Goya's Black Paintings are mysterious enough in appearance and in creation, but Neil Olson's novel gives an even more sinister legacy to the black painting owned by the patriarch of the Morse family.
Fifteen years earlier, Alfred Arthur Morse's black painting was stolen, causing accusations, suspicion, and the estrangement of family members. Now, the four cousins have been summoned to their grandfather's estate. Teresa and Audrey arrive together, but it is Teresa who discovers their grandfather's body in his study--in front of the space where the black painting had hung before its disappearance.
Teresa is intent on finding out more about the original theft and about her grandfather's death. Family secrets emerge.
Whether or not the painting was haunted, there is plenty of suspense and mystery surrounding the Morse family's association with the painting. A clever use of Goya's dark and nightmarish paintings to inspire a curse and a mystery.
(The book never mentions which black painting Morse owned; perhaps a totally fictitious one, but the cover partially reveals one painting from the series.)
read in April; blog post scheduled for Dec. 18.
NetGalley/Hanover Square Press
Mystery/Suspense. Jan. 9, 2018. Print length: 320 pages.
I love mysteries involving art! Cross your fingers that my library has this one. :)
ReplyDeleteYour library probably won't have it yet. This is one of those NetGalley books that I had to hold the review on until shortly before publication. I read it in April, but it won't be released until Jan. 9!
DeleteSounds very intriguing. Will add this to my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely held my interest. :) The info on Goya's Black Paintings was new for me. I'd seen some of them, but didn't know the story behind them.
DeleteArt & mystery = great combo! Will have to look for this one!
ReplyDelete:) Yep, Art & Mystery and Old Manuscripts and Mystery are favorite topics!
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