Does anyone else want to be Eve Dallas when they grow up? Her intelligence, her toughness, her incredibly rich and handsome husband - she seems to have it all. The one thing most of us would not want is her job. Standing over dead bodies every day and standing for the dead to make sure they receive justice is not a career for just anyone. While some cases are handled by the rest of her squad, and some cases are fairly quickly resolved, there are those that follow her home at night and haunt her in her dreams.
This time there is someone with a connection to the world of art who has decided to start killing people and leaving them posed to mimic famous paintings. And they are leaving the victims outside the homes or galleries of well known art dealers in New York. Eve knows a bit more about art than she did before Roarke came into her life, but she is not an expert. It doesn't help that the paintings being used as inspiration are not all by the same artist or in the same style. As Peabody and Eve look into the lives and last known movements of each victim, they also have to check on the whereabouts and the safety of the gallery owners. Is this some bizarre way to gain notoriety in the art world? A threat against the art dealers? Is the link to art merely a red herring even?
As usual, Eve's coworkers and friends make appearances during the investigation. McNab and Feeney help from the electronics division, Berenski and Harvo in the forensics lab, Morris in the morgue, Mira for consultations on the killer's psychology, and Nadine Furst covering the story. The added bonus of Mavis, Bella, and Leonardo giving both Dallas and Roarke some breathing space and positive vibes at their new home also helps.
Some might think that after 60 previous books, not to mention all the short stories in various anthologies, the thrill of the chase would begin to grow old. Not. Happening. Just as Dallas keeps her skills sharp, so does the author. The characters continue to grow and not fade into two-dimensional representations. Each story has its own strengths and surprises and this one is no different.
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