Scan barcode
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
5.0
A famous and provocative painter goes missing on the night of her latest exhibition’s debut. The subject of her exhibition, Still Lives, depicts paintings of herself posed as famous murder victims from Los Angeles. The museum’s writer, Maggie, finds herself at the center of the investigation as her personal and professional lives become entangled…
A dark and striking commentary on our fixation with the macabre and the sensationalization of famous murder cases, as well as on the lucrative and often twisted web of notoriety and success in the art world. I absolutely loved this thriller!
The famous and enigmatic artist Kim Lord has made a name for herself by shocking her audiences. Her latest exhibition Still Lives really pushes the boundaries of the provocative nature of art. The exhibition features paintings of Kim herself posed as famous photos of LA murder victims (e.g., the Black Dahlia, Nicole Brown Simpson). I thought the play on the term still lives for this purpose was really clever!
Kim was such a mysterious figure in the book, which is narrated by Maggie—a writer for the Roque Museum where Kim’s show is being featured. In a cruel twist, Kim is also the current girlfriend of Maggie’s ex-boyfriend Greg. The woman he left her for. Now, when Kim goes missing on the night of her premiere, Maggie finds herself woven into the investigation. Greg and Maggie are natural sources of interest for the police.
Maggie herself has quite a dark past. I won’t reveal it here, but I loved the way it tied in with the current events in the book. I also really enjoyed the commentary that Hummel makes on the artworld and the tie between investors, the public, and the artist themselves. The whole part about super collectors was fascinating, and I actually slowed down to read it because I was so interested in Hummel’s points.
The ending is one I would never have guessed, and it was also kind of perfect. Both the reveal of what had happened, as well as the aftermath and what it all meant. This was a book with so many layers to it, and I really loved it!
“I hate this artwork,” Maggie thinks, standing in the gallery, fretting about Lord’s disappearance. “I hate the abject powerlessness it projects. I hate it because it reminds me there is an end for women worse than death.”
A dark and striking commentary on our fixation with the macabre and the sensationalization of famous murder cases, as well as on the lucrative and often twisted web of notoriety and success in the art world. I absolutely loved this thriller!
The famous and enigmatic artist Kim Lord has made a name for herself by shocking her audiences. Her latest exhibition Still Lives really pushes the boundaries of the provocative nature of art. The exhibition features paintings of Kim herself posed as famous photos of LA murder victims (e.g., the Black Dahlia, Nicole Brown Simpson). I thought the play on the term still lives for this purpose was really clever!
Kim was such a mysterious figure in the book, which is narrated by Maggie—a writer for the Roque Museum where Kim’s show is being featured. In a cruel twist, Kim is also the current girlfriend of Maggie’s ex-boyfriend Greg. The woman he left her for. Now, when Kim goes missing on the night of her premiere, Maggie finds herself woven into the investigation. Greg and Maggie are natural sources of interest for the police.
Maggie herself has quite a dark past. I won’t reveal it here, but I loved the way it tied in with the current events in the book. I also really enjoyed the commentary that Hummel makes on the artworld and the tie between investors, the public, and the artist themselves. The whole part about super collectors was fascinating, and I actually slowed down to read it because I was so interested in Hummel’s points.
The ending is one I would never have guessed, and it was also kind of perfect. Both the reveal of what had happened, as well as the aftermath and what it all meant. This was a book with so many layers to it, and I really loved it!
“I hate this artwork,” Maggie thinks, standing in the gallery, fretting about Lord’s disappearance. “I hate the abject powerlessness it projects. I hate it because it reminds me there is an end for women worse than death.”
lexipowell's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
keraashley's review against another edition
2.5
Generally didn’t care for any of the characters, it’s not as much of a thriller as it’s painted to be (ha, get it? Bc it’s a book about paintings) very slow start which a book that is only 250 pages can’t really afford, couldn’t keep the characters straight, didn’t feel the thrill, suspense, tension, nothing. Doesn’t take enough of a stance on the statement it’s trying to make about violence against women being considered entertainment in the media these days. Don’t care about art or LA enough to get into this book.
mcknnacnhm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
angelinaedith2307's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
kassgorl's review against another edition
2.0
It was fine. I think I hate books about art. I won’t try to pretend differently in the future.
shhchar's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I am so sad I finished this book!! I wanted to exist in this world for longer. I underestimated this book, one that piqued my interest in a random bookstore but that I'd never stumbled across online before. What I thought would be a thriller/mystery novel with a meta-true crime twist was so much deeper than that.
Hummel put a lot of care into her characters: though there were many, they were fully fleshed out and it was easy to recall their backstories about 100 pages in. The women of the Rocque particularly stood out to me and Hummel's little details - from Craft Club to spinning - made them feel realistic and relatable. When it comes to symbolism, there is so much to unpack that I will need to do some offline thinking about it.
Though the end didn't feel rushed because the whole novel was a steady build if I were to have any critique of this book it was that it was simply too short. Another 50 pages would have allowed it to sink in a little better.
This book astounded me. Highly recommend to any fan of true crime.
Hummel put a lot of care into her characters: though there were many, they were fully fleshed out and it was easy to recall their backstories about 100 pages in. The women of the Rocque particularly stood out to me and Hummel's little details - from Craft Club to spinning - made them feel realistic and relatable. When it comes to symbolism, there is so much to unpack that I will need to do some offline thinking about it.
Though the end didn't feel rushed because the whole novel was a steady build if I were to have any critique of this book it was that it was simply too short. Another 50 pages would have allowed it to sink in a little better.
This book astounded me. Highly recommend to any fan of true crime.