PAINTING IN THE SHADOWS: LITTLE WHITELEY LIES

Author Katherine Kovacic

Art dealer and accidental sleuth, Alex Clayton made quite a splash last year in her debut adventure, THE PORTRAIT OF MOLLY DEAN. A follow up caper was much anticipated and with PAINTING IN THE SHADOWS, author Katherine Kovacic has followed through.

Whereas THE PORTRAIT OF MOLLY DEAN was a split narrative between Melbourne in 1999 and Melbourne circa 1930, PAINTING IN THE SHADOWS follows a single narrative stream which provides a narrower palette.

The setting is the early 21st Century, a couple of years on from her previous adventure, and involves murder and forgery, an ancient curse and a little known Brett Whitely.

The curse belongs to Edwin Landseer’s Man Proposes, God Disposes, a grizzly polar bear painting that is damaged when a packer has a turn. Credence for the curse is consolidated when conservator Meredith Buchanan carks it while repairing the canvas.

Alex and her cohort, art conservator, John Porter want to know the why and wherefore of Meredith’s demise, and the questions come up with some blood stained answers, mingled in the mess of Alizarin Crimson.

A whodunit romp through the avarice and exploitation in the art world,
PAINTING IN THE SHADOWS wears its scholarship – both art and veterinary – with fine, light strokes.

Kovacic sheds light on Alex’s backstory and teases out more of her relationship with John. And there’s ample time with Alex’s pooch, Hogarth.

A study in nice people with nasty streaks, people who aren’t bad for nothing, PAINTING IN THE SHADOWS is a worthy sequel to The Portrait of Molly Dean, a stand alone plot-boiler but also a terrific teaser for a series to follow.

PAINTING IN THE SHADOWS by Katherine Kovacic is published by Echo