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The Artist Colony
From the historical fiction author of Katherine Mansfield comes a bold, creative and unexpected mystery.
In Joanna FitzPatrick’s charming and gripping new novel, set in 1924, Sarah Cunningham arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her estranged older sister, Ada Belle. En route, Sarah was stunned to learn that Ada Belle’s death had been categorized as a suicide. The inquest’s verdict makes no sense. Ada Belle’s reputation was growing: her plein air paintings regularly sold out, and she was about to show her portraits for the first time, which would have catapulted her career.
What begins as a short trip to bid Ada Belle adieu turns into a protracted stay for Sarah. She puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle’s devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale. From the posh Hotel del Monte to the windswept sands of Carmel Beach to Robinson Jeffers’s Tor House to Point Lobos’s Whalers Cove, Sarah immerses herself in the women’s artist colony to discover Ada Belle’s secrets—and to expose a killer.
Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the dogged determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.
In Joanna FitzPatrick’s charming and gripping new novel, set in 1924, Sarah Cunningham arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her estranged older sister, Ada Belle. En route, Sarah was stunned to learn that Ada Belle’s death had been categorized as a suicide. The inquest’s verdict makes no sense. Ada Belle’s reputation was growing: her plein air paintings regularly sold out, and she was about to show her portraits for the first time, which would have catapulted her career.
What begins as a short trip to bid Ada Belle adieu turns into a protracted stay for Sarah. She puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle’s devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale. From the posh Hotel del Monte to the windswept sands of Carmel Beach to Robinson Jeffers’s Tor House to Point Lobos’s Whalers Cove, Sarah immerses herself in the women’s artist colony to discover Ada Belle’s secrets—and to expose a killer.
Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the dogged determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.
328 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2021
21 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Joanna FitzPatrick
9 books20 followersJoanna FitzPatrick was born and raised in Hollywood. Her father, James A. FitzPatrick, produced around-the-world travelogues for MGM. Needless to say they were never in one place for very long. She started her writing habit by applying her orange fountain pen and a wild imagination to screenplays and produced her first film “White Lilacs and Pink Champagne.” She loved the work and would have continued, but she had a falling out with the director after he maliciously deleted her name from the film credits. Devastated, she stopped writing and turned her talents where they were much more appreciated in the music biz.
She had no experience, but she made a great impression and was immediately hired by a firm who represented the Divine Diva, Bette Midler. FitzPatrick says Bette showed her what it takes to become an artist; the personal sacrifices made offstage to achieve the pure exhilaration onstage. She also represented The Manhattan Transfer and other dynamic singers and musicians known for their riveting live performances. Her work brought her often to New York City. And when she came home to Hollywood, she missed hailing taxis after all-night jam sessions and dancing until dawn at nightclubs.
So bored with Los Angeles and its excessive sunshine, FitzPatrick made a giant leap of faith and moved to Manhattan with her eleven-year-old daughter. It was a spectacular move. In quick succession, she married again, gave birth to a second child, and was hired as managing director of Gramavision Records. When that company was sold from under her, FitzPatrick’s one ambition was to complete her education that had been cut short at age eighteen to have a career in show-biz. After graduating with a Literature degree at SUNY Purchase, she was accepted at Sarah Lawrence College and earned an MFA in creative writing. Her thesis, SHA LA LA: LIVE FOR TODAY, is a memoir about growing up in Hollywood, marrying and divorcing The Grass Roots lead guitarist, Creed Bratton (who later played himself in The Office), balancing a career with the challenges of being a single mother.
FitzPatrick’s first novel, KATHERINE MANSFIELD, was conceived on an airplane while reading a collection of short stories written by Katherine Mansfield. She spent the next three years studying the short story writer through her journals until she knew her well enough to tell her inspirational story.
THE DRUMMER’S WIDOW was her second book release. It was published after her husband, funk drummer Jim Payne (you read it right-she married two musicians) had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and survived. She wrote out of the daily fear of what her life would have been like without him. Her character, Widow Marisa, showed up on the blank page and led FitzPatrick on a courageous journey.
THE SKETCH BOX is FitzPatrick’s most recent project. A sweeping historical novel with an element of mystery. The story takes place in Carmel in 1924 when the iconic village was a haven for female painters and writers. Her character, Ada Belle Davenport, a famous painter, dies under suspicious circumstances. Her younger sister, Sarah, also a painter, comes to Carmel to find out the truth. Release date: Fall, 2021 (She Writes Press)
FitzPatrick divides her time between a mountaintop in Northern California and a small village in Southern France where she gets her best creative ideas.
She had no experience, but she made a great impression and was immediately hired by a firm who represented the Divine Diva, Bette Midler. FitzPatrick says Bette showed her what it takes to become an artist; the personal sacrifices made offstage to achieve the pure exhilaration onstage. She also represented The Manhattan Transfer and other dynamic singers and musicians known for their riveting live performances. Her work brought her often to New York City. And when she came home to Hollywood, she missed hailing taxis after all-night jam sessions and dancing until dawn at nightclubs.
So bored with Los Angeles and its excessive sunshine, FitzPatrick made a giant leap of faith and moved to Manhattan with her eleven-year-old daughter. It was a spectacular move. In quick succession, she married again, gave birth to a second child, and was hired as managing director of Gramavision Records. When that company was sold from under her, FitzPatrick’s one ambition was to complete her education that had been cut short at age eighteen to have a career in show-biz. After graduating with a Literature degree at SUNY Purchase, she was accepted at Sarah Lawrence College and earned an MFA in creative writing. Her thesis, SHA LA LA: LIVE FOR TODAY, is a memoir about growing up in Hollywood, marrying and divorcing The Grass Roots lead guitarist, Creed Bratton (who later played himself in The Office), balancing a career with the challenges of being a single mother.
FitzPatrick’s first novel, KATHERINE MANSFIELD, was conceived on an airplane while reading a collection of short stories written by Katherine Mansfield. She spent the next three years studying the short story writer through her journals until she knew her well enough to tell her inspirational story.
THE DRUMMER’S WIDOW was her second book release. It was published after her husband, funk drummer Jim Payne (you read it right-she married two musicians) had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and survived. She wrote out of the daily fear of what her life would have been like without him. Her character, Widow Marisa, showed up on the blank page and led FitzPatrick on a courageous journey.
THE SKETCH BOX is FitzPatrick’s most recent project. A sweeping historical novel with an element of mystery. The story takes place in Carmel in 1924 when the iconic village was a haven for female painters and writers. Her character, Ada Belle Davenport, a famous painter, dies under suspicious circumstances. Her younger sister, Sarah, also a painter, comes to Carmel to find out the truth. Release date: Fall, 2021 (She Writes Press)
FitzPatrick divides her time between a mountaintop in Northern California and a small village in Southern France where she gets her best creative ideas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 15, 2021
Beautiful writing and a beautiful setting combine to make The Artist Colony by Joanna FitzPatrick an enticing and engrossing read.
Sarah is an artist living in Paris when she receives word that her estranged sister, Ada, has died by suicide in Carmel-by-the-Sea. She leaves immediately for California to see where her sister passed. When she arrives she meets with the local inn owner who knew her sister and who tells Sarah that she doesn't believe that it was suicide, but murder. Taken by surprise, Sarah isn't sure what to believe so she decides to do some investigating herself, along with Rosie the innkeeper and her pup, Albert.
I truly enjoyed my time with The Artist Colony! Murder mystery, art, missing portraits, strange happenings, colorful locals, and a gorgeous location...it has it all! You should definitely pick this one up! I know I'm glad that I did!
Sarah is an artist living in Paris when she receives word that her estranged sister, Ada, has died by suicide in Carmel-by-the-Sea. She leaves immediately for California to see where her sister passed. When she arrives she meets with the local inn owner who knew her sister and who tells Sarah that she doesn't believe that it was suicide, but murder. Taken by surprise, Sarah isn't sure what to believe so she decides to do some investigating herself, along with Rosie the innkeeper and her pup, Albert.
I truly enjoyed my time with The Artist Colony! Murder mystery, art, missing portraits, strange happenings, colorful locals, and a gorgeous location...it has it all! You should definitely pick this one up! I know I'm glad that I did!
June 9, 2021
“Carmel Bay is a rich palette of blues and violets and titanium white hues worthy of a thousand or more brushstrokes” Ada had written to Sarah with hopes of enticing her to leave Paris and join her. In 1924, Sarah finally comes to Carmel-by-the-Sea where a colony of women artists paint plein-air on the sun-bright beach.
Sarah has come too late. Her sister’s body was found on the beach, the inquest over, by the time she arrives. She is befriended by her sister’s companions and peers, pursued by handsome men, and adopted by her sister’s pet dog.
But things are not right. Paintings are missing. The estate is being challenged. And most perplexing, the verdict of suicide does not align with what Sarah is learning about her sister.
Ada had raised Sarah after the early death of their parents, her first art teacher. But Sarah resented Ada’s decisions and she stopped reading her letters. Racked with guilt for not coming sooner, Sarah struggles with her past as she imagines her future.
The setting is painted in gorgeous language, full of color and light and beauty. This piece of California coast had not yet become developed. The Artist Colony is small and intimate.
Sarah is determined to uncover the truth about her sister. As the deadline looms for her return to Paris to organize her art show, she can’t find her sister’s portraits which were to be shipped for her art show. Along the way she encounters the famous and the soon-to-be famous. A community of Japanese are segregated and Sarah is appalled by the racism she sees. The Japanese are divers in the old way, taught to Sirena, once Ada’s assistant who has her own secrets.
The Artist Colony quietly turns into a edge-of-your-seat thriller with a climatic ending. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Joanna FitzPatrick was inspired by her own great-aunt, an Carmel artist whose painting she inherited.
I was given an ARC from Caitlin Hamilton Marketing. My review is fair and unbiased.
Sarah has come too late. Her sister’s body was found on the beach, the inquest over, by the time she arrives. She is befriended by her sister’s companions and peers, pursued by handsome men, and adopted by her sister’s pet dog.
But things are not right. Paintings are missing. The estate is being challenged. And most perplexing, the verdict of suicide does not align with what Sarah is learning about her sister.
Ada had raised Sarah after the early death of their parents, her first art teacher. But Sarah resented Ada’s decisions and she stopped reading her letters. Racked with guilt for not coming sooner, Sarah struggles with her past as she imagines her future.
The setting is painted in gorgeous language, full of color and light and beauty. This piece of California coast had not yet become developed. The Artist Colony is small and intimate.
Sarah is determined to uncover the truth about her sister. As the deadline looms for her return to Paris to organize her art show, she can’t find her sister’s portraits which were to be shipped for her art show. Along the way she encounters the famous and the soon-to-be famous. A community of Japanese are segregated and Sarah is appalled by the racism she sees. The Japanese are divers in the old way, taught to Sirena, once Ada’s assistant who has her own secrets.
The Artist Colony quietly turns into a edge-of-your-seat thriller with a climatic ending. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Joanna FitzPatrick was inspired by her own great-aunt, an Carmel artist whose painting she inherited.
I was given an ARC from Caitlin Hamilton Marketing. My review is fair and unbiased.
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October 22, 2021By 1924, Sarah Cunningham has spent years in France establishing her own artistic style, more contemporary than the landscapes that have made her older sister, Ada Belle Davenport, famous. She has just attained her goal—a one-woman show in an exclusive Paris gallery—when Ada Belle dies unexpectedly. Sarah temporarily abandons her own career, traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea to find out what happened.
Sarah reaches California to discover that the local marshal has already closed the inquest into Ada Belle’s death, ruling it a suicide. The will that appoints Sarah as both beneficiary and executor has gone missing, as has a crucial series of portraits promised to a gallery in New York. Meanwhile, Sarah herself and many of Ada Belle’s friends question the suicide ruling, and as the details of Ada Belle’s final days resurface, the more striking the discrepancies become between the official verdict and the clues discovered by Sarah and her sister’s faithful Jack Russell terrier, Albert.
In Prohibition-era California, Joanna FitzPatrick constructs a fast-paced mystery in which a seamlessly blended combination of historical and fictional characters battle over uncomfortable truths against a background of brilliant sky- and seascapes, viewed with an artist’s eye.
Interview with the author at New Books in Historical Fiction.
Sarah reaches California to discover that the local marshal has already closed the inquest into Ada Belle’s death, ruling it a suicide. The will that appoints Sarah as both beneficiary and executor has gone missing, as has a crucial series of portraits promised to a gallery in New York. Meanwhile, Sarah herself and many of Ada Belle’s friends question the suicide ruling, and as the details of Ada Belle’s final days resurface, the more striking the discrepancies become between the official verdict and the clues discovered by Sarah and her sister’s faithful Jack Russell terrier, Albert.
In Prohibition-era California, Joanna FitzPatrick constructs a fast-paced mystery in which a seamlessly blended combination of historical and fictional characters battle over uncomfortable truths against a background of brilliant sky- and seascapes, viewed with an artist’s eye.
Interview with the author at New Books in Historical Fiction.
August 25, 2021
The Artist Colony
By Joanna Fitzpatrick
The Artist Colony by Joanna Fitzpatrick is an exquisite whodunit, set to the backdrop of beautiful Carmel, California
The Summer of 1924 we follow Sarah Cunningham, an artist living in Paris who receives a some rather devastating news. She must travel to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where her older sister, Ada was living until just recently until she was found dead. The newspapers, along with the incompetent marshal claim her death to be a suicide.
As Sarah sets unraveling the mystery concerning her sisters suppose suicide, things just don’t add up. Like the disappearance of a series of portraits that Ada painted, or that her sister was pregnant when she drowned.
She is accompanied by her deceased sisters Jack Russell Terrier, Albert along with Rosie an Innkeeper, and an inspiring artist.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea colony comes vividly to life along with the picturesque setting. Joanna Fitzpatrick, captured my interest right out of the starting gate, in this delightful mystery. The writing is on point and brisk, as clues start to surface. I enjoyed the side characters and thought they added enjoyment to the book. I particularly appreciated the author narration of Sarah Cunningham internal dialogue.
Besides the thriller suspense, the author tacles some hefty subjects, like blatant racism towards the Japanese. There is also some clever twist to keep on your toes.
A captivating historical fiction with Intrigue, makes for a thrilling page turner of a mystery.
In 1920s The Carmel-by-the-Sea colony, was a haven for women artists.
By Joanna Fitzpatrick
The Artist Colony by Joanna Fitzpatrick is an exquisite whodunit, set to the backdrop of beautiful Carmel, California
The Summer of 1924 we follow Sarah Cunningham, an artist living in Paris who receives a some rather devastating news. She must travel to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where her older sister, Ada was living until just recently until she was found dead. The newspapers, along with the incompetent marshal claim her death to be a suicide.
As Sarah sets unraveling the mystery concerning her sisters suppose suicide, things just don’t add up. Like the disappearance of a series of portraits that Ada painted, or that her sister was pregnant when she drowned.
She is accompanied by her deceased sisters Jack Russell Terrier, Albert along with Rosie an Innkeeper, and an inspiring artist.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea colony comes vividly to life along with the picturesque setting. Joanna Fitzpatrick, captured my interest right out of the starting gate, in this delightful mystery. The writing is on point and brisk, as clues start to surface. I enjoyed the side characters and thought they added enjoyment to the book. I particularly appreciated the author narration of Sarah Cunningham internal dialogue.
Besides the thriller suspense, the author tacles some hefty subjects, like blatant racism towards the Japanese. There is also some clever twist to keep on your toes.
A captivating historical fiction with Intrigue, makes for a thrilling page turner of a mystery.
In 1920s The Carmel-by-the-Sea colony, was a haven for women artists.
April 27, 2022
What a disappointment! I love reading books about artists and so this seemed ideal. Alas! It is poorly written ; the plot was weak, it was so obvious who the murder was and the denouement was completely ridiculous.
February 1, 2022
Joanna Fitzpatrick weaves together a powerful story of life in Carmel-by-the-Sea in the 1920’s while tackling subjects including misogyny and Japanese Americans passing as white to avoid the racism and bigotry that abounded.
Like the artists of the book, the author paints vivid pictures with her words that played out like a movie in my mind. Speaking of vivid pictures, how beautiful is this cover? I found myself staring at it many times.
Like the artists of the book, the author paints vivid pictures with her words that played out like a movie in my mind. Speaking of vivid pictures, how beautiful is this cover? I found myself staring at it many times.
February 9, 2022
The Artist Colony takes us to beautiful northern California in the 1920s where artists congregated together in gorgeous Monterey. Ada Belle, a famous talented painter dies unexpectedly. Deemed a suicide, her sister is unconvinced and returns from Paris to find out what really happened to Ada.
I loved diving into an artist's world. The author did an excellent job taking us back in time, creating an atmospheric novel that transported me back to the prohibition era.
I came to realize how ignorant I am about the legacy of racism in the US. Although the author only touches on it at the end, I was shocked to learn how our country treated Asian Americans in WW2. Must read more!
I loved the personal connection the author had to this story, what a journey she must have had digging into her family's past.
I loved diving into an artist's world. The author did an excellent job taking us back in time, creating an atmospheric novel that transported me back to the prohibition era.
I came to realize how ignorant I am about the legacy of racism in the US. Although the author only touches on it at the end, I was shocked to learn how our country treated Asian Americans in WW2. Must read more!
I loved the personal connection the author had to this story, what a journey she must have had digging into her family's past.
February 6, 2022
TITLE: The Artist Colony
AUTHOR: Joanna Fitzpatrick
PUB DATE: 9.7.2021 Available Now
This novel has both of my favorite genres, mystery and historical fiction, as well as, one of my favorite spots to vacation in California, Carmel-by-the-Sea. the story is beautiful and the writing immersive. I loved the story line and the page turning mystery. I enjoyed this one a lot!
AUTHOR: Joanna Fitzpatrick
PUB DATE: 9.7.2021 Available Now
This novel has both of my favorite genres, mystery and historical fiction, as well as, one of my favorite spots to vacation in California, Carmel-by-the-Sea. the story is beautiful and the writing immersive. I loved the story line and the page turning mystery. I enjoyed this one a lot!
October 18, 2022
The Artist’s Colony is a sumptuous ride through the Carmel-by-the-Sea as Sarah Cunningham attempts to uncover the truth about her sister’s mysterious death. Atmospheric and delicious, FitzPatrick delivers a thrilling page-turner woven with artistic flourish. This exquisite novel does not disappoint! Highly recommended!
February 14, 2022
This book had potential! I would’ve loved to read a historical fiction about the characters who were part of the Carmel artist community, or I would’ve been interested to read a fictionalized account of a real murder from the same period, or I would’ve cared to learn about the Japanese people living around Carmel who specialized in abalone diving. However, what I was left with was a piecemeal contrived mystery that was quite predictable as to who had done it…
January 13, 2022
Today I'm sharing a literary murder mystery with you entitled The Artist Colony by Joanna FitzPatrick. I jumped at the chance to be a part of this book tour when I realized that the book is set in one of my favorite places in the world, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
What I found the most fascinating about this book is the sibling rivalry of the two sisters, Ada Belle and Sarah. Sarah feels as if she is competing against her famous and talented sister, and there is definitely some resentment on Sarah's side because Ada Belle sold their New York apartment and built a cottage in the California artist colony of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sarah, studying art in Paris, hasn't communicated with her sister in months. Then she receives a telegram stating that Ada Belle is dead, and would she please travel to California for the inquest. While on the train right outside of Carmel, Sarah learns that the inquest proceeded without her and determined the cause of Sarah's death as suicide. Sarah is in shock and disbelief.
Sarah moves into her sister's cottage, The Sketch Box. Carmel to this day doesn't have any house numbers, and most artists during this time named their cottages. She was shocked to learn that Ada Belle, known as an "en plein aire" landscape artist, had become a bit obsessive about her new series of portraits; all of the portraits in the series are missing, and now Sarah has two mysteries to solve. But the clock is ticking because Sarah has a solo show of her own coming up soon in a respected gallery in Paris that needs her attention.
The point of view switches from omniscient to first person (Sarah's), and I liked that when the POV's change, Sarah's point of view is italicized. During these brief scenes, we get a sense of what the two sisters' relationship was like, although we're only privy to one side of the story. It almost has a magical realism element as these internal dialogues with Ada Belle become increasingly helpful to Sarah as she gets closer to solving her sister's murder. The eerie marine layer fog that sometimes covers Carmel adds to the mystery and ghostly atmosphere of the story.
Joanna FitzPatrick did an amazing job researching the history of Carmel as well as oil painting. She even mentions Paris green, a deadly oil paint that achieves its beautiful emerald green hue with arsenic. Although oil paints were more dangerous then, with heavier levels of lead, etc., oil paints are still toxic today with hydrocarbons and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cobalt, and barium added as pigment. One of the minor characters in the novel is none other than Robinson Jeffers, the poet. His Tor House is even featured in a party scene in the book.
One of the most compelling characters in the novel is Sirena, who is half-Japanese, half-Portuguese and passes for white. A talented artist, she lies about her identity in order to participate in the arts in Carmel and take classes. It is a reminder of the book Imitation of Life, and I enjoyed reading more about how Japanese Americans were treated even before the internment camps of World War II.
If you like historical fiction set during the roaring twenties, murder mysteries, and stories with creative characters, then you should love The Artist Colony.
Disclosure: I received a paperback copy of The Artist Colony from the publisher (She Writes Press) via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
What I found the most fascinating about this book is the sibling rivalry of the two sisters, Ada Belle and Sarah. Sarah feels as if she is competing against her famous and talented sister, and there is definitely some resentment on Sarah's side because Ada Belle sold their New York apartment and built a cottage in the California artist colony of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sarah, studying art in Paris, hasn't communicated with her sister in months. Then she receives a telegram stating that Ada Belle is dead, and would she please travel to California for the inquest. While on the train right outside of Carmel, Sarah learns that the inquest proceeded without her and determined the cause of Sarah's death as suicide. Sarah is in shock and disbelief.
Sarah moves into her sister's cottage, The Sketch Box. Carmel to this day doesn't have any house numbers, and most artists during this time named their cottages. She was shocked to learn that Ada Belle, known as an "en plein aire" landscape artist, had become a bit obsessive about her new series of portraits; all of the portraits in the series are missing, and now Sarah has two mysteries to solve. But the clock is ticking because Sarah has a solo show of her own coming up soon in a respected gallery in Paris that needs her attention.
The point of view switches from omniscient to first person (Sarah's), and I liked that when the POV's change, Sarah's point of view is italicized. During these brief scenes, we get a sense of what the two sisters' relationship was like, although we're only privy to one side of the story. It almost has a magical realism element as these internal dialogues with Ada Belle become increasingly helpful to Sarah as she gets closer to solving her sister's murder. The eerie marine layer fog that sometimes covers Carmel adds to the mystery and ghostly atmosphere of the story.
Joanna FitzPatrick did an amazing job researching the history of Carmel as well as oil painting. She even mentions Paris green, a deadly oil paint that achieves its beautiful emerald green hue with arsenic. Although oil paints were more dangerous then, with heavier levels of lead, etc., oil paints are still toxic today with hydrocarbons and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cobalt, and barium added as pigment. One of the minor characters in the novel is none other than Robinson Jeffers, the poet. His Tor House is even featured in a party scene in the book.
One of the most compelling characters in the novel is Sirena, who is half-Japanese, half-Portuguese and passes for white. A talented artist, she lies about her identity in order to participate in the arts in Carmel and take classes. It is a reminder of the book Imitation of Life, and I enjoyed reading more about how Japanese Americans were treated even before the internment camps of World War II.
If you like historical fiction set during the roaring twenties, murder mysteries, and stories with creative characters, then you should love The Artist Colony.
Disclosure: I received a paperback copy of The Artist Colony from the publisher (She Writes Press) via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 3, 2022
Historical fiction is one of my go-to genres and The Artist Colony is tagged as both historical fiction and a historical mystery as a young woman artist seeks to solve the mystery of her older sister's death. I was immediately caught up in the story and in Sarah who journeys from Paris, where she is studying Modernist painting, to Carmel-by-the-Sea in California to take care of her sister's affairs. Although Sarah and Ada had a strained relationship the past few years and were very different people and artists, Sarah disagrees with the ruling that Ada's death was a suicide and with the help of Ada's neighbor Rosie, begins investigating.
I enjoy it when the author makes a book's setting almost another character, and Caramel-by-the-Sea and Ada's little house, The Salt Box are brought to life with FitzPatrick's words. There is a lot of detail about the artist colony in Caramel, especially the young women studying art in a male-dominated world in the 1920s. The sexism along with racism and discrimination play a big role in the book and in the suspicious circumstances of Ada's being brushed aside. Ada Belle is already famous for her en plein air paintings (outdoor landscape portraits) and was branching out into portraits of the people in her world. She also was engaged and excited about her future and Sarah believes there was no way she would take her own life.
I liked Sarah, although I felt like she was very naive and had to yell at her in my head many times ads it was pretty obvious to me (and to Ada's dog Albert) who the murderer was. That made the historical fiction part of the book stronger than the mystery in my opinion, but I did like watching Sarah grow in confidence and maturity. I also liked how the author wove in real life people in the arts (movies, photography, art and writing) into the story with the fictional characters. The Artist Colony is a quick read and I think anyone who enjoys art, the 1920s California, and stories about sisterly bonds will enjoy it.
I enjoy it when the author makes a book's setting almost another character, and Caramel-by-the-Sea and Ada's little house, The Salt Box are brought to life with FitzPatrick's words. There is a lot of detail about the artist colony in Caramel, especially the young women studying art in a male-dominated world in the 1920s. The sexism along with racism and discrimination play a big role in the book and in the suspicious circumstances of Ada's being brushed aside. Ada Belle is already famous for her en plein air paintings (outdoor landscape portraits) and was branching out into portraits of the people in her world. She also was engaged and excited about her future and Sarah believes there was no way she would take her own life.
I liked Sarah, although I felt like she was very naive and had to yell at her in my head many times ads it was pretty obvious to me (and to Ada's dog Albert) who the murderer was. That made the historical fiction part of the book stronger than the mystery in my opinion, but I did like watching Sarah grow in confidence and maturity. I also liked how the author wove in real life people in the arts (movies, photography, art and writing) into the story with the fictional characters. The Artist Colony is a quick read and I think anyone who enjoys art, the 1920s California, and stories about sisterly bonds will enjoy it.
January 28, 2022
It's 1924 when Sarah arrives in Camel-by-the-Sea to bury her sister. She'd been shocked to find out that Ada Belle's death had been classified as suicide. This made no sense to Sarah. Her sister was an artist and her work was selling very well and she was excited about an upcoming show of her portraits at a local gallery. Sarah puts her own art career on hold to prove that Ada Belle had not committed suicide. . When she arrives in Carmel, she meets an assortment of people - some who believed Ada Belle had committed suicide and others who were sure that she had not. Sarah spends time in the local artist colony getting to know other female artists and to find out if any of them had additional information about her sister.
Sarah and her sister didn't always get along and at the time of Ada Belle's death they had been estranged for several months. Sarah always felt that her sister looked down on her and didn't have the talent that she did. Even though they didn't have a fantastic relationship, they were still sisters and Sarah vowed to find out the real truth.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the setting in California and learning more about art work and galleries. I liked all of the characters and even the secondary characters added a lot to the story. I also admired Sarah's determination to find out what happened to her sister even thought she should have been working on her own show. The beautiful location wasn't too beautiful under the surface due to the prejudice towards women and immigrants that was very prevalent and made Sarah's search for the truth more difficult.
This is a great book about the love between sisters - even when they are estranged . It's a mystery with small clues throughout that lead to a surprising ending. This author is new to me and I am planning to read some of her earlier books based on how much I enjoyed The Artist Colony.
Sarah and her sister didn't always get along and at the time of Ada Belle's death they had been estranged for several months. Sarah always felt that her sister looked down on her and didn't have the talent that she did. Even though they didn't have a fantastic relationship, they were still sisters and Sarah vowed to find out the real truth.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the setting in California and learning more about art work and galleries. I liked all of the characters and even the secondary characters added a lot to the story. I also admired Sarah's determination to find out what happened to her sister even thought she should have been working on her own show. The beautiful location wasn't too beautiful under the surface due to the prejudice towards women and immigrants that was very prevalent and made Sarah's search for the truth more difficult.
This is a great book about the love between sisters - even when they are estranged . It's a mystery with small clues throughout that lead to a surprising ending. This author is new to me and I am planning to read some of her earlier books based on how much I enjoyed The Artist Colony.
July 21, 2021
Sarah Champlin is a painter in 1924 Paris, about to have her first exhibition. But her plans are put on hold when she receives a telegram that her older sister, Ada, has been found dead in Carmel, California. Sarah drops everything and travels to the town which is known as a gathering place for artists.
The inquest declared Ada's death a suicide but Sarah doesn't believe that. Ada was a force and she was about to have her greatest artistic triumph ever. Ada's personal life was also blooming and Sarah doesn't believe she would leave it all behind. But if it wasn't suicide then it must be murder. Who would want to kill Ada?
Unfortunately, there is more than one suspect. There is her agent, whom Ada had recently fired. She had also fired her assistant, a young painter who has secrets of her own. There was a handsome rich suitor who was a sailor as well as an actor who was another suitor. Sarah encounters secrets and motives everywhere she looks and doesn't know who to trust. Can she discover the truth and give Ada back her reputation?
Although I have obviously heard of Carmel, I never knew it's history as a place where women artists gathered to make their art. The reader will learn about many topics in this novel. There is the history of women artists, the abalone divers of Japanese heritage, the discrimination those Japanese people encountered as well as the effects of Prohibition and the constraints women encountered in everyday life. The author's own aunt was Ada Belle Champlin who served as the inspiration for this novel. This novel is recommended for readers of historical and literary fiction.
The inquest declared Ada's death a suicide but Sarah doesn't believe that. Ada was a force and she was about to have her greatest artistic triumph ever. Ada's personal life was also blooming and Sarah doesn't believe she would leave it all behind. But if it wasn't suicide then it must be murder. Who would want to kill Ada?
Unfortunately, there is more than one suspect. There is her agent, whom Ada had recently fired. She had also fired her assistant, a young painter who has secrets of her own. There was a handsome rich suitor who was a sailor as well as an actor who was another suitor. Sarah encounters secrets and motives everywhere she looks and doesn't know who to trust. Can she discover the truth and give Ada back her reputation?
Although I have obviously heard of Carmel, I never knew it's history as a place where women artists gathered to make their art. The reader will learn about many topics in this novel. There is the history of women artists, the abalone divers of Japanese heritage, the discrimination those Japanese people encountered as well as the effects of Prohibition and the constraints women encountered in everyday life. The author's own aunt was Ada Belle Champlin who served as the inspiration for this novel. This novel is recommended for readers of historical and literary fiction.
November 9, 2022
As a resident of Carmel, an artist, and a history afficionado, what more delightful reading than The Artist Colony, a novel set in Carmel, dating to 1924, and uncovering historical data points not readily known about Carmel, regional and national history, and art cloaked in a whodunit.
A suspenseful plot—not a suicide as the tight-knit male keepers of the status quo insist—leads to uncovering who murdered Sarah Cunningham’s sister, with whom Sarah had a complicated relationship.
Carmel-by-the-Sea was once known as the center of intellectual thought with novelists like Jack London, poets like Robinson Jeffers, and artists like Ansel Adams and Armin Hansen. In 1924 women were trying to be accepted into this artist colony and their struggles were legendary. The author, Joanna FitzPatrick, was inspired to write this story based upon her own great-aunt’s artistic journey to gain recognition as a painter in Carmel. What a delightful story, weaving history with fiction, including the shameful and inexcusable treatment of Chinese and Japanese Americans in the Carmel community, sometimes by artists and community leaders. On so many levels this is a book that has lessons for all of its readers.
This historical fiction and engrossing mystery will delight fans of Louise Penny and Ruth Ware.
A suspenseful plot—not a suicide as the tight-knit male keepers of the status quo insist—leads to uncovering who murdered Sarah Cunningham’s sister, with whom Sarah had a complicated relationship.
Carmel-by-the-Sea was once known as the center of intellectual thought with novelists like Jack London, poets like Robinson Jeffers, and artists like Ansel Adams and Armin Hansen. In 1924 women were trying to be accepted into this artist colony and their struggles were legendary. The author, Joanna FitzPatrick, was inspired to write this story based upon her own great-aunt’s artistic journey to gain recognition as a painter in Carmel. What a delightful story, weaving history with fiction, including the shameful and inexcusable treatment of Chinese and Japanese Americans in the Carmel community, sometimes by artists and community leaders. On so many levels this is a book that has lessons for all of its readers.
This historical fiction and engrossing mystery will delight fans of Louise Penny and Ruth Ware.
September 3, 2021
Two sisters who are well known in the art world, but are estranged and continents apart from each other, have very different styles and are both on the bring of big changes in their lives. Sarah gets a cable that her sister has died and she heads to California with lots of questions. How could Ada be gone? Maybe there is a mix up- has to be as no way would Ada take her life as they are claiming.
As soon as Sarah gets to Carmel-by-the-Sea she realizes that things are not as cut and dry as the Marshal is claiming it was. As word gets around that Ada’s sister has arrived, she starts getting bits and pieces of what the other residents think really happened. As Sarah starts to research and dig into things herself to try and get the case opened back up, someone is not happy and odd things start happening to her. She starts to now question who she can trust, and who may have the answers she needs.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction mystery novel and will read more from this author. I learned a lot about that area, as well as how many of the immigrants were treated during this time. Thank you to HFVBT for they invite and the author for a free copy of her book.
As soon as Sarah gets to Carmel-by-the-Sea she realizes that things are not as cut and dry as the Marshal is claiming it was. As word gets around that Ada’s sister has arrived, she starts getting bits and pieces of what the other residents think really happened. As Sarah starts to research and dig into things herself to try and get the case opened back up, someone is not happy and odd things start happening to her. She starts to now question who she can trust, and who may have the answers she needs.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction mystery novel and will read more from this author. I learned a lot about that area, as well as how many of the immigrants were treated during this time. Thank you to HFVBT for they invite and the author for a free copy of her book.
February 1, 2022
@tlcbooktours sent us a copy of The Artist Colony by Joanna Fitzpatrick! This was a good one! Make sure you grab your copy by visiting our Amazon Storefront, link in bio!
Sarah is living abroad in Paris working on her upcoming artist’s exhibition when she gets terrible news that her sister has tragically passed away. Ada was a successful artist living in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a quaint artist’s colony in California. Sarah was supposed to attend an inquest by the police but when she finally arrives in California she learns that the case has already been closed and Ada’s death ruled a suicide. As she begins to meet Ada’s friends and acquaintances she quickly agrees with their beliefs that Ada did not commit suicide, they believe she was murdered. The local police are no help so it’s up to Sarah to find solid evidence to take to the D.A. to try and get her sister’s case reopened and declared a murder.
Thank you so much @tlcbooktours for sending us this book! You can also check out our tiktok account to watch us review this book as well!
Sarah is living abroad in Paris working on her upcoming artist’s exhibition when she gets terrible news that her sister has tragically passed away. Ada was a successful artist living in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a quaint artist’s colony in California. Sarah was supposed to attend an inquest by the police but when she finally arrives in California she learns that the case has already been closed and Ada’s death ruled a suicide. As she begins to meet Ada’s friends and acquaintances she quickly agrees with their beliefs that Ada did not commit suicide, they believe she was murdered. The local police are no help so it’s up to Sarah to find solid evidence to take to the D.A. to try and get her sister’s case reopened and declared a murder.
Thank you so much @tlcbooktours for sending us this book! You can also check out our tiktok account to watch us review this book as well!
September 1, 2021
I studied studio art as a child and in college with a focus on painting. Having not painted in quiet a while I really appreciated the intricacies mentioned in this book by the author having to do with canvases, paint colors, brushes and of course, the artist colony.
Additionally, the author does a great job creating a visual of Carmel Bay in 1924 and the artist colony. From the sea, to the cottage, to the art - I could see it all. I also found the historical details dealing with discrimination, prohibition, and individual risks and challenges interesting.
This book is part mystery and part historical fiction. As I mentioned I think the author created a lovely historical fiction piece. As for the mystery, I wanted to feel the suspense and thrill of discovery but I just couldn't connect or become curious. The mystery plot felt slow, disconnected and a little undeveloped. in the end, I knew who had done it all along...
Additionally, the author does a great job creating a visual of Carmel Bay in 1924 and the artist colony. From the sea, to the cottage, to the art - I could see it all. I also found the historical details dealing with discrimination, prohibition, and individual risks and challenges interesting.
This book is part mystery and part historical fiction. As I mentioned I think the author created a lovely historical fiction piece. As for the mystery, I wanted to feel the suspense and thrill of discovery but I just couldn't connect or become curious. The mystery plot felt slow, disconnected and a little undeveloped. in the end, I knew who had done it all along...
September 19, 2021
Successful painter Sarah Cunningham travels to California to bury her sister, also a successful painter. The authorities, and others, believe Ada Belle committed suicide, but Sarah knows this can’t be true.
The author paints a gorgeously layered picture of Carmel-by-Sea, an early bohemian refuge for artists and poets. But the pretty layers of Carmel are peeled away by Sarah’s suspicions her sister was murdered, revealing the dark heart of the people who live and work there.
A deeply satisfying mystery paired with an equally satisfying prose style. Highly recommended for all historical mystery lovers. And I know it’s a phrase I use frequently, but I mean it—I could not put this book down! 😊
The author paints a gorgeously layered picture of Carmel-by-Sea, an early bohemian refuge for artists and poets. But the pretty layers of Carmel are peeled away by Sarah’s suspicions her sister was murdered, revealing the dark heart of the people who live and work there.
A deeply satisfying mystery paired with an equally satisfying prose style. Highly recommended for all historical mystery lovers. And I know it’s a phrase I use frequently, but I mean it—I could not put this book down! 😊
October 23, 2021
I’m fascinated with books about women in the twentieth-century, particularly in the 1920s when women struggled to gain voting rights. But at the same time, women were largely discriminated against in their artistic careers. Fitzpatrick writes a fascinating story about two women artists, sisters who loved and competed with each other. The story takes place in Carmel, California – the descriptions of Carmel are lovely and inviting. But I’m mostly impressed with how Fitzpatrick weaves the story and includes real-life persons then in the town, like Robinson Jeffers, and others. It is a mystery, a love story, and a book for anyone who loves or wishes to paint. Again, the descriptions of the art of painting on canvas are so tactile and impressive. Don’t miss reading this adventure!
January 31, 2022
Gripping murder mystery wrapped in hues of women’s history
This story sparkles like the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Carmel, California, a major character. Fitzpatrick artfully paints an intimate glimpse of a women’s artist colony in the 1920’s, using their oil palates of cobalt blue of the sky and turquoise of the sea to bring the place and the women alive. The mystery of how artist Ada Davenport died — suicide or murder— propels the story forward as suspects and famous artists come and go and Ada’s sister Sarah perseveres until the last surprising end. My favorite combo – Women’s history! California cultural history! Art history! A murder mystery! All perfectly rendered by Fitzpatrick. Could not put it down. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
This story sparkles like the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Carmel, California, a major character. Fitzpatrick artfully paints an intimate glimpse of a women’s artist colony in the 1920’s, using their oil palates of cobalt blue of the sky and turquoise of the sea to bring the place and the women alive. The mystery of how artist Ada Davenport died — suicide or murder— propels the story forward as suspects and famous artists come and go and Ada’s sister Sarah perseveres until the last surprising end. My favorite combo – Women’s history! California cultural history! Art history! A murder mystery! All perfectly rendered by Fitzpatrick. Could not put it down. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
February 16, 2022
If The Artist Colony were just a mystery, it would be a page-turner and a satisfying read. But this well-crafted, compulsively readable novel from Joanna Fitzpatrick offers so much more: a clear-eyed look at the misogyny and racism in the art world, a lush portrait of Carmel-By-the-Sea in the 1920s, when it was both a refuge for women artists and a haven for well-heeled, hard-partying vacationers during Prohibition; and an homage to Fitzpatrick's great-aunt, whose life and art inspired the book. This is a novel peopled with characters who seem so real that they leap off the page, and propelled by a series of events that lead to a gripping and satisfying finale. If I had five thumbs, they'd all be raised for The Artist Colony!
March 9, 2022
I did enjoy this book both for the plot and for the scenery (since I’m a local to Carmel), but there were a few things that gave me pause.
1. In more than one place I found the author had either changed a characters name or used the wrong character name. Made me wonder if my copy was an ARC - but it wasn’t marked as such.
2. For a woman who spent so much time focused on how much she wanted equality for all, Sarah sure fell for Robert pretty fast despite his racist views of the world. I found that extremely disappointing.
3. The ending happened reallllllly fast. We had this whole build up for like 3 pages of action to wrap it all up.
But again, overall it was a fun read and I wanted to go live in this version of Carmel.
1. In more than one place I found the author had either changed a characters name or used the wrong character name. Made me wonder if my copy was an ARC - but it wasn’t marked as such.
2. For a woman who spent so much time focused on how much she wanted equality for all, Sarah sure fell for Robert pretty fast despite his racist views of the world. I found that extremely disappointing.
3. The ending happened reallllllly fast. We had this whole build up for like 3 pages of action to wrap it all up.
But again, overall it was a fun read and I wanted to go live in this version of Carmel.
June 18, 2021
I loved The Artist Colony. The setting of the book in Carmel-by -the Sea was very atmospheric. I loved the descriptions of Carmel-by The Sea in the 1920s. The mystery of Ida’s death keep me guessing to the end. Did not know who killed Ida to the end of the novel. The part of the book about the treatment of Japanese immigrants was informative and a major part of the book. Albert the dog became a favorite character in the book. Would highly recommend this novel. Thanks to Caitlin Hamilton for an advance reading copy of this novel.
September 8, 2021
The scenic area of Carmel is a beautiful backdrop for intrigue and mystery. This historical fiction covers the bias against women artists, the treatment of immigrants during this time, and the beauty of art. I’ve always been of art and both the history and feeling behind each piece, so the book definitely sparked my interest. I enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read more from Fitzpatrick in the future.
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Thank you @joannafitzpatrick.author @shewritespress @hfvbt for the gifted book.
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Thank you @joannafitzpatrick.author @shewritespress @hfvbt for the gifted book.
May 13, 2022
A historical mystery set in the lovely seaside town of Carmel? Who could resist? This novel will take you there and immerse you in the place and time. Even better, the mystery surrounding the death of artist Ada Belle Davenport will grab you in the first chapter and keep you guessing until the end. The book is full of layered characters that are all possible murderers, but you don't want any of them to be the killer because they are so empathetically written. Curl up for a long reading session when you begin reading this. You won't want to put it down.
September 18, 2021
This beautifully descriptive novel set in Carmel Bay, is thought provoking and moving. I would classify this as historical fiction, wrapped in a murder mystery – with many suspects lined up for the murder of Ada, the main character’s sister. The 1920s coastal setting is wonderful, and the story slowly builds, gaining momentum, to become a suspenseful thriller, with lots of clever twists and turns. Captivating!
January 11, 2023
I grew up in Monterey, so I found this to be a somewhat interesting book. The biggest downfall is that it is written in a way that makes sure the reader knows the author did her research. So, every description comes across more as a travelogue or an encyclopedia entry vs something organic to the story. And the characters are all the same--if you didn't have names of who said what, you wouldn't be able to tell which character was talking.
June 13, 2021
What an interesting concept - and a thoughtful homage to an artist and location that have not received enough attention. FitzPatrick has done a fabulous job transporting readers to a time and a place, and her mix of fact and fiction made for an informative as well as entertaining what if...
Thank you to the author and Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity for my obligation-free review copy.
Thank you to the author and Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity for my obligation-free review copy.
September 1, 2022
Ummm. kind of predictable. A little simple, but certainly readable.
At the very least, an interesting picture of post WWI Carmel California. For being so brilliant, our artist heroine is a real idiot at times.
This does however address grave injustices visited on Japanese Americans even before WWII. SHame on the US.
At the very least, an interesting picture of post WWI Carmel California. For being so brilliant, our artist heroine is a real idiot at times.
This does however address grave injustices visited on Japanese Americans even before WWII. SHame on the US.
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