The Metropolitan Affair (On Central Park Book #1)Historical fiction, thriller, Egyptian Art forgery- By Jocelyn Green

393 pages March 14, 2023 publish date Bethany House Publishers

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About The Book

Bestselling author Jocelyn Green sweeps you away in a dazzling novel of secrets, betrayal, and romance within one of New York City’s most esteemed museums.

For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she’d accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father’s offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York’s wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York’s high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger’s identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

My Thoughts

THE METROPOLITAN AFFAIR is the first book in the On Central Park series.
Now let me just say, I have read and loved ALL of Jocelyn Greens’ books but in this one she’s taken it to a new level of writing.
I would classify the book as a historical fiction novel as it takes place in Manhattan, New York City in mid 1920’s but with the action and suspense and its rich layers I would also classify it as a thriller.
Exquisitely researched, I found the book not only fascinating but informative as well.
I have never read about ancient Egyptian art forgery before, and I really learned a lot.
I learned you check for forgery by weight, material used, a scratch test and more, I’m sure.
The book was pretty intensive as a police detective and the assistant curator of Egyptian art at the Metropolitain Museum of Art are trying to figure out who is the head of and its members of the Egyptian forgery ring. These two characters knew each other during childhood but life had taken them their separate ways. Now they are back together working professionally and as these characters try to solve the crime will they see each other on a more personal level as well?
After hardly being around her father growing up Lauren is not close to him, but this is not of her choosing. Her heart was crying out for his companionship, but he was always traveling for his Egyptian work he did. Never being there for her and her mother. She also has a deep interest in Egyptian things as well, first as a way to get close to him but it’s a genuine interest now. Now that her father needs her help with some work-related things, she wonders, should she involve herself in it? There was a pretty big twist in the last part of the book that I just didn’t see coming, really took me by surprise. I also found it fascinating that many of the characters are based on real life people. Make sure to read the author’s notes at the back of the book, very informative.
I highly recommend this book.

Pub Date 14 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Jocelyn Green is a former journalist who puts her investigative skills to work in writing both nonfiction and historical fiction to inspire faith and courage.

The honors her books have received include the Christy Award in historical fiction, and gold medals from the Military Writers Society of America and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Complex and nuanced characters, rich historical detail and twisting plots make her novels immersive experiences. Her fiction has been praised by Historical Novel Society, Romantic Times, Library Journal, historians specializing in her novels’ time periods, as well as popular and acclaimed authors Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, Jody Hedlund, Sarah Sundin, Joanne Bischof, Julie Lessman, and more.

Jocelyn loves Broadway musicals, the color red, strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mexican food, and well-done documentaries. She lives in Iowa with her husband, two children, and two cats she should have named Catticus Finch and Purrman Meowville.

Visit her at jocelyngreen.com.

Have you read any book by this author? What were your thoughts?

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in.

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