Can paintings be possessed? The family at the center of this story thinks so. They’ve been haunted by a Goya painting for years, and blame it for the horrible things that have happened in their lives. Goya’s work *is* startling in its rawness but it’s the evil perpetrated by the living that startles me the most. Good book....

I’ve been in the mood for something different lately and thought a good mystery might do the trick. I haven’t read any works by Neil Olson, but the unique cover caught my eye and after reading the synopsis, this looked to be the perfect book for me. I always enjoy reading stories dealing with art, and how could you go wrong with a stolen painting rumored to have demons? 'The Black Painting' is a rather mysterious story of a highly dysfunctional family seeking truth in both Alfred Morse’s death and his missing Goya painting, stolen years ago and supposedly at the root of the family’s demise.

Olson definitely created some very unique and complex characters in this story. Each of the family members were all so intriguing and strange, and all had their own tale of a very complicated relationship with their grandfather. The story was mostly told from Teresa’s perspective, but also by Dave, the investigator from the original theft of the painting years ago and brought back onto the case after Alfred’s death by his son, Philip, to finally find the culprit. As the main characters in the story, Teresa and Dave were pretty humdrum and odd, but it was interesting to see the different perspectives from one of the family members along with an outsider’s point of view. It really wasn’t until they teamed up towards the end that they really came to life for me.

There were a lot of details surrounding all of the characters and how their individual roles fit into this complex story. They were amusing, and although I did enjoy the banter between them, I really struggled with feeling a connection with them. A lot of the true character depth came to fruition towards the end of the story, which didn’t allow for much time to find them relatable or establish many real feelings about them either way. I think that more character development with some of the key characters earlier on would have definitely helped with my indifference towards them.

The mystery behind the painting and the family was very intriguing, and I really wanted to know the answers from the beginning to the end. Olson did a really good job at creating this complex storyline, and I really liked the story itself. However, I’m not 100% sure that he conveyed it very clearly to the reader. There were moments where I felt really excited and into the story, and then it just seemed rather lackluster. The pace was a bit slow, and the storyline was choppy and confusing to follow at times. I would suggest that some of this was due to the formatting, which was distracting and took away from the overall flow of the story. Although there wasn’t much romance, the few sexy scenes were also a bit odd, as I found myself a few pages into one and didn’t even realize I was in one at all!

'The Black Painting' was definitely an interesting read, and the ending was one that I would not have guessed. I just feel like overall, the story had some loose ends and needed a bit more polish to make it shine. It had a lot of potential and truly deserved it!

3 Stars for me!

The three children and four grandchildren of Alfred Morse, a wealthy art collector, have been called to his home on the Connecticut coast. Teresa, one of the grandchildren, finds him dead in his study; he has a horrified expression on his face which is turned towards the spot where a Goya self-portrait once hung. That painting, believed by several of the family members to be so disturbing that it caused misfortune or death, was stolen 15 years earlier. Teaming up with Dave Webster, a private investigator hired by one of her uncles, Teresa sets out to find out what caused her grandfather’s death and who stole the painting.

The book piqued my interest because of its use of one of Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings. The twist added, however, stretched my credulity. I know that those paintings are dark and disturbing, but I find it difficult to believe that a self-portrait could be so horrific that it could cause death. People actually believe a painting can be cursed? There is also the added problem of a plot which lacks focus. There are a number of sub-plots so the narrative meanders. There are sex scenes that do not develop character or advance the plot; they seem included only for titillation. People like Marc, Teresa’s ex-boyfriend, are mentioned as if they might be important but then are never referred to again. Then there are statements like “She had been hearing Ramón’s voice in her head a lot for the last two days” even though there has been no prior mention of this preoccupation. There are also several fight scenes; at times it is difficult to know who is fighting whom. The feeling given is one of disjointedness; even the dialogue gives this impression. For instance, Dave mentions, “’You would have a hard time convincing [Pete] of [how lucky he is]’” and Teresa replies with “’I’ve been dreaming of my dad [Ramón] a lot lately.’”

Another major problem is characterization. The seven family members all remain flat characters so it is difficult to differentiate amongst them or to connect to them. There is an attempt at direct characterization (“Teresa was good at reading people”) but this description is inaccurate. The family as a whole can only be described as dysfunctional; everyone has issues with everyone else and no one trusts anyone. Not one of them is likeable. And because the characters are not developed, I found myself not caring about what happened to them.

The book is repetitive in its use of certain elements. People keep meeting in the woods and mysterious figures are constantly seen roaming there. Then there’s the spooky house and the mysterious housekeeper who knows a great deal but won’t talk. Teresa conveniently forgets and remembers things: “Who had said that? Where had Teresa just heard it?” and “then a vision pushed in upon her” and “How the hell could she have forgotten? Yet she had, completely, until now” and “Another vision intruded on Teresa’s mind.” Other characters also have strange memory lapses; one person cannot remember a cousin’s address: “’I slept on a bench. When I woke up I remembered the address, so I went there.’” Using memories in this way is not a sophisticated literary technique.

The long lists of questions also become tiresome. Teresa, in particular, thinks in long sequences of questions: “What had they forgotten, and what had their imaginations created over the years? And how would they ever know now which was which?” and “Had her mother known? What would she think, what would the aunts and uncles think? Would they be as indulgent as her cousins?” and “Who had her father really been, and what had he done that severed him from his family? What did her visions mean, or did they mean anything? Would she be the same person without them? Was she brave enough to find out?” and “What was he doing here? What had he learned, and why did he make Teresa so uneasy?” and “What was he doing now? Had Philip dismissed him or was he still on the case? If so, why had he not contacted Teresa?” and “Was it in Philip and Miranda, as well? And if so, how had she and James avoided it?” and “What was wrong with her? What was wrong with all of them? What was this demon in the blood of the entire family?” And this is not an exhaustive list!

This is not a book I can recommend. Plot, characterization and writing style all have issues. There are no thrills to be found in this thriller.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Morse family is known for old money, the East Coast, and a stolen Goya painting. The painting, a self-portrait said to cause madness and death in anyone who views it, was stolen years before. None of the four cousins—Kenny, James, Audrey, and Teresa—have visited the family home at Owl’s Point—or their grandfather—since, amidst the accusations and blame over the painting’s disappearance. Not to mention the rumors of madness.

But now their aging grandfather wants to see them. Individually. Considering the patriarch’s age, the cousins think the summons is related to their inheritance, so they go. When Teresa and Audrey arrive, they find their grandfather’s body, his terrified gaze fixed on the spot where the missing painting once hung.

With the family gathered to mourn, old accusations are resurrected, and the police start asking questions—not just about the old man’s death, but about the missing painting, which is worth millions. Determined to find out who killed her grandfather, Teresa starts digging into the past, hoping to prove her own father wasn’t mad…and that she has not inherited that madness. But even missing, the black painting has a strange effect on everyone connected to it, and the darkness may be too much for Teresa.

This book sounded like a perfect fit for me: I love family mysteries like this, although the painting creeped me out a tiny bit. However, this family is crazy. Legitimately. No matter which family member I was reading about—and even some of the non-familial characters—I could not make a connection because their thoughts and actions seemed completely illogical to me. Which kind of makes sense if viewed through the lens of a family closely associated with a painting that supposedly drives everyone around it mad. I finished reading it, but I am rarely a fan of books without characters I can care about. This book was not the right fit for me.

(Galley provided by Hanover Square/Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

An eccentric and faded old money family has lost its patriarch the same day he was to give the rules for inheritance to his grand daughters. He had done so the previous day with the grandsons. But his death brings them all back together at the house many hadn't returned to since the the theft of a Goya painting rumored to hold the Devil. The family, the stereotypical boilerplate image of an old money family who has lost much of its wealth and is relying on image, is weighed down by layers and layers of secrets. As Teresa, the youngest granddaughter and an art history major, begins to catalogue and distribute the art holdings, she starts to uncover the secrets and begins to unravel what happened to her once close family. While there is the mystery of the painting theft, it doesn't seem to be the main focus of the story. Instead, the story deals with the deterioration of the family and the revelation of all those family secrets.

Interesting concept. I liked the sense of mystery and the diverse cast of characters. However, I thought The Black Painting was dull at times and I had trouble staying focused on it.

A family comes together at the behst of the wealthy patriarch, who is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Goya's paintings play a major role, so art lovers may enjoy this particularly.

This would have been a more interesting read if there was more attention paid to the art. It was a decent mystery, but seemed to fall apart at the end.

<b><i><u>Why This Book</u></i></b>
I stumbled on this via NetGalley several months ago. The cover was creepy and it revolved around a family mystery involving a missing painting and the death of a grandfather. I had to add it to my TBR, then they awarded it to me. I am trying to clear off all NetGalley books by 12/31 so I can start the new year with a clean slate, so this was last week's choice.

<b><i><u>Plot, Characters & Setting</u></i></b>
The Morse family head passes away, leaving behind a few children and four grandchildren, all after his money to varying levels or degrees. He may or may not have a lot, they're unsure. Yet there was a mysterious Goya painting that had been stolen and could still be lurking around. The family all come home to his Owl's Point, New England estate to attend the funeral and will after someone finds him dead. Each family member, particularly the cousins, are all a bit kooky and very focused on the painting. As the story unfolds, you learn different components of the past, especially where everyone was the day the painting went missing. We soon learn the grandfather may have been murdered and the family begins pointing fingers at one another, including their grandfather's housekeeper and confidant, Ilsa. There's also a small fantasy element in knowing the painting might have a ghost that makes anyone who views it go mad.

<b><i><u>Approach & Style</u></i></b>
I read this ~300 page novel in 5 hours over a weekend. It's told in third-person POV with a perspective from each of the major family members. I read it on my iPad via Kindle Reader.

<b><i><u>Key Feedback</u></i></b>
This was a tough read; I found myself skimming way too often. I very much looked forward to the family drama, suspense and mystery elements. These all existed, but something was missing. It was very difficult to connect with the characters, everything was quite vague. It felt like the story focused on the smallest of details and went on for pages on actions that had no true bearing on character development or plot. That said, the writing style and tone were very strong. The author clearly writes well, but I think the characters didn't match the plot in this book. In the end, I enjoyed parts of it, but it could have been so much more with a different approach. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others as a good read, but there's nothing bad about it. It just didn't have a great impact on me, perhaps I am the wrong audience for it.

<b><i><u>Questions & Final Thoughts</u></i></b>
So much about this book had potential. And for some readers, it's probably going to be quite strong. For me, the most memorable component was that it just always felt 10% off the mark in terms of what I like in a family drama. I am curious to see other works by this author in the future, as I think the writing and talent is present.

This novel is about art thievery, a very rich patriarch and a very dysfunctional family. It is a murder mystery and a psychological thriller. I stuck with it to the end, although I found the characters not very nice people.

A Goya painting takes center stage in this intriguing mystery. It is said that the painting is of a demon and nothing but tragedy will happen to anyone looking at it.
It seems like the art collector and his family who are the owners of this painting have only tragedy in store for them. After many twists and turns through the story, we are led to believe that maybe what we should fear are the demons within ourselves.
Intriguing! 5 Stars

The Black Painting was a fun, quick, and sometimes spooky read that kept me interested right up until the end. I found the premise intriguing: a cursed Goya self-portrait, robbery, family secrets, and a suspicious death. Not to mention a potentially creepy old house. I found the ending satisfying and I thought that the different threads of the plot all wrapped up rather nicely. That being said, I think that the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, and I think that the "scary" scenes with mysterious figures in the woods, ghostly presences, and discussion of the "demonic" painting could have been more effective. Nevertheless, I'd recommend this to someone who enjoys a solid suspense/horror novel, especially if they enjoy reading about dysfunctional family dynamics, with the understanding that the scares are pretty mild.

Thanks to Netgalley as well as the publisher & author for making the advanced copy available to me.

An easy, quick read about the lies and secrets between family members. I flew through this book as I tried to get to the bottom of what happened to the family and how the black painting by Goya really affected their lives. Full of the perfect blend of suspense and creepiness.

I thought this book was going to be better. I didn't care about the characters. The mystery around the painting was interesting, but not enough to hold my attention. It had potential, but I think it fell short.

I could not get into this book or the characters involved. The story was very dragged out and did
not hold my attention.

Interesting story with a lot of people to blame in a totally disfunctional family. A little confusing at times with an ok ending.

I had to stop reading after 40% as I did not enjoy it at all.

The novel starts out like a good old fashioned Gothic story featuring one of the "Black" paintings by Goya. I'm not sure what a "black" painting was but the one referenced in this book has disappeared and also is cursed bringing madness or death to the owner. The subject of the painting is Goya himself; a self portrait. The ownership was held by the Morse family until it disappeared several years ago with no one knowing who took it.
There are four cousins in the Morse family and are not very close. They are summoned by their grandfather to his mansion and the supposition is that he wants to somehow reunite the family and make amends for years of being apart.
All go and suspect that the mystery of the missing Goya will be solved. They meet at the mansion and find that their grandfather has suddenly passed away. After this segment all pretenses of a good Gothic story disappear and it becomes a murder mystery. Attempts to find the missing Goya which may be worth millions cause both private detectives and lawyers to be hired by the four cousins. One neat little love affair starts during the search.
The story is interesting enough to warrant reading , but I found it was more than a little over wordy and does cause the reader to reach points that lose him or her. I did want to find out what happened to the Goya portrait and who did what to whom and I finished it.

Somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars on this one for me. I'm having a hard time deciding.

First line: Last night she dreamed of the house on Owl's Point.

Summary: Four cousins are called together by their grandfather. Grandfather was the owner (possibly by questionable means) of a Goya Black Painting, which was believed to contain a demon. Thus, the painting bestowed upon the owner great business success, followed by dramatic losses and damage. The cousins show up to meet with the grandfather. The two male cousins, Kenny and James met with him one day. The next, the female cousins, Audrey and Teresa are supposed to meet with him, but when Teresa goes into the study, she finds him dead. He is lying on the sofa with an expression of abject fear on his face.

Highlights: There is a pretty good mystery in here. The book starts promisingly, with all the elements I hope for in a good Gothic novel. A spooky old house, a mysterious housekeeper, an object that may have magical/supernatural/demonic qualities (and has been stolen), unsavory secondary characters and a private investigator who turns out to have been linked to the story. The story moves along at a good pace. The writing is mechanically sound.

Lowlights (or what could have been better): I have been trying to wrap my brain around what I actually think of this book. I read to the end, and I actually can't even remember how the main mystery (grandfather's death) was solved. The characters are flat and I didn't care much about any of them. The plot was twisty and turny, and there were too many non sequitur moments for my liking. In fact, although I was engaged in the story and wanted to know how it ended, once it was over, I can't seem to remember much about the actual story, but rather the odd spots that drew away from it instead.

FYI: Overall, a fine story, but it doesn't get high recommendations from me. There are plenty of really excellent books out there and I consider this one mediocre. There is some use of foul language and there is some reference to sexual abuse/molestation (although not in detail and it just confused the story for me a little more).

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.