A Holland Reads: The Collector by Anne-Laure Thieblemont

I received this book from La Frence Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Published: August 11, 2015

Number of pages: 211

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Series: Marion Spicer Art Thriller #1

Synopsis:

Some people collect art, others collect trouble. Marion Spicer spends her days examining auction catalogues and searching for stolen works of art. She is a top-notch investigator when it comes to eighteenth-century art. But for her it’s just a job and her life is well ordered. All this changes when she inherits a huge and very prestigious collection of pre-Columbian art from a father she never knew. There are conditions attached: she must first find three priceless statues. That is when her troubles begin. Her father’s death sparked much greed, and Marion finds herself facing the merciless microcosm of Paris art auctions and galleries, with its sharks, schemes, fences, traps, scams, and attacks. Her quest draws her into a world where people will kill for a love of beauty

What did I think of this book:

I was impressed with this author's writing and this book. The author did a good job of working the art into the story line and I felt as if I learned a little by reading this book. You can tell she knows what she is talking about. She used her experience in this field to help the reader know more about this subject and to make her descriptions of things like the gems really stand out. One thing I liked about this book was the suspense, mystery, thrills, secrets and a little history all rolled into one story. Marion was a person who trouble definately does follow. I thought the story flowed and kept me wanting to find out what happens next. This is a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to the next book.

About the author:

An art reporter and trained gem specialist, Anne-Laure Thiéblemont is known for her investigations into stolen art and gem trafficking. She currently works as a magazine editor, and splits her time between Paris and Marseille.

About the translator:

Sophie Weiner is a freelance translator and book publishing assistant from Baltimore, Maryland. After earning degrees in French from Bucknell University and New York University, Sophie went on to complete a master’s in literary translation from the Sorbonne, where she focused her thesis on translating wordplay in works by Oulipo authors. She has translated and written for web-based companies dedicated to art, cinema, and fashion as well as for nonprofit organizations. Growing up with Babar, Madeline, and The Little Prince, Sophie was bitten by the Francophile bug at an early age, and is fortunate enough to have lived in Paris, Lille, and the Loire Valley.

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