Blog Tour: DYING FOR MONET by Claudia Riess

 

DYING FOR MONET

Claudia Riess

 

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GENRE:  Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

Dyingfor Monet, book 5 of Riess’s art history mystery series, opens on a galaevening auction at Laszlo’s, an upstart auction house in New York City. After amuch sought-after Impressionist still life painting is without notice withdrawnfrom the auction block, its broker is found dead at the foot of an imposingstatue in Laszlo’s courtyard. Amateur sleuths Erika Shawn and Harrison Wheatleyare once again drawn into an investigation involving an art-related homicide,this time with one sharing an unnerving coincidence with violent crimesoccurring abroad.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

For a short while they ate in a silence broken only by thesoft clatter of utensils and restrained exclamations of praise, the meal morethan living up to its aromatic overture. Yet, beneath the silence there was aninsensate hum of anticipation, like an underlying spice that defines a dish,but can’t quite be identified.

 

Erika was slicing into a tender fragment of chicken;Harrison, scooping up a forkful of buttered noodles; Greg, wiping his lips withhis napkin—when Robin, staring down at her plate, suddenly blurted, “Ivan andI—we were having a squabble.” She looked up. “It wasn’t much of anything at thestart, but it escalated. We were having dinner. Right where we are now, at thistable.” She seemed to marvel at the coincidence. “I complained, not veryadamantly, that he was spending a lot of time in Manhattan—too much time. Hesaid he was ‘learning the ropes.’ I remember thinking, how odd, I’ve neverheard him use that phrase.” She studied her plate again. “I told him he didn’tshare things with me. What was he doing at Laszlo’s? Who were his colleagues? Ibecame agitated. I asked him if he was having an affair.” She sucked in herbreath, as if someone other than herself had surprised her with that statement.

 

“He was stunned by my accusation. At a loss. For a minute hewas silent, and then he said, ‘An affair? You want to know what I haven’tshared with you? Something personal? All right, I’ll let you in on my secret,my only secret, but you have to swear you’ll keep it to yourself. It concernsthe contract between me and one of my clients. I’m going against my word, here,you understand. I gave Mr. Keller my word I’d keep it between us.’ It wasessential, Ivan said. Essential.”

 

Robin picked up her fork and began pushing a morsel ofchicken around on her plate, poking at it, as if to get a response out of it.“What was I thinking?” She let the fork drop onto the plate and looked up. “Ican’t talk about this. I swore not to. There was a reason not to tell. A dangerin telling.” She shook her head. “Greg, Greg, I was drunk with grief when Ishared this with you. I know you’ll keep your word. Erika, Harrison, I’m sorry.I’ll give you anything else but this. Not this.”

 

Erika was sitting next to Robin. She laid her hand on hers.Robin placed her free hand on Erika’s and kept it there. Erika nodded herunderstanding, inwardly begging Robin to recant. The plea went unanswered.

 

A short time later, after acceding to Robin’s remorsefulinsistence they partake of her apple pie à la mode and coffee, the satedvisitors were back on the road, heading toward Manhattan.

 

All three were seated in the back of the car, Erika betweenthe men. Bill had taken it upon himself to shut the partition separating himand his passengers so that they could converse in private.

 

For a while silence ruled. Then, not quite breaking it,Erika turned to Greg, on her left, and, cocking her head ever-so-slightly,fixed him with an imploring look.

 

“No,” Greg said.

 

“Just thought I’d ask,” she answered. “I understand.” Sherested her head on Harrison’s shoulder and tried to distance herself from thedouble-edged guilt for having pressed Greg to break his oath and disappointmentfor not having succeeded at it.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Claudia Riess has worked in the editorial departments of The NewYorker and Holt, Rinehart and Winston, and has edited several art historymonographs. Stolen Light, the first book in her art history mystery series, waschosen by Vassar’s Latin American history professor for distribution to thecollege’s people-to-people trips to Cuba. To Kingdom Come, the fourth, will be added to the syllabus of a surveycourse on West and Central African Art at a prominent Midwesternuniversity.  Claudia has written a numberof articles for Mystery Readers Journal, Women’s National Book Association, theSisters in Crime Bloodletter, and Mystery Scene magazine.  To read more about Claudia and her work,visit the author's website.

 

Website: http://www.claudiariessbooks.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ClaudiaRiess

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaRiessBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiariessbooks/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/claudiariessbooks/

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GIVEAWAY 

Theauthor will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

 

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