Books like Vincent's Women — picked by fans

I don’t normally gravitate to epistolary novels – those told exclusively through letters – but the author brings it off brilliantly here, somehow making the shifting points of view of commonly viewed events feel like the act of viewing – and arguing about art itself. High minded, yes, but the author then puts such arguments to work to solve a mystery of a murdered artist and a lost painting in sixteenth century Florence. It’s a blast, with plots, counter-plots, plot twists…the story never plods. Narrators span the spectrum from royalty to raggedy wretches. There is a witty, irreverent side to this, which is refreshing considering it takes place during the Renaissance, a time of politics and intrigues along with ruffles,royalty and formality. The author winks at the reader, and we smile.

I’m a big fan of mysteries, and one reason is that the “mystery” genre can take in so many different approaches. You got your gumshoe, your locked door mystery, your police-team investigation. Then there’s mysteries that don’t fit any category neatly. This is one, and it’s so fun. An assistant to a famous novelist is called to Italy after he dies…mysteriously, gruesomely. Once there, she does fall into a fever while trying to uncover various puzzles regarding the artist’s life, work and demise while also falling feverishly in love with a local hottie. Valerie Martin is a supremely skilled writer – how she spins such an alluring tale? A mystery. Somehow, through the fever, Italy itself becomes tantalizingly alive.