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Alix London #2
A Cruise to Die for
This should be the cushiest job Alix London’s ever had.
The second Alix London mystery finds the art restorer in a world brimming with idle luxury, spectacular locations, and deadly intrigue.
Surrounded by art and wealth and the sun-drenched Greek isles, she’s aboard a sumptuous mega-yacht with no responsibilities save the occasional lecture to the guests of her temporary employer, Panos Papadakis, one of the world's richest men. But there’s a catch: Papadakis has long been suspected of being at the center of a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme and Alix is actually there as an undercover operative of FBI special agent Ted Ellesworth, a member of the Bureau’s Art Crime Team. They hope Alix can gather the inside information they need to finally put the cagey Papadakis away.
Alix’s exposure to the enormous wealth of high-end collectors and the shadier aspects of the art trade—the avarice, naked greed, and ingenious scams—somehow brings her closer to her charming, "reformed" rogue of a father, and helps crystalize in her own mind just where she fits into the mix.
The second Alix London mystery finds the art restorer in a world brimming with idle luxury, spectacular locations, and deadly intrigue.
Surrounded by art and wealth and the sun-drenched Greek isles, she’s aboard a sumptuous mega-yacht with no responsibilities save the occasional lecture to the guests of her temporary employer, Panos Papadakis, one of the world's richest men. But there’s a catch: Papadakis has long been suspected of being at the center of a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme and Alix is actually there as an undercover operative of FBI special agent Ted Ellesworth, a member of the Bureau’s Art Crime Team. They hope Alix can gather the inside information they need to finally put the cagey Papadakis away.
Alix’s exposure to the enormous wealth of high-end collectors and the shadier aspects of the art trade—the avarice, naked greed, and ingenious scams—somehow brings her closer to her charming, "reformed" rogue of a father, and helps crystalize in her own mind just where she fits into the mix.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2013
296 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Elkins
13 books53 followersCharlotte Elkins (born July 4, 1948) is an American author who teamed with her husband, writer Aaron Elkins, to write a series of mystery novels about Lee Ofsted, a struggling female professional golfer.
Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Aaron Elkins)
Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic
Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Aaron Elkins)
Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
September 16, 2013
A Cruise to Die For by Aaron and Charlotte Elkins is a Thomas & Mercer publication. This book was released in Sept. 2013.
This is the second Alix London mystery.
Alix is commissioned by the FBI art division to work undercover on a fabulous yacht. An art auction is to take place on board the yacht. The FBI is onto a scam where shares are purchased in works of art. So, Alix is to lecture on the pieces up for auction and eavesdrop on conversations and so on. In the meantime, Alix is beginning to reconnect a bit at a time with her father.
The cruise is awesome. The best accommodations are luxurious, the food gourmet, the service is above and beyond. But, Alix immediately senses something is off. A painting on display being passed off as original, is most assuredly a forgery. The investigation takes on international proportions, when murder and the mafia come into the mix.
There is no shortage of motives, scams, double crosses and intrigue with the most interesting locations thrown into the background.
Not only do the authors lend a inside view of the art world and the moral issues involved, but the general attitude of the wealthy and sense of entitlement they assume. There is never a thought given to others and the burdens they place on people.
Alix learns a bit about herself as well along the way. Her own silver spoon having been yanked from her mouth, leaving her and her father living with much less than they were accustomed to. Alix still has a moral compass and knows what lines she will cross and those she won't.
Art is always an interesting topic and when crimes involving art are in the spotlight, the underbelly is exposed. In this instance it appears there is a forger so talented, he can fool even the most extensive testing. Alix gets her father involved in determining how that was accomplished.
A quick read, highly engaging, witty, with sharp dialogue. I hope this series continues for a long time.
Over all an A.
This is the second Alix London mystery.
Alix is commissioned by the FBI art division to work undercover on a fabulous yacht. An art auction is to take place on board the yacht. The FBI is onto a scam where shares are purchased in works of art. So, Alix is to lecture on the pieces up for auction and eavesdrop on conversations and so on. In the meantime, Alix is beginning to reconnect a bit at a time with her father.
The cruise is awesome. The best accommodations are luxurious, the food gourmet, the service is above and beyond. But, Alix immediately senses something is off. A painting on display being passed off as original, is most assuredly a forgery. The investigation takes on international proportions, when murder and the mafia come into the mix.
There is no shortage of motives, scams, double crosses and intrigue with the most interesting locations thrown into the background.
Not only do the authors lend a inside view of the art world and the moral issues involved, but the general attitude of the wealthy and sense of entitlement they assume. There is never a thought given to others and the burdens they place on people.
Alix learns a bit about herself as well along the way. Her own silver spoon having been yanked from her mouth, leaving her and her father living with much less than they were accustomed to. Alix still has a moral compass and knows what lines she will cross and those she won't.
Art is always an interesting topic and when crimes involving art are in the spotlight, the underbelly is exposed. In this instance it appears there is a forger so talented, he can fool even the most extensive testing. Alix gets her father involved in determining how that was accomplished.
A quick read, highly engaging, witty, with sharp dialogue. I hope this series continues for a long time.
Over all an A.
October 5, 2024
This is the world of fine art, fine dining, fine everything! Wealth and privilege abound, and the Greek Islands setting aboard the cruise ship is lovely. But with crooks, scams, Albanian mafia, murder, the FBI, and pyramid schemes involved, you can be sure of non-stop action.
Alix in book #2 is hired as a consultant to the FBI's Art Crimes section to act as their person on board and see what she can overhear, while giving some informal art chats. The FBI suspects there is an art shares scam going on, but they haven't been able to get proof up until this cruise gives them a chance. While Alix is on board, she realizes there is a forged masterpiece in the art auction. But once she announces her suspicions, she is knocked out and the piece is slashed! From this point on, everyone is under suspicion of nefarious intentions and no one is above suspicion.
This was a quick, fun read, with lots of art information. Maybe a little too much for me, but the authors know their stuff. Alix continues to reconnect with her art forger father and that relationship is quite endearing. Read book #1 first before this one.
Alix in book #2 is hired as a consultant to the FBI's Art Crimes section to act as their person on board and see what she can overhear, while giving some informal art chats. The FBI suspects there is an art shares scam going on, but they haven't been able to get proof up until this cruise gives them a chance. While Alix is on board, she realizes there is a forged masterpiece in the art auction. But once she announces her suspicions, she is knocked out and the piece is slashed! From this point on, everyone is under suspicion of nefarious intentions and no one is above suspicion.
This was a quick, fun read, with lots of art information. Maybe a little too much for me, but the authors know their stuff. Alix continues to reconnect with her art forger father and that relationship is quite endearing. Read book #1 first before this one.
November 16, 2020
This adventure in the art detective world takes Alix to the Greek Islands on a super yacht under FBI direction. Part of the book is credible, part of the adventure is travel related and a major part of the book is over the top silliness to the extreme. What they get a former opera diva to act out in this far-fetched plot is mind numbing. Even with these complaints, one still wants to read on to see what next will befall Alix London, art expert.
Loan from Friend (Thank you!)
Book Available through Kindle Unlimited
Loan from Friend (Thank you!)
Book Available through Kindle Unlimited
July 10, 2018
Enjoyable art-related mystery! Setting it on a cruise gave it a lovely Agatha Christie vibe. The end was a bit muddled but still fascinating. The art history details were quite wonderful and well placed. Recommended, though start with book 1 to understand the character development better.
May 13, 2021
A Cruise to Die for by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins is the 2nd book in the Alix London Mystery series. Alix London is working undercover for the FBI art crime team as a guest lecturer on Panos Papadakis luxury yacht for an art auction as he is suspected of running a Ponzi art share scheme. An interesting and complex mystery with multiple elements related to art fraud and forgery. Alix is very talented in detecting forgeries and we learn about the lengths forgers take. I love that her relationship with her father is improving. A captivating and enthralling book.
September 20, 2014
Here is number 2 of the Alix London series. In this one, Alix is going aboard the Artemis, a fabulous yacht owned by a Greek billionaire, for a cruise around the Mediterranean, a cruise which culminates with an auction of some of Panos Pappadakis’s paintings. The FBI has asked her to attend and pose as an art lecturer while listening for clues to a ponzi-scheme involving art sales. Instead, she of course finds that one of the most celebrated paintings by Manet is a forgery.
The fallout involves gossip, murder, and the return of Ted, an FBI operative whom she met in New Mexico and with whom she shares a frisson of attraction.
The characters are much better developed in this book, adding to the enjoyment. Panos’s wife Gabby is a retired opera singer, a fading beauty no longer pleased to be a trophy wife. Panos is unattractive, explosive, and smarmy. The crew has varied and interesting people, and the guests are main attractions themselves: a pop star, a reclusive bachelor, and others who can afford to spend a few million on art.
Having never been to the Greek islands, I enjoyed the descriptions of locales and of the ship itself – all very well described. The art background information was good. Alix’s real personality is still hard to find (we know she likes speed, whether driving or skimming water), and the reader doesn’t know what she looks like other than that she’s 5’9” tall and has a good figure. Her father becomes even more likeable in this volume, and their relationship warms up a few degrees. I like this book and the series and recommend it!
The fallout involves gossip, murder, and the return of Ted, an FBI operative whom she met in New Mexico and with whom she shares a frisson of attraction.
The characters are much better developed in this book, adding to the enjoyment. Panos’s wife Gabby is a retired opera singer, a fading beauty no longer pleased to be a trophy wife. Panos is unattractive, explosive, and smarmy. The crew has varied and interesting people, and the guests are main attractions themselves: a pop star, a reclusive bachelor, and others who can afford to spend a few million on art.
Having never been to the Greek islands, I enjoyed the descriptions of locales and of the ship itself – all very well described. The art background information was good. Alix’s real personality is still hard to find (we know she likes speed, whether driving or skimming water), and the reader doesn’t know what she looks like other than that she’s 5’9” tall and has a good figure. Her father becomes even more likeable in this volume, and their relationship warms up a few degrees. I like this book and the series and recommend it!
October 3, 2013
Step aboard a luxury cruise of a lifetime in Aaron J. Elkins and Charlotte Elkins’ A Cruise to Die for.
The unique and well-written characters made this book. Alix London is a likeable heroine. A bit bumbling in her spy skills, she does have a way to be in the right place at the right time. Ted Ellesworth was a harder read than Alix and quite the undercover agent. The array of the yacht guests were sometimes more interesting than the storyline and were quite fun to read about.
For a mystery, I felt this one was a bit slower in pace than the ones I’m used to reading. I also wished the killer’s reveal was handled differently. However, the clues and red herrings did keep me guessing.
The authors explored the lifestyle of the superrich, and I enjoyed vicariously living in such splendor for a few hours. The art history and archaeology mentioned when they were in Crete fascinated me.
A Cruise to Die for by Aaron J. Elkins and Charlotte Elkins is a whimsical and fun read, and I would enjoy reading more books featuring Alix London.
The unique and well-written characters made this book. Alix London is a likeable heroine. A bit bumbling in her spy skills, she does have a way to be in the right place at the right time. Ted Ellesworth was a harder read than Alix and quite the undercover agent. The array of the yacht guests were sometimes more interesting than the storyline and were quite fun to read about.
For a mystery, I felt this one was a bit slower in pace than the ones I’m used to reading. I also wished the killer’s reveal was handled differently. However, the clues and red herrings did keep me guessing.
The authors explored the lifestyle of the superrich, and I enjoyed vicariously living in such splendor for a few hours. The art history and archaeology mentioned when they were in Crete fascinated me.
A Cruise to Die for by Aaron J. Elkins and Charlotte Elkins is a whimsical and fun read, and I would enjoy reading more books featuring Alix London.
September 16, 2022
2022 bk 279 Another peek into the life of art conservator Alix London finds us on a luxury cruise ship in the Aegean. Corfu, Crete, Albania are among the tourist spots that Alix will visit Her purpose on the cruise, she is the guest lecturer for a special collection of art and an undercover agent for the FBI looking for evidence of financial misdeeds using said art. There were a few more lulls in this book where my mind drifted away from the plot, but overall a good, solid mystery with an unexpected ending.
October 31, 2017
Alix London, after not hearing from Ted Ellesworth for much longer than she expected, gets a call from him at last.
He wants her to do another job for the FBI, and this one is undercover. Well, not really, he says. She'll be going on a luxury cruise with a Greek financier and art investor. The Greek tycoon, Panos Papadakis, is auctioning off twenty-three highly valued art works, and he wants someone to talk to his guests/customers about art in general and these works and artists in particular. The FBI wants her to just listen for any tidbits about his fractional investment scheme, which they suspect of being in reality a Ponzi scheme. What could be easier?
But Alix hasn't been aboard much more than an hour when she recognizes--though for reasons she can't immediately pinpoint--that the Manet in the auction is probably a fake, and is almost immediately hit on the head. With Panos and his American wife Gabby, as well as some of the boat's security, standing over her as she regains consciousness, she incautiously blurts out her suspicions.
Oh, and the Manet has been slashed, too. It won't be in the auction after all.
The cruise gets stranger and stranger, with some very interesting people included among the tiny number of people invited to join the cruise and be physically present for the auction. It gets even stranger when Ted arrives, posing as the nephew of a countess who was invited but hurt her knee and couldn't make the trip. If Ted is going to be there, why was Alix needed?
Alix is enjoying the luxury, and even making friends with Gabby and a few others on the cruise, but the real questions are, a)what's wrong with the Manet (other than the slash), b)what's with Ted's onIagain/off again behavior, and c)just what is her (supposedly) ex-art forger father's "new undertaking"?
It's an engaging story, an interestingly convoluted plot, and not too heavy. I like Alix, and increasingly her dad. Overall, it's a fun read or listen.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
He wants her to do another job for the FBI, and this one is undercover. Well, not really, he says. She'll be going on a luxury cruise with a Greek financier and art investor. The Greek tycoon, Panos Papadakis, is auctioning off twenty-three highly valued art works, and he wants someone to talk to his guests/customers about art in general and these works and artists in particular. The FBI wants her to just listen for any tidbits about his fractional investment scheme, which they suspect of being in reality a Ponzi scheme. What could be easier?
But Alix hasn't been aboard much more than an hour when she recognizes--though for reasons she can't immediately pinpoint--that the Manet in the auction is probably a fake, and is almost immediately hit on the head. With Panos and his American wife Gabby, as well as some of the boat's security, standing over her as she regains consciousness, she incautiously blurts out her suspicions.
Oh, and the Manet has been slashed, too. It won't be in the auction after all.
The cruise gets stranger and stranger, with some very interesting people included among the tiny number of people invited to join the cruise and be physically present for the auction. It gets even stranger when Ted arrives, posing as the nephew of a countess who was invited but hurt her knee and couldn't make the trip. If Ted is going to be there, why was Alix needed?
Alix is enjoying the luxury, and even making friends with Gabby and a few others on the cruise, but the real questions are, a)what's wrong with the Manet (other than the slash), b)what's with Ted's onIagain/off again behavior, and c)just what is her (supposedly) ex-art forger father's "new undertaking"?
It's an engaging story, an interestingly convoluted plot, and not too heavy. I like Alix, and increasingly her dad. Overall, it's a fun read or listen.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
August 25, 2023
Book 2 in a 4-part series featuring Alix London - a fine art consultant / expert who takes cases involving art forgery on occasion for the FBI. In this book, she joins in a yacht cruise through the Greek Islands hosted by one of the world’s richest men. Her job is to mix and mingle with the other guests, answering questions and speaking about their host’s fine art collection which will be auctioned off at the end of the cruise. Oh, and stay alert for hints about a Ponzi scheme her host may be running and pass along info to the FBI. Things change shortly after she boards however when she spots a probable fake among the exclusive art collection.
Things I liked - a lot: vivid, well fleshed out descriptions of the yacht, the ports of call, and what felt like great descriptions of the ultra-rich lifestyle (though I can’t honestly say I’d know). I also love the amount of information there is about art itself. Artists, styles, conservation techniques, detecting forgeries. Alix’s relationship with her ex-con, art forger father is explored in more detail, to good effect as well.
Things I didn’t like so much: usually I like to read a series in order. You really don’t have to with this one. The first third or so of this book goes into great detail about Alix’s background, her ex-con father, and her last (first book) case. Some of it feels like blocks of cool just lifted from the first book. I also don’t understand the relationship between Alix and FBI art crimes agent Ted Ellsworth. The first book hints of budding romance or at least friendship. This book leaves you wondering if they even like each other. The ending is sudden, and feels forced.
I have to admit though that I will read books 3 & 4. I’m looking forward to the scenery and the art, with hope for upgrades in the plot.
Things I liked - a lot: vivid, well fleshed out descriptions of the yacht, the ports of call, and what felt like great descriptions of the ultra-rich lifestyle (though I can’t honestly say I’d know). I also love the amount of information there is about art itself. Artists, styles, conservation techniques, detecting forgeries. Alix’s relationship with her ex-con, art forger father is explored in more detail, to good effect as well.
Things I didn’t like so much: usually I like to read a series in order. You really don’t have to with this one. The first third or so of this book goes into great detail about Alix’s background, her ex-con father, and her last (first book) case. Some of it feels like blocks of cool just lifted from the first book. I also don’t understand the relationship between Alix and FBI art crimes agent Ted Ellsworth. The first book hints of budding romance or at least friendship. This book leaves you wondering if they even like each other. The ending is sudden, and feels forced.
I have to admit though that I will read books 3 & 4. I’m looking forward to the scenery and the art, with hope for upgrades in the plot.
March 4, 2017
This is my second Alix London Mystery and I have liked both these books very much. I'll definitely read more. But I could only give it three stars because there is a very bad editing error in the ending of this book. In the 3rd last chapter, Ted tells Alix that she will be flown from Athens, Greece to Washington, D.C. for debriefing and he will meet her there in a couple of days for lunch. The next chapter shows them both meeting at the restaurant in D.C. and the conversation they have there. All well and good. But, skip to the final chapter where Alix arrives in Seattle to be met by her father and the narrative states that she is very exhausted from the long twelve hours flight from Athens to Seattle. No mention of the meeting in DC at all, as if it never happened.
I don't know how such a discrepancy could have been overlooked but I think that the authors might want to fix this. Readers are apt not to forgive this big of an error. However, I like Alix and I keep hoping things will work out with Ted, so I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
I don't know how such a discrepancy could have been overlooked but I think that the authors might want to fix this. Readers are apt not to forgive this big of an error. However, I like Alix and I keep hoping things will work out with Ted, so I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
June 8, 2017
Another great entry in this series which I devoured whole! This time the FBI has arranged for Alix to be a lecturer on a luxury cruise through the Greek Islands to end in Albania. The cruise is on the yacht of a Greek mogul who has a penchant for investing in art and the cruise will culminate with an auction of his priceless 19th and 20th masters. But all is not what it should be: two of the paintings are forgeries and Alix jeopardises her position by blurting out the truth about one of the paintings as soon as she boards. Murder, attempted murder and a standoff with Albanian mafia are all part of the fun. The plot revolves around works by Manet and Monet and the book discusses the difference between these two masters whose similar names often confuses art neophyes.
November 7, 2013
A tantalizing mystery on a multimillion dollar yacht, full of artwork by the old Masters, cruising Greece; could be my other life...well a woman can dream can’t she? Alix London is having this dream-come-true adventure because of her expertise in spotting forgeries, it helps that her dad was one of the best forgers of his time; before he got caught. This book by the Elkins’, one of many they’ve written, is a treat to be enjoyed during a long cold winter. A 5 star entertaining who done it, with a lot of art history to give it texture.
May 18, 2018
I’m not quite sure how, but this series has simply flown to the tippy top of my favorites list. Honestly, both books 1 and 2 were impossible for me to pause and I practically tore through them each in a single sitting.
The characters, the plot spacing, the background characters, the research, the CHARACTERS?! I’ve not had the urge to try to mentally hug and squeeze fictional people this strongly in a very long time. Honestly, please go and read this series, you WILL NOT be disappointed.
The characters, the plot spacing, the background characters, the research, the CHARACTERS?! I’ve not had the urge to try to mentally hug and squeeze fictional people this strongly in a very long time. Honestly, please go and read this series, you WILL NOT be disappointed.
October 20, 2013
probably the worst Aaron Elkins book I have read. Having read the Gideon Oliver series and some other books by Mr. Elkins and his wife,I was looking forward to the second in their new series, but was disappointed.
May 26, 2018
A Cruise to Die For: Alix London 2
Chronological order recommended.
In A Nutshell: Alix London, art consultant, finds herself aboard a luxury mega-yacht on a cruise of a lifetime. Her job is to talk about art, her favourite subject, a couple of hours each day to the guests of Panos Papadakis, one of the world’s wealthiest men. But there is a forgery in the Papadakis collection, and it catches Alix's connaisseur's eye. Problem is Alix has been placed there as an FBI undercover agent to find information on an art Ponzi scheme called fractional investment. So when a murder occurs to which crime is it related? Multi-layered plots, strong characters, and dramatic endings. A satisfying read.
The Plot:Alix has been placed as a spy on a rich man's yacht. But the story she uncovers, art forgery, is not the one she was sent to investigate. Ponzi schemes, murder, and the Albanian mafia are all part of the story, which has a heartbreaking ending.
The Protagonist(s):Alix is a poor little rich girl. Her father was caught and convicted of forgery. And her life of luxury evaporated along with his imprisonment. Alix chose to drop out of Harvard but is trying to reinvent herself as an art consultant to wealthy patrons. Alix comes over as resentful and unforgiving, which is an unusual place for a protagonist.
The description of life about the mega-yacht draws the reader in. I felt the sun bouncing off the page. And the interaction with Alix and the passengers and crew made good dialogue. I have invested in Alix; the character has caught my attention. However, I find the romance with the dull and good looking FBI agent Ted contrived. But for the most part, I enjoyed this story especially the psychological elements.
There are enthralling new characters. I especially like meeting the self-made types. It was fascinating reading how they treated people who served them. I would have liked to have seen more of Jeff London in the book, but I hope that will come.
The plot itself was convoluted; there are Manet's and Monet's, mobsters and forgeries and international conspiracies. It made for lively reading. But the grammar was sloppy in places, and some basic copy editing of the story was needed. It detracted from the world building because it created inconsistencies, and it also made the story pedestrian in places.
But the art forgery is a novel idea that is well executed, with dramatic characters and intriguing plot lines. So fans of modern detective mysteries may well find this a worthwhile read.
Connect with me on Twitter and FB
See all my reviews
Check out my blog on imjussayin
Book Rating
Sexual Content: u
Language: u
Violent: u
Would I read the next oneor reread ?: Yes
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1*Finished the book butdidn't like it not fulfilled
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
Chronological order recommended.
In A Nutshell: Alix London, art consultant, finds herself aboard a luxury mega-yacht on a cruise of a lifetime. Her job is to talk about art, her favourite subject, a couple of hours each day to the guests of Panos Papadakis, one of the world’s wealthiest men. But there is a forgery in the Papadakis collection, and it catches Alix's connaisseur's eye. Problem is Alix has been placed there as an FBI undercover agent to find information on an art Ponzi scheme called fractional investment. So when a murder occurs to which crime is it related? Multi-layered plots, strong characters, and dramatic endings. A satisfying read.
The Plot:Alix has been placed as a spy on a rich man's yacht. But the story she uncovers, art forgery, is not the one she was sent to investigate. Ponzi schemes, murder, and the Albanian mafia are all part of the story, which has a heartbreaking ending.
The Protagonist(s):Alix is a poor little rich girl. Her father was caught and convicted of forgery. And her life of luxury evaporated along with his imprisonment. Alix chose to drop out of Harvard but is trying to reinvent herself as an art consultant to wealthy patrons. Alix comes over as resentful and unforgiving, which is an unusual place for a protagonist.
The description of life about the mega-yacht draws the reader in. I felt the sun bouncing off the page. And the interaction with Alix and the passengers and crew made good dialogue. I have invested in Alix; the character has caught my attention. However, I find the romance with the dull and good looking FBI agent Ted contrived. But for the most part, I enjoyed this story especially the psychological elements.
There are enthralling new characters. I especially like meeting the self-made types. It was fascinating reading how they treated people who served them. I would have liked to have seen more of Jeff London in the book, but I hope that will come.
The plot itself was convoluted; there are Manet's and Monet's, mobsters and forgeries and international conspiracies. It made for lively reading. But the grammar was sloppy in places, and some basic copy editing of the story was needed. It detracted from the world building because it created inconsistencies, and it also made the story pedestrian in places.
But the art forgery is a novel idea that is well executed, with dramatic characters and intriguing plot lines. So fans of modern detective mysteries may well find this a worthwhile read.
Connect with me on Twitter and FB
See all my reviews
Check out my blog on imjussayin
Book Rating
Sexual Content: u
Language: u
Violent: u
Would I read the next one
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1*Finished the book but
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
September 28, 2019
This was an interesting plot and a unique setting.
If you are fabulously wealthy, there is a lot of product name dropping. Most of it was lost on me, but I got the idea that this is a really wealthy couple.
There is to be an art auction, and Alix is on board their yacht under the pretext of giving art commentary for the bidders. She has been recruited by the FBI to see if she can pick up on any gossip or sense if anything is out of the ordinary. She blurts out that she feels one of the centerpieces in the auction is not right, and all assume that means it is a forgery. Subsequently the painting is attacked and Alix is unable to study it to find out what she sensed was wrong about it.
What she discovers is that the wife is unhappy and the husband is controlling and under a lot of stress. One of the other paintings in the auction had to be withdrawn when it was not authenticated. He has sold shares in the art pieces, much like they do for race horses. His investors are anxious to see how much the art will sell for and how much money they will make on the sales.
The FBI think it is like a Ponzi scheme and he is about to hit the wall.
The showdown comes when the two pieces of art are stolen and everyone is in pursuit.
I enjoyed this without the benefit of having read the first in this series.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
If you are fabulously wealthy, there is a lot of product name dropping. Most of it was lost on me, but I got the idea that this is a really wealthy couple.
There is to be an art auction, and Alix is on board their yacht under the pretext of giving art commentary for the bidders. She has been recruited by the FBI to see if she can pick up on any gossip or sense if anything is out of the ordinary. She blurts out that she feels one of the centerpieces in the auction is not right, and all assume that means it is a forgery. Subsequently the painting is attacked and Alix is unable to study it to find out what she sensed was wrong about it.
What she discovers is that the wife is unhappy and the husband is controlling and under a lot of stress. One of the other paintings in the auction had to be withdrawn when it was not authenticated. He has sold shares in the art pieces, much like they do for race horses. His investors are anxious to see how much the art will sell for and how much money they will make on the sales.
The FBI think it is like a Ponzi scheme and he is about to hit the wall.
The showdown comes when the two pieces of art are stolen and everyone is in pursuit.
I enjoyed this without the benefit of having read the first in this series.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
April 29, 2018
When FBI agent Ted Ellesworth asks Alix to help be his eyes and ears during an art auction on a luxury yacht, it seems more like a vacation than a job. Elkins did a great job showing the luxury and decadence of the Greek tycoon's yacht and captures some of the very unique personalities on board very well.
What she finds instead is a possible counterfeit, maybe a murder, and a stream of finances that just isn't adding up. Once again she's neck deep in a mystery involving the high-end art world. This one was a little more convoluted than the first with lots of hands in the pot and tangled webs wrapping around things.
One of the best things about the series so far - I don't figure it out halfway through. There are enough hints that point me in a general direction, but the big reveal only happens when Alix and her "crew" all get together and share their collective information. The fact that it takes the entire team to figure out all the details in the end only makes things better.
The ending of this was quite intense though. More so than I expected, but it kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page.
What she finds instead is a possible counterfeit, maybe a murder, and a stream of finances that just isn't adding up. Once again she's neck deep in a mystery involving the high-end art world. This one was a little more convoluted than the first with lots of hands in the pot and tangled webs wrapping around things.
One of the best things about the series so far - I don't figure it out halfway through. There are enough hints that point me in a general direction, but the big reveal only happens when Alix and her "crew" all get together and share their collective information. The fact that it takes the entire team to figure out all the details in the end only makes things better.
The ending of this was quite intense though. More so than I expected, but it kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page.
April 13, 2020
This novel is the second in the "Alix London" series and picks up where the first novel left off. No more dry, dusty New Mexico. The venue has shifted to the Mediterranean, to Greece and Crete, to large motor yachts (with more square footage than my house). Why don't we pronounce the 'c' in yachts?
Ted Ellesworth, FBI agent on the Art Squad, has enlisted Alix to be his eyes and ears on an art auction cruise. Again her talent comes into play and she gets deeper into the dark side of the Albanian crime world that Ted expected. The final scene with the Greek and Albanian police was well executed.
I like how the relationship between Alix and her father continues to develop.
Again the authors have done their "homework" in writing it. This book continues to remind me of Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon character in that he comes from a family with a strong painter/art background and he's an art restorer.
I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series. Oh, and the Kindle editions are affordable.
Ted Ellesworth, FBI agent on the Art Squad, has enlisted Alix to be his eyes and ears on an art auction cruise. Again her talent comes into play and she gets deeper into the dark side of the Albanian crime world that Ted expected. The final scene with the Greek and Albanian police was well executed.
I like how the relationship between Alix and her father continues to develop.
Again the authors have done their "homework" in writing it. This book continues to remind me of Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon character in that he comes from a family with a strong painter/art background and he's an art restorer.
I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series. Oh, and the Kindle editions are affordable.
November 18, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is the third book of a four-book series, and I can already tell that I wish there were more books to come. I like Alix, the MC, and the way she deals with the people who question her expertise. In this book, she was also good at not letting the uber-rich put her down, no matter how hard they tried. The jumbo yacht setting made me itch to go on another cruise, although the ships we sail on are much larger than even this extra-large yacht :)
The mystery here was good, with multiple elements – fraud, art forgery, greed, ambition and more – that were all woven together into one (more or less) cohesive story. I learned a lot about the art of forgery, maybe more than I wanted to know, but it was relevant and provided a way to involve Alix’s father in the story. I was not able to figure out the identity of the killer, so the motive wasn’t obvious either, at least to me. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and a visit to Palm Springs.
This is the third book of a four-book series, and I can already tell that I wish there were more books to come. I like Alix, the MC, and the way she deals with the people who question her expertise. In this book, she was also good at not letting the uber-rich put her down, no matter how hard they tried. The jumbo yacht setting made me itch to go on another cruise, although the ships we sail on are much larger than even this extra-large yacht :)
The mystery here was good, with multiple elements – fraud, art forgery, greed, ambition and more – that were all woven together into one (more or less) cohesive story. I learned a lot about the art of forgery, maybe more than I wanted to know, but it was relevant and provided a way to involve Alix’s father in the story. I was not able to figure out the identity of the killer, so the motive wasn’t obvious either, at least to me. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and a visit to Palm Springs.
March 10, 2022
There is very little story here
So much of the contents of this book is a rehashing of various backstories already covered in the previous book, often nearly word for word. On top of that, there are a number of tangents into extraneous detail that have nothing to do with the story, and a particularly verbose character from a different series was brought back in this book seemingly just to pad it out even further.
And then, to add insult to injury (which seems to happen a lot to someone who usually just has a bad feeling about a picture), the mystery isn't solved by Alix or even Ted having a major aha moment. Instead, the narration suddenly switches to the point of view of the criminal for the big reveal at the end.
There are kernels of a good story here, with generally well-developed characters, which probably still makes it worth reading, but seriously better editing would have been necessary to make that experience an enjoyable one.
So much of the contents of this book is a rehashing of various backstories already covered in the previous book, often nearly word for word. On top of that, there are a number of tangents into extraneous detail that have nothing to do with the story, and a particularly verbose character from a different series was brought back in this book seemingly just to pad it out even further.
And then, to add insult to injury (which seems to happen a lot to someone who usually just has a bad feeling about a picture), the mystery isn't solved by Alix or even Ted having a major aha moment. Instead, the narration suddenly switches to the point of view of the criminal for the big reveal at the end.
There are kernels of a good story here, with generally well-developed characters, which probably still makes it worth reading, but seriously better editing would have been necessary to make that experience an enjoyable one.
September 18, 2019
This is the second book in the Alix London series and a definite step down from the opening book. I debated between 2 and 3 stars but when comparing to my other reviews, it needs to be 2. I like the writing style of these authors, but large swathes of this book seemed to be filler that didn’t hold my interest or contribute to the story. In the end, there was a mystery and even some action, but really this book could have been edited down by half without losing anything. Speaking of editing, other reviewers are correct that there is a glaring editing error near the end, but it didn’t affect my rating as it could have been fixed very quickly and easily. It is sloppy but you can easily make the corrections in your imagination and the story holds together. All in all, if this was my first read of the series, it would be one and done, but I did enjoy the first book so I’ll continue.
December 30, 2017
Alix London, daughter of an art criminal, works for the FBI and is investigating an art forgery/ponzi scheme ring. She's an art expert and is aboard a yacht as a lecturer. One of her colleagues shows up as well, undercover as the designated bidder for an invited guest who cannot make the Greek isles tour. The murder is secondary to the art crimes. I made the mistake of reading this second installment before reading the first and feel I missed out on character development needed to appreciate the series. I didn't enjoy this installment enough to want to read the earlier or later installments in the series. I prefer "murder mysteries" so it just did not hold my attention. Fortunately it was short enough to finish.
January 31, 2018
This was an entertaining story, but it would have benefitted from another editing. There was a sloppy passage in which Alix complains of jet lag due to her flight to Seattle from Greece. Actually, she had gone to Seattle via Washington, DC, where she had spent a few days. This was such an obvious gaffe that I don't know how it didn't get picked up.
But I learned more about art, Monets and Manets, than I had known previously. And the book moved along at a decent clip.
But I learned more about art, Monets and Manets, than I had known previously. And the book moved along at a decent clip.
June 1, 2018
The pace is a bit slow. It didn't really pick up and get interesting until about 3/4 of the way through. Also, a lot more blasphemy than I prefer in my books. I did really enjoy some of the art history. At the end, it was a tad annoying that she flew to DC, but then the next chapter kept referring to her horrible flight from Athens to Seattle. Guess I'm just a stickler for details. I'm not rushing to read the next one in the series, but I'm not against considering it.
February 19, 2020
Forgers, Fakes, and Murder
Alix agrees to go undercover for the FBI and provide her expertise in a cruise in the Greek islands. Before the cruise even begins, she detects a forged Janet painting and is attacked.
Once again, Charlotte and Aaron Elkins have written a book filled with information about the art world, that is entertaining. I really enjoyed this second book in this series and look forward to reading the next one.
Alix agrees to go undercover for the FBI and provide her expertise in a cruise in the Greek islands. Before the cruise even begins, she detects a forged Janet painting and is attacked.
Once again, Charlotte and Aaron Elkins have written a book filled with information about the art world, that is entertaining. I really enjoyed this second book in this series and look forward to reading the next one.
November 12, 2022
Not especially a brain twister, but an inordinately lengthy illustration of a convocation of people entangled in the world of art; each for their own nefarious purpose. Consequently, the very consecution of narrative follows, facilitated by the confines of the mise-en-scene. Concomitantly what results is an over extensive ponderous chronicle, bolstered with interpolations of witticism characterized in Aaron Elkins writings.
September 6, 2018
At the beginning I had a bit of trouble getting into the story, until I realized that this was the second of the series, not the first. Once I got over that I appreciated all the pieces that go into a fun murder mystery series. Both the main character and her close circle have the possibility to evolve in fun ways.
June 19, 2020
First, let me know that I initially thought the title was clever, but then found that so did many other authors. Oops.
I found the premise of an art expert working for the FBI whose father was a forger a bit of a stretch. I found the idea of her being inserted into an undercover situation "blind" (no training, no experience) a bit odd as well.
But I did enjoy the story.
I found the premise of an art expert working for the FBI whose father was a forger a bit of a stretch. I found the idea of her being inserted into an undercover situation "blind" (no training, no experience) a bit odd as well.
But I did enjoy the story.
June 18, 2022
Hmmm, there is something that I don’t like about those two books but cannot pinpoint it. Story itself is interesting. I like some explanations about art world and forgeries since I don’t know anything about it. It just feels there is no buildup, culmination to the story. It reads the same on the page 2 as does page 152, very interesting but not super exciting.
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