The Lover's Portrait (Zelda Richardson Mystery #1) in #MysteryThrillerWeek

Apr 01, 2018 Thomas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: benelux-crime

A solid 4 stars
I won this book from the author in a contest. My apologies for taking a year to read and review it. Although this is book 2 in the series, they are written as stand alones. I previously read book 1 in the series and you don't need to read it in order to enjoy this one. I actually liked this book more than the first, which had some flaws. This one does not have any flaws.
Zelda Richardson is an art student/applicant trying to get into a Masters program at a Netherlands university in ...more

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Oct 25, 2016 Vicki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebook-mystery

When I read The Lover's Portrait, I was entranced from the beginning. Art stolen from the Jewish owners during World War II has fascinated me so much. The story comes alive when reading about the art owner and the Gallery owner. There are so many unusual facets to this story. Subjects that I had never read about unfolded allowing me to see another side of the war and the people that were punished in inhumane ways for being who they are.

Each chapter held my interest and kept me wanting to know m ...more

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Sep 20, 2016 Anne Janzer rated it it was amazing

The Lover's Portrait ticks all of the boxes for a good mystery read: interesting subject, unusual setting, and compelling mystery. The bonus, with this book, is the historical grounding. The story could almost be torn from current headlines, dealing with issues of disputed ownership for artwork that changed hands during periods of Nazi occupation. Alderson deftly intermingles the two mysteries, one contemporary and one in the past, while immersing the reader in an Amsterdam peopled with interest ...more

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Mar 01, 2017 Lucia Davis rated it it was amazing

This was a fun and exciting read! The mystery itself was compelling and made me want to keep reading (I read it in one day, because I couldn’t put it down). The location and time period were the icing on the cake. The story not only takes the reader to the Amsterdam of today, but also of the past, during the time of WW II. Featuring the stolen and lost art during the German occupation of the Netherlands, it tells about what was happening in Amsterdam during that period, without it turning into a ...more

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Nov 25, 2016 Jennifer S. Alderson rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: art-history, art, travel-fiction, art-mystery, women-s-fiction, contemporary, mystery, amateur-sleuth, netherlands, fiction

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite [posted on November 21, 2016 here: https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...

The Lover’s Portrait by Jennifer S. Alderson is the second novel in The Adventures of Zelda Richardson series. Zelda just earned her way into an internship working at a museum exhibit showcasing stolen objects from WWII in hopes that the rightful families will claim them. It’s a dream come true. That is until Zelda finds out she’s meant to read and revise a website that has gra Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite [posted on November 21, 2016 here: https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...

The Lover’s Portrait by Jennifer S. Alderson is the second novel in The Adventures of Zelda Richardson series. Zelda just earned her way into an internship working at a museum exhibit showcasing stolen objects from WWII in hopes that the rightful families will claim them. It’s a dream come true. That is until Zelda finds out she’s meant to read and revise a website that has grammatical errors. Her luck changes when a woman named Rita shows up to claim a painting labeled Irises with a heartbreaking story of her father sending his family into hiding while he tried to find money, and hide his artwork from the Nazis. It seems like a set plan when another woman shows up, claiming to be the rightful descendant of the painting’s owner. Zelda has a natural habit of not quitting until she finds the truth, but will her curiosity lead her to a murderer?

Jennifer S. Alderson delivers a mystery novel not quite like most. It has a headstrong sleuth type character in Zelda, but the story is character driven, not plot driven. The mystery of the painting is reminiscent of old mystery novels from before the 1950s, fitting since Alderson features flashbacks to the 1940s, probably some of my favorite scenes. She weaves the scenes with Arjan and Philip through the novel to answer questions as Zelda discovers the truth. Being able to see the fear Arjan went through allowed for a sentimental touch to the mystery. It’s not about stolen paintings, but about lives that were stolen. The flashbacks added depth to the plot that brought all the threads together to a wonderful conclusion. The Lover’s Portrait is a well-written mystery with engaging characters and a lot of heart. The perfect novel for those who love art and mysteries!

***Because this reviewer is not on Goodreads, Readers's Favorite recommends authors (in this case me) post their review here and link back to it. So that's what I've done! ...more

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Apr 25, 2016 Jennifer S. Alderson added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: art, art-history, travel-fiction, art-mystery, women-s-fiction, contemporary, mystery, amateur-sleuth, netherlands, fiction

This amateur sleuth mystery describes the plight of homosexuals and Jewish artists in Europe during World War Two, as well as the complexities inherent to the restitution of artwork stolen by the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s. This period of European history was relatively unknown to me before I moved to the Netherlands to study Art History and Museum Studies. Writing this story gave me a chance to process all I’ve learned about the incredibly complex era, and an excuse to further investigate tho ...more

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Oct 28, 2017 Robbie Cheadle rated it it was amazing

I listened to this novel as an audio book and I absolutely loved it. Ms Alderson’s descriptions of beautiful Amsterdam and the lovely artworks detailed in the book are superb and were an interesting background for this very exciting thriller. The book is largely set in the present time but flips back to the past intermittently. I thought the movement between the time periods was well done and really added to the intensity of the book.

The plot revolves around a piece of art, called Irises, that i I listened to this novel as an audio book and I absolutely loved it. Ms Alderson’s descriptions of beautiful Amsterdam and the lovely artworks detailed in the book are superb and were an interesting background for this very exciting thriller. The book is largely set in the present time but flips back to the past intermittently. I thought the movement between the time periods was well done and really added to the intensity of the book.

The plot revolves around a piece of art, called Irises, that is featured in a display, by Museum Amsterdam, aimed at restoring unclaimed artworks, misappropriated during WWII, to their rightful owners. This relatively unimportant artwork by an unknown artist is quickly claimed by two Americans of very different backgrounds and personalities. Zelda, a young student, who has been engaged as an intern at the museum to assist with translating the description of the artworks on display from Dutch into English, soon becomes embroiled in the stand-off between the two claimants and the search to find more information relating to the piece in order to settle the claim. Zelda quickly starts to realize that there is more to these two claims, and this piece of art, than meets the eye. I found the detail around the process involved in claiming lost artwork very interesting. I have never thought about this before. The gradual unfurling of the story and the role of Irises in the plot was cleverly done.

The book provides a lot of interesting information about the impact of WWII on the city of Amsterdam and it population and gives insight into the fate of both the Jewish and the homosexual inhabitants of the city at that time.

I thought the characters in the book were well developed and I really related to Zelda and her affinity to an American claimant who lost her father and family home during WWII. I understood Zelda’s interest in the old woman and her desire to help her claim her family’s heirloom. I also understood her immediate dislike of the arrogant and spoilt second claimant. Zelda’s character is hot headed and rash and she does some very impetuous things but I liked that and didn’t think it was impossible or totally unbelievable.

Which one of the two claimants is genuine and what secret does Irises hold? ...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Diane Lynch rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An American college student, Zelda Richardson, is doing a graduate internship at a Museum in Amsterdam. Zelda’s simple college life turns into a nightmare when Zelda gets too involved in her internship assignment. This story takes place in current Amsterdam and flashes back to Nazi occupation Amsterdam.

Artwork was stolen by Nazi’s or hidden from Nazi’s. Finding this artwork and getting it back to their rightful owners is not an easy process. Unsavory people laying claim to found art work makes ...more

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Jan 28, 2018 Daniella Bernett rated it it was amazing

A vibrant, authentic depiction of Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. Jennifer Alderson does a magnificent job of bringing the past to life as she weaves an intriguing mystery full of suspense.

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Mar 20, 2017 Jacqueline (Fall In Love With The Sound of Words) rated it really liked it

Shelves: thriller-mystery-cozy

this series is one that will get better and better as it goes on!

Review

Zelda Richardson has a knack for finding herself broiled into mysteries! After her somewhat disastrous trek into volunteer work in Nepal; ending in the capture of a sinister drug lord, she has moved on to a career in Museum Curation in the Netherlands. Once again she has managed to get herself into another mess. This time solving a mystery of stolen artwork by the Nazis. Zelda has a knack for getting herself in really tough s ...more

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May 05, 2017 Maggi Andersen rated it it was amazing

Alderson has given us a fascinating glimpse into the past. Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation is beautifully evoked in this, as is the contemporary view of that charming city. The author has done extensive research on the art world at that time, and the organizations set up to retrieve lost art stolen by the Nazis. The story drew me along at a good pace with well-drawn characters, most particularly, Zelda, a student who ventures outside her remit and risks her future to help an old lady, while ...more

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Feb 28, 2017 Janice Richardson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed-rated

More than just a story - this book is a work of 'writing' art. It is alive in its language and description.

Beautifully told, the story of Zelda's search for art stolen from Dutch owners in World War II comes to life. While a work of fiction, Ms. Alderson's meticulous research makes for a rich learning experience. It is a breathtaking tale.

Another five star hit from this author.
...more

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Aug 31, 2018 Benjamin Thomas rated it it was amazing

An exceptional art mystery and entertaining narrator performance to match. I really enjoyed this one. Cerebral, full of suspense, historical twists, this was an exceptional book.

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