Xavier, who is by all outward appearances a spoiled playboy, have such an effect on her? As she races to find the paintings' origins before they go to auction, she runs away from Xavier much more slowly--and looks back often--as her dispassionate diligence turns into blind passion. Behind the locked door are shocking secrets, an unlikely romance, and nail-biting intrigue--it's definitely worth a peek.

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 15, 2017

A break-in to a Paris apartment brings to light long-hidden secrets in the latest from Swan (The Summer Without You; Christmas at Claridges). The residence belongs to the wealthy Vermeil family but was locked up after World War II. The rent was paid through a codicil in Francois Vermeil's will, dust gathered in rooms, and the living members of the Vermeil clan had no knowledge of the flat's existence for decades. The apartment conceals a treasure trove of art, including a glorious Renoir. Flora Sykes, a high-end art broker, is called in to establish provenance prior to the art sale. However, all the ownership trails dead end at Franz Von Taschelt, a notorious collaborator with the Nazis, who profited from the looting of works owned by Jews desperate to escape Austria and Germany. As Flora untangles the puzzles, she's also captivated by Xavier Vermeil. VERDICT The central mystery is intriguing, and while the romantic subplot is weak, the rest of the book is compelling and the artwork is described in luscious detail.--Jennifer Mills, Shorewood-Troy Lib., IL

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2017
Fine-arts agent Flora Sykes is called from London to Paris on an intriguing assignment: evaluate the contents of an apartment untouched for decades and filled with priceless works of art. Apparently shut up during World War II by absentee owners, the apartment was discovered by an intruder who alerted the family's solicitors. The Vermeil family has the means to maintain an apartment without noticing the expense, and their solicitors concealed the information for over 70 years. Now that the secret is out, Flora is asked to establish provenance and value for each item in the collection. Her research uncovers more than just the chain of ownership and draws her into Vermeil family drama. Moving in glamorous social circles and high-stakes auctions, Flora negotiates the needs of everyone involved, from her flighty boss to their wealthy clients, while coping with her own family crisis. A former fashion editor, Swan brings an eye for detail to her descriptive prose. Offer this to fans of Sophie Kinsella's Shopahilic series who may be looking for more sophistication.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)