The Masterpiece
Belinda Alexandra
Reviewed by Helen
WOW what a beautiful and amazing story from start to the fabulous finish, this is the first book from Belinda Alexander that I have read but it won’t be the last, I can’t believe that I have not read any of her books before.
1946 Eve Archer grew up in Australia with only her French mother, Madeline, Eve was taught everything about the finer things in the world but that was only when her mother was not influenced by alcohol, but when her mother takes her own life she leaves Eve a letter to take to the man who is her father Serge Lavertu and Eve is determined to find her father and get to know him.
But when she arrives in Paris she sets herself up with a position as companion to a wealthy socialite and is slowly getting to know her father even if she hasn’t told him yet and then Serge is arrested and charged with art theft, dealing selling a masterpiece to Hitler and murder and Eve is determined to prove his innocence.
With her investigations she finds Russian artist Kristina Belova, Kristina has no memory after 1923 but as their friendship grows Eve learns about the life of the two art dealers Serge, Kristina’s husband Max and Kristina’s life it is a tale of love, heartbreak and so much more, what it was like living in Nice during the war but will she uncover the truth of the missing artworks and the death of a beloved French couple before it is too late to save Serge?
A story set across many years from 1923 till 1946, what Eve uncovers is a love triangle and a secret about her own heritage. This is a fabulous story that I devoured it is beautifully written, fabulous characters and one that I would highly recommend to any lover of historical fiction.
1946 Eve Archer grew up in Australia with only her French mother, Madeline, Eve was taught everything about the finer things in the world but that was only when her mother was not influenced by alcohol, but when her mother takes her own life she leaves Eve a letter to take to the man who is her father Serge Lavertu and Eve is determined to find her father and get to know him.
But when she arrives in Paris she sets herself up with a position as companion to a wealthy socialite and is slowly getting to know her father even if she hasn’t told him yet and then Serge is arrested and charged with art theft, dealing selling a masterpiece to Hitler and murder and Eve is determined to prove his innocence.
With her investigations she finds Russian artist Kristina Belova, Kristina has no memory after 1923 but as their friendship grows Eve learns about the life of the two art dealers Serge, Kristina’s husband Max and Kristina’s life it is a tale of love, heartbreak and so much more, what it was like living in Nice during the war but will she uncover the truth of the missing artworks and the death of a beloved French couple before it is too late to save Serge?
A story set across many years from 1923 till 1946, what Eve uncovers is a love triangle and a secret about her own heritage. This is a fabulous story that I devoured it is beautifully written, fabulous characters and one that I would highly recommend to any lover of historical fiction.
5 stars
September 4, 2024 by Harper Collins Publishers
