A review by marshmallowbooks
The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

3.0

This was an interesting mystery story set in the late 1920s and mid 1970s. Two women in different times, brought together across time over the artwork known only by the artist's pseudonym. It also covered the change over time of the Grand Central Terminal, from fascinating and beautiful, home of such things as an art school, to grubby and quite second-rate, perhaps to be demolished for capital or corporate gain.

Overall I liked it. The one thing that would have made the audio better was a different narrator for when perspectives switched between Clara Darden in the '20s, and Virginia Clay in the '70s.

Also, I wish the ending had been a little different, a little less cliched and more satisfying.

Spoiler

I found it very hard to believe that Clara successfully pulled off the act of looking like a man when she was actually, what, a 70 year old woman? As much as I do love books where girls have to take on the guise of a boy to do something they couldn't do otherwise, in this case it seemed more sinister. The Clara of the '20s seemed forward thinking and innovative, ahead of her time for a woman. The Clara of the '70s was just crotchety and mean - maybe understandably so, but it was like she took off the disguise and gave the too cliche "mwah-ha-ha, now turn it over!" type of response. Same with the shifty couple that were stealing artwork, they're kind and helpful, and then turn around with a sneer. It seemed like a cop-out to an otherwise original story.