The Goldenacre

By: Philip Miller

Narrated by: Robin Laing

A bitter journalist and troubled art expert risk their lives to find the connection between a legendary painting and a series of rash murders in this “riveting, brutal journey into the high-stakes world of legacy art and inherited wealth” (Denise Mina, author of Conviction).

Thomas Tallis, inspector of provenance, has just arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, to authenticate The Goldenacre, a masterpiece by iconic Scottish architect and painter Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Still dealing with a miserable divorce and the fallout from a disastrous job in London, Tallis is eager to sign off on the painting and leave. It should be simple, as the painting has been owned by one noble family since the ’20s. But then a horrifying parcel arrives on Tallis’ desk, and the threatening message is clear: Someone doesn’t want him inspecting the painting. Now that Tallis sees lives are in danger, he has no choice but to stay until the investigation is complete.

Meanwhile, gruesome murders are plaguing Edinburgh. First, a Scottish painter of great renown. Next, an Edinburgh city counsellor. Battle-hardened newspaper reporter Shona Sandison is on the case, even as her beloved industry shrinks around her. Shona doesn’t care who she steps on to get the best story, and she soon uncovers a link between The Goldenacre and the murders. As Tallis’ personal crises reach a fever pitch, Shona struggles to enlist his help in understanding how the painting is mixed up in all this violence before either one of them becomes the next victim.

Pensive, lush, and tragic, The Goldenacre is a heartbroken love letter to Edinburgh and an unpredictable, gorgeously plotted mystery to savor.

©2022 Philip Miller (P)2022 W F Howes Ltd

Slow going

Not much action and slow paced. Story lines lack major impact. Implied secrets are not riveting.

Good plot & narrator but

Unique plot and characters and the narrator is excellent, but the author has read a bit too much Proust. Some scenes go on and on and on with needless repetitiveness that undercuts the dramatic moments.

Author Couldn't Stick the Ending

This is the type of book that really disappoints. well narrated, good plot,and interesting characters. But toward the climax the author seems to lose interest,and just wants to finish and be done with it. No one in their right mind would have done what the main protagonist did,and it got him killed.