Haarlem, Holland, seventeenth-century: The city’s chief magistrate commissions a family portrait from Dutch master painter Johannes Mi...
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Sep 01, 2007
Anne
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This one has a lot of buzz going for it. Fortunately, the buzz doesn't entirely rely on the Da Vinci-Codeness of the book. While it has the same art-as-clue premise, the action takes place in 1600s Holland, Nazi Germany, and the present day. The search for the provenance of The Chrysalis, a painting, has fun twists and turns. The historical viewpoint of 1600s Holland and the difficulties of being a Catholic at that time is nicely presented as is the Nazi lust for artwork and its consequences.
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Jul 21, 2010
Elizabeth
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The mystery here -- who rightly owns a Dutch Master painting of questionable provenance -- is compelling. Thank goodness for that, because the overwrought and confused writing, especially in descriptive passages such as, "His desire flickered in the many, many candles he had laid out for her presence" is bad enough in places that I would have packed it in (something I almost never do once I start a book) had I not wanted to know how it all came out.
Aug 09, 2011
I'm sometimes pleased to read a novel that is historical in nature as a way to introduce me to a topic. One of the main topics of this story is the Nazis looting of Jewish art collections during World War II and the attempts by surviving family members to get those collections back from museums, art galleries and auction houses. It's a fascinating glimpse into the art world. It even delves into the history of a particular painting. So now I guess I'll be looking for more stories on this topi
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Aug 14, 2010
Sue
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This book was ok - not one that I would recommend to scads of others though. It was interesting but not enough to get swept off my feet. It was intriguing but not enough to really peak my interest and never put the book down. But it was not a bad read otherwise. I generally like a story with a fine art slant. I do get a little tired of the lawyer thing that's wrapped into the story along with it. It's been over used.
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Sep 02, 2010
Lindsay
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This was a good yarn from a first-time author who left BigLaw to write novels. I enjoyed the concurrent stories from 1700s Haarlem, 1940s Netherlands and present day New York. The way the author wrote about the artwork made me long to see it. My one quibble was that the author's portrayal of BigLaw work was not realistic, particularly since she had that job.
Mar 30, 2011
Donna
rated it:
I thought this sounded good. I thought it started out great. But then it just kinda fizzled for me. I enjoyed it without a doubt, but I am not sure that 1) I am excited to read something else she has written or 2) I would recommend this to someone else. Good story though, and I enjoyed the writing
May 11, 2009
Rebecca
rated it: 
A fast-paced lawyer novel about a painting, the family that owned it, the lawyer who is trying to protect it, and the Dutch painter in the 1600's who painted it. The separate plots are so tightly woven together that it would be impossible to tell one story without the others.
Nov 17, 2011
Karen
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Thought this book was very good. It takes you back and forth from the Netherlands in the 17th century to modern day United States researching the provenance of a Dutch painting. Great story.
Will recommend.
Will recommend.
Jul 23, 2009
Julie
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An interesting fast-paced book. Good plot and very good research. Sometimes wordy.
Aug 08, 2010
Stephanie
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Consider it the progeny of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code and Geraldine Brookes' People of the Book.
Mar 04, 2009
Melissa
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The story was good, but the writing was way too flowery for my taste. A bit predictable. An easy read, though.
Apr 10, 2008
Birdlashes
rated it: 
Another book completed on my Ipod. Unless full of dames and hard-boiled detectives, I'm not a mystery reader--I read the Chrysalis because the author, Heather Terrell, lives in Pittsburgh. This was about an NYC lawyer who untangles an art scheme involving bogus ownership claims of Nazi-looted masterpieces. It was a fun read, with a morally murky conclusion. My only gripe was that it was set in New York--Heather Terrell, if you ever read through these mini-reviews, I beg you: write a mystery
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Nov 29, 2007
Evelyn
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When Mara Coyne is hired by a prestigious auction house to defend the legal ownership of a 17th-century painting of the Virgin Mary from the claims of a Holocaust survivor, she uncovers a web of deceit that has far-reaching results. Complicating the issue is the fact that she begins an affair with the auction house's main attorney--a man from her past.
Wonderful details of the art world and the history of painting and religion, but the story line lacks the gripping suspense of a sea More...
Wonderful details of the art world and the history of painting and religion, but the story line lacks the gripping suspense of a sea More...
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Sep 20, 2010
Julia
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I was not impressed with this book. The characters were boring and there was very little action.
May 18, 2009
Cynthia
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part historical novel; part nazie art thefts; part modern day legal thriller. Terrell combine them all in this well-written first novel. a really good first novel.
Oct 05, 2008
Leith
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fascinating story about art theft and the law relating to it ((esp) WW2 art from Europe conficated by the Nazis). This author has struck gold with her idea for this book and has followed it up swiftly with another ("The Map Thief") which cross-references with Gavin Menzies book about the Chinese being the first to discover the "rest" of the world.
Feb 25, 2008
Janet
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Heather is a local author from my hometown. I met her very briefly at a Mystery Lover's Tea and she seemed very nice. I am always willing and anxious to check out local authors. Heather's debut novel did not disappoint. I find it highly entertaining and the subject matter (art thief) is something I've been interested in for awhile.
Mar 06, 2008
Janet
rated it:
Heather is a local author from my hometown. I met her very briefly at a Mystery Lover's Tea and she seemed very nice. I am always willing and anxious to check out local authors. Heather's debut novel did not disappoint. I find it highly entertaining and the subject matter (art thief) is something I've been interested in for awhile.
Dec 21, 2007
Ruth
rated it:
downloaded from audible. Thought it would be more interesting than it was. Story is about the theft of a famous painting by the Nazis and the owners attempt at recovering it from an auction house. Chapters moved from the past to the present and that was the most interesting thing about the book.
Nov 11, 2008
Erin
rated it:
Though it deals with the interesting conundrum of the legality of returning Nazi confiscated artwork to original owners, the Chrysalis reads like a legal brief with a bit of obligatory romance and danger thrown in. The suspense just never truly builds.
Jul 07, 2007
Rcltigger
rated it:
Good but not great legal thriller—very easy to read, but can get bogged down with the legal stuff. Tells three separate stories about a 17th century Dutch painting that was taken by the Nazis/sold by a family during the holocaust.
Jan 20, 2008
Jessica
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For such a short book, it's full of repetitive filler and the plot "twists" are anything but. While Terrell may be an excellent lawyer, her fiction shows she might not want to give up her day job just yet.
Apr 21, 2008
Tammy
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A mystery of a painting that you follow through time. There isn't any time travel, just history and mystery of a painting that is going up for auction. A quick read and very interesting.
Sep 09, 2008
Jaci
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The author had a great premise but couldn't decide whether to write a mystery or a romance novel...the indecision was jarring.
Mar 26, 2008
Mary
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Art thriller...raises the ethical question of ownership after the War. Nicely developed characters, good view of the inside art world.
Jan 19, 2008
Kathleen
rated it:
mixes Girl with Pearl Earring type painting story with modern day mystery. very enjoyable read
Aug 15, 2007
Andi
rated it:
That Hitler stole paintings from the Jews and hid them among the Catholic church. It was fasinating.
