The English Masterpiece

A Novel

by Katherine Reay

On Sale: 2025-06-10

Price: $18.99

Book Summary

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.

About the Book

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.

Reviews

'Crackling with tension from the very start, Reay's latest is a twisty, smart read infused with the heady atmosphere of the 1970s London art world. The novel deftly explores the nature of artistic genius, the ethics of deception, and the cost of speaking up for what is true. A gem of a read!'

'THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE is a stylish mystery that plunges the reader into the glamorous world of million-dollar art and the inner workings of a famed national gallery. A single sentence dooms the career of the young woman who utters it. As Lily Summers tries to clear her name, she discovers pieces of a puzzle that attract more danger. A thoroughly enjoyable, inventive plot that will keep you up all night.'

Product Details

  • ISBN: 9781400347278
  • ISBN 10: 1400347270
  • On Sale: 2025-06-10
  • Pages: 352
  • List Price: $18.99
  • Publisher: Harper Muse
  • Category 1 : FICTION / Action & Adventure
  • Category 2 : FICTION / Thrillers / Historical
  • Category 3 : FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth