Firstly I should say that I've not read the previous two books in this trilogy and that probably would have helped. You can read this in isolation but there is so much reference to past events that I think this book would have been a more complete/satisfying read if I knew the back story.
That said, it grips you by the jugular right from the start. It's like Jackie Collins but dirtier and more murderous.
Judith/Elizabeth inhabits the art world - a grimy place it would seem, full of unlikeable characters who like nothing better than to bump each other off whilst displaying their wealth in as vulgar a way as possible.
We have a bent Italian policeman with mafia links with whom she has a love/hate relationship (understandable since he is trying to kill her) and the pair of them are tasked with presenting a fake piece of art to the market and achieving a sales price of £100million, if she wants to survive.
Judith/Elizabeth certainly doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and she is hell bent on revenge. An extremely tricky childhood in Liverpool has made her as tough as they come.
It is a bit far fetched at times but the author's knowledge of art also shines through and there is some interesting stuff to be learnt alongside the fast paced plot.
I liked it but didn't love it - perhaps it was just trying too hard to shock at times. If you're tempted to give it a go I would suggest looking up it's predecessors first - I may have enjoyed it more had I read those first.
That said, it grips you by the jugular right from the start. It's like Jackie Collins but dirtier and more murderous.
Judith/Elizabeth inhabits the art world - a grimy place it would seem, full of unlikeable characters who like nothing better than to bump each other off whilst displaying their wealth in as vulgar a way as possible.
We have a bent Italian policeman with mafia links with whom she has a love/hate relationship (understandable since he is trying to kill her) and the pair of them are tasked with presenting a fake piece of art to the market and achieving a sales price of £100million, if she wants to survive.
Judith/Elizabeth certainly doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and she is hell bent on revenge. An extremely tricky childhood in Liverpool has made her as tough as they come.
It is a bit far fetched at times but the author's knowledge of art also shines through and there is some interesting stuff to be learnt alongside the fast paced plot.
I liked it but didn't love it - perhaps it was just trying too hard to shock at times. If you're tempted to give it a go I would suggest looking up it's predecessors first - I may have enjoyed it more had I read those first.