Genre : Mystery / Fiction

Pages: 352

First published: 2024

Original language: English

The plot: In 1985, artist Anita de Monte dies in suspicious circumstances. Her death is on everyone’s lips, but her life and work are quickly forgotten. Meanwhile, the career of her husband, the artist Jack Martin (thought to be responsible for her death) flourishes.

Thirteen years later, Raquel, a first generation Ivy League student, uncovers Anita’s work whilst writing her thesis. Along the way, she begins a relationship with Nick, a fellow student, who improves her social standing and begins to influence her appearance, clothing and lifestyle.. Moving back and forth between the perspectives of both women, this story touches on themes of power, class, love and recognition.

What did I think of this book?

This novel was only 352 pages, but it felt longer. Parts of it were very slow. It is a mystery of sorts, in that we are aware of Anita’s fate from the beginning. What we don’t know is the exact circumstances, or if the perpetrator will be caught and punished for their crimes. Based on the real-life death of the Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta, who met her death in similar circumstances – she fell from a 34th floor apartment in Greenwich Village whilst her husband, the artist Carl Andre, sat alone inside), it is a novel that seems to arouse strong reactions in readers. Not knowing the real story until after I finished this novel, I was not similarly moved. Not because I didn’t care, but because I found many of the characters so unlikeable.

The introduction of magical realism elements (post-death, Anita returns to haunt her husband in the form of a bat) felt silly and cheapened such a horrific end to her life. Indeed, there is much to horrify in this novel. Racism, misogyny, white privilege and coercive control all appear in a form that is obvious to the reader, but not so to Raquel and Anita. The dual narrative works as a mirror – Anita’s relationship with her husband, Jack Martin, mirrors Raquel’s relationship with her new boyfriend, Nick. History repeats itself as Raquel gradually begins to change herself and her life to fit in with Nick’s image of her.

The dual narrative device is what makes this novel work. However, I found the sections set in 1985 to be strangely unsatisfying, and it was frustrating that the villain of the piece, didn’t get a satisfying comeuppance. Perhaps that’s the point.

What was most interesting about this book?

The art world itself is the real star of this novel. I learnt a lot about the mechanics of the art world from this book: the relationship building, business deals, and the sinister characters who populate its inner world, who are out for no one but themselves, and on whose word rests reputations and careers. The novel’s themes of class, race, violence against women and misogyny are all interwoven in this world with its glossy exterior and rotten underbelly.

I also enjoyed the unwitting descent of Raquel into an abusive relationship with Nick. The scene in which he cuts her hair was deeply symbolic for me: this is the point at which she finally realizes what their relationship has become – toxic, abusive. His care for her appearance and concern over whom she spends her time with is not love – it is coercive control. He never hits or physically abuses her, but the impact of his words, his shallowness, his influence, all become manifest in this one act: by taking her hair, he finally takes her identity. Fortunately she realizes this and ends the relationship shortly after.

What am I going to take away from this book?

That we need to do better in giving female figures the recognition they deserve. We need to be better too, at bringing abusers to justice. Abuse manifests itself in many forms, it is rarely just physical. How many forgotten women are there, who suffered at the hands of a narcissistic, controlling man? How many had talents that deserve to be seen by a wider audience? How many were marginalized in favor of men? It’s a very thought provoking novel in that sense. There are some big, profound ideas presented by this book, but it was ultimately an unsatisfying experience.

Rating: 3/5