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The Bruges Tapestry
Following a 500-year-old mystery concerning a Flemish tapestry is routine work for Detective Claire DeMaere, since she's employed by the Newport Beach Art Theft Detail. But, unlike past cases, this one involves arresting Paolo Campezzi, lover to her best friend Nora. Mr. Campezzi is a distant descendant of a Florentine Duke, who commissioned the tapestry in 1520 in Bruges, Belgium. Claire finds that she must explore the true provenance of the tapestry, free Mr. Campezzi in order to re-establish her friendship with Nora and depend on the expertise of a textile expert she doesn't know. All this must occur in 72 hours, before the Vatican takes the tapestry back. But Claire isn't the only one with the Vatican looking over her shoulder. Claire's story intertwines with a 1520 diary by Beatrice van Hecke, the tapestry-weaver's daughter. Only Claire can discover the secret that is woven in time.
254 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 28, 2013
A bit muddled, and rushed at the end, but still tells a compelling story about both sixteenth century Bruges and present-day California. The authors mentions further historical fiction mysteries - I will be sure to seek them out and see how her talent matures.
September 16, 2018
Ms. Staes takes us deep into the past while weaving in the modern day and does so seamlessly by using two distinct fonts. She not only tells a great story, but it's clear she's done a great deal of research. She taught me several things about that 1500s that were interesting and added to the plot, especially the details about tapestry weaving.
I enjoyed that the modern day Detective Clare is headquartered in Newport and deals with the lavish life, which she doesn't want to inhabit and the intrigue of figuring out who stole the tapestry.
Ms. Staes writing style created wonderful images for me:
...dating one of Nora's suggestions 'but found them to be like creme brulee: smooth, but a dangerous habit to develop'
Nora's bracelets 'clanging a cannibalistic tune'
'Looking back over my life at home, dad was a vortex of whirling resentment into which my little life's ship had stalled.'
I highly recommend this book for all who love a good mystery and some surprising historical information.
I enjoyed that the modern day Detective Clare is headquartered in Newport and deals with the lavish life, which she doesn't want to inhabit and the intrigue of figuring out who stole the tapestry.
Ms. Staes writing style created wonderful images for me:
...dating one of Nora's suggestions 'but found them to be like creme brulee: smooth, but a dangerous habit to develop'
Nora's bracelets 'clanging a cannibalistic tune'
'Looking back over my life at home, dad was a vortex of whirling resentment into which my little life's ship had stalled.'
I highly recommend this book for all who love a good mystery and some surprising historical information.
November 28, 2022
First three quarters great, ending got corny
Characters and story were well done through most of story. As a tapestry weaver and historical fiction fan, I enjoyed it greatly. Until the author tied it all up at the end. The story felt hastily closed and every little story bit was closed up in a tidy box. The ending felt canned, corny and unrealistic.
Characters and story were well done through most of story. As a tapestry weaver and historical fiction fan, I enjoyed it greatly. Until the author tied it all up at the end. The story felt hastily closed and every little story bit was closed up in a tidy box. The ending felt canned, corny and unrealistic.
November 15, 2017
An enjoyable book about tapestry making and the modern day reading of them.
March 15, 2013
The Bruges Tapestry by P.A. Staes is the first in a series of historical mysteries by this author that feature Claire DeMaer. We are taken back in time to the year 1520 in Bruges, Belgium where we meet a family who weaves tapestries and then propelled forward to present time in which we find Claire investigating a tapestry that has been stolen. This mystery was intriguing and the story enjoyable and I found myself interested from the start of the story right to the end and managed to read it in only one day.
In this novel we meet two strong female characters. In 1520 Bruges we are introduced to Beatrice, a sixteen year old who has gone through more in her short life than is imaginable but she keeps going forward with strength and conviction. In present day California we meet Claire who is a detective for the Newport Beach Art Theft Detail. She and her partner Artie notice that a 500 year old Flemish tapestry has gone missing from the Vatican. Never in a million years does it occur to Claire that she will find this tapestry at the home of her best friend Nora’s boyfriend and she’s horrified when she does. Of course she has no choice but to turn Nora’s boyfriend Paolo in but she knows with a sinking heart that Nora is going to be really upset with her. As Claire learns Paolo’s side of the story – that he’s a distant descendant of the Duke who commissioned the tapestry in the past, she begins to wonder if there isn’t more to this story than just a stolen tapestry and sets out to do some investigating.
As for characters Claire is a great one and I was happy to learn that future books in this series will feature her. She’s funny and I liked that she seemed like a really vulnerable woman. She’s smart and has a good job but doesn’t feel as though she has the world at her feet. She has the same fears as a lot of us that we may not be good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. It made her a really good character that was easy to relate to. I very much enjoyed the forays into the past as I love books that alternate the past and present plus that was where the true history of tapestry weaving was revealed. There is even a sweet little romance that comes to light in the novel that lightens things up and I’m sure we’ll see more of that in future books too. The only thing I can foresee making some uncomfortable is the scandal portrayed that involves priests but it fits within the context of the story and is the catalyst for a huge part of the story but I just want to put it out there but at the same time say that it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the novel in any way.
I also enjoyed the mystery of how this stolen tapestry linked back to Beatrice in the past and ultimately the story that this tapestry told. It was fascinating to learn a little about the art of weaving tapestries as I knew nothing at all about it. I also found it interesting that because many people back in the 1500′s couldn’t read they used symbols as a way of communicating a story on the tapestries. Even more surprising to me was that tapestry weaving is an art that exists even today and it would certainly be something I would love to see one day. I love when I learn something new in what I’m reading! For me this was a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
In this novel we meet two strong female characters. In 1520 Bruges we are introduced to Beatrice, a sixteen year old who has gone through more in her short life than is imaginable but she keeps going forward with strength and conviction. In present day California we meet Claire who is a detective for the Newport Beach Art Theft Detail. She and her partner Artie notice that a 500 year old Flemish tapestry has gone missing from the Vatican. Never in a million years does it occur to Claire that she will find this tapestry at the home of her best friend Nora’s boyfriend and she’s horrified when she does. Of course she has no choice but to turn Nora’s boyfriend Paolo in but she knows with a sinking heart that Nora is going to be really upset with her. As Claire learns Paolo’s side of the story – that he’s a distant descendant of the Duke who commissioned the tapestry in the past, she begins to wonder if there isn’t more to this story than just a stolen tapestry and sets out to do some investigating.
As for characters Claire is a great one and I was happy to learn that future books in this series will feature her. She’s funny and I liked that she seemed like a really vulnerable woman. She’s smart and has a good job but doesn’t feel as though she has the world at her feet. She has the same fears as a lot of us that we may not be good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. It made her a really good character that was easy to relate to. I very much enjoyed the forays into the past as I love books that alternate the past and present plus that was where the true history of tapestry weaving was revealed. There is even a sweet little romance that comes to light in the novel that lightens things up and I’m sure we’ll see more of that in future books too. The only thing I can foresee making some uncomfortable is the scandal portrayed that involves priests but it fits within the context of the story and is the catalyst for a huge part of the story but I just want to put it out there but at the same time say that it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the novel in any way.
I also enjoyed the mystery of how this stolen tapestry linked back to Beatrice in the past and ultimately the story that this tapestry told. It was fascinating to learn a little about the art of weaving tapestries as I knew nothing at all about it. I also found it interesting that because many people back in the 1500′s couldn’t read they used symbols as a way of communicating a story on the tapestries. Even more surprising to me was that tapestry weaving is an art that exists even today and it would certainly be something I would love to see one day. I love when I learn something new in what I’m reading! For me this was a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
January 8, 2013
I'm a huge fan of books that are told by weaving two different periods of time together and that's exactly what I got when I read The Bruges Tapestry. In the book the author takes the reader from present day sunny California to Bruges, Belgium in the 1520s and she did it wonderfully!
Sometimes, when a novel is told in this style it can be hard to keep the story lines straight but that wasn't the case at all with this one. The transition between the two time periods was seamless but still easily distinguishable in order to keep all the facts straight.
I liked both Claire and Beatrice Van Hecke as characters and while there is a significant age discrepancy between the two I thought that were both prime examples of what strong, intelligent female characters should be. It was fantastic to see a novel such as this with a female lead seeing as how male protagonists dominate the mystery genre. Which brings me to the other main reason why I absolutely loved The Bruges Tapestry. The way that P.A. Staes blended a modern day mystery with historical fiction was artful and unique.
Since The Bruges Tapestry is only 254 pages long I was wondering in the beginning how the author would be able to tell such an intricate story in such a short book but I was pleasantly surprised to find the story even more intricate than I imagined and the book felt as though it were 500 pages long with everything that was happening in this book.
The story kept me on my toes and it kept me intent on finding out how the story would wrap up and where it would lead Claire. There were a good many twists and turns in the book that kept me guessing and the ending was a good one.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Bruges Tapestry and I recommend it to every body out there that has a penchant for both historical fiction and mystery novels. Especially novels that mix the two together because this is a book that everyone should give a try and I hope I see more by this author and more books with Claire.
*I received a FREE copy of this book in exchange for my FREE & HONEST review. I was not compensated in anyway and ALL thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.
Sometimes, when a novel is told in this style it can be hard to keep the story lines straight but that wasn't the case at all with this one. The transition between the two time periods was seamless but still easily distinguishable in order to keep all the facts straight.
I liked both Claire and Beatrice Van Hecke as characters and while there is a significant age discrepancy between the two I thought that were both prime examples of what strong, intelligent female characters should be. It was fantastic to see a novel such as this with a female lead seeing as how male protagonists dominate the mystery genre. Which brings me to the other main reason why I absolutely loved The Bruges Tapestry. The way that P.A. Staes blended a modern day mystery with historical fiction was artful and unique.
Since The Bruges Tapestry is only 254 pages long I was wondering in the beginning how the author would be able to tell such an intricate story in such a short book but I was pleasantly surprised to find the story even more intricate than I imagined and the book felt as though it were 500 pages long with everything that was happening in this book.
The story kept me on my toes and it kept me intent on finding out how the story would wrap up and where it would lead Claire. There were a good many twists and turns in the book that kept me guessing and the ending was a good one.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Bruges Tapestry and I recommend it to every body out there that has a penchant for both historical fiction and mystery novels. Especially novels that mix the two together because this is a book that everyone should give a try and I hope I see more by this author and more books with Claire.
*I received a FREE copy of this book in exchange for my FREE & HONEST review. I was not compensated in anyway and ALL thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.
April 2, 2013
THE BRUGES TAPESTRY is an intriguing tale of two women separated by five centuries, yet connected by the secrets of a mysterious tapestry. The story alternates between Claire DeMaer in present-day California, and young Beatrice van Hecke in early 16th century Belgium.
Claire is an art theft detective who locates a 500-year old Flemish tapestry reported stolen by the Vatican. The man arrested for the theft claims that the Vatican stole the tapestry from his family, and he also happens to be Claire's best friend Nora's boyfriend. Her close relationship with Nora complicates matters, and discovering the rightful owner of the tapestry is the only way to make things right with her friend.
Interwoven with Claire's story is that of Beatrice, the 16-year old daughter of the tapestry's maker. Beatrice and her older sister Marie lived with their father and worked in his tapisserie in Bruges. Things changed dramatically when a corrupt priest arrives and wreaks havoc on their family. Beatrice learns firsthand just how powerful the church is, yet nothing will keep her from getting her revenge.
THE BRUGES TAPESTRY was a quick and enjoyable read, part mystery and part history lesson on Renaissance tapestry making. I liked Beatrice's story the most - gripping and heartrending. The villains in the book were truly awful. Ugh!
I didn't care as much for Claire and the present-day account. The characters fell a bit flat, and I'd liked to have seen the story fleshed out more. I also thought that much of the drama going on in Claire's personal life detracted from the main story line.
THE BRUGES TAPESTRY was a well-researched historical mystery, and also a solid beginning to the Clare DeMaer series. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more books from this author.
I received a review copy of this book as part of the author's blog tour.
Claire is an art theft detective who locates a 500-year old Flemish tapestry reported stolen by the Vatican. The man arrested for the theft claims that the Vatican stole the tapestry from his family, and he also happens to be Claire's best friend Nora's boyfriend. Her close relationship with Nora complicates matters, and discovering the rightful owner of the tapestry is the only way to make things right with her friend.
Interwoven with Claire's story is that of Beatrice, the 16-year old daughter of the tapestry's maker. Beatrice and her older sister Marie lived with their father and worked in his tapisserie in Bruges. Things changed dramatically when a corrupt priest arrives and wreaks havoc on their family. Beatrice learns firsthand just how powerful the church is, yet nothing will keep her from getting her revenge.
THE BRUGES TAPESTRY was a quick and enjoyable read, part mystery and part history lesson on Renaissance tapestry making. I liked Beatrice's story the most - gripping and heartrending. The villains in the book were truly awful. Ugh!
I didn't care as much for Claire and the present-day account. The characters fell a bit flat, and I'd liked to have seen the story fleshed out more. I also thought that much of the drama going on in Claire's personal life detracted from the main story line.
THE BRUGES TAPESTRY was a well-researched historical mystery, and also a solid beginning to the Clare DeMaer series. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more books from this author.
I received a review copy of this book as part of the author's blog tour.
March 24, 2013
"The Bruges Tapestry" is a historical fiction story about a Flemish tapestry and its moves through history. The story is told from two points of view. Claire, who is a the Newport Beach art detective, is trying to put together the pieces of a mysterious tapestry that may have been stolen in the present day. Beatrice is a young teenager who is trying to defend her sister's honor and legacy while working in her father's tapestry workshop in the early 1500s.
I really liked that the story was told from the point of view of both Claire and Beatrice. You get to see both sides of the story. I really liked Beatrice because she seems quite courageous in the face of a situation that could very much get her into trouble. Claire's story was interesting as well but as with many books that have dueling stories in the past and the present, I really preferred the story that took place in the past.
I really did like this story but there were some places where I wish that there had been more detail, which would have given more weight to the story. We don't really get to find out much about Claire and Beatrice except what is immediately important to the action within the story. A lot of what we find out about Claire is tied to her best friend, Nora, who plays a key role in the mystery of the tapestry. I wanted to know who Claire was herself and you don't really get that. They are both really interesting characters. Staes makes you care about them even with the little bit of detail that we are given. The end of the book also came a little bit too quickly and I really wanted to know more about the way that the book ended.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's a fast paced book about an interesting historical mystery. I look forward to seeing what Staes comes up with in the future.
I really liked that the story was told from the point of view of both Claire and Beatrice. You get to see both sides of the story. I really liked Beatrice because she seems quite courageous in the face of a situation that could very much get her into trouble. Claire's story was interesting as well but as with many books that have dueling stories in the past and the present, I really preferred the story that took place in the past.
I really did like this story but there were some places where I wish that there had been more detail, which would have given more weight to the story. We don't really get to find out much about Claire and Beatrice except what is immediately important to the action within the story. A lot of what we find out about Claire is tied to her best friend, Nora, who plays a key role in the mystery of the tapestry. I wanted to know who Claire was herself and you don't really get that. They are both really interesting characters. Staes makes you care about them even with the little bit of detail that we are given. The end of the book also came a little bit too quickly and I really wanted to know more about the way that the book ended.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's a fast paced book about an interesting historical mystery. I look forward to seeing what Staes comes up with in the future.
April 1, 2013
Claire is a detective working for the Newport Beach Art Detail. One night while attending a party at the house of her best friend's lover's house she spies a 500 year old tapestry that had been reported stolen from the Vatican. She returns the next day with her partner and they arrest him - but Paolo claims that the Vatican had actually stolen the tapestry from his family 500 years ago and he was just reclaiming it. To help preserve her friendship Claire decides to investigate Paolo's claim and try to prove it true before the representative from the Vatican arrives to take custody of both Paolo and the tapestry. She has three days to unravel a 500 year old mystery - can she do it?
The story is told in two different time periods/places - modern day California and 16th century Belgium. The history of the tapestry is told in its time by the daughter of the maker who shares a story of violence and evil that befalls her family through the actions of the church. As Claire delves into the history of the tapestry she learns that in some ways times have not changed.
The book is not long and to be honest much of the plot is contrived but I truly enjoyed the novel. It was a fast, page turning (well Nexus tapping) read and if I ignored the coincidences and implausibility of wrapping up a mystery like this in less than 3 days and just threw myself into the adventure of it all I had fun. The ending is just as implausible as the denouement but heck, it was just a light, fun read. I also enjoyed the education about how tapestries were made - this was the most in depth part of the book.
3.5
The story is told in two different time periods/places - modern day California and 16th century Belgium. The history of the tapestry is told in its time by the daughter of the maker who shares a story of violence and evil that befalls her family through the actions of the church. As Claire delves into the history of the tapestry she learns that in some ways times have not changed.
The book is not long and to be honest much of the plot is contrived but I truly enjoyed the novel. It was a fast, page turning (well Nexus tapping) read and if I ignored the coincidences and implausibility of wrapping up a mystery like this in less than 3 days and just threw myself into the adventure of it all I had fun. The ending is just as implausible as the denouement but heck, it was just a light, fun read. I also enjoyed the education about how tapestries were made - this was the most in depth part of the book.
3.5
April 3, 2013
As a practicing Catholic, I probably shouldn't have read this book. The author obviously has a deep dislike for the Roman Catholic Church. However I kept on reading, but I have to say that disturbed me and it really detracted from the story she was trying to tell.
The story is told from two perspectives, Claire's in the present day and Beatrice's in the 1500's. I can't say I connected much with Claire and I really didn't connect with her friend Nora, but I did love the characters from the 1500s. Claire just was a bit too snarky for my taste at times.
When Claire sees the tapestry in Paolo's house, she knows it is the one that appeared on the Interpol site. I had a hard time with Nora's, you have to believe my lover didn't steal this because he's "the one" sort of thing.
There is a thing called protocol, because someone is your friend doesn't mean their boyfriend can be above the law. (Just as the church shouldn't)
What I really enjoyed about this book was Beatrice's story which is really the story of how the tapestry came to be. It was full of intrigue and was truly heartbreaking as the corrupt priests worked to cover up what had happened to her sister Marie. I was glad we did get to see what happened to Beatrice and the Duke after the events that lead the tapestry to land in the Vatican's hands to be told.
It was a time when the Medici's had control of the Catholic Church and was really a period of great corruption, so the story is very believable from the time period. P.A. Staes really did her research well.
This is the first book in the Claire DeMaere series, and I definitely will read more if the mysteries don't end up having religious ties.
The story is told from two perspectives, Claire's in the present day and Beatrice's in the 1500's. I can't say I connected much with Claire and I really didn't connect with her friend Nora, but I did love the characters from the 1500s. Claire just was a bit too snarky for my taste at times.
When Claire sees the tapestry in Paolo's house, she knows it is the one that appeared on the Interpol site. I had a hard time with Nora's, you have to believe my lover didn't steal this because he's "the one" sort of thing.
There is a thing called protocol, because someone is your friend doesn't mean their boyfriend can be above the law. (Just as the church shouldn't)
What I really enjoyed about this book was Beatrice's story which is really the story of how the tapestry came to be. It was full of intrigue and was truly heartbreaking as the corrupt priests worked to cover up what had happened to her sister Marie. I was glad we did get to see what happened to Beatrice and the Duke after the events that lead the tapestry to land in the Vatican's hands to be told.
It was a time when the Medici's had control of the Catholic Church and was really a period of great corruption, so the story is very believable from the time period. P.A. Staes really did her research well.
This is the first book in the Claire DeMaere series, and I definitely will read more if the mysteries don't end up having religious ties.
January 7, 2013
Three and half stars.
I found The Bruges Tapestry to be a very engaging story from the very beginning. I loved the story of the tapestry; however, I wish the book focused more on the tapestry rather than the other subplots. The tapestry's story makes a wonderful story all in itself.
The story begins in 1544 with a very distraught girl named Beatrice, the daughter of a tapestry maker. Her story is heartbreaking and it reeks of the abuses of the Catholic Church. To me, Beatrice should have been the main character of this book. She is such a strong young girl for her time and faced tremendous horrors. I wanted to read more about her life. Her story ended much too abruptly.
Next, we meet Claire who I'm not too crazy about. She is an art theft detective in present day. She investigates the alleged (yes, I'm an attorney) theft of the tapestry. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the tapestry. Her unraveling of the tapestry's history was so intriguing. It kept me engaged in the book when her life issues bogged me down. I thought Claire's issues with her family and her former lover distracted from the story of the tapestry.
Overall, I enjoyed this book with some distractions. I loved the tapestry and I wanted more. I wanted to know more about Beatrice and her Duke; less about Claire and her issues. This is a fun historical mystery and I think readers will enjoy it.
I found The Bruges Tapestry to be a very engaging story from the very beginning. I loved the story of the tapestry; however, I wish the book focused more on the tapestry rather than the other subplots. The tapestry's story makes a wonderful story all in itself.
The story begins in 1544 with a very distraught girl named Beatrice, the daughter of a tapestry maker. Her story is heartbreaking and it reeks of the abuses of the Catholic Church. To me, Beatrice should have been the main character of this book. She is such a strong young girl for her time and faced tremendous horrors. I wanted to read more about her life. Her story ended much too abruptly.
Next, we meet Claire who I'm not too crazy about. She is an art theft detective in present day. She investigates the alleged (yes, I'm an attorney) theft of the tapestry. I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the tapestry. Her unraveling of the tapestry's history was so intriguing. It kept me engaged in the book when her life issues bogged me down. I thought Claire's issues with her family and her former lover distracted from the story of the tapestry.
Overall, I enjoyed this book with some distractions. I loved the tapestry and I wanted more. I wanted to know more about Beatrice and her Duke; less about Claire and her issues. This is a fun historical mystery and I think readers will enjoy it.
March 2, 2013
Fabulous story. I started reading this story this morning and could not put the book down until I finished, yes- it was that good!!
The author takes us between 1520 Bruges and present day California. She cleverly weaves a tale of horrific corruption and betrayal. Not just any corruption but church corruption and cover ups. Throughout this tale we learn about the art of tapestry creation. This story is told from the point of view of two strong women, one a 16 year old girl from Bruges, the other a young art theft detective from modern times. We see this amazing tapestry of lives unfold through their stories. I was intrigued with the authors ability to utilize her characters to show church corruption in the past and the present. Just remember this is a work of fiction.
I look forward to more by this author.
The author takes us between 1520 Bruges and present day California. She cleverly weaves a tale of horrific corruption and betrayal. Not just any corruption but church corruption and cover ups. Throughout this tale we learn about the art of tapestry creation. This story is told from the point of view of two strong women, one a 16 year old girl from Bruges, the other a young art theft detective from modern times. We see this amazing tapestry of lives unfold through their stories. I was intrigued with the authors ability to utilize her characters to show church corruption in the past and the present. Just remember this is a work of fiction.
I look forward to more by this author.
March 18, 2013
Written by the cousin of a member of our Book Club, it’s the tale of a 500 year old tapestry from how and why it was made in the 16th century and how it appears today in Southern California in the home of one of it’s descendants who is accused of stealing it from the Vatican. Alternating stories tell the tapestry’s story from both eras and the mystery that surrounds it. A quick and interesting read, not bad for her first novel!
October 31, 2015
A 16th century tapestry is centre of this story where a present day story line alternates with one around the origin of the tapestry. It is a romance more than anything else, very light reading, enjoyable though, in times of mental overload.
April 9, 2013
Such a fun, quick, page turner!:)!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews