“This author is sheer perfection when it comes to using descriptions and locations that are richly done and offering sharp details throughout the entirety of the story.” – Suspense MagazineWhen art recovery expert Laurel Beacham’s personal and professional worlds collide, she learns no good theft goes unpunished. Incomplete intel and a missing source compel her to make a huge mistake, and she’s … and she’s left with a divided team. Every retrieved masterpiece has a price—and the cost of forgeries can be deadly. This time Laurel could lose not only her best lead, but also her most trusted ally.
The stakes have never been higher, forcing her and her partner, Jack, to go on the run, crisscrossing Europe to evade the criminals. Except instead of two masterminds working against them, they realize there might be three. With no time to lose, Laurel and her team must pool their resources and work to set aside their differences before they become the next fatalities.
“I highly recommend the entire series.” – King’s River Life Magazine
Related subjects include: women sleuths, cozy mysteries, amateur sleuth books, murder mysteries, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), international mysteries, crime capers, book club recommendations.
The Bodies of Art Mystery Series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author Ritter Ames:
COUNTERFEIT CONSPIRACIES (#1)
MARKED MASTERS (#2)
ABSTRACT ALIASES (#3)
FATAL FORGERIES (#4)
Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all.
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Laurel Beacham has taken on one of her side projects, stealing a stolen piece of artwork so it can be returned to the rightful owner. However, when she returns to London, she discovers that two forgeries of this particular painting had been confiscated in England recently. Did she just stop a new lead they could have used to trace forgers back to the art heist itself?
This is a series that is absolutely critical to read in order. While this book does have a complete story, it is part of a larger story being told over the series, and you will be lost if you jump in here. Furthermore, you will be spoiled for some twists that happen in earlier books. If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll know what to expect here, and you won’t be disappointed. While the pacing was more uneven, there was still plenty of action and some good twists as Laurel, Jack, and the rest attempted to figure out what exacting is being planned. We learn more about the characters along the way, and I enjoy how they are developing. I feel like some of the familiar conflicts between them are beginning to be resolved – and I hope that is true. We also get to do some welcome armchair traveling to locations that come alive for us. Once you’ve read the first three, you’ll enjoy this chapter in Laurel’s story.
Fatal Forgeries is the fourth book in Ritter Ames’ A Bodies of Art Mystery series and is an awesome read. The storyline is well thought out, the characters are well rounded and relatable, and the plot is full of surprising twists and turns. Ms. Ames has skillfully written intricate story of deception, intrigue, suspense that kept me engaged from the first page until the last. The writing style flows smoothly with the action starting on the first page and quickly escalating into a gripping page-turner. The author is talented in descriptive writing and much of the time I was reading, I felt as if I were there enjoying the sights and watching the action take place. I’ve read the previous three books in this series and have enjoyed all of them. Ms. Ames provides enough background information that each book on this series can be read as a standalone. I’m already looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a clean, well-crafted mystery.
This installment starts out with Laurel Beacham and Nico (her trusted and resourceful co-worker) ‘rescuing’ a stolen painting before it could be sold at an upcoming auction and time is of the essence. The painting had been on their Beacham Foundation’s radar for years but they are doing so without the knowledge or approval of the foundation. Laurel planned to ask Max, the head of the foundation, to return it to its rightful owner ‘off the books’. Unfortunately, Laurel doesn’t confirm her information before moving forward, which causes her team to doubt each other and places each of them and others either in uncomfortable positions or in harm’s way. Upon returning to London, Laurel learns that two forgeries of the painting they recovered have been confiscated. Nico arranges for delivery of the painting to London but doesn’t show up at the pickup point. Cassie, Laurel’s assistant and art restoration genius and forgery spotter, reluctantly travels to Paris to meet with Max and a foundation funder. Laurel and Jack try to locate Nico, find her source to obtain information about the auction, and track down the bad guys. Laurel and Jack’s relationship continues to grow and she is more trusting of him but starts to second-guess that decision when a second person warns her about him. Jack arranges a meeting for Laurel and she learns a little more about her mother.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
“Fatal Forgeries” earns 5/5 Mysterious Family Photos!
Beacham, Laurel Beacham…She continues to fulfill her responsibilities with the Beacham Foundation joined by a small close knit team, and the new ‘base of operations’ (since the last one was compromised) is fitted with high tech gizmos, but a Chinese restaurant on the bottom floor? Protecting art has been paramount, but the mission scope has broaden beyond ‘rescuing’ stolen masterpieces into thwarting the art heists themselves. This larger mission has become problematic since the master criminals have been elusive and deadly. After inadvertently locating a missing Caravaggio masterpiece, Laurel sets to retrieve it, but it sets into motion dangerous consequences: kidnapping attempts, gunfights, and a mugging to name a few, and discovering there may be not one, not two, but three masterminds puts Laurel increasingly on her own and once again in the crosshairs not knowing who can be trusted.
Ritter Ames once again starts us off with a riveting intro…keeping me turning the page and ‘under my breath’ hoping Laurel gets out of this safely. The plot is a continuation of an intricately planned story weaving through the series of now four books. Fans have been treated to an action-packed, twisty-turnsy, world-wide adventure with new and exciting revelations and characters evolving in their skill and interpersonal relationships. “Fatal Forgeries” does not disappoint, in fact, may be the best one yet! There are some respites from the non-stop action, but even an engagement tea with a college chum isn’t without problems. Along with the ‘goods and bads’ of the art world references to actual artists and their work puts Google on ‘speed dial’…Caravaggio, for example, was an interesting side adventure. Newbies need to know going in there will be a few spoilers. Although there are enough explanations to join in with the adventure, I still highly recommend starting at the beginning with “Counterfeit Conspiracies” to get the necessary background, character development, and engaging experience… But anywhere you start this series, Ritter Ames has created a great series. Perfect for your summer reading!
Action begins immediately with Laurel
and Nico on a nighttime adventure.
Attempted kidnapping, murder, forgeries,
spies, guns, relationships, deceit, humor,
family matters and a touch of romance makes
this a read you won’t want to miss!!!!
Captivating writing with vivid description to
put the reader right there with Laurel Beacham
and her associates. Laurel takes you on a fast
paced, action packed worldwide tour of art
thieves. Thrills, chills with plenty of twists &
turns.
I highly recommend this book # 4 in the Bodies
of Art series. It can be
read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Fatal Forgeries. Thanks
to Henery Press via Net Gallery for the opportunity.
My opinion is my own.
What an incredible series and Book 4, Fatal Forgeries, did not disappoint. I’ve been invested in these stories since the very first book, sometimes even yelling at them while I’m reading. Book 4 can standalone however the characters and capers cross all the stories. Love reading about ‘em!
Laurel Beachem and Jack Hawkes have an off-the-pages relationship that really keeps you guessing. Are they together? Are they just using one another? Aren’t they the perfect couple?? Ms. Ames knows how to keep me invested in these two. The author also takes me on a journey around the world where I don’t have to pack a bag or leave home. Trust that there are such details in the surroundings that you will feel like you could reach out and touch an object or building. Truly great fun.
The story is really fast-paced and fun, with enough intrigue to make me crazy! Some of the things that happen in the book [no spoilers from me] had me shouting that no! That can’t be true! And the “bad guys” keep changing, or do they, and it is a bumpy and winding journey. Laurel and Jack are terrific together, and when they remember that, there is no stopping them. I can only hope that there will be more and more “capers” and adventures with these two, AND their friends and associates! Laurel’s assistant, Nico, is a favorite character of mine as well and I’m always ready to see what he comes up with to pull Laurel’s….back out of the fire.