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Painted Truth |
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Painted Truth by Lise McClendon Worldwide Mystery 249 pages, 1996 ISBN 0373262221 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Alix Thorssen is doing what many people only dream about shes pursuing a career that she loves in a place that she loves surrounded by people that she - well, two out of threes not bad. Alix owns an art gallery, and she makes her living buying, selling and appraising art. When a friends gallery goes up in flames and a charred body is discovered in the debris, it seems to Alix that something dark and sinister has invaded her secluded and semi-peaceful existence. As she pursues the investigation of loss for the insurance company, shes forced to face something that troubles her. Is it possible the fire was started by an artist in an attempt to improve the value of his own work? The police starts to suspect that Alix is attempting to eliminate the competition. Alix is not sure what the truth is, but she is sure someone will kill to keep her from finding out. Lise McClendon might be considered an artist herself. The only difference is that she paints pictures with words. From the first paragraph, she generates a vibrant picture of Jackson Hole. Quaint descriptions of the town square create the small-town atmosphere surrounding Alix, in vivid contrast to the crime that unfolds on the following pages. The character of Alix is at once recognizable and complex. She struggles with familiar issues, yet overcomes them in creative and sometimes in surprising ways. PAINTED TRUTH is hardly a typical mystery McClendon is making her own place in the genre. If you enjoy a solid mystery and have a liking for the art world, don't miss it. |
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