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Young, rich widow Diana Porteous has inherited a vast collection of paintings, but she feels without purpose again. Then her beloved stepgrandson comes up with the idea for an exhibition of portraits with the title ‘A Question of Guilt’. It starts as a joke, but soon they are preparing the huge wine cellar of the old schoolhouse by the sea, in spite of those with misgivings as to its suitability.
Soon Di has plenty to occupy her: a mysterious woman encourages Di and her friend Sarah Fortune, both natural thieves, to steal from a public collection. And then there’s the life-drawing class, where an artist dies and someone steals from him, placing his finds in the cellar.
A novel of conundrums, paintings, moral uncertainties and family relationships, A Painted Smile continues the adventures of two of Frances Fyfield’s most beloved characters and will win over many more fans of quality fiction.
Soon Di has plenty to occupy her: a mysterious woman encourages Di and her friend Sarah Fortune, both natural thieves, to steal from a public collection. And then there’s the life-drawing class, where an artist dies and someone steals from him, placing his finds in the cellar.
A novel of conundrums, paintings, moral uncertainties and family relationships, A Painted Smile continues the adventures of two of Frances Fyfield’s most beloved characters and will win over many more fans of quality fiction.
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Reviews
One of our best crime writers
Fyfield has long found her way into the upper echelons of crime fiction by the dint of sharp psychological observation and stylish, elegant writing. Casting the First Stone is implacable; Fyfield customarily takes us into the less acceptable areas of her protagonists' behaviour, and here she takes this to a new level of intensity
Fyfield has been described as the natural successor to American psychological writer Patricia Highsmith...because neither condemns the criminal behavious of their characters. There are some pleasingly unexpected twists as the plot reaches its denouement but it is the pairing of Sarah and Di that makes Casting the First Stone an enjoyable read. Spirited and engaging, the novel ends with the ballsy pair plotting their next heist together. Count us in.