The Gauguin Connection

I picked this book up because the heroine, a PhD with a specialty in the study of body language and nonverbal communication who is on the Autism spectrum sounded intriguing, and Bette had recommended the series highly on these threads. Thanks, Bette! I loved this book. Although she is very uncomfortable with social interactions, Genevieve Lenard manages to attract a motley crew of unlikely people as she gets drawn into what begins as a search for weapons thief and ends up as a search for a murder of artists and head of a terrorist supply network. Genevieve is an intriguing and likeable character, and all the supporting characters are appealing as well. The mystery was good and the suspense was excellent. I will definitely be looking for show more more of this series. show less

Lots to love about this "new-to-me" series! Great characters, sharp dialogue, an intricate crime puzzle to solve and an approach to the investigation that had this data geek happily enthralled. Genevieve Lenard makes for a unique investigator as she likes to work behind the scenes (preferably from the comfort of her technology-filled soundproof office) crunching details and searching for data connections. Her reaction, when her structured life is turned completely upside-down and inside out, is understandable. In Genevieve, Ryan captures a lot of the thought processes, emotion and behaviour of a person with high functioning autism. Ryan also builds into the story some light-hearted levity with the inclusion of art thief Colin and his show more side-kick Vinnie and Genevieve's habit of speaking without a filter. Yes, some parts of the story require the reader to just accept what is happening. for me, the story is more about Genevieve's character evolution as she slowly grows to understand and appreciate the individuals she has had to let inside her "safety bubble".

Overall, a wonderful crime mystery thriller with a protagonist twist that has me looking forward to following more of Genevieve's unplanned investigative adventures. show less

Estelle Ryan is a delightful new author for me. I really enjoyed her writing in the first Genevieve Lenard series of a conspiracy for forged art, corruption in international policing with good-guys versus the baddies. The protagonist, Genevieve, is a highly intelligent young woman coping with some level of autism. I know very little about the autism spectrum, so cannot evaluate whether it was accurately portrayed. However, the story seemed totally feasible from that point of view and Ryan made the situation sympathetic and 'Jenny' a very engaging character.

The supporting cast were well drawn, fully 3-dimensional people. The crisp writing allowed the plot to proceed smoothly and not overwhelm the story with too much superfluous detail. show more That detail did threaten on occasion, but the action led to enough suspense to make it work out.

Lost a star because the dénouement was wrapped up all too quickly and lost sensible momentum with Genevieve foolishly following the main criminals and leaving her protective companions with no idea where she had gone. It was entirely unrealistic that she wasn't killed outright.. Despite this criticism, the second book in this rather unique series is on my list of "next immediate reading". show less

I am hooked!

The author brings you into the life and mind of Genevieve Lenard. I laughed, cried, and sometimes I found myself struck with awe or dumbfounded by Genevieve's musings or reaction to things. The author paints a vivid picture that is easily read. Each character within the story is well-defined and they call to you to either love, hate, or be incisiveness towards them. As for the plot, it is well thought out and it keeps you guessing till the end. If you are looking for a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, as well as, has some sexual tension mixed in... this book is a must read. Kudos to the author.... looking forward to the next book in the series.

I particularly love two kinds of ‘thrillers’. Those about chasing down archaeological artifacts (on Earth or elsewhere) and art heist/forgery. Perhaps I watched the Thomas Crown Affair too many times, but I do love art thieves and forgers, probably because of necessity they have to be pretty educated and the crime is generally more about putting something over on others rather than just an attempt to gain filthy lucre.

At any rate, I did love this book. And the main character, a high-function autistic woman, is terrific. She’s smart, she has her life organized and feels fulfilled. She has a job reading people for a high priced insurance company who mainly insures art.

She reads people’s expressions and body language in order to show more tell if people are lying or to understand how they are interacting, if they are hostile to one another, or are cooperating.

She’s asked by law enforcement and her boss to help when an artist is found murdered by a weapon that was stolen from a European law enforcement agency.

Then the thief, throwing her well structured and safe life into a tailspin, breaks into her apartment and asks her to help him stop more artists/forgers from dying.

I can’t wait to get to the next book in this series. show less

3/1/20 comments:
I like the presentation of this book – art and music.
The bluntness of the socially limited character of Genevieve, coping with a disorder that has limited her in life, but befriended by others on the fringes of society makes for a fascinating read.
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Genevieve Lenard works in Strasbourg, France as a data analyst for a high end art insurance company. She is a high-functioning autistic though she generally describes herself as having a non-typical neural brain. She has studied psychology and is a reknown body language expert.

She has become involved with Interpol and analyzing data and determining body language. Colin Frey show more is a art thief turned Interpol art locator. His friend Vinnie acts as Jenny’s bodyguard. Their friend Francine is a computer hacker/security specialist for several governments. Through Phillip Rosseau her employer she also works with Manny Millard also of Interpol, though he does not know that Colin is with Interpol, and calls him and Vinnie criminals. These 5 people have united to solve art crimes.

The Gauguin Connection (Book 1)

Introduces that characters of the series, Genevieve Lenard, Colin Frey, Vinnie, Francie, Manfred Millard and Phillip Rousseau. Genevieve Lenard (Jenny) is the centerpiece around who the others protect and help her with attaining the information she needs to find connections to art crimes.

The case begins with the arrival of Manfred Millard, a friend of Phillip Rosseau her employer, asking Genevieve to search for stolen guns from an EU military warehouse.

It leads Jenny to the murder of an artist and the suicide of her murderer a Russian. It gains traction as Jenny and Colin search for and learn of 13 other murders of artists. Colin is concerned for Jenny’s safety so Vinnie moves into Jenny’s apartment as her bodyguard.
The investigation, relationships and team that results is fascinating. The suspense keeps the pages turning. show less

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Murdered artists. Masterful forgeries.
Art crime at its worst.

A straightforward murder investigation quickly turns into a quagmire of stolen Eurocorps weapons, a money-laundering charity, forged art and high-ranking EU officials abusing their power.

As an insurance investigator and world renowned expert in nonverbal communication, Dr Genevieve Lenard faces the daily challenge of living a successful, independent life. Particularly because she has to deal with her high functioning Autism. Nothing - not her studies, her high IQ or her astounding analytical skills - prepared her for the changes about to take place in her life.

It started as a favour to help her boss' acerbic friend look into the murder show more of a young artist, but soon it proves to be far more complex. Forced out of her predictable routines, safe environment and limited social interaction, Genevieve is thrown into exploring the meaning of friendship, expanding her social definitions, and for the first time in her life be part of a team in a race to stop more artists from being murdered.

My Review: The Doubleday UK meme, a book a day for July 2014, is the goad I'm using to get through my snit-based unwritten reviews. Today's prompt is to discuss a beach read, a novel perfect for an afternoon under a beach umbrella sipping drinks with silly names brought by hotties clad in as few clothes as local law allows.

Ahem. Well. Isn't that how everyone spends a day at the beach?

The Gauguin Connection has many sterling qualities, like a wonderful main character, and a completely beguiling cast of supporting characters. (I convinced my Gentleman Caller to read this by saying he reminded me of Vinnie. To my relief, he found that touching and endearing, "worth reading a stupid mystery novel for.")

What makes this such a good beach read is simply that: The interplay of the characters. Dr Lenard isn't consistently drawn, the art-crime plot seems very slapdash to me, and so on and so on. All those quibbles aside, I loved these characters and wanted to sit quietly in the room while they did what they do. Which is mostly sit around computers in different rooms and bicker amusingly.

I mean to tell you, though, if savoring the interplay of high-level snark with pomposity, the collision of wit with literal-mindedness, doesn't sound compelling to you, horseman, pass on. I found it deeply funny at times, and snortingly amusing all the time. So download it onto your Kindle for free, put the Kindle in a quart-sized Ziploc, seal it, and head for the sand. Tip the hottie well, and in advance, for the best drinks service. Relax into bliss with the wacky crew of Strasbourg (!)-based art crime solvers.


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