The Braque Connection

Genevieve Lenard #3

by Estelle Ryan

Forged masterpieces. Hidden messages. A desperate swan song.

When world-renowned nonverbal communication expert Doctor Genevieve Lenard wakes up in an unknown location, drugged and kidnapped, it pushes the limits of her autism coping skills.

For the last year, Russian philanthropist and psychopath Tomasz Kubanov has been studying Genevieve just as she and her team have been studying him. Now forged paintings and mysterious murders are surfacing around her team, with evidence pointing to one of them as the killer.

Genevieve knows Kubanov is behind these senseless acts of violence. What she doesn’t understand are the inconsistencies between his actions and the cryptic messages he sends. Something has triggered his unpredictable behaviour, something that might result in many more deaths, including those she cares for. Because this time, Kubanov has nothing to lose.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Art, Suspense

374 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2013

About the author

Estelle Ryan was born in South Africa and spent her childhood being surrounded by African beauty, nature and diversity of cultures. Her first trip to Europe at the tender age of 16 transformed her world into a much larger place, endless in its possibilities and places to explore. For most of her adulthood she’s travelled all over the world, lived on a few continents, explored numerous cultures and still is insatiable in the quest to still the hunger for more life experiences.

She’s written for numerous international magazines, was the editor of a European lifestyle magazine and has seven romance novels published under a pseudonym. With her interest in international politics, arts, crime, behavioural psychology, criminal psychology and music, she decided to combine all these elements in her writing. And so Genevieve and the team came into being.

She is an unabashed coffeeshopaholic. Good coffee, ambience and music in the perfect combination is all that is required to turn a mundane coffee shop into her 'office'. The appropriate coffee shop is chosen depending on the mood, the weather, the type and amount of work that needs to be done, and of course the craving of the day. All of her books have been written in numerous coffee shops all over the world.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was just okay. Maybe I would have liked this better if I had read the first two book. The mystery was so-so for me. The main character is an autistic brainiac who could read the subtle facial and body cues to determine what people were thinking. I felt the author just threw in Latin medical terms for facial expressions to make the MC sound smart. By the end, I was just glad it was done. This was for my LRC2017 prompt #19 (indie publisher).

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

As good as the 2 other books, even if I think that the author insists a bit too much on the personal aspect of genevieve lenard – I have the feeling that estelle ryan is very much taken by the form of autism, non neuotypical –
nevertheless, the thriller is excellent, no doubt here –

I have however noticed one VERY BIG MISTAKE at the beginning of the book = when talking about Braque’ s painting, they speak of « Jacques » Braque – what a blunder !
Braque’s first name was and always has been Georges, and luckyly that mistake was only printed once, but it makes me think of the poor way proof-reading is done -

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written mystery with romantic elements. I'm still enjoying the adventures of Genevieve and her friends. I like that she is a high functioning autistic and we get to see how she reacts to situations and people. I also like how her boyfriend and other friends cherish her and her idiosyncrasies. As at least one other reviewer commented, I don't remember there being F bombs in the previous books, and that is a big detraction for me in this one. And, while not graphically described, readers be aware that the relationship between Colin and Jenny has progressed to the physical. (Though perhaps this began in the last book.)

[T.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gets better and better with each book.
The characters are so well developed, they seem like old friends by now.
I was lucky enough to get the fisrt three books in the series for free for my Kindle.
Now I've got 9 more to go, so i'll be buying these as soon as I can.

[Kathrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I still enjoy to come along on Genevieve's adventure, this volume was a little stale. The mystery was pretty see through, the lack of development between the cop and the "criminals" pretty annoying and the dialogues wooden. I still think I will read the next one in hopes of improvement.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I started reading Ryan's books, I was intrigued by her heroine, who is unique and interesting. Unfortunately the plots have got more and more unbelievable until they are frankly stupid, and the quirks of the characters so repetitive they have become tedious. At one stage these supposedly intelligent people get a coded message from the Moriarty-style villain, so they all rush off to the location without one of them stopping to think that this might be a poor move. Even more annoying is Ryan's inability to write Genevieve with any consistency or even skill. She corrects the grammar of other characters while making elementary errors herself - using 'aggravate' when she means 'annoy'; using 'like' as a conjunction when anyone as intelligent as she is supposed to be knows it is an adverb; never using the subjunctive or gerunds properly. And if you are going to write about art and artists, you should make sure you are accurate. Braque did not start as an Impressionist; his early works were Fauvist. He did not start working with Picasso in 1910 but in 1908. And Klee is not a Cubist; his work does not fit a specific style but was influenced by Cubism, Dada, Surrealism and Expressionism. I won't be reading any more of this series.

[Coco.V]

FREE on Amazon today (9/16/2017)!

[anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked that we got everyone in this book, even a new character at the end. i felt like this book had higher stakes than previous ones. i wish we got more insights into genevieve&colin’s relationship. the last book ended with their first kiss. this book started with events six months after and them fully dating. i was interested in details if their arrangement but there weren’t any.

💔

“Please don’t give up on me.” My whisper was so soft, I was surprised he heard me.
I saw the internal struggle on his face before he moved closer to me again. The nonverbal cues of his emotions were unmistakeable. “I’m not going to give up on you, Jenny. I love you.”

“I looked at Colin. “I need you.”
“You have all of us, Jenny.” A soft smile smoothed out the tense lines around his eyes and mouth. He leaned closer. “And you have me. Always. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Oh hell. Just kiss her and get it over with, Frey.” The discomfort in Manny’s voice chased away the last of my tears.”

“He pulled me closer and lowered his face until we were almost nose to nose. “I love you too.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You did.”
“You are reading nuances into my words.” I leaned a bit back to look at his expression. As always he waited for me to look my fill. He truly believed that with my agreement to joining our apartments, I had declared my love for him. My mouth was dry, my voice hoarse. “You’re right. I love you.”

[Aya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genevieve Lenard: 3
Genevieve wakes up with her boyfriend, Colin, in his supposed safehouse in England. Her last coherent memories were of three days ago in France. They discover that Colin is the main suspect for murder in a burglary-gone-wrong crime. Unfortunately, the problems with the previous book are only exacerbated here. Concepts like opsec, proper police procedures, and personal security once again trip up the author. It makes for a frustrating and increasingly unbelievable read. The super villain's mind is a convoluted place resulting in ridiculous Rube Goldberg plots that miraculously hold together until our heroine brings enlightenment to all. The crime/mystery framework supposedly holding the whole story together is so confusing, I didn't even bother to try to make sense of it a quarter the way into the book. This series is an unsatisfying mess. Author deals with the super-villain only for another to take his place presumably for the next book, but I'm done with this series.

[Arnaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars without a doubt :-)

Excellent 3rd volume with quite a lot going on. Loved the fact that the story picks up where volume 1 & 2 left off. Genevieve and the team are all as awesome as before, and characters development is done well. A couple of twists added to the interest in this story. I actually was able to easily guess two of the main turning points during their investigation but it didn't lower the interest in any kind of way. I'm definitely hooked to the series!

[Somia]

Free on Amazon 31st May 2019

[Pamoliverio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series filled with eclectic characters, art, and mystery. Never disappoints.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Another fantastic read for me. Wonderful characters and storyline that you won't stop reading until the end. I love this series!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Genevieve Lenard has reached her mid thirties with perilously few friends or social connections in her life. That is, until she was brought in by her boss to evaluate art insurance cases, which led to her becoming a member of a five-person team who kind of adopt her as their own. They no doubt agree with one character's comment in this book that Genevieve is “weird but in a cool way”. She is a non-neurotypical (her description) savant on a team with a crusty Interpol officer, a brawny cursing chef with criminal connections, a former art thief and forger, and a comely flirtatious computer hacker. Needless to say, the characters are enjoyably different from each other and have natural antagonisms sometimes. The five are tasked with apprehending the brilliant Russian who is plotting against the five, himself. A gun-seller takes a role and the adversary creates a scenario he hopes will engage and snare Genevieve and her group. The roles of art, obviously including the titular Braque, and music in the form of the Mozart that Genevieve's mind uses to compose itself, computers and 3D printing, as well as Genevieve's autistic meltdowns, shut downs, and quirks, all add depth. This is the series' third book, and it seems to include enough background to stand alone, although I have read the first two. I will surely continue. This is most thoroughly enjoyable entertainment with a good core group of characters and compelling pacing.

[Sheila Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ragtag team that has formed a family especially for Genevieve they work together in sink

A good strong story of theft murder the criminal world and invasion of themselves. Genevieve is a genius at looking and seeing what others don't, Colin an art forger Vinnie is a criminal who knows everyone or knows someone who knows something, Francine a hacker and wizard with computers Manny the cop who can't believe he's working with this group and Philip who is the one who puts it all together. Faced with stolen paintings and loads of forgeries this group work tirelessly to find out why. There are so many twists and turns and misleading information the story keeps you guessing and the big why. Reading about Genevieve's way of life how she copes and her pet dislikes has helped me understand the complexity of Autism I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more

[Virginia Tican · Rating 1 out of 5]

Since this is written in the first POV and because of this, as a reader, I tend to identify more with Genevieve (specially her lack of social skills). In Chapter 10, despite Genevieve's extreme reluctance to be touched just by anyone, she revealed that she had some affairs in the past purely for sexual gratification. Extreme occasional libido overcoming deeply entrenched personal inborn fetishes? Really?! (In her teens, perhaps but considering her inability to control her episodes at that time? I doubt it.) I just can not reconcile myself to accept such opposing concepts. Even if such can be scientifically or psychologically proven. This is where, Dr. Genevieve Lenard and I part ways.

[Gina Basham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Genevieve Lenard books. I am however getting a little tired of the gang of friends who know when someone is in trouble and ride in at the last moment and save the day. Predictable. I would recommend but will wait to see if I purchase another... gbash

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some series you read for the engaging mystery. Others, it's that the characters are engaging and getting to see how they evolve. It's the rare series that have a good mystery and characters you care about. This one does.

[Alis Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estelle Ryan's "The Braque Connection" is an believable rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue that deserves nothing less than a resounding five stars. As a devoted reader and reviewer, I can confidently say that this book is a thrilling masterpiece that demands your attention, I am loving the series and reading them in order and can’t wait to see what happens next.
From the very first page, Ryan's masterful storytelling grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. "The Braque Connection" seamlessly continues the captivating adventures of Dr. Genevieve Lenard, an art investigator with a brilliant mind and a knack for solving complex mysteries. This time around, she's embroiled in a web of secrets, art theft, and danger that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
One of the defining strengths of Estelle Ryan's writing is her ability to craft a plot that's as intricate as an elaborate painting. Her storytelling is a work of art in itself, with layers of mystery and suspense expertly interwoven. As the story unfolds, you'll find yourself engrossed in a puzzle that keeps you guessing at every turn. "The Braque Connection" is a testament to the author's keen sense of narrative structure and her ability to keep readers captivated.
Dr. Genevieve Lenard is a character for the ages. She's not your typical heroine; she's a complex and compelling figure with her own quirks and vulnerabilities. Her development throughout the series is nothing short of remarkable, and in "The Braque Connection," she faces challenges that push her to new heights. Her intelligence, determination, and relatability make her a character you'll root for wholeheartedly.
Estelle Ryan's prose is pure magic. Her writing is crisp, evocative, and exceptionally descriptive. Whether she's describing the world of art, the characters' emotions, or the high-stakes action scenes, she does it with a finesse that brings the story to life. Reading "The Braque Connection" is like stepping into a vivid and immersive world where every detail is meticulously crafted.
What truly sets this book apart is its exploration of the intricate art world and the fascinating psychology of the characters. Ryan delves deep into the minds of her characters, peeling back their layers to reveal their fears, desires, and secrets. The intricate dance between art and psychology adds a unique layer to the story that's both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
The suspense in "The Braque Connection" is nothing short of breath-taking. The pacing is spot-on, with tension building steadily from chapter to chapter. There are twists and turns that will leave you gasping, and the final revelations are nothing short of mind-blowing. Estelle Ryan has a knack for keeping her readers on their toes, and this book is a testament to her mastery of the psychological thriller genre.
In conclusion, "The Braque Connection" is a gripping and heart-pounding thriller that will leave you craving more. Estelle Ryan's storytelling prowess shines brightly, and her characters are unforgettable. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a meticulously crafted mystery with a dash of art, psychology, and unrelenting suspense. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and I can't wait to see where Dr. Genevieve Lenard's next adventure takes us

[Elaine Bidstrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Genevieve Lenard is a very unusual woman, not only is she beautiful, (probably) a genius, has a photographic memory, and has obsessive-compulsive disorder, she is also autistic. Seven years ago she found the perfect job at Rousseau & Rousseau, an insurance company in Strasbourg, France, which specializes in insuring art. The owner, Phillip Rousseau, understands her intuitively and has given her what she needs to track down stolen art - viewing room. Here she has ten computer screens mounted on the wall, the room is soundproof, and she can work without interruption. When Genevieve is upset, she has learned to combat her autistic behavior by 'mentally' picturing and writing various Mozart compositions to calm herself.
This is the third book in the series I have read. Each is about thefts and/or murders having to do with a single artist's works. Braque, a cubist, is featured in this book. As in the previous 2 books, she works with Colin, a supposed thief, Vinnie, his partner, Manny, who works for Interpol, Phillip, her employer, and Francine, a beautiful, computer expert and hacker.
This book piles adventure on adventure, and involves plastic guns, fake paintings, and various other dangers to create a thrilling and yet satisfying novel.
As a former school counselor, I was intrigued by the mental processes of this brilliant autistic woman and her growing involvements with the above mentioned people. None of the people on the autistic spectrum I worked with were this beautiful, nor could they explain their thought processes. I was as fascinated by this as I was by the thrilling storyline.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very impressed. Her presentation is improving in every story till I can at last award her my first 5* ! Very pleased to be able to and very pleased it has got so much better. It's still not perfect, there are a few niggles I'll mention but still a tremendous improvement.
T'is always nice to get back with her little gang she's created. They're all so different and each so interesting as well and we get an encounter with a new friend in this instalment, who is also a great addition. I also managed to guess a big component to this story so that's a rarity ! I looked up the art mentioned and wasn't keen on any of them much. That's not really my thing. The best of the lot was the Klee for me as it was more colourful at least !!
She added a couple of needless apostrophes with CD's and VIP's, then also dropped a word from this sentence, "For this you only need good digital camera," she wrote show and not showed, then criminal and not criminals. Now, I was adding up paintings and artwork referring to people in the group at one point but I couldn't get the maths to add up and it really bothered me !
I'm looking forward to book 4 in this series.

[Jill Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny & her boyfriend, Colin, are drugged and taken to Colin’s “safe house” outside London, but no one is supposed to know about this house. Several people are murdered and Colin is set up to look like the killer. Braque paintings are stolen and replaced with forgeries. Behind it all is Thomas Kubanov, the Russian mobster who has been out to punish Jenny, and now the people closest to her. This vendetta began when she outsmarted him (two books ago) and interrupted his illegal activity. Opinion: The same characters reappear from the two previous books, are well developed and the author describes Jenny’s autism quite well. But, I rather got tired of the reference to her symptoms and what was going on in her head all the time. It got old for me. The storyline was a bit confusing with multiple forgeries of the same painting; it was hard to follow not unlike a “shell” game. The ending was fast-paced and very good. It was the best part of the book. I will probably read #4 because they introduced a new character: Monique, the teenage daughter of the late “Hawk” who asked Jenny to make sure she was taken care of. This ought to be interesting.

[Gavin · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the first book, I thought this was going to be a great series. After the second, I wasn't so sure and after this one, I'm really hoping that book 4 is much better or I may well move onto something else.

The basic premise of each book is fine but the plots are stupidly convoluted and the characters fairly flat. There's a number of writers who cannot write the opposite sex and it's looking like Estelle Ryan is one of those. Add in a few plot holes and you certainly do not have a recipe for success.

The most annoying character is Manny; English people just don't talk like that, even more so when they are in that type of profession. Next is Francine, who is the ultra hacker trope that has ruined so many books. Colin is totally without merit, as is Philip (except in the first book). Vinnie is ok but again is an over used stereotype.

Finally a note about editing proofing... it's really not that god...

[Ammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Dr Genevieve Lenard series. She is an insurance investigator on the autism spectrum.

I give up! I really wanted to like this series since the protagonist is quite different. SPOILER ALERT – Even I guessed Angelique early on and cannot understand why Genevieve is such an expert reading faces yet never picked any indications off of her. I also couldn’t fathom why they never checked out the frames when it seemed obvious. This series is so frustrating. It seems the plots are so elaborate but some of the threads feel out and out dumb. Her parents show up on a Sunday at her place of employment and they somehow have access to the offices where such sensitive info is stored? Is there no security there? Why wasn’t Genevieve more concerned about the security in her apartment and nothing done to shore it up?
2017(47)

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still enjoying these books and the regular cast of characters that make up the team. I am also of the opinion that the main character is adapting to all of the changes she is experiencing way too fast. In less than a year, she has gone from being very cerebral recluse to being able to function as part of a team with almost no difficulty. I am fairly sure it is happening so quickly to keep some readers from becoming bored with the constant explanations and allowances made for the ways the heroine has to function in all of these new situations. But, I liked that the heroine of the series was so very different and the way her differences were handled in the first book.
I like the progression of the different mysteries and puzzles that the team is given to solve and the fact that there are links included at the end of the book to all of the music and art mentioned in each book.

[Lisa Ezzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more about Autism, Mozart, art,, and several other things reading this great book

This is a really good, yet informative at the same time in such an accidental way. Set in France in the Art world, where famous works of art are routinely forged and then stolen. If you aren’t already a fan of this series, as I wasn’t, enter here THE BAD GUY! A really bad guy, as will be revealed the further you read.

Our heroine is a very high functioning woman with autism. She should be used as an example of what can be accomplished with concentration. She uses her knowledge of Mozart in an interesting way to calm herself when needed.

She came from a terrible family beginning but has built a lovely loving family of “criminals” for herself that are fiercely loyal and protective.

I definitely want to know more about Genevieve and will have to go back to the first book to catch-up.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty disappointed by how unpolished some of this book felt, particularly toward the beginning: odd phrases and grammar errors and a shift in the way Genevieve talks about her autism with no explanation or exploration of that. I found several parts of the mystery to be incredibly predictable. Thankfully I'm less interested in the mysteries and more interested in the characters, but even so I have my fingers crossed. I'm hoping the next book is better because I'd really hate to give up this series; I really loved the first two books. That being said, this seemed to me to be a much faster read. The mystery in the last one dragged on a bit while I mostly ignored the mystery in this one so maybe that helped, it's hard to tell. 3.5 stars.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art, puzzles, codes, Oh my!

I think this is my favorite Genitive Leonard book so far. I just gobbled this one up. This series about a woman on the autism spectrum who works for an insurance agency that specializes in high value art is intriguing mainly because of the well drawn characters. I do get confused with the depiction of Gen force's inner dialog. She is well aware of her social shortcomings and has learned self soothing methods to prevent emotional difficulties. I have family members who are on the spectrum, and these coping skills would be far beyond their abilities. I would like to know more about Ms. Ryan's experience, or research to understand why she gave Genevieve these characteristics.

[Lindasp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This my third Genevieve Lenard novel and I continue to be fascinated by her character--so different than usual heroines . I love her rather uncomfortable relationships with the other characters but how she is slowly accepting their friendships. The comical abrasive relationships between some of the other characters is very amusing! The plot line was very interesting and gripping and continues the criminal aspects from the first novels. I like that these books often introduce me to artists and their works which I wasn't familiar with before. I think I could be come a great fan of some of Georges Braque's art! I'm looking forward to the next 'connection'.

[Frederique Fremalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les livres d'Estelle Ryan ne sont malheureusement pas traduit en français. C'est dommage pour les non bilingues car ils sont plutôt agréables. Je n'ai mis que 3 ★ car je pense que ce tome 3 m'a un peu fatigué. Je l'ai trouvé un peu manquant de soufle alors que les deux premiers tomes m'avaient scotchée.
Le schéma était sans doute un peu trop identique aux deux précédents mais je vous conseille tout de même si vous lepouvez de tenter l'aventure. Genevieve Lennard est une enquêtrice hors pair. Son autisme en fait un personnage attachant et voir son évolution au fil des aventures est également très intéressant.
Nous verrons plus tard ce que nous dira le 4ème tome :)