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The Muse of Hope Falls
Everyone took a piece of Christie. Now she needs something back. As the muse and lover of one of the greatest painters of the late 20th century, Christie McGraw was once a major figure in New York. Now penniless, abandoned and sick, she needs to sell the last thing of any value that is in her possession. It's a lost masterpiece by her late lover, and she needs the help of Gabriel Viejo, the world expert on the artist, to authenticate it and get into the market. If he can help, she'll make it well worth his while. Gabriel opens negotiations with a shady Greek tycoon in the hope of saving Christie's life – and boosting his own fortunes into the bargain. But there are some nasty surprises in store. Alan Kane Fraser's devilishly devious debut is a page-turning plunge into the murkier depths of the art world and the age-old relationship between creator and muse.
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 9, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 10, 2023
A brilliantly funny and twisting plot, driven by real, eccentric characters. You feel like you’re in the room with them, and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else
November 18, 2023
I love this book- the writing is excellent, especially some of the brilliantly cutting lines from Christie, the main character and muse of the title. As Gabriel, the besotted narrator, observes ‘She could punch you in the gut with an insight but she’d say it like she was reciting a shopping list.’
I’m not someone who chooses a book for the genre, so being told it is a heist or scam novel wouldn’t necessarily be a reason I’d read it. Similarly, I don’t read crime fiction just because it’s crime or thrillers because they are thrilling. I love characters that jump off the page and take up residence in your head, so you wonder what they’re up to when you’re not in the act of reading about them. Christie and Gabriel are this kind of character, their voices are distinct and memorable and they also happen to be caught up in an unputdownable story. Set in the murky work of art dealing, with a strand of fictional art history that you have to Google to check it’s not true, this is brilliantly written and researched and takes you with it, willingly, through every plot twist and expensive cocktail. Highly recommend.
I’m not someone who chooses a book for the genre, so being told it is a heist or scam novel wouldn’t necessarily be a reason I’d read it. Similarly, I don’t read crime fiction just because it’s crime or thrillers because they are thrilling. I love characters that jump off the page and take up residence in your head, so you wonder what they’re up to when you’re not in the act of reading about them. Christie and Gabriel are this kind of character, their voices are distinct and memorable and they also happen to be caught up in an unputdownable story. Set in the murky work of art dealing, with a strand of fictional art history that you have to Google to check it’s not true, this is brilliantly written and researched and takes you with it, willingly, through every plot twist and expensive cocktail. Highly recommend.
December 27, 2023
4.5*
“Art is a lie that points to the truth” – Pablo Picasso
Christie McGraw is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t suffer fools lightly especially now she needs cold hard cash for cancer treatment. When Gabriel’s comes into her life, she sees an opportunity to do so and let’s say it’s a bumpy ride!
Told through Gabriel’s eyes, the story takes me from a trailer park to London with Christie sharing anecdotes of her life with world famous painter Erik von Hulonder. Her affair with him was passionate and she inspired him in his painting.
The Muse Of Hope Falls was a different sort of read for me to start with but the more I read, the more the intrigue that as a crime reader I felt. It was a kind of thriller, maybe not my normal thriller (a lack of dead bodies for a start 😂) but it had a slow burn that drew me in, made me look over my literary shoulder as Gabriel spent more time with Christie. The tension builds and then just as I thought Gabriel was heading for success … boom 💥 I was thrown off course!
Alan Kane Fraser has written an intriguing story which grabbed my attention. As a debut, it’s flawless, it’s got intrigue, passion and great writing. And the final great reveal stunned me! This is the sort of book I could see being adapted. I’ll definitely be reading more from Alex Kane Fraser!
“Art is a lie that points to the truth” – Pablo Picasso
Christie McGraw is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t suffer fools lightly especially now she needs cold hard cash for cancer treatment. When Gabriel’s comes into her life, she sees an opportunity to do so and let’s say it’s a bumpy ride!
Told through Gabriel’s eyes, the story takes me from a trailer park to London with Christie sharing anecdotes of her life with world famous painter Erik von Hulonder. Her affair with him was passionate and she inspired him in his painting.
The Muse Of Hope Falls was a different sort of read for me to start with but the more I read, the more the intrigue that as a crime reader I felt. It was a kind of thriller, maybe not my normal thriller (a lack of dead bodies for a start 😂) but it had a slow burn that drew me in, made me look over my literary shoulder as Gabriel spent more time with Christie. The tension builds and then just as I thought Gabriel was heading for success … boom 💥 I was thrown off course!
Alan Kane Fraser has written an intriguing story which grabbed my attention. As a debut, it’s flawless, it’s got intrigue, passion and great writing. And the final great reveal stunned me! This is the sort of book I could see being adapted. I’ll definitely be reading more from Alex Kane Fraser!
December 7, 2023
If you're looking for a enthralling look at the shady belly of the art world then look no further!! I found this to be a fascinating story that really shows the darker sides of the artworld and human behaviour!
Christie was the muse, and lover, of a very famous artist and her image is known world wide. But she finds herself sick and broke and wants some payback and she's hoping that comes in the form of a lost masterpiece that she has from this artist and she needs help in selling it and having it verified. Which is where Gabriel comes into the picture, as he's a well renowned expert on the artist.
His intrigue draws him straight into the project as he's starting to see pound signs in his eyes too, much needed for his own personal problems too.
The story is really well told and clips along at a really good pace so you're fully involved in the quest for both of them to get what they feel they deserve. Must be every experts dream to be involved in uncovering a lost piece of work from such a well loved artist, and things very dark in his quest to help find a buyer willing to pay a huge price. There are moments of light relief too which were really appreciated and I just really enjoyed my time with these fabulously created characters! Highly recommended!
Christie was the muse, and lover, of a very famous artist and her image is known world wide. But she finds herself sick and broke and wants some payback and she's hoping that comes in the form of a lost masterpiece that she has from this artist and she needs help in selling it and having it verified. Which is where Gabriel comes into the picture, as he's a well renowned expert on the artist.
His intrigue draws him straight into the project as he's starting to see pound signs in his eyes too, much needed for his own personal problems too.
The story is really well told and clips along at a really good pace so you're fully involved in the quest for both of them to get what they feel they deserve. Must be every experts dream to be involved in uncovering a lost piece of work from such a well loved artist, and things very dark in his quest to help find a buyer willing to pay a huge price. There are moments of light relief too which were really appreciated and I just really enjoyed my time with these fabulously created characters! Highly recommended!
November 6, 2023
As the muse and lover of one of the greatest painters of the 20th century, Christie McGraw was once a major figure in New York. Now penniless, abandoned and sick, she needs to sell the last thing of any value she still has in her possession. It's a lost masterpiece by her late lover but she needs the help of Gabriel Viejo, the world expert on the artist, to authenticate it and get it onto the market. If he can help , she'll make it worth his will.
This is so much more than a page turning thriller about the shadier side of the art world. Like the artist's muse Christie McGraw it teases and draws you further in revealing more of it's charm and deception with every twist and turn.
Even if , like me you don't know much about art this book offers a thought provoking reflection on the relationship between an artist and his muse and the objectifying of women in art. All delivered with devilish humour.
This is so much more than a page turning thriller about the shadier side of the art world. Like the artist's muse Christie McGraw it teases and draws you further in revealing more of it's charm and deception with every twist and turn.
Even if , like me you don't know much about art this book offers a thought provoking reflection on the relationship between an artist and his muse and the objectifying of women in art. All delivered with devilish humour.
February 12, 2024
This is a cleverly crafted novel in terms of both prose and plot, guiding the reader through the murkier depths of the art world and the classier hotels. It contrasts the commercial and artistic value of creativity and challenges the objectification of the male gaze.
December 11, 2024
This is a beautifully written novel with - to quote Blackadder - more twists and turns than a twisty, turny thing! The mc, Christie, is a strong-minded, at times warm and at others spiky, woman you root for from the beginning.
The other primary character, Gabe, initially seems to act out of pure sympathy, but you reassess his personality and actions a number of times as the story progresses. Even so, you never quite stop liking him.
Then there is a major twist at the end which has you reassessing both Gabe and Christie. This novel about the value we place on things, the objectification of women in art and the balance of power in a variety of relationships is unputdownable. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The other primary character, Gabe, initially seems to act out of pure sympathy, but you reassess his personality and actions a number of times as the story progresses. Even so, you never quite stop liking him.
Then there is a major twist at the end which has you reassessing both Gabe and Christie. This novel about the value we place on things, the objectification of women in art and the balance of power in a variety of relationships is unputdownable. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews