Circles of Confusion

by April Henry

Book Overview

Why did dear departed Aunt Cady have an exquisite old painting buried beneath World War II paraphernalia? And how can a painting so dramatically shift Claire's perspective on everything from her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060192046
• ISBN13: 9780060192044
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

GR8 MYSTRE! X-CTG!

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I learned a little about art forgeries and the WWII background made it more interesting. Clair Montrose is a very likable character and I found myself rooting for her the whole time. I'm looking forward to more of the series-this one is a keeper!

Excellent First Mystery

At the heart of this fine novel, the first in what should be a long series, is Claire Montrose, a wonderful heroine that all readers will find good company. She is so appealing that I was as anxious to discover how the complications in her love life would be resolved as I was to learn the truth about the painting she's inherited. I'm ready to follow Claire anywhere she goes in her future adventures. Outstanding.

a MYSTERY that you just have to read

This book is one of the best mysteries that I have ever read. It has it all! Suspense, Drama plus it seems so real. You completely lose yourself when reading this. You feel the fear and confusion of Claire. This is one book that once you start it you can not put it down!

Entertaining and Suspenseful. GR8READ

An enjoyable mystery that pits the naive Claire against greedy hands trying to capitalize on her "priceless?" work of art. Clandestine characters and motives keep this book on its toes. April Henry integrates art history and fun for the reader. And you can help solve the mystery with her witty license plate clues. NVLIDA

"Circles" delights with rich detail and fast action

I suppose everybody has, at some point in their lives, had a fantasy about a long-lost relative leaving a fortune to them.Unfortunately, for Claire Montrose, the fortune ended up being piles of books, junk, and dust in a rusty old trailer home. The one gem among all the gravel? A painting of a woman, filled with an intricate interplay of light and shadow.From that point on, the reader is hooked and drawn into Claire's quest to find out more about her great aunt's painting. Along the way, the reader shares with Claire the beginning of a metamorphosis as the quest to find out more about her painting evolves into a journey of discovery - both of herself and the family from which she came.The characters in "Circles of Confusion" come alive with rich detail both of their physical appearances and mannerisms, but also of their inner desires and motivations. Each of the major characters is totally believable.And the world into which these characters is placed is one full of color and life! The smells of New York City especially struck me as I read, because the author could simply have run with the cliche of urine and sewers. Sure, those smells are mentioned, but so are the many others - some good, some bad - that help paint the locale as vividly as the characters are painted. As Claire walked through New York City, I smelled trash, road oil, pasta, baking bread....To say too much about the plot wouldn't be fair to the reader...let it be enough to say that this reader was guessing at every turn and wrong in most of his guesses. Yet every surprise twist, every turn of the plot is plausible and real. The tale is simply so skillfully woven as to keep the pages turning.Do yourself a favor. Read this book.