A Trace of Deceit: Book Review and Giveaway

Review at a Glance

• Title: A Trace of Deceit
• My Rating: 4.5
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Format: Paperback*
• Publication Date: April 30, 2019
• Author: Karen Odden

Similar To

A Promise Given Book Blurb

From the author of A Dangerous Duet comes the next book in her Victorian mystery series, this time following a daring female painter and the Scotland Yard detective who is investigating her brother’s suspicious death.

A young painter digs beneath the veneer of Victorian London’s art world to learn the truth behind her brother’s murder…

Edwin is dead. That’s what Inspector Matthew Hallam of Scotland Yard tells Annabel Rowe when she discovers him searching her brother’s flat for clues. While the news is shocking, Annabel can’t say it’s wholly unexpected, given Edwin’s past as a dissolute risk-taker and art forger, although he swore he’d reformed. After years spent blaming his reckless behavior for their parents’ deaths, Annabel is now faced with the question of who murdered him—because Edwin’s death was both violent and deliberate. A valuable French painting he’d been restoring for an auction house is missing from his studio: find the painting, find the murderer. But the owner of the artwork claims it was destroyed in a warehouse fire years ago.

As a painter at the prestigious Slade School of Art and as Edwin’s closest relative, Annabel makes the case that she is crucial to Matthew’s investigation. But in their search for the painting, Matthew and Annabel trace a path of deceit and viciousness that reaches far beyond the elegant rooms of the auction house, into an underworld of politics, corruption, and secrets someone will kill to keep.

Giveaway

A TRACE OF DECEIT REVIEW

As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:

• 1 star: Did not finish
• 2 Stars: Finished but I do not recommend
• 3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
• 4 Stars: Loved this book!
• 5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.

My Thoughts About A Trace of Deceit

A Trace of Deceit is a perfect hsitorical mystery. Any fan of the genre will fall in love with this book.

I read a lot of Historical Fiction and right now I’m getting really into the Victorian vibe. There’s something about the uncertainty of the time that permeates everything and everyone involved. Even the mention of lamplighters trying to illuminate the otherwise pitch black streets, sets the stage beautifully for enjoyable murder mysteries, casting shadows on the pages that otherwise wouldn’t be there.

The dark underbelly of the high society art world made Trace of Deceit especially intriguing. There were so many possible suspects simply because of the vast amount money involved in the art industry, especially when you’re talking about coveted paintings. The auction houses and collectors are cut throat, almost literally in this case, and will do anything for their paintings. Yay for creepy suspects and sinister motives.

Trace is a first person POV with Annabel taking center stage with the help of the sympathetic Inspector Matthew Hallam. Annabel is a great heroine for many reasons. She’s determined to succeed in a man’s field despite the obvious complications. She is also extremely real. Annabel makes mistakes and apologizes for them, takes responsibility, and tries to make it right.

Following and trusting her instincts, Annabel finds approaches Mathew, whom I loved because he was humble enough to acknowledge that he needed help and didn’t care that it was from a woman. Add the extra layer of Mathew having a sympathetic backstory, and he’s an easy male hero to like.

Trace of Deceit is perfectly mysterious and perfectly paced, a book that you honestly enjoy reading. I was so happy to open these pages every chance I got.

It was just wonderfully great to read.

not a fan of…

I mean, I guess I could get all not picky and say that I wish there was a little more heat in the love story, but come on. This isn’t a romance! The two characters developed some feelings, but that was purposefully a minor subplot. I just like a little steam, so whatever, I guess that’s what I would have liked to see (though it wasn’t necessary in this type of book).

Thanks so much to Karen Odden, William Morrow, and HFVBT for my copy of A Trace of Deceit in exchange for an honest review.