Molly Dean is a modern woman of Melbourne, Australia, 1930, straddling a teaching job and a life spent with artists and pursuing her dreams of writing-- poetry, journalistic pieces, and a notebook full of ideas. She is moving away from life with her disapproving and abusive mother and finding small ways to success with her writing. Just after her famous lover finishes her portrait, she is brutally murdered and the painting disappears until is comes up unattributed in a 1999 auction. The murder is never solved. Enter Alex Clayton, an art dealer with Hogarth the dog (a fun side character). Alex recognizes the portrait's painter and subject. She is drawn into Molly's story. Like Molly, she stumbles into information that is more than she bargained for. Kovocic's spare writing style nicely draws out her characters and there are several that are compelling, not the least of which is Molly herself, whose voice we hear. The book is based on an unsolved murder. The story line is engaging though somewhat predictable. The first couple chapters seemed a bit dry even though I enjoyed the discussion of art auctions and establishing Alex's credentials as a serious researcher and expert in her field. However, the book took off with the story of Molly and Alex's need to find her truth at a time when the players are dead or elderly. I would definitely buy this book and thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

When a woman comes across a rare portrait by a long ago artist, she is instantly intrigued by her history. Her name was Molly Dean. She was a young woman aspiring to be a writer but she was also the lover of the artist who painted her. Until one night in November, when she was brutally murdered. So this begins Alex's research into finding out what happened to Molly but someone else is wanting that painting, badly. Told through Alex's and Molly's POV, the story unfolds with mystery and intrigue. I throughly enjoyed this novel. It's a great debut novel and I would definitely read more from this author.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun read, with a different twist. It was great to read about the art, although my knowledge of Austrailian art is pretty limited.

The art dealer becomes consumed with a mystery about a painting that normally would not attract much attention. A mysterious and persistent bidder makes sher wonder about the woman in the painting, murdered many years earlier and she determines to learn all she can.

Its a nice story, with fun characters, Alex the dealer, John the conservator and mostly Hogwarth, the dog.
The wrap up is pretty satisfying but there are some unanswered questions that are addressed by speculation that would be have been more fun if we learned really nasty stuff about the bad guys.

Will for sure read her other books.

#ThePortraitOfMollyDean#NetGalley

Based on the brutal murder of Mary "Molly" Dean in 1930, Australia.

The story travels back and forth between 1930 and 1999.

In 1930 it follows Mary as she tells her story. She is a schoolteacher with dreams of becoming a famous author. She is romantically involved with the artist Colin Colahan, who painted the portrait of "Molly". She spends much of her time with Colin and his "Bohemian" crowd, which angers her mother and puts her job as a schoolteacher at risk. She decides she will do a story on reclusive, businessman Donald Raeburn, telling his rags to riches story. She feels the people of Australia will love it. Mr. Raeburn, however, does not want his story told.

In 1999 the story follows art dealer Alex Clayton as she purchases the portrait of "Molly" at auction. Alex becomes somewhat obsessed with solving the mystery of who killed Mary "Molly" Dean, especially after getting a call from the auction house telling her of a irate call from a phone bidder who is not happy that he did not get the portrait. In her quest to become a famous writer did Mary uncover secrets that someone felt needed to be kept buried and therefore murdered her? Alex learns that there was a suspect and that he was later released. There were rumors of police corruption and cover ups. She finds that Mary's mother was a cruel woman, that didn't seemed very concerned with the murder of her daughter, could she have murdered her own daughter? Was it a jealous woman, vying for the affection of Colin?

I enjoyed this book, I could not put it down. It is definitely one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time. I look forward to reading more from Katherine Kovacic in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Publishing Australia, Echo for allowing me to read a advance copy of this book.

4 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

Alex Cayton, an art buyer, locates a 1930 painting by Colin Colahan. The painting is of his paramour and muse, Molly Dean. Ms. Dean was murdered. No one was ever brought to justice. On 21 November 1930, Mary “Molly” Dean was murdered. The lead investigator was Senior Detective Percy Lambell. He apparently had a suspect, but they were let go without a trial.

We then go back to 1930 and a typical day in the life of Molly. She is a schoolteacher and writer. She is a dreamer who hopes she will become famous.

Alex receives a telephone call from the auction house. It seems they have a very angry man who gave a false name and address and he wants the painting very badly. When Alex goes to the archives, she learns that the whole fie on Molly Dean is missing, the police documents, coroner’s report, everything but the death certificate. It appears to have been stolen. As she gets ready to leave, the archivist happens to mention that Daphne Lambell was the last to request the file in 1958. It was missing already then. Daphne Lambell must be a relation to Percy Lambell, the detective who investigated the murder in 1930. It turns out that Daphne is the daughter of the police detective and when Alex calls her they agree to meet.

Daphne has a remarkable memory and tells Alex the story of Molly Dean as her father told her. Daphne tells Alex that Molly’s mother was completely unconcerned about her death. She even asked the police not to bother with an investigation or an arrest. She tells her about Adam Graham, the main suspect in the case.

Alex’ friend John Porter is an art conservator. She decides to go to him to talk over the case. John comes up with some wild ideas and he and Alex have a laugh. Meanwhile, Alex gets a commission to inventory an art collection. When she brings one of the paintings home with her, she gets assaulted. Only her Irish wolfhound’s intervention saves her. The case is getting odd.

Molly gets an idea for an article. She will interview the reclusive Donald Raeburn. He’s a mover and shaker who rarely appears in public. She wonders what his connection is to General Thomas Blamey, the chief of police who is rather shady. Molly thinks there must be something more about the man that readers would like to know. She goes to his house and he is polite, but doesn’t call her back.

She gets the idea to interview instead those who know him. Along the way, she picks up some nasty stories about Mr. Raeburn. She goes to see him again and the interview doesn’t go at all like she had hoped. Raeburn threatens her and throws her out of his house.

What really happened to Mary “Molly” Dean? Who killed her? This book is based on a real story that will forever be a mystery in Australian history.

The book is well written and plotted with colorful characters. Alex and John’s relationship was warm and friendly, but not much background was given on either character, so I didn’t really get a sense of them as a person. I enjoyed the book. It was a good read. This novel is a very good debut for Katherine Kovacic. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Publishing Australia/Echo for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read and enjoy.