A review by racheltho
Still Lives by Maria Hummel

4.0

What happened between us still mystifies me: how two lovers can move to a city, and the city itself wraps around them like vines, pulling them apart, pushing them towards others, until they become so entwined in their separate lives that they no longer recognize what they once felt, or even who they once were.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Maggie Richter, an editor for an LA art museum, gets sucked into a dangerous investigation when Kim Lord, a Lady-Gaga-esque artist who is debuting a provocative new exhibit on famous murdered women, fails to show up to the premier night of her show. In addition to working at the museum where the exhibit is being held, Maggie is connected to the artist in another key way: Maggie’s ex-boyfriend is Kim’s current beau... and suspect number one when it becomes apparent that Lord’s disappearance is not a stunt.

At first, I was convinced I wasn’t going to like this book. My immediate impression was that the author was trying too hard to use obscure language and artsy metaphors, which I found off-putting and eyeroll-inducing... but (thankfully) this only lasted for the first few pages - either that, or I adjusted to the writing style super quickly! I ended up really enjoying this insider look into the art world, with its (admittedly somewhat background) conversation about violence against women and the glamorization / fetishization of such violence. But it was likely the fairly fast-paced plot and unfolding of the mystery that kept me interested (per usual).

Even though I liked the story and didn’t want to put it down, there were still pieces of it that felt a bit off to me. The protagonist’s personality and behavior seemed to change way too quickly, even considering the circumstances (key personality traits don't just flip overnight). Maggie overall just felt kind of bland and flat to me for a protagonist. And although I did not totally figure out the whodunit myself before everything was explained (which is a plus), I found the reveal to be somewhat lackluster. But, despite its downfalls, Still Lives, overall, was a good read with a unique setting/atmosphere that for whatever reason really worked for me.