THE SWAN THIEVES by Elizabeth Kostova

THE SWAN THIEVES

by

Elizabeth Kostova

            Renowned painter Robert Oliver was arrested after he pulled out a pocket knife in the National Gallery, lunged to slash a painting hanging on the gallery wall, and assaulted the security guard who prevented his attack from succeeding. Oliver ended up in a psychiatric facility under the care of Dr. Andrew Marlow, a psychiatrist who himself is a painter.

            Other than a few initial words, Oliver paints but does not speak, forcing Dr. Marlow to become creative in his attempt to help Oliver. Through Dr. Marlow’s detective work, Robert Oliver’s backstory is revealed to us. From some old French letters with which Oliver is obsessed, we also learn about the life of Beatrice de Clerval, a 19^th century young French woman who was a gifted painter working at the time of the great Impressionists. How do the pieces of Oliver’s life fit together? Who is the mysterious woman Oliver paints over and over? What would drive this artistic genius to such a drastic act? As Marlow unravels the threads, past and present collide.

            I listened to The Swan Thieves on audiobook after listening to, and enjoying, the audiobook of Kostova’s first book, The Historian. Both audio recordings were done with “casts”, rather than one reader, which I enjoyed. The chapter names in The Swan Thieves, which identified which character was narrating, felt redundant on the audio, but undoubtedly would make sense on a true reading of the book.

            I absolutely loved The Swan Thieves. It is an engaging book that immerses you in the world of art, immerses you in Robert Oliver’s world – his work, his women, his world, his illness. We are treated to a picture of the artist. We are also immersed in Marlow’s world and are treated to the picture of another artist.

            I had expected twists and turns like those found in The Historian, but The Swan Thieves did not go there (which I found to be quite refreshing). Nonetheless, I found the book to have a very satisfying ending.

            Despite the passage of time since I finished this book, just thinking about it is enough to start me gravitating once again to Robert Oliver’s bright life and genius. This book is definitely one of my favorites.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova

THE HISTORIAN

by

Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian is Elizabeth Kostova’s debut novel, and it is a wonderful book. It is a historical thriller replete with mystery, adventure, and a touch of the other worldly. I listened to the audio recording of The Historian, made by a “cast” instead of just one reader. Although I enjoyed the audio, I wish that I had actually read the book, due in part to some of the names used and the complexities in the twists and turns of the plot.

            Certain academic historians were “given” an old book – each book was old and blank but for a wood cut of a dragon at the center. Each was somehow connected to Vlad the Impaler, who was also known as Dracula.

            A teenage girl found her father’s copy of this book, along with some letters. She confronted her father who then slowly told her his very long and convoluted story. His story involved his graduate advisor and mentor who went missing, the mentor’s story about his own book and research, and a young woman who joined the father in his search for the mentor. As the daughter also did her own research on Vlad, the book contains at least three levels, or time periods, of feverish searching for information about Vlad and for his remains.

            The history – and historical process – involved in The Historian is fascinating. And, it is not, in a sense, just one history, but rather involves a number of historical time periods. The book also references a number of historical places, as the story takes us into many countries, including England, Hungary and other Eastern Bloc countries, and Turkey.

            The story is interesting and draws you in. Even though the plot, at times, feels like it may be a little “out there”, the many twists and turns keep you in the story.

            I loved the history. But, I also enjoyed the sense that I had an inside view of the historical process. The plot was complex and convoluted, and I was totally lost in this book. It was a wonderful experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed The Historian.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A Note From Nancy: The Alchemist's Daughter by Mary Lawrence

It has arrived! The Alchemist's Daughter, by Mary Lawrence, is now available.

I greatly enjoyed this wonderful, refreshing book - but, I am concerned that my review might have gotten lost amidst the many Philippa Gregory audiobooks that I reviewed immediately after. So, I invite you to revisit my review (March 2015) - and, I suggest that you then read the book!

I am excited about the release of this book, and I would love to hear what you think about it!

In my opinion, Bianca's next adventure cannot come soon enough!

TO DWELL IN DARKNESS by Deborah Crombie

TO DWELL IN DARKNESS

by

Deborah Crombie

            Those who have followed my reviews know that I am a big fan of Deborah Crombie. And, with her latest Duncan Kincaid-Gemma James novel, To Dwell In Darkness, Crombie does not disappoint. As with other Crombie novels, To Dwell In Darkness, left me wrestling with the question whether Crombie is truly a mystery writer or whether she writes literary fiction that just happens to include a mystery.

            In To Dwell In Darkness, Duncan has been transferred, and he and his new team are called to investigate the explosion of an incendiary device by protestors at the St. Pancras International Station. It just so happens that Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant, was at St Pancras, listening to Andy and Poppy play at a musical festival, when the protestor set off the device. Was this a terrorist attack? Suicide? Murder? Melody and Doug Cullen, Duncan’s former detective sergeant, help him sort through the convoluted case.

            Meanwhile, Gemma is dealing with her own nasty murder case, and the Kincaid-James household is as lively as ever. Duncan and Gemma’s personal and professional lives collide, as they are wont to do, and the two struggle as they juggle the various responsibilities.

            To Dwell In Darkness is a wonderful book with an interesting plot and with Crombie’s signature rich character development. Crombie has once again captured a nice blend of a rich home life and two challenging jobs. But, Duncan is faced with the realization that his personal and professional lives are not separate, untouching spheres.

            My first thought, after completing this book, was that I want the next book in the series now. Whatever the genre in which she may be writing, Crombie has another masterpiece!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE LADY ELIZABETH by Alison Weir

THE LADY ELIZABETH

by

Alison Weir

            I listened on audiobook, rather than read, Alison Weir’s The Lady Elizabeth. Nonetheless, I found the experience to be quite similar to that which I had reading Weir’s first historical novel, Innocent Traitor. Just as that book followed the life of Lady Jane Grey, this followed the life of Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn and the future Queen Elizabeth I.

            As with Innocent Traitor, I liked The Lady Elizabeth, although I again did not find the writing to be more than adequate. And, as with that book, I was again left wondering about the historical accuracy of this novel. However, when I completed The Lady Elizabeth, I was left with a sense that I had a better understanding of what Elizabeth had experienced during her lifetime and a better appreciation of her intelligence and savvy, as she walked through a life that was essentially riddled with land mines and rife with dangers at every turn. Her survival prior to becoming queen is, in my opinion, a testament to the remarkable nature of this woman.

RECOMMENDED

THE KINGMAKER’S DAUGHTER by Philippa Gregory

THE KINGMAKER’S DAUGHTER

by

Philippa Gregory

            The Kingmaker’s Daughter is another book in Philippa Gregory’s The Cousins’ War series. It essentially tells the same story as The White Queen and The Red Queen, two other books in this series, but this time from the viewpoint of Anne Neville. Once again, I listened to the audio version of this book.

            The Kingmaker was Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick. He had no sons, but he had two daughters, Isabel and Anne. Neville worked hard to place both in positions where they might end up as queen of England.

            This book is narrated by Warwick’s younger daughter, Anne. Through all the twists and turns, it seems as if Warwick’s scheming was for naught. However, Anne took control of her own destiny and married Richard, the Duke of Gloucester and youngest brother of King Edward IV. When Richard ascended the throne, Anne did indeed become Queen of England.

            The Kingmaker’s Daughter is a typical Philippa Gregory book. As with the others that I have read. I was not enamored with the writing or the repetitive plot. Nonetheless, I did find the book to be informative about the Nevilles, people about whom I knew very little.

NOT RECOMMENDED/RECOMMENDED