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For The Love of Art

Janet Goodfriend
Painted Wood Press (2010)
ISBN 9781452856018
Reviewed by Enid Grabiner for RebeccasReads (11/10)


I must say I was quite excited to read this book as I love mysteries, especially those that revolve around art heists.  In this novel, three women friends escape from stress at home to a getaway at a resort on Martha’s Vineyard.  Kelsey, a travel writer is given the assignment to review the facility and invites friends Dani and Bridget to come along.  All three are dealing with commitments to home, husbands, motherhood, and the yearning to be productive career women.  This opportunity of a girls’ weekend away offers them a respite from the anxiety of daily life.

As they explore the island they become involved in the theft of a painting at an artists’ retreat.  It disappears off the wall of the gallery and no one is beyond suspicion.  The reader is introduced to the sculptor, the painter, the poet, the art teacher, the homeless man, the detective and the reporter.  Chapters are narrated first person by all of these characters through stream of consciousness, presenting the personal histories and point of views of each. It is a problem for the reader that none of the chapters is labeled as to speaker and it is confusing with whom we are being acquainted.

Unfortunately the advancement of the story is lost in the author’s focus of this unusual character development.  All the characters are somewhat flawed and there is no positive resolution to their lives. The interaction between characters and the story progression are nowhere to be found.  I was quite disappointed in what had the potential to have progress into quite a good read but fell short.  Although this is no means great literature, it may prove a fun beach read.