The Chrysalis
A Novel
گزارش تخلف
کتاب های مرتبط
- اطلاعات
- نقد و بررسی
- دیدگاه کاربران
نقد و بررسی
April 30, 2007
A luminous portrait by a fictitious artist is at the heart of Terrell's disappointing debut thriller. The painting actively links three separate story lines, presented in alternating chapters. A 17th-century Dutch artist creates a painting as a tribute to his lover and his Catholic faith; in 194's Amsterdam, Erich Baum is shipping his precious artwork to France for safekeeping; a present-day Manhattan attorney defends an auction house against claims by a Dutch woman that the Nazis stole the painting from her family. It's a promising plot structure, but that promise is buried under repetitious explanations of the legal issues, inept pacing and awkward dialogue. Former litigator Terrell earnestly wants to focus on questions of morality and betrayal across three centuries, but her artless writing frustrates those ambitions.
April 1, 2007
Lawyer Terrell's first novel is a gem of suspense. Mara Coyne, gunning for partnership with a prestigious law firm, is assigned a case involving art stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Her firm is representing the auction house that arranged for the sale of a painting called "The Chrysalis" after the war; the daughter of the previous owner is seeking to regain her family's stolen art. Coyne is thrilled to tackle such an important case but surprised to meet the client, Michael Roarke, an old college acquaintance. While drawn into a romance with him, Coyne puts together an airtight case in favor of her client. Intertwined with the present-day tale are scenes set in World War II Netherlands as the family tries to escape to Italy with its art, and in the 17th century, as the life of fictional Dutch master Johannes Miereveld and his creation of "The Chrysalis" unfold against a backdrop of class and religious struggles. When Coyne accidentally discovers her work may have been tainted, she has to make tough decisions. An entertaining read; recommended.Beth Lindsay, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman
Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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