Woman on Fire, Lisa Barr, author; Carlotta Brentan, narrator
Jules Roth is an impetuous 24-year-old wannabe investigative journalist. She scores a coveted position with Dan Mansfield, a legend in the field. He likes her spirit and takes her on to deal with a private matter concerning stolen art, stolen during the time of The Holocaust. Mansfield wants to find and recover the painting that gives the book its title. Many fabulous pieces were illegally stolen from Jewish people who were forced, under duress, to sign them away, or they were simply confiscated, stolen, and given to the Third Reich, even from museums and such. He entrusts this unseasoned, but beautiful, young woman with the job of helping him to find its whereabouts. Is that a smart decision?
Dan Mansfield met Ellis Baum, the owner of the company Anika Baum Shoes, while both were secretly recovering from addiction, in a private rehab. Baum’s company makes shoes for the rich and famous, one of a kind pairs that cost thousands. They became fast, close friends. As many secrets were revealed, the mystery of the missing art work intensified. Woman on Fire is a painting by a famous artist, and the model was Baum’s mother. She was the mistress of his Jewish father, Arno Baum. His mother was not Jewish. They were never married. He is an illegitimate Mischling. He witnessed the humiliating, brutal murder of his mother as a youngster. Her crime was consorting with a Jew. He wants this painting returned to him to honor her memory. Why did Ellis find it necessary to hide his true identity? What is his real past?
Baum has a grandson, Adam, who is also an artist and a recovering addict. He had been involved with a famous, prominent art dealer, Margaux de Laurent, a very dangerous and manipulative psychopath. She encouraged his Heroin addiction because his art work was more amazing while under the influence. He was quite well known too, at one time, before he became so addicted to the drug. He is now only 27 and is trying to resurrect himself. His grandfather enlists his help to find the missing piece of art. The ownership of the missing and stolen Woman On Fire is secretly contested. Margaux believed it belonged to her father and is legally hers. She did not know, at first, that Adam’s grandfather also claimed ownership of the painting, but she is ruthless and guilty of many previous criminal behaviors, and she will stop at nothing to obtain that piece and others. Because of her fame, she has influence and power and the ability to manipulate others. She deals with merciless tyrants to achieve her goals, and will even consider murder.
The novel is another typical story with fluid sexuality, erotic scenes with bisexuals, homosexuals and lesbians, scenes that do not enhance, but rather distract from the story. Sex and romance are used as tools to move the narrative forward, though at times, the reader will have to suspend disbelief. While the story is loosely based on reality, since art was stolen by the Nazis and their co-conspirators, using brutal means, the underworld of stolen art continues to flourish, and the plausibility of a seasoned investigative reporter engaging a young, inexperienced intern in so difficult an effort to find a piece of stolen art seemed incredible. She is often impetuous because of her lack of experience and immaturity, bringing grave danger to herself and others. Sometimes it feels a bit like Chick Lit or a young adult romance novel with intrigue thrown in for effect.