Review - The Art of the Decoy

I love art related mysteries and this one involves the sort of items you would find on "Antiques Roadshow".  Although not the world of paintings and sculptures, the art of hand carved hunting decoys was still very interesting.

Author: Trish Esden

Copyright: April 5, 2022 (Crooked Lane Books) 320 pgs

Series: 1st in Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries

Sensuality: some allusions to intimacy 

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth, Art Mystery

Main Characters: Edie Brown, antiques dealer

Setting: Contemporary, Scandal Mountain Vermont-just south of Canadian border

Obtained Through: NetGalley for honest review

Book Blurb: "After her mother is sent to prison for art forgery, Edie Brown returns to Northern Vermont to rebuild her family’s fine art and antiques business. She’s certain she can do it now that her mother is gone. After all, butting heads with her mom over bad business practices was what drove Edie away three years ago, including a screwup that landed Edie on probation for selling stolen property.

 

When Edie scores a job appraising a waterfowl decoy collection at a hoarder’s farmhouse, she’s determined to take advantage of the situation to rebuild the business’s tarnished reputation and dwindling coffers. In lieu of payment, Edie intends to cherry-pick an exceptional decoy carved by the client’s renowned Quebecoise folk artist ancestors. Only the tables turn when the collection vanishes.

 

Accused of the theft, Edie’s terrified that the fallout will destroy the business and land her in prison next to her mom. Desperate, she digs into the underbelly of the local antiques and art world. When Edie uncovers a possible link between the decoy theft and a deadly robbery at a Quebec museum, she longs to ask her ex-probation officer, and ex-lover, for help. But she suspects his recent interest in rekindling their romance may hide a darker motive.

 

With the help of her eccentric uncle Tuck and Kala, their enigmatic new employee, Edie must risk all she holds dear to expose the thieves and recover the decoys before the FBI’s Art Crime Team or the ruthless thieves themselves catch up with her." 

Edie, has a lot of anger towards her mother, still remembers her grandparents death in a plane explosion, and is a mixed bag. At times I related with her, and at other times I felt she had impulse control problems and was reckless.  Tuck is her uncle, a dear man who loves african violets.  Kala Acosta is an intern who lists items online for sale, handles social media, computers, and research.  Shane Payton as Edie's former parole officer and former lover.

The plot is figuring out who stole the decoys under an extreme timeline, then murder strikes and the pressure is on to untangle the net quickly closing around Edie. I felt things picked up once the murder occurred. 

My Thoughts: I love paintings and sculptures, so the decoys didn't really interest me albeit I'm sure they are culturaly significant. I found myself frustrated a few times with Edie for her taking extreme risks (it was something like yelling during a horror movie not to go in the basement!)  But overall the characters were good, in particular Kala stole the show as an auxillary character.  The potential romance with Shane didn't work for me and I didn't feel anything there. No chemistry.  This is solidly an amateur sleuth as it isn't a cozy. A smidgen darker than a cozy while still being in a small town, and thus it has touches of a literary novel mixed in, which some may like.

Rating: Good - A fun read with an interesting premise and more literary, troubled character style.