A tarnished canvas

Anna Lee Huber

Book - 2025

"March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She's thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin's coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives. Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of t...he structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit's aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage's assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer's intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they're on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter's repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger"--

Saved in:
1 copy ordered
Subjects
Genres
Detective and mystery fiction
Novels
Romans
Published
New York : Berkley Prime Crime 2025.
Language
English
Main Author
Anna Lee Huber (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
pages cm
ISBN
9780593639436
Contents unavailable.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

An invitation to an art auction seriously imperils a husband-and-wife sleuthing team. March 1833 finds Lady Kiera Darby and her husband, Sebastian Gage, in Edinburgh with their infant daughter. Instead of painting portraits of her usual wealthy clientele, Kiera is working on paintings of ordinary people with an eye to mounting her own exhibition. Gage, who's used to investigating crimes, is restless. When the art collection of the late Lord Eldin is put up for auction, Kiera, who's interested in several pieces, takes Gage to visit the venue housing the art. On returning the next day, they narrowly escape death when the floor collapses, sending a crowd plummeting to the floor below. Luckily, only one person is killed in what appears to be a terrible accident caused by poor construction. But Sgt. Maclean tells them it was sabotage and asks for their help in figuring out who might have been targeted. Then Bonnie Brock Kincaid calls to see if Kiera's injured, annoying Gage and leaving Kiera unsure what to think. Bonnie Brock, the head of a criminal enterprise whose feelings for Kiera have saved both her and Gage in the past, warns her that the collapse was no accident. Although some ancient coins that were being auctioned have been replaced with fakes, nothing else is missing after the incident. Seeking a motive, the pair wonders if the collapse was an act of revenge for an earlier calamity that claimed many victims. An engrossing historical mystery with plenty of twists and engaging characters to enjoy. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.