Title: The Artist Colony
Author: Joanna Fitzpatrick
Year published: 2021
Category: Adult fiction (mystery, historical fiction)
Pages: 328 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary: Sarah puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle’s devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale.
Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.
Review: The description of this book really spoke to me when I first read it in the TLC Tour email. I mean, it's historical fiction and a mystery, what's not to like?! And the cover is so pretty and calming to me.
As you know, I love a good Afterword. Well, this book had a Pre-word instead, which explained how this novel came to being and the real life background of the author's relative Ada Belle and her history in the Cambria artist colony. I love that we knew that information going into the story.
This story is well written and incorporates the mystery and the history of the Carmel art community well. As I read I really wanted to see the art work the story talks about, but I realize it isn't real. The art community is well defined, the characters are ones I connected with, and the mystery was handled well.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Literary Escapes--California
Monday, January 10th: Helen’s Book Blog
Tuesday, January 11th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy – excerpt
Wednesday, January 12th: The Bookish Dilettante
Friday, January 14th: @nurse_bookie
Monday, January 17th: @karendeeandabc
Wednesday, January 19th: @itsbibliotherapy
Thursday, January 20th: @megsbookclub
Friday, January 21st: @suzylew_bookreview
Thursday, January 27th: @secretreadinglife
Friday, January 28th: @bryantparkbooks
Friday, January 28th: Kahakai Kitchen
Saturday, January 29th: @welovebigbooksandwecannotlie and @welovebigbooks on TikTok
Monday, January 31st: @kristens.reading.life
Wednesday, February 2nd: Girl Who Reads
Friday, February 4th: Run Wright and @karen_runwrightreads
Monday, February 7th: Always With a Book – guest post and excerpt
Wednesday, February 9th: @webreakforbooks
Thursday, February 10th: @bookapotamus
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