Fugitive Colors

Sigrid Harald investigates the suspicious death of art gallery owner Oscar Nauman in New York City. As a lieutenant in the NYPD, Harald must untangle a complex web of relationships in the competitive Manhattan art world while dealing with her own connection to the victim. The investigation leads Harald through studios, galleries, and auction houses as she questions artists, dealers, and collectors. Multiple motives emerge among the suspects, from financial gains to personal vendettas, forcing Harald to examine both the victim's professional dealings and private life. Physical evidence, including paint samples and art materials, becomes crucial to solving the mystery. The investigation reveals the inner workings of the contemporary art scene, from forgeries to the high-stakes business of selling modern masterpieces. The novel explores themes of authenticity in both art and human relationships, while examining how past choices continue to influence the present. A meditation on the true value of art - both as commodity and creative expression - runs throughout the narrative.

Readers found this to be one of the weaker entries in the Sigrid Harald series. Multiple reviews cite pacing issues, with the first half moving slowly before picking up in the latter chapters. Likes: - Strong character development for Sigrid - The art world setting and details about color theory - The complex relationships between suspects Dislikes: - Plot takes too long to get going - Less police procedural focus compared to other books in series - Too much time spent on secondary character backgrounds - Resolution feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (248 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (21 ratings) From reviews: "The art history elements were fascinating but overshadowed the actual mystery" - Goodreads reviewer "The pacing is off - too slow at start and too quick at end" - Amazon reviewer "Not enough investigative work compared to previous books" - LibraryThing user

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🎨 Margaret Maron drew from her own experience as an art gallery worker to create authentic details about the art world in "Fugitive Colors" 📚 This novel is the eighth installment in Maron's popular Sigrid Harald series, following the investigations of a female NYPD lieutenant 🖼️ The title "Fugitive Colors" refers to pigments that fade or change over time - a real phenomenon that has affected many historical artworks 🏆 Margaret Maron won multiple major mystery writing awards during her career, including the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and American Mystery Awards 🗽 The book's realistic portrayal of New York City police work was influenced by Maron's research with actual NYPD officers and her time living in Brooklyn