The English Masterpiece

By Katherine Reay

Book Overview

"Art . . . London . . . Seventies Glam . . . Yesss, please. The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay has ALL the goodies--especially for historical fiction lovers and art aficionados . . . Buckle your seatbelt as all hell breaks loose." --Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of The Goddess of Warsaw

Set in the art world of 1970s London, The English Masterpiece is a fast-paced read to the end, full of glamour and secrets, tensions and lies, as one young woman races against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon.

As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate's Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist--and she's waited her whole life for this moment. The opening is beyond anyone's expectations--the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim--until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, "It's a forgery." The gallery falls silent.

Lily's boss, Diana, is polished perfection, schooled in art, and descends from European high society. She's worked hard to become the trusted voice in London's modern art scene and respected across the Continent. The Tate's Picasso Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist's most iconic and intimate works, but a newly discovered painting--one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration, suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery run wild.

All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana's footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor's. Unless . . . Was she right? With the clock ticking and the clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she's always wanted, but her freedom.

Block off your calendar and lose yourself in The English Masterpiece, a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end from the author who brought you The London House and The Berlin Letters.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400347270
• ISBN13: 9781400347278
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Harper Muse
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 11.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Page-turning historical fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a digital advanced reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted. This is page-turning historical fiction with the features of a thriller and a bit of romance that takes place in early 1970s London. The novel’s drama begins in the world-famous Tate Gallery, which holds the nation's collection of modern art from 1900 to the present day, including masterpieces of international and British modern art. Art, specifically oil painting, and the artists who paint them – is the topic that underscores the plot. Author Katherine Reay vividly evokes the emotions of viewing art as well as creating art in ways that provide depth to the story. It’s a coming-of-age novel, with young Lily Summers discovering who she is and where she fits in the world. It’s also a story with themes of right and wrong, black and white, real and fake. Lily knows she must do the right thing even if it puts her career in jeopardy. She admits that in the mistake of a moment, she “said the wrong thing at the wrong time and in the wrong place, and in the wrong way.” The novel’s underlying theme is Lily’s search for identity. Lily, as well as other characters, demonstrates the ideas of reinvention and deception that are threaded throughout the novel. I liked the way Reay slowly “painted” portraits of various characters so that their personalities and motives transformed the more I read. Who was on the right side, who on the wrong? Who was friend? Who was foe? Who could be trusted? I really enjoyed this novel and think it would be great for book group discussions.