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Woman on Fire
After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual--and very secret--assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel's most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan's help to find it. But Jules doesn't have much time; the famous designer is dying.
Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family's millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis's grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux's clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he'll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family's millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis's grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux's clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he'll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2022
2601 people are currently reading
61270 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Barr
6 books1,179 followersLisa Barr is the New York Times bestselling author of WOMAN ON FIRE, THE UNBREAKABLES and the award-winning FUGITIVE COLORS. Her new historical thriller, THE GODDESS OF WARSAW debuts on May 28th, 2024. In addition, Lisa served as an editor for The Jerusalem Post, managing editor of Today's Chicago Woman, managing editor of Moment magazine, and as an editor/reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Among the highlights of her career, Lisa covered the famous “handshake” between the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat, and President Bill Clinton at the White House. Lisa has been featured on Good Morning America and Today for her work as an author, journalist, and blogger. In exciting book news: Actress Sharon Stone has optioned rights to adapt WOMAN ON FIRE for film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,992 reviews
December 26, 2025
5.0
Re read this again for the second time.
"And I will never forget this... when the museum curator reluctantly handed over the painting, his last words were: 'Isn't enough that you survived? And now you want the painting too?'"
Margaux has been haunting me for a week.
An absolute page turning plot to find a very special piece of art painted by Ernst Engel before it is once again hung on the wrong wall. At what cost would you attempt to recover a painting if you knew what the consequences could be.
Jules, a 24 yr year old girl stops at nothing until she convinces Dan Mansfield to hire her as his investigative reporter. Jules would have stalked him if he had not; and Dan being one of the best in the field tells her the rules with no variations whatsoever, or he will fire her on the spot. As these "rules come into play, it was fortuitous she memorized them right before her first assignment the following day.
From greed to loyalty and trust, who is this rightful owner.
Margaux- a wealthy cunning psychopath who gets what she wants when she wants it deserves an academy award for her character role in this book. There were so many times I just wanted to slap her.
But kind Ellis- I couldn't help loving this man.
Lisa Barr delivers again with a widely entertaining mystery book that creates the perfect cast of characters. Each of them having their own set of issues that lends itself to an array of past topics which stays current today. Also included is knowledge regarding art and masters that is always a gift for me.
From greed to loyalty, and trust, who is.. this rightful owner.
I read fast paced mysteries quite often, yet this one differed after I closed the book. Barr put a notion in my head to question what truly defines character, vs. legacy and inheritance.
From the start of this novel the author made me totally aware of a history during a horrific time period. Does a simple name on a wall define ones legacy.
In that vein, she indirectly carries through a theme of remembering the Holocaust and those who did not survive.
To this day, restitution still remains unfinished.
Re read this again for the second time.
"And I will never forget this... when the museum curator reluctantly handed over the painting, his last words were: 'Isn't enough that you survived? And now you want the painting too?'"
Margaux has been haunting me for a week.
An absolute page turning plot to find a very special piece of art painted by Ernst Engel before it is once again hung on the wrong wall. At what cost would you attempt to recover a painting if you knew what the consequences could be.
Jules, a 24 yr year old girl stops at nothing until she convinces Dan Mansfield to hire her as his investigative reporter. Jules would have stalked him if he had not; and Dan being one of the best in the field tells her the rules with no variations whatsoever, or he will fire her on the spot. As these "rules come into play, it was fortuitous she memorized them right before her first assignment the following day.
From greed to loyalty and trust, who is this rightful owner.
Margaux- a wealthy cunning psychopath who gets what she wants when she wants it deserves an academy award for her character role in this book. There were so many times I just wanted to slap her.
But kind Ellis- I couldn't help loving this man.
Lisa Barr delivers again with a widely entertaining mystery book that creates the perfect cast of characters. Each of them having their own set of issues that lends itself to an array of past topics which stays current today. Also included is knowledge regarding art and masters that is always a gift for me.
From greed to loyalty, and trust, who is.. this rightful owner.
I read fast paced mysteries quite often, yet this one differed after I closed the book. Barr put a notion in my head to question what truly defines character, vs. legacy and inheritance.
From the start of this novel the author made me totally aware of a history during a horrific time period. Does a simple name on a wall define ones legacy.
In that vein, she indirectly carries through a theme of remembering the Holocaust and those who did not survive.
To this day, restitution still remains unfinished.
March 28, 2022
This novel was a great combination of historical fiction and a thriller, with a psychopath who would stop at nothing to get whatever she wants.
Our main protagonist, Jules Roth, is a recent college grad who is determined to work for Chicago’s well known investigative journalist, Dan Mansfield. After many attempts to get an interview with him, she finally shows up at his workplace and barges into his office. She catches him just at the right time – a very close friend has asked him for a favor. Dan decides that Jules can prove her worth if she finds a painting “Woman on Fire” which has great personal meaning to his friend, Ellis Baum. Jules, Dan and Ellis’s grandson, Adam, will work as a team.
There is, however, someone else who is intent on obtaining and keeping this piece of art, painted by the famous artist, Ernst Engel. THIS WAS THE LAST PAINTING HE COMPLETED BEFORE HE DIED.
Margaux de Laurent is used to luxury, she is heir to her family’s art collection and their considerable fortune. Her grandfather had amassed a family fortune, only to have it squandered by Margaux’s father. She is intent on restoring the family’s name and fortune.
Margaux has discovered where a very sizable collection of Nazi looted paintings have been hidden. She stops at nothing to get these paintings for herself and to sell on the dark web to fund the opening of a new gallery.
We travel to New York, Germany and back to Chicago several times. Through Ellis’s memories, we also travel back in time to WWll when the Nazi’s looted art from the Jewish families that they sent to the camps.
There are multiple layers to this story which I will leave you to discover.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS NOVEL:
The characters were very well described. I could envision Margaux in all of her nefarious actions intent on only WINNING and obtaining Woman on Fire.
Jules and Adam were also wonderful characters, I felt their passion and drive to find the missing painting.
The premise was unique, combining a historical novel with a psychological thriller. I enjoyed this great combination and it kept me turning the pages.
If you are looking for something a bit different, I can recommend Woman On Fire, you won’t be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.
Our main protagonist, Jules Roth, is a recent college grad who is determined to work for Chicago’s well known investigative journalist, Dan Mansfield. After many attempts to get an interview with him, she finally shows up at his workplace and barges into his office. She catches him just at the right time – a very close friend has asked him for a favor. Dan decides that Jules can prove her worth if she finds a painting “Woman on Fire” which has great personal meaning to his friend, Ellis Baum. Jules, Dan and Ellis’s grandson, Adam, will work as a team.
There is, however, someone else who is intent on obtaining and keeping this piece of art, painted by the famous artist, Ernst Engel. THIS WAS THE LAST PAINTING HE COMPLETED BEFORE HE DIED.
Margaux de Laurent is used to luxury, she is heir to her family’s art collection and their considerable fortune. Her grandfather had amassed a family fortune, only to have it squandered by Margaux’s father. She is intent on restoring the family’s name and fortune.
Margaux has discovered where a very sizable collection of Nazi looted paintings have been hidden. She stops at nothing to get these paintings for herself and to sell on the dark web to fund the opening of a new gallery.
We travel to New York, Germany and back to Chicago several times. Through Ellis’s memories, we also travel back in time to WWll when the Nazi’s looted art from the Jewish families that they sent to the camps.
There are multiple layers to this story which I will leave you to discover.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS NOVEL:
The characters were very well described. I could envision Margaux in all of her nefarious actions intent on only WINNING and obtaining Woman on Fire.
Jules and Adam were also wonderful characters, I felt their passion and drive to find the missing painting.
The premise was unique, combining a historical novel with a psychological thriller. I enjoyed this great combination and it kept me turning the pages.
If you are looking for something a bit different, I can recommend Woman On Fire, you won’t be disappointed.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.
April 26, 2022
3.5 STARS
Rumor is-
Sharon Stone will produce and star in the film adaptation of this novel.
I can easily picture her playing the role of Margaux, a femme fatale that I loved to hate in this novel. Quite a little psychopath!
I was definitely hooked in the beginning as Jules gets thrown into a terrifying situation. She is a young journalist who was hired to help find a Nazi stolen painting called "Woman on Fire". To say this painting has a history would be inadequate, it has a legendary family saga behind it!
While I enjoyed the novel, I felt there was just too much going on. Quite a few different plot lines happening that distracted me from the main story. Too many characters and back stories. I feel it would have been more compelling at 100 pages less.
There is some romance, suspense, twists, murder, and a lot of "art talk".
This one took a bit longer for me to read. I was interested while reading it, but once I put it down, I wasn't really motivated to pick it up again. Anyway, it was fine, just fine. Looking forward to the film.
Purchased hardback/ Released March 1, 2022
Rumor is-
Sharon Stone will produce and star in the film adaptation of this novel.
I can easily picture her playing the role of Margaux, a femme fatale that I loved to hate in this novel. Quite a little psychopath!
I was definitely hooked in the beginning as Jules gets thrown into a terrifying situation. She is a young journalist who was hired to help find a Nazi stolen painting called "Woman on Fire". To say this painting has a history would be inadequate, it has a legendary family saga behind it!
While I enjoyed the novel, I felt there was just too much going on. Quite a few different plot lines happening that distracted me from the main story. Too many characters and back stories. I feel it would have been more compelling at 100 pages less.
There is some romance, suspense, twists, murder, and a lot of "art talk".
This one took a bit longer for me to read. I was interested while reading it, but once I put it down, I wasn't really motivated to pick it up again. Anyway, it was fine, just fine. Looking forward to the film.
Purchased hardback/ Released March 1, 2022
April 19, 2022
4+
History + Art + a Thriller + Secrets + a Psychopath = yes, please! Right up my street! The art in question is Woman on Fire painted by Jewish artist Ernst Engel, the history angle is 2nd World War Nazi looted art, the thriller element is a race to find the painting first, many involved have deeply buried secrets, some are heartbreaking and tragic others are downright dirty, the psychopath is gallery owner Margaux de Laurent. Charged with finding the painting before Margaux does is journalist Jules Roth for client Ellis Baum who wants the painting for deeply personal reasons. Time is short principally because Ellis is dying ....
At the beginning the novel feels a bit disjointed but it soon beds down and the strands in the multilayered story slot into place. The plot is clever and complex with the Nazi looted art angle feeling more than believable and authentic - this is an author who has done her research well. The characterisation is very good and you root for Jules who is a likeable tough cookie as well as all those helping her on the deadly journey. Margaux's portrayal is also very good with a beautiful exterior and a deeply ugly interior but I'm actually not that interested if she's clothed in Stella McCartney of Tom Ford!
The plot is a never a dull moment, fast paced twisty read with plenty going on to keep you glued. There's tension, suspense, it's horrifying in places with the depths that some humans will sink to, the historical detail is excellent and there's a dash or two of steam (blushes!).
Overall, I really enjoyed this, it's a compelling page turner and just a bit different from the norm. An added bonus is a journey that takes us from the USA to France and Germany. If you like well written historical thrillers then this one is well worth considering.
With Thanks to NetGalley and especially to Welbeck Publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
History + Art + a Thriller + Secrets + a Psychopath = yes, please! Right up my street! The art in question is Woman on Fire painted by Jewish artist Ernst Engel, the history angle is 2nd World War Nazi looted art, the thriller element is a race to find the painting first, many involved have deeply buried secrets, some are heartbreaking and tragic others are downright dirty, the psychopath is gallery owner Margaux de Laurent. Charged with finding the painting before Margaux does is journalist Jules Roth for client Ellis Baum who wants the painting for deeply personal reasons. Time is short principally because Ellis is dying ....
At the beginning the novel feels a bit disjointed but it soon beds down and the strands in the multilayered story slot into place. The plot is clever and complex with the Nazi looted art angle feeling more than believable and authentic - this is an author who has done her research well. The characterisation is very good and you root for Jules who is a likeable tough cookie as well as all those helping her on the deadly journey. Margaux's portrayal is also very good with a beautiful exterior and a deeply ugly interior but I'm actually not that interested if she's clothed in Stella McCartney of Tom Ford!
The plot is a never a dull moment, fast paced twisty read with plenty going on to keep you glued. There's tension, suspense, it's horrifying in places with the depths that some humans will sink to, the historical detail is excellent and there's a dash or two of steam (blushes!).
Overall, I really enjoyed this, it's a compelling page turner and just a bit different from the norm. An added bonus is a journey that takes us from the USA to France and Germany. If you like well written historical thrillers then this one is well worth considering.
With Thanks to NetGalley and especially to Welbeck Publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Read
May 7, 2022I can count the books I have DNFed on two fingers. I enjoy historical fiction and the subject of artwork stolen by the Nazis during WWII is one I've read about several times. Artwork was destroyed, artists imprisoned and murdered, although some artwork was kept and hidden. One particular picture is the main artwork being sought in this story. But, for me, the audio narration was irritating and overacted. And then there was all the lusting and sex and foulness and I just couldn't finish the story and shut it down at about 35%. Do read the other reviews because there are so many by folks who loved this story.
March 12, 2022
Wow. I think Lisa Barr just gets better and better, and if you’ve read The Unbreakables or Fugitive Colors, you know her books are already outstanding.
About the book: “From the author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables, a gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece--forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth.”
I love love love a historical thriller, which combines two of my favorite genres. I also love any story involving art. The characters, especially the women, are strong and hard as nails. Margaux and Jules are both on the hunt for this missing painting. Jules was my favorite of the two, but Margaux is unforgettable and diabolical.
Woman on Fire is a clever, thrilling adventure with a touch of romance and a stunning historical backdrop that kept me fully invested from start to finish. Highly recommended if you are looking for a fresh take on hist fic!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
About the book: “From the author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables, a gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece--forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth.”
I love love love a historical thriller, which combines two of my favorite genres. I also love any story involving art. The characters, especially the women, are strong and hard as nails. Margaux and Jules are both on the hunt for this missing painting. Jules was my favorite of the two, but Margaux is unforgettable and diabolical.
Woman on Fire is a clever, thrilling adventure with a touch of romance and a stunning historical backdrop that kept me fully invested from start to finish. Highly recommended if you are looking for a fresh take on hist fic!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 17, 2022
Unfortunately, it looks like I’m in the minority here because I did not like Woman on Fire. From what I have read by other reviewers, the book supposed to be an interesting and sexy thriller that mixes the historical fiction and heist genres to create a suspenseful crime story. For me, however, this book wasn’t even interesting, never mind sexy and thrilling. It fell extremely flat, and I’ll use this review to explore why.
First things first, the writing style just didn’t jive with me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the prose. I always avoid present tense writing in general (there are only certain stories this works for, and I don’t think this novel is an example of that). I also felt like it focused on a lot of random details - like the exact descriptions of clothes - while skipping over very important details. I feel like the author TRIED to describe certain things, such as the titular painting and the true scope of Margoux’s psychopathy, but didn’t do those important details justice. Instead, I had to read about bandage dresses.
On that note… for a book about art, I felt like it completely lacked artistic prose and a well-drawn atmosphere. It sacrificed character, setting, and mood for plot (a sort of unrealistic plot at that), and that sacrifice was far from worth it. Every single character was one-note. They each COULD be interesting: the stubborn journalist, the psychopathic art dealer, the recovering addict and artist, etc. But yet each character was barely a sum of their parts. They felt like they were just their descriptors, and never jumped off the page as realistic people. They were more just plot points, which made the book feel boring. All dialogue and interactions are also extremely stiff and unrealistic (“I will do that” versus “I’ll do that” - a simple fix that the author and editors refused to fix for some reason). There’s a lot of random “sexy” scenes as well, none of which were sexy at all. They felt awkward, both in their writing and the way they came about. It just didn’t work.
Overall, the book didn’t work for me. It wasn’t thrilling or sexy, and fell extremely flat. Sorry!
First things first, the writing style just didn’t jive with me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the prose. I always avoid present tense writing in general (there are only certain stories this works for, and I don’t think this novel is an example of that). I also felt like it focused on a lot of random details - like the exact descriptions of clothes - while skipping over very important details. I feel like the author TRIED to describe certain things, such as the titular painting and the true scope of Margoux’s psychopathy, but didn’t do those important details justice. Instead, I had to read about bandage dresses.
On that note… for a book about art, I felt like it completely lacked artistic prose and a well-drawn atmosphere. It sacrificed character, setting, and mood for plot (a sort of unrealistic plot at that), and that sacrifice was far from worth it. Every single character was one-note. They each COULD be interesting: the stubborn journalist, the psychopathic art dealer, the recovering addict and artist, etc. But yet each character was barely a sum of their parts. They felt like they were just their descriptors, and never jumped off the page as realistic people. They were more just plot points, which made the book feel boring. All dialogue and interactions are also extremely stiff and unrealistic (“I will do that” versus “I’ll do that” - a simple fix that the author and editors refused to fix for some reason). There’s a lot of random “sexy” scenes as well, none of which were sexy at all. They felt awkward, both in their writing and the way they came about. It just didn’t work.
Overall, the book didn’t work for me. It wasn’t thrilling or sexy, and fell extremely flat. Sorry!
April 14, 2022
Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr lived up to all my expectations and then some. I listened to the audio CD that was brilliantly performed by Carlotta Brentan. This was the first book that I have read by Lisa Barr but I would most definitely read her prior books and look forward to reading her forthcoming books as well. Lisa Barr masterfully combined my two favorite genres of historical fiction and thriller into a powerful, riveting and suspenseful novel. Her character development included two strong female protagonists who were the complete opposites of one another and a cast of secondary characters that were believable, richly drawn and complex. The plot was filled with lots of history, secrets, twists and turns, deception, atrocities and the very idea of good vs evil. It was fast paced and such an emotional story that I still find myself thinking about it.
Jules Roth, a young journalist, could best be described as ambitious, determined, brave, confident and gutsy. She always knew that someday she would work for Dan Mansfield, the best investigative reporter in the industry. Jules did not secure her position in the conventional way, but the results were well worth it. Her first assignment was one she was not prepared for. Dan Mansfield commissioned Jules to help him find a painting that was stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Dan’s good friend, Ellis Baum, the famous shoe designer, solicited Dan’s expertise to help him recover a painting that Ernst Engel painted long ago called Woman on Fire. Ellis Baum had hidden the fact from all that knew him, up to this point, that he grew up in Nazi Germany and was forced into hiding in order to survive the war. Woman on Fire depicted a beautiful and mysterious woman. It was the last painting Ernst Engel ever painted. This painting meant a lot to Ellis Baum. He wanted it in his possession. It was so important to Ellis. Jules was to help Dan figure out where Woman on Fire was now and get it back for Ellis. The Nazis had stolen it all those years ago and it had not been seen since then. Time was of an essence, though. Ellis had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and did not have long to live. Also helping Dan and Jules was Ellis’s grandson, Adam. All of them believed that Margaux de Laurent, ruthless, powerful and cutthroat heir to her family’s art gallery in France and dwindling fortune, was most certainly searching for Woman on Fire as well. Margaux was used to getting whatever she set her mind on. She always won. Margaux was the queen of deception and used her beauty to pin one against another to her advantage. In the end, Jules and Margaux would vie against each other and stop at nothing until one of them was successful at recovering Woman on Fire. Who would end up being victorious?
Lisa Barr’s talent as a masterful storyteller was evident throughout Woman on Fire. Her research was impeccable. She was able to cast a pointed finger at the dark period of history when evil and greed dominated the art world under the Nazis. They stole, sold and destroyed “banned” art for their own pleasure and profits. I have read other books about stolen art by the Nazis but Woman on Fire touched me deeply. Woman on Fire was an unforgettable story. It was about family, love, secrets, bravery, deception, corruption, greed, courage, dedication, heroism, murder and courage. I loved the characters, at least most of them, and I still find myself thinking about them. It was beautifully written and Lisa Barr made me feel as if I was standing in front of much of the art she depicted in the book. It was that vividly described. Woman on Fire was so intense at times I felt myself holding my breathe. I shed a tear or two but also found myself smiling during parts of the book as well. I really enjoyed Woman on Fire and highly recommend it.
Jules Roth, a young journalist, could best be described as ambitious, determined, brave, confident and gutsy. She always knew that someday she would work for Dan Mansfield, the best investigative reporter in the industry. Jules did not secure her position in the conventional way, but the results were well worth it. Her first assignment was one she was not prepared for. Dan Mansfield commissioned Jules to help him find a painting that was stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Dan’s good friend, Ellis Baum, the famous shoe designer, solicited Dan’s expertise to help him recover a painting that Ernst Engel painted long ago called Woman on Fire. Ellis Baum had hidden the fact from all that knew him, up to this point, that he grew up in Nazi Germany and was forced into hiding in order to survive the war. Woman on Fire depicted a beautiful and mysterious woman. It was the last painting Ernst Engel ever painted. This painting meant a lot to Ellis Baum. He wanted it in his possession. It was so important to Ellis. Jules was to help Dan figure out where Woman on Fire was now and get it back for Ellis. The Nazis had stolen it all those years ago and it had not been seen since then. Time was of an essence, though. Ellis had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and did not have long to live. Also helping Dan and Jules was Ellis’s grandson, Adam. All of them believed that Margaux de Laurent, ruthless, powerful and cutthroat heir to her family’s art gallery in France and dwindling fortune, was most certainly searching for Woman on Fire as well. Margaux was used to getting whatever she set her mind on. She always won. Margaux was the queen of deception and used her beauty to pin one against another to her advantage. In the end, Jules and Margaux would vie against each other and stop at nothing until one of them was successful at recovering Woman on Fire. Who would end up being victorious?
Lisa Barr’s talent as a masterful storyteller was evident throughout Woman on Fire. Her research was impeccable. She was able to cast a pointed finger at the dark period of history when evil and greed dominated the art world under the Nazis. They stole, sold and destroyed “banned” art for their own pleasure and profits. I have read other books about stolen art by the Nazis but Woman on Fire touched me deeply. Woman on Fire was an unforgettable story. It was about family, love, secrets, bravery, deception, corruption, greed, courage, dedication, heroism, murder and courage. I loved the characters, at least most of them, and I still find myself thinking about them. It was beautifully written and Lisa Barr made me feel as if I was standing in front of much of the art she depicted in the book. It was that vividly described. Woman on Fire was so intense at times I felt myself holding my breathe. I shed a tear or two but also found myself smiling during parts of the book as well. I really enjoyed Woman on Fire and highly recommend it.
November 10, 2022
Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr
Synopsis /
After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual--and very secret--assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel's most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan's help to find it. But Jules doesn't have much time; the famous designer is dying.
Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family's millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis's grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux's clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he'll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
My Thoughts /
Woman on Fire is the latest offering from New York Times bestselling author, Lisa Barr.
To borrow a line from the ‘Survivor’ franchise: outwit, outplay, outlast. This is the perfect metaphor to describe the plot of Woman on Fire, and the skills required that will ultimately win them the prize. This is the story of a race between two people. The players - a young journalist, Jules Roth; and the rival, Margaux de Laurent (heir to her art collector family’s millions). The prize – a painting. ‘Woman on Fire’ which was painted by legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel. The ‘Woman on Fire’ is thought to be his most famous work, and it’s missing. In fact, it hasn’t been seen since it was stolen by the Nazis some 75 years ago.
If Lisa Barr is not a name you are familiar with, I recommend you become quickly acquainted. Well known for her engaging and thrilling historical fiction and suspense novels, she’s a gifted writer with a lot to offer the reader. Her writing style is direct and to the point (YAY!). Her protagonists and general character creation excels - they feel altogether real and completely genuine. Her prose is eloquently descriptive: This place is stunning, she thinks, taking in the vast mountain range in front of her, a bumpy silhouette against the inky sky. And the stars are so huge and luminous, as though someone tripped and thousands of diamonds fell out of a black velvet bag, scattering everywhere. Case in point. Yes, I’m fangirling – but if you read a book which evoked skin tingling emotions in you, you would be too.
The story opens fairly dramatically, with a kidnapping and the following dialogue - “Why didn’t she run or scream when she had the chance? Is this damn painting worth her life and those of the people she loves?”
Jules Roth is an investigative reporter, or at least she’s dying to be one. That’s what she tells herself when she pushes her way into Dan Mansfield’s office and demands that he hire her. Dan is a leading investigative reporter and editor of a Chicago newspaper and Jules has her sights set on joining his team. Jules’ resourcefulness impresses Dan, so he recruits her and immediately puts her to work to help locate a painting stolen by the Nazis during WWII, some 75 years earlier. The painting, ‘Woman on Fire’, was purported to be the final work of expressionist artist Ernst Engel, reportedly executed by Hitler’s art police.
Also on the trail of ‘Woman on Fire’ is New York art impresario, Margaux de Laurent. Margaux’s reasons for wanting the painting are twofold, she wants to retrieve the painting to honour her grandfather, Charles de Laurent. Charles, a French-Jewish art dealer, had saved many works of art from the Nazis (including ‘Woman on Fire’) before being forced to sell them to renown German art thief, Helmuth Geisler. And secondly, to save her own heritage – the De Laurent Galleries.
Margaux is used to getting her own way, and now, the only thing preventing that happening is Jules Roth.
What follows is a gripping page turner, enhanced wonderfully with underlying themes of love and sacrifice, power and greed, the beauty of art and the corruption in the art world, and the destructive cruelty of war.
Lives will be lost in this story, but who will outwit, outplay, outlast to survive.
Synopsis /
After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual--and very secret--assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel's most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan's help to find it. But Jules doesn't have much time; the famous designer is dying.
Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family's millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis's grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux's clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he'll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
My Thoughts /
Woman on Fire is the latest offering from New York Times bestselling author, Lisa Barr.
To borrow a line from the ‘Survivor’ franchise: outwit, outplay, outlast. This is the perfect metaphor to describe the plot of Woman on Fire, and the skills required that will ultimately win them the prize. This is the story of a race between two people. The players - a young journalist, Jules Roth; and the rival, Margaux de Laurent (heir to her art collector family’s millions). The prize – a painting. ‘Woman on Fire’ which was painted by legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel. The ‘Woman on Fire’ is thought to be his most famous work, and it’s missing. In fact, it hasn’t been seen since it was stolen by the Nazis some 75 years ago.
If Lisa Barr is not a name you are familiar with, I recommend you become quickly acquainted. Well known for her engaging and thrilling historical fiction and suspense novels, she’s a gifted writer with a lot to offer the reader. Her writing style is direct and to the point (YAY!). Her protagonists and general character creation excels - they feel altogether real and completely genuine. Her prose is eloquently descriptive: This place is stunning, she thinks, taking in the vast mountain range in front of her, a bumpy silhouette against the inky sky. And the stars are so huge and luminous, as though someone tripped and thousands of diamonds fell out of a black velvet bag, scattering everywhere. Case in point. Yes, I’m fangirling – but if you read a book which evoked skin tingling emotions in you, you would be too.
The story opens fairly dramatically, with a kidnapping and the following dialogue - “Why didn’t she run or scream when she had the chance? Is this damn painting worth her life and those of the people she loves?”
Jules Roth is an investigative reporter, or at least she’s dying to be one. That’s what she tells herself when she pushes her way into Dan Mansfield’s office and demands that he hire her. Dan is a leading investigative reporter and editor of a Chicago newspaper and Jules has her sights set on joining his team. Jules’ resourcefulness impresses Dan, so he recruits her and immediately puts her to work to help locate a painting stolen by the Nazis during WWII, some 75 years earlier. The painting, ‘Woman on Fire’, was purported to be the final work of expressionist artist Ernst Engel, reportedly executed by Hitler’s art police.
Also on the trail of ‘Woman on Fire’ is New York art impresario, Margaux de Laurent. Margaux’s reasons for wanting the painting are twofold, she wants to retrieve the painting to honour her grandfather, Charles de Laurent. Charles, a French-Jewish art dealer, had saved many works of art from the Nazis (including ‘Woman on Fire’) before being forced to sell them to renown German art thief, Helmuth Geisler. And secondly, to save her own heritage – the De Laurent Galleries.
Margaux is used to getting her own way, and now, the only thing preventing that happening is Jules Roth.
What follows is a gripping page turner, enhanced wonderfully with underlying themes of love and sacrifice, power and greed, the beauty of art and the corruption in the art world, and the destructive cruelty of war.
Lives will be lost in this story, but who will outwit, outplay, outlast to survive.
April 6, 2022
Wow!
Do you remember reading Sydney Sheldon’s Master of the Game back in the 80’s?
The twists and turns, the cat and mouse and the unexpected actions from the different characters every time you turned the page?
This book gave me all those feels. Jules is an aspiring investigative journalist and pushes her way into a job with a well respected and well known journalist, Dan. She passes his first test and then he begins the story of a lifetime with her.
I’m not going to explain every detail - you can get a lot of the basics from the blurb - but I will tell you it was filled with fast moving edge of your seat dangerous turns and heart wrenching twists.
Do you remember reading Sydney Sheldon’s Master of the Game back in the 80’s?
The twists and turns, the cat and mouse and the unexpected actions from the different characters every time you turned the page?
This book gave me all those feels. Jules is an aspiring investigative journalist and pushes her way into a job with a well respected and well known journalist, Dan. She passes his first test and then he begins the story of a lifetime with her.
I’m not going to explain every detail - you can get a lot of the basics from the blurb - but I will tell you it was filled with fast moving edge of your seat dangerous turns and heart wrenching twists.
January 12, 2022
History. Stolen art. Family secrets. Psychopaths. European settings. This book has it all and then some. Compelling and rich, twisted and devious, I devoured it in a matter of days.
March 24, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5, Thriller)
So far, my favorite read of the year.
This book is genre bending- you have the hold-your-breath suspense of a thriller, the captivating and sadly true elements of a historical fiction, and the heat of a romance.
I adore this book and made sure every free minute I had the past two days was dedicated to devouring this. After I finished this story, I took a deep breath, have you ever been there before?
No summary I write will do this story justice, but here we go…. Bad ass and brilliant young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual--and very secret--assignment… she’s been asked by her boss to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, but Jules doesn't have much time; the famous designer is dying. As Jules begins her investigation she quickly learns the stakes are higher than she could have ever imaged and the art world has a dark and disturbing underbelly.
.. just trust me.
What a story. I loved it so much I almost drove to the author’s favorite cafe to thank her for writing it, but I felt that crossed the line into stalker territory and we need to leave the stalkers in the world of fiction (In my defense- she names the cafe in her acknowledgments and it’s 20 miles away!).
Best paired with a buttery yet light Chardonnay, I will be enjoying the Cakebread tonight because this book makes you want to open up the good stuff.
If you liked The Lion’s Den, pick this up.
So far, my favorite read of the year.
This book is genre bending- you have the hold-your-breath suspense of a thriller, the captivating and sadly true elements of a historical fiction, and the heat of a romance.
I adore this book and made sure every free minute I had the past two days was dedicated to devouring this. After I finished this story, I took a deep breath, have you ever been there before?
No summary I write will do this story justice, but here we go…. Bad ass and brilliant young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual--and very secret--assignment… she’s been asked by her boss to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, but Jules doesn't have much time; the famous designer is dying. As Jules begins her investigation she quickly learns the stakes are higher than she could have ever imaged and the art world has a dark and disturbing underbelly.
.. just trust me.
What a story. I loved it so much I almost drove to the author’s favorite cafe to thank her for writing it, but I felt that crossed the line into stalker territory and we need to leave the stalkers in the world of fiction (In my defense- she names the cafe in her acknowledgments and it’s 20 miles away!).
Best paired with a buttery yet light Chardonnay, I will be enjoying the Cakebread tonight because this book makes you want to open up the good stuff.
If you liked The Lion’s Den, pick this up.
February 11, 2023
You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.
—JOAN MIRÓ
They say ‘what’s past is past’. But for some, what’s past is still present.
Jules Roth, a young journalist, is hired by Dan Mansfield, a famous investigative journalist to help him find a painting which was stolen by Nazis during WWII.
Art never leaves, even when people do.
Woman on Fire is the last painting by the expressionist artist Ernst Engel, who was branded as degenerate and eventually murdered by the Nazis.
Art is not what you see, but how it makes you feel.
But who was the muse that modeled for the artist? Was the woman in the painting real or a figment of the artist’s imagination?
Why must the painting be found, after all these years?
Where is the painting now?
This is a story about stolen art and well-kept family secrets and Jules will soon realize that there’s a lot more at stake than just Woman on Fire.
—JOAN MIRÓ
They say ‘what’s past is past’. But for some, what’s past is still present.
Jules Roth, a young journalist, is hired by Dan Mansfield, a famous investigative journalist to help him find a painting which was stolen by Nazis during WWII.
Art never leaves, even when people do.
Woman on Fire is the last painting by the expressionist artist Ernst Engel, who was branded as degenerate and eventually murdered by the Nazis.
Art is not what you see, but how it makes you feel.
But who was the muse that modeled for the artist? Was the woman in the painting real or a figment of the artist’s imagination?
Why must the painting be found, after all these years?
Where is the painting now?
This is a story about stolen art and well-kept family secrets and Jules will soon realize that there’s a lot more at stake than just Woman on Fire.
June 29, 2022
For the last month, I have been puzzling over why I don’t like Woman on Fire when everyone else seems to love it. I know that writing is an art form and art is subjective, but I, of all people, *should* like this book. It has lots of things I love: a strong female lead, drama, intrigue, and interesting sex. It explores themes I enjoy, like loyalty and integrity. Art history and the noble craft of storytelling are the book's foundation. What could go wrong? Well, nothing goes wrong exactly. The book was fine.
I think my dislike of this book can be summarized in references to movies. So let’s just do that.
You know how there’s always that one girl who wears glasses, keeps her hair in a top knot, and dresses casually, so everyone thinks she is ugly and weird? Then, one day, she removes her glasses and does her hair, and suddenly she and everyone else finally sees her beauty? Anyway, that’s Jules Roth. She’s our protagonist.
And while that Laney Boggs/Mia Thermopolis cliché is literally true about Jules, it’s metaphorically true about every other character. They are all exactly what you would expect at all times based on every cultural touch point you have for that type of character.
Adam is an artist. What’s the first word you think of when you hear artist? Is it tortured? Great! Do you think Adam might, to quote Titanic, paint Jules like one of his French girls? Absolutely. You know everything you need to know about Adam.
Wyatt Ross is a hacker. Did you guess he sits in front of many computer screens in a basement and talks about bitcoin and the dark web? You are correct.
Margaux de Laurent is villain. She’s sexy and rich and uses her sexy sexuality and money for evil.
You get the point.
I feel the same way about the dialogue. For example, this book involves the Holocaust as historical background. Every Nazi in this book says exactly what you’d expect if you asked AI to generate a Nazi conversation.
I guess that’s my beef. The book isn’t bad! It’s fine! What you see is what you get, and what you get is completely fine.
Maybe I would’ve liked it more if it had a little more depth and complexity or handled the pacing differently. But I’ll just end by paraphrasing the Breakfast Club.
You see us as you want to see us – in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what I found out while complaining to the Internet about Woman on Fire is that each one of us is a journalist; and an artist; and a hacker; and a psychopath; and a really, really old person. Does that answer your question?
Sincerely yours, LRF.
I think my dislike of this book can be summarized in references to movies. So let’s just do that.
You know how there’s always that one girl who wears glasses, keeps her hair in a top knot, and dresses casually, so everyone thinks she is ugly and weird? Then, one day, she removes her glasses and does her hair, and suddenly she and everyone else finally sees her beauty? Anyway, that’s Jules Roth. She’s our protagonist.
And while that Laney Boggs/Mia Thermopolis cliché is literally true about Jules, it’s metaphorically true about every other character. They are all exactly what you would expect at all times based on every cultural touch point you have for that type of character.
Adam is an artist. What’s the first word you think of when you hear artist? Is it tortured? Great! Do you think Adam might, to quote Titanic, paint Jules like one of his French girls? Absolutely. You know everything you need to know about Adam.
Wyatt Ross is a hacker. Did you guess he sits in front of many computer screens in a basement and talks about bitcoin and the dark web? You are correct.
Margaux de Laurent is villain. She’s sexy and rich and uses her sexy sexuality and money for evil.
You get the point.
I feel the same way about the dialogue. For example, this book involves the Holocaust as historical background. Every Nazi in this book says exactly what you’d expect if you asked AI to generate a Nazi conversation.
I guess that’s my beef. The book isn’t bad! It’s fine! What you see is what you get, and what you get is completely fine.
Maybe I would’ve liked it more if it had a little more depth and complexity or handled the pacing differently. But I’ll just end by paraphrasing the Breakfast Club.
You see us as you want to see us – in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what I found out while complaining to the Internet about Woman on Fire is that each one of us is a journalist; and an artist; and a hacker; and a psychopath; and a really, really old person. Does that answer your question?
Sincerely yours, LRF.
Read
September 7, 2022(DNF)
The description of this book is amazing and I was really excited when I received an advance copy through Edelweiss. I wanted to adore it so badly, but sadly the writing style didn't work well for me.
I want to start off with the positives—the story itself is great and Barr clearly put a lot of research into the historical component of it. There are so many amazing ideas here, but it was the execution of them that didn't really work for me personally.
I felt as though several characters were introduced too quickly, which made plot a little hard to follow right off the bat. Some traumatic aspects of their lives were also revealed very early on, but it didn't hold as much emotional weight with me as it could have because I felt like I didn't know these people well enough yet to emphasize with them on a deep level. It also felt unnecessarily sexualized at times, and there were some instances where the way women were talked about made me uncomfortable even when the narrator clearly wasn't intended to be a morally "good" person. I didn't feel like the sexual content in the portion of the book that I read added much of substance to the story.
All in all, I think the writing style lacked a sense of subtlety that I prefer and I had some trouble suspending disbelief about some of the more outlandish aspects. But plenty of other people seem to have enjoyed this book a lot, so I really think it was just a matter of personal preference for me.
The description of this book is amazing and I was really excited when I received an advance copy through Edelweiss. I wanted to adore it so badly, but sadly the writing style didn't work well for me.
I want to start off with the positives—the story itself is great and Barr clearly put a lot of research into the historical component of it. There are so many amazing ideas here, but it was the execution of them that didn't really work for me personally.
I felt as though several characters were introduced too quickly, which made plot a little hard to follow right off the bat. Some traumatic aspects of their lives were also revealed very early on, but it didn't hold as much emotional weight with me as it could have because I felt like I didn't know these people well enough yet to emphasize with them on a deep level. It also felt unnecessarily sexualized at times, and there were some instances where the way women were talked about made me uncomfortable even when the narrator clearly wasn't intended to be a morally "good" person. I didn't feel like the sexual content in the portion of the book that I read added much of substance to the story.
All in all, I think the writing style lacked a sense of subtlety that I prefer and I had some trouble suspending disbelief about some of the more outlandish aspects. But plenty of other people seem to have enjoyed this book a lot, so I really think it was just a matter of personal preference for me.
August 24, 2022
Nothing like an old fashioned psychopath to represent a book, Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr, about stolen paintings during WW2. No doubt with Dan hiring an amateur investigative journalist to find them, what could go wrong? With Dan and Jules on the case in this HF with a touch of thriller novel. They meet up with Ellis and his grandson, Adam. As we go back to WW2 era when Hitler demanded all the art, Margaux managed to get her hands on a few of the priceless paintings. She intends to sell them to replenish her lost fortune. Ellis has other ideas. This is the last piece of his mother. The painting his father completed of his mother.
January 5, 2022
Be prepared to lose yourself in the pages of Lisa Barr’s dark, sexy thriller about the high-priced, high-stakes world of art theft. At the heart of WOMAN ON FIRE is a young, determined journalist who takes on some of the industries’ most powerful players in her search for one painting and for justice. Beautifully written, well researched and filled with twists you’ll never see coming, this is everything you want in a rich, juicy page-turner.
April 13, 2024
This isn’t just another story about an international Nazi art stolen masterpiece scandal.
There is more to this book, when an investigative journalist and his tireless assistant, Jules head out to find a missing painting.
We are treated to history, family secrets, European settings, a fast-paced mystery, and a seriously twisted bad guy character that keeps this story moving.
Lots of interesting characters add to gripping moments of intrigue and suspense.
There is more to this book, when an investigative journalist and his tireless assistant, Jules head out to find a missing painting.
We are treated to history, family secrets, European settings, a fast-paced mystery, and a seriously twisted bad guy character that keeps this story moving.
Lots of interesting characters add to gripping moments of intrigue and suspense.
January 22, 2025
Low budget teen comedy dialogue, pass.
July 7, 2022
Woman on Fire is a book that I have been hearing such good things about. Finally relaxing in Australia this week, it is a great mix of historical fiction, thriller, suspense and a bit of romance. It is the second book that I have read recently about stolen artwork and I throughly enjoyed it.
Ernst Engels painting “Woman on Fire” has been missing for years, stolen by the Nazis during the war. It is a highly sort after piece, one that people will do anything to get their hands on. Margaux believes that it rightfully owned by her family, but at the same time, Ellis Baum, the famous shoe designer, believes the same. Ellis hires his good friend Dan, and investigative journalist and his protege Jules, to help him find the painting and get it back to his family before he dies.
This book had everything… scandal, family secrets, murder, revenge and danger. Margaux will kill for this painting, and has the means to do so. Jules is young , but a strong and capable woman and relishes the assignment.
A fantastic read, highly recommended. Thank you Allen and Unwin for my copy to read.
Ernst Engels painting “Woman on Fire” has been missing for years, stolen by the Nazis during the war. It is a highly sort after piece, one that people will do anything to get their hands on. Margaux believes that it rightfully owned by her family, but at the same time, Ellis Baum, the famous shoe designer, believes the same. Ellis hires his good friend Dan, and investigative journalist and his protege Jules, to help him find the painting and get it back to his family before he dies.
This book had everything… scandal, family secrets, murder, revenge and danger. Margaux will kill for this painting, and has the means to do so. Jules is young , but a strong and capable woman and relishes the assignment.
A fantastic read, highly recommended. Thank you Allen and Unwin for my copy to read.
March 26, 2022
Woman fizzles out.
April 11, 2022
Woman on Fire
, Lisa Barr's newest book, is both a thriller and a story of family, legacy, betrayal, and courage. It feels like a movie—and has been optioned by Sharon Stone!
Jules Roth is a courageous young journalist, determined to work for legendary investigate journalist Dan Mansfield. After she talks her way into a job, she gets a top-secret assignment: a friend of Dan’s has asked him to find a famous painting, “Woman on Fire,” which was one of many works of art stolen by the Nazis years ago. The painting matters to Dan’s friend, renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum, for very personal reasons.
But Ellis isn’t the only one who wants the painting. Gallery owner Margaux de Laurent believes the painting is part of her family’s legacy, and she’s used to getting everything she wants. She’ll do anything she needs to in order to get that painting, and she has countless resources to do so, including those outside legal and ethical channels.
It becomes a game of cat and mouse, with Jules and Dan trying to find the painting and what could’ve happened to it through the years, and Margaux working to crush them and get the painting first. Everyone is a pawn, including Adam Chase, Ellis’ grandson and a tremendously talented artist in his own right.
Shifting between the late 1930s and the present, the book explores the all-too-real costs of war, its effects on the art world as well as familial legacy, and how the quest to find truth has unexpected results.
I love the way Barr writes, and this book hooked me from start to finish. There were some elements of thrillers I wasn’t fond of—particularly how the villains always know what is happening before it does—but I was totally immersed in the story and these characters. If you know art history, you’ll find this even more fascinating!!
Thanks to Get Red PR Books and Harper Books for inviting me on the tour for Woman on Fire and providing a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!! And thanks to my friend Louis for a great buddy read discussion as always!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Jules Roth is a courageous young journalist, determined to work for legendary investigate journalist Dan Mansfield. After she talks her way into a job, she gets a top-secret assignment: a friend of Dan’s has asked him to find a famous painting, “Woman on Fire,” which was one of many works of art stolen by the Nazis years ago. The painting matters to Dan’s friend, renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum, for very personal reasons.
But Ellis isn’t the only one who wants the painting. Gallery owner Margaux de Laurent believes the painting is part of her family’s legacy, and she’s used to getting everything she wants. She’ll do anything she needs to in order to get that painting, and she has countless resources to do so, including those outside legal and ethical channels.
It becomes a game of cat and mouse, with Jules and Dan trying to find the painting and what could’ve happened to it through the years, and Margaux working to crush them and get the painting first. Everyone is a pawn, including Adam Chase, Ellis’ grandson and a tremendously talented artist in his own right.
Shifting between the late 1930s and the present, the book explores the all-too-real costs of war, its effects on the art world as well as familial legacy, and how the quest to find truth has unexpected results.
I love the way Barr writes, and this book hooked me from start to finish. There were some elements of thrillers I wasn’t fond of—particularly how the villains always know what is happening before it does—but I was totally immersed in the story and these characters. If you know art history, you’ll find this even more fascinating!!
Thanks to Get Red PR Books and Harper Books for inviting me on the tour for Woman on Fire and providing a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!! And thanks to my friend Louis for a great buddy read discussion as always!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 1, 2022
Such a disappointing book. Interesting story was marred by hackneyed prose, cheap sex scenes and vulgarity. I really don’t understand the rave reviews or why this will be made into a movie.
March 7, 2022
This was so good, and beautifully written! This book was as interesting as it was heartbreaking. I loved getting lost in this powerful story of mystery, art, love, family drama, secrets and more. This fun book is full of suspense, lies and lots of twists.
4.5⭐
Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Harper Perennial for this gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
4.5⭐
Thank you Bibliolifestyle and Harper Perennial for this gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
April 3, 2022
One of the worst books I’ve ever read, after consideration. The last 100 pages make things way worse, and do nothing to tie up any loose ends or answer any questions. It gets worse the more I think about it. I can’t get over how disappointing this was, down to the author’s often clunky prose and metaphors, not to mention a distinguished 80 yr old man sometimes using the phrases of an 00’s teenager. Or every character seemingly grinding their feet/toes/shoes into the ground, which I have never actually witnessed a human doing. I felt that the story didn’t portray the history (the whole reason for the book) in the most concise or logical way- it didn’t actually make sense. I also felt the author took the easy way out, making the villain a “psychopath” in the end instead of a deeply traumatized and scarred person, as it seemed to start out. There were more than a few timeline issues- the timing of events does not add up from what we learn in the first two pages to the end. The painting they’re searching for also skips around and we don’t find out how it gets from one person to another.
I would definitely not classify this as historical fiction or thriller. I love historical fiction, done well with lots of research, but I don’t read or enjoy thriller-type books and this one was not historical enough for me nor really thrilling at all. It was so heavy on the villain (who is apparently in financial straits yet has the money to pay a hacker and constant private detective) getting everything she wants, that what I can assume to be the *big reveal* at the end is not only predictable, but paltry in comparison with all the time spent on said villain. The ending also leaves massive gaping holes of unanswered questions (for me anyway). I suppose I did appreciate that the MC was born in September, and likely a Virgo like myself, which makes sense given her meticulous research. Can’t wait to give this book away to someone and try not to think about the money I wasted on what I thought would be an actual good story about history, art theft and recovery.
I would definitely not classify this as historical fiction or thriller. I love historical fiction, done well with lots of research, but I don’t read or enjoy thriller-type books and this one was not historical enough for me nor really thrilling at all. It was so heavy on the villain (who is apparently in financial straits yet has the money to pay a hacker and constant private detective) getting everything she wants, that what I can assume to be the *big reveal* at the end is not only predictable, but paltry in comparison with all the time spent on said villain. The ending also leaves massive gaping holes of unanswered questions (for me anyway). I suppose I did appreciate that the MC was born in September, and likely a Virgo like myself, which makes sense given her meticulous research. Can’t wait to give this book away to someone and try not to think about the money I wasted on what I thought would be an actual good story about history, art theft and recovery.
February 26, 2023
There are a handful of authors that I consider my top tier, and I know going into their books that I will love them, and one of those authors is Lisa Barr. Ever since I read and loved her last novel The Unbreakables way back in June of 2019, I have been dying for her to release another and all that waiting certainly paid off. Woman on Fire has suspense and intrigue for days, and there is nothing I love more than women on the hunt for justice. I know a little bit about the art that was stolen by the Nazis and never given back, but I've only ever seen it through watching movies and reading fictional books. Although this book is fiction as well, I would still like to think I learned even more than I knew before.
This is an incredible story to listen to on audio, and Carlotta Brentan's narration gave me life. She was just so perfect for this book that even though there is more than one POV in the novel, she made it so I didn't even care that there wasn't another narrator. Writing this review now, after reading it so long ago is making me excited about listening to Woman on Fire AGAIN, and I sense a reread (AKA listen) in my not-too-distant future. Words can’t even describe just how completely this book blew me away, and if you are a fan of historical fiction even a little bit, I encourage you to pick it up and get lost in this amazing read.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
This is an incredible story to listen to on audio, and Carlotta Brentan's narration gave me life. She was just so perfect for this book that even though there is more than one POV in the novel, she made it so I didn't even care that there wasn't another narrator. Writing this review now, after reading it so long ago is making me excited about listening to Woman on Fire AGAIN, and I sense a reread (AKA listen) in my not-too-distant future. Words can’t even describe just how completely this book blew me away, and if you are a fan of historical fiction even a little bit, I encourage you to pick it up and get lost in this amazing read.
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
April 1, 2022
An exhilarating art heist, a manipulative maniac, and an eager journalist at the heart of it all. 𝗔 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 is everything a five star read should be 🔥
Journalist Jules Roth finds herself in the midst of an international art scandal as she searches for a stolen Nazi-era painting. Ernst Engel’s infamous WOMAN ON FIRE painting resurfaces after missing for decades and many lay stake to its claim. We follow Jules and a rich cast of characters as they race to track down the highly sought after painting.
There’s nothing better than a genre-mash up and this story certainly delivers. With a layered historical mystery, a thriller-esque ending, and a romance to boot, there is truly something here for everyone. @lisabarr18 has written a gripping story that is simply unputdownable. I was so invested in the fate of the painting and the livelihood of these characters!
The story was incredibly cinematic and unfolded like a movie in my mind. It’s not surprising that 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙣 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚 is heading to the big screen starring Sharon Stone 🎥
@beachesbooksnbubbles and I are thrilled to host Lisa Barr for our book club chat on 4/27. Send us a message to join the discussion!
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 fiery stars 🔥 ⭐️
Journalist Jules Roth finds herself in the midst of an international art scandal as she searches for a stolen Nazi-era painting. Ernst Engel’s infamous WOMAN ON FIRE painting resurfaces after missing for decades and many lay stake to its claim. We follow Jules and a rich cast of characters as they race to track down the highly sought after painting.
There’s nothing better than a genre-mash up and this story certainly delivers. With a layered historical mystery, a thriller-esque ending, and a romance to boot, there is truly something here for everyone. @lisabarr18 has written a gripping story that is simply unputdownable. I was so invested in the fate of the painting and the livelihood of these characters!
The story was incredibly cinematic and unfolded like a movie in my mind. It’s not surprising that 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙣 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚 is heading to the big screen starring Sharon Stone 🎥
@beachesbooksnbubbles and I are thrilled to host Lisa Barr for our book club chat on 4/27. Send us a message to join the discussion!
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 fiery stars 🔥 ⭐️
January 28, 2022
Stunning, sexy, and pulse-pounding, this thriller has it all: suspense, history, romance, sex, and fine art. Barr's prose is provocative, painting a lush, page-turning tale around a stolen piece of art during WWII and who is the rightful owner. This one needs to make it to the big screen. It would be a blockbuster. An electrifying adventure with characters you'll love and love to hate. It's only January, but I know WOMAN ON FIRE will be one of my top favs of 2022.
May 20, 2022
Where were the editors? Who thought it was a good idea to put 15 characters in a book like this?
December 25, 2022
Absolutely gutted that I didn't enjoy this one as much as I had anticipated.
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