The Vienna Affair
Vienna, present day. An American art restorer named Claire Dubois is hired to clean a centuries-old painting in the Belvedere Museum's basement. Beneath the layers of varnish, she discovers a second painting hidden underneath — a portrait of a woman with a dagger through her heart and a date inscribed: 1789. The museum director wants the painting destroyed. The Austrian government wants it classified. And a man who has been following Claire wants her dead. As Claire investigates the origins of the hidden painting, she uncovers a centuries-old conspiracy involving the Habsburg dynasty, a secret society of artists, and a series of murders disguised as suicides that have been occurring in Vienna for over two hundred years. Someone is still killing to keep the painting's secret, and Claire has just become their next target.
📖 Story Synopsis
Vienna, present day. An American art restorer named Claire Dubois is hired to clean a centuries-old painting in the Belvedere Museum's basement. Beneath the layers of varnish, she discovers a second painting hidden underneath — a portrait of a woman with a dagger through her heart and a date inscribed: 1789. The museum director wants the painting destroyed. The Austrian government wants it classified. And a man who has been following Claire wants her dead. As Claire investigates the origins of the hidden painting, she uncovers a centuries-old conspiracy involving the Habsburg dynasty, a secret society of artists, and a series of murders disguised as suicides that have been occurring in Vienna for over two hundred years. Someone is still killing to keep the painting's secret, and Claire has just become their next target.
✎ Editor's Review
Sophie Laurent's Vienna-set thriller is a treat for art lovers and mystery fans alike. The hidden painting concept is compelling, and the historical conspiracy is layered without becoming convoluted. Claire is an engaging protagonist whose art expertise drives the investigation naturally. Vienna is rendered with a lover's eye for detail. The pacing is excellent, with revelations coming at just the right intervals. A standout mystery that transcends the Dan Brown formula.
