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Mara Coyne #1
The Chrysalis
Haarlem, Holland, seventeenth-century The city's chief magistrate commissions a family portrait from Dutch master painter Johannes Miereveld. But when the artist sees the magistrate's daughter, Amalia, an illicit love affair begins. Miereveld creates a captivating masterpiece, The Chrysalis-a stunning portrait of the Virgin Mary, full of Catholic symbols, that outrages his Protestant patron and signals the death of his career.
New York, present day: Mara Coyne is one high-profile case away from making partner at her powerful Manhattan law firm, and now the client that is sure to seal the deal has fallen into her lap. The prestigious Beazley's auction house is about to sell a lost masterwork, The Chrysalis, in an auction that is destined to become legendary. Standing in the way, however, is the shocking accusation that the painting belongs not to Beazley's client but to Hilda Baum, the daughter of a Dutch collector who lost his paintings-and his life-to the Nazis.
The case brings an unexpected surprise when Mara discovers that Beazley's in-house attorney is Michael Roarke, a man for whom she once had an intense attraction. But the same skills that make her a brilliant litigator also make Mara suspicious, and she begins to believe that Hilda's tragic family story might be more than just heartbreaking-it might be true. And the man she's come to love might not be who she thought he was at all.
Spanning centuries and continents, The Chrysalis is a brilliant, intelligent, fast-paced thriller that melds art and history into a provocative work of fiction. From the underground Catholicism in seventeenth-century Holland to the unspeakable crimes of the Nazis and the repercussions that reverberate to this day throughout the art world, Heather Terrell has created a fascinating story that will entrance readers to the very last page.
New York, present day: Mara Coyne is one high-profile case away from making partner at her powerful Manhattan law firm, and now the client that is sure to seal the deal has fallen into her lap. The prestigious Beazley's auction house is about to sell a lost masterwork, The Chrysalis, in an auction that is destined to become legendary. Standing in the way, however, is the shocking accusation that the painting belongs not to Beazley's client but to Hilda Baum, the daughter of a Dutch collector who lost his paintings-and his life-to the Nazis.
The case brings an unexpected surprise when Mara discovers that Beazley's in-house attorney is Michael Roarke, a man for whom she once had an intense attraction. But the same skills that make her a brilliant litigator also make Mara suspicious, and she begins to believe that Hilda's tragic family story might be more than just heartbreaking-it might be true. And the man she's come to love might not be who she thought he was at all.
Spanning centuries and continents, The Chrysalis is a brilliant, intelligent, fast-paced thriller that melds art and history into a provocative work of fiction. From the underground Catholicism in seventeenth-century Holland to the unspeakable crimes of the Nazis and the repercussions that reverberate to this day throughout the art world, Heather Terrell has created a fascinating story that will entrance readers to the very last page.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Heather Terrell
17 books425 followersHeather Terrell is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at two of the country's premier law firms and for Fortune 500 companies. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a focus in History and Art History, and a cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
Heather is the author of The Chrysalis and The Map Thief, which will appear in more than ten countries, as well as Brigid of Kildare. She turned her hand to young adult fiction with the Fallen Angel series, and continues it with the upcoming series The Books of Eva. The first book in the series -- Relic -- releases in October 2013.
Heather is the author of The Chrysalis and The Map Thief, which will appear in more than ten countries, as well as Brigid of Kildare. She turned her hand to young adult fiction with the Fallen Angel series, and continues it with the upcoming series The Books of Eva. The first book in the series -- Relic -- releases in October 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
March 21, 2016
Ik geef dit boek 4.5 ster, omdat het verhaal tijdens de eerste 50 à 60 pagina's wat langzaam op gang komt. Ik vind dit boek verder erg goed, ik moet dus ook eerlijk zeggen dat ik de lage beoordelingen niet helemaal begrijp. De verschillende tijden die door elkaar heen lopen, maken het verhaal interessant. Ieder personage speelt een belangrijke rol en zien hoe de geschiedenis resulteert in de gebeurtenissen die "nu" plaatsvinden, is knap gedaan. Het meest opvallende voor mij is dat ik het WOII thema niet erg vond; normaal gesproken vind ik dat soort boeken helemaal niets. Wellicht komt dat omdat het maar gedeeltelijk daarover gaat. Naast het bovenstaande vind ik dit verhaal, in tegenstelling tot vele andere lezers, wel Dan Brown-ish aandoen. In één ruk uitgelezen!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review