Fictional retelling of Rita Crundwell embezzlement and fraud case in Dxon IL. Didn’t care for it. Ingrid was probably the only likeable character.

DNF. Not really connecting with the content or characters. The flow of the words also didn't work for me but that's just my opinion.

The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Tedrowe. Is about a girl good with numbers and art. And has Panda Express in the story.

Becky Farwell is a criminal I liked. After all, she had a tough upbringing with her mother dead and her father selling farm equipment to just break even if that. In another family or another life, Becky would go far; she would be able to afford college, she would rock a successful career, find meaningful relationships. In her small world of Pierson, Illinois, it seems like there are not many opportunities for which Becky can avail herself. She dutifully helps her dad, offering to take on more of the bookkeeping and business side of things, and then lands a job as a bookkeeper for the Town of Pierson. Becky is so competent that it isn't long before she is promoted. And it isn't long before Becky sees the loopholes in the accounting system and begins to borrow funds to purchase art, then sells the art and returns what she borrows. Even the sneakiest of embezzlers can't keep up with the repayments, as the allure of this secret life in the posh art world becomes more and more enticing.

I flew through The Talented Miss Farwell, crossing my fingers half the time and really hoping Becky would cut her losses and get out of her side career. I hoped that with each new acquaintance, she would find a trustworthy friend, I hoped she would live happily ever after. I was fascinated by the art sales world, and Becky's ability to navigate the relationships she needed to build her collection. I love a like-able character that I want to root for, and I think I may have been conned as much as any other character in this clever novel with a classic feel. It is a page-turner! Set aside your weekend and dig in!

I could not get into the character or like her. I wanted to figure out what made her create her alter ego and the art "dealer", but that was never expored. The plot was very plodding and I felt like I forced myself to finish this book.

This was a difficult read for me. Miss Farwell is a captivating character that fools a great deal of people. I had a difficult time following the plot and harder time getting through the book.

Thank you Harper/Collins and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is wonderful. Becky grows up in Illinois along the Rock River in a small town. She is smart, maybe too smart. She gets a job working at Town Hall and begins her Activity. Which is basically skimming and buying art. Selling art, repaying the city. Skimming, buying, selling, repaying. Until she can’t. This is also a story that reminds us, our decisions affect others.

I was quickly drawn into the Talented Miss Farwell. I found the writing smooth and with an easy flow that I kept wanting to pick the book up and continue the story. Becky was somewhat hard to pin down as a character. Sometimes she seemed simple and child like, and other times cunning and manipulative. The story was unique despite comparisons to Catch me if you can, and I didn’t feel that I was reading a reworking of that. At some point I felt I was waiting for something that wasn’t happening. Issues were too quickly resolved so there was no real build up or conflict. The book was an enjoyable easy read but did leave me wanting a bit more.

This book grabbed me at the start, with a story of a small town girl facing hardships, trying to overcome them on her own. She wants something bigger and more sophisticated for herself. Her mission to do that became so long and drawn out that I lost interest completely. There was just too much unimportant, boring "filler" between the beginning and the end of the book. I finished the book but it was a challenge.

The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe had an interesting premise and I was looking forward to it. However , I did not enjoy the book as much as I would of liked.

Rebecca Farwell is leading two lives. At home she is a town treasurer, somewhat boring. In her other identity she is high priced art collector. Problem is, she is taking money from the town treasury to feed that second life.

I thought this book would be exciting, but it fell flat for me. The characters were one dimensional and not very fleshed out.

Good premise, poor execution.

The plot: Rebecca Farwell is leading a double life. Back home, she works as the town treasurer leading a simple life. But she’s also a high-powered art collector carefully taking funds from the town to become an art collector.

This is one of those books that doesn’t have a lot of action. I kept waiting for something to happen. It is well-written, but overall the novel just wasn’t interesting.

3 stars

I really enjoyed this book, I liked the story, I've noticed a lot of reviews that gave away a lot of the plot so I won't do that here. I feel like there was something missing. I can't put my finger on exactly what. Maybe there could have been more depth to the characters. I'm having a hard time putting my finger on what I feel is missing.

Becky Farwell is a small town municipal bookkeeper who gets caught up in an obsession for art collecting. Becky excels at math, but insteD of going away to college, stays home to help her father. She accidentally becomes interested in art collection when a small work catches her interest and she has just enough money for a mistaken deposit to the town to pay for it. As her knowledge of art and interest in it grows, she embezzles larger and larger amounts of money to support her collecting. She vows to pay the money back but is unable to stop. She lives a double life until she finally is caught after bringing the town to bankruptcy and betraying her only good friend,

The book provides interesting details about the art world and the machinations involved in embezzlement. Although I knew her actions were wrong, I did have some sympathy for her as a bright girl trapped in a dead-end situation who found the wrong way to rise out of it.

Thank you Book Club Girl and NetGalley for gifting me an advanced e-copy for my honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It flowed along so easily and kept me intrigued. I never thought much of the art world before, but this book had me interested and taught me a few things. The main character Becky aka Reba was a complex woman. On one hand I wanted to like her and on the other I was frustrated with her and the decisions (mistakes) she kept making. I do think the ending was a little rushed, but it did give some closure to the character.

I would recommend this book for the ease of reading and the insight into the art world.

"The Talented Miss Farwell" is a fascinating story about a woman with a talent to running a business and working with money. It is also a story of a frantic obsession of a small town woman who starts collecting original art at the expense of the town in which she is employed. I enjoyed the story line and the characters - a great read..

A interesting tale of not living within your means. The book starts out with the likable Becky Farwell and her creative ideas for keeping her father’s business afloat. She discovers a talent for numbers and an obsession with art and the art world. As the story unfolds, Ms. Farwell becomes less likable. How does she become a player in the art world while working for a municipal government? If you read this book, you’ll find out.

I found the main character of “The Talented Miss Farwell” so intriguing. She’s intelligent and kind, though not particularly socially savvy in her small town world. However, given an opportunity, she finds a place for herself, but at a cost.

This novel truly rides the line between “protagonist you love to hate” and the feeling of watching someone get away with something being so satisfying. Even while you find yourself horrified at all the loss she causes the town you can’t help but root for her to not get caught. The richness of the live she’s created for herself, and the buildup and eventual swift end of a lifelong friendship are what makes this book worth reading.

I loved this book. Definitely reminiscent of a Patricia Highsmith novel but Emily Gray Tedrowe made her character unigue. Even though her character was not law abiding I could not help wanting her to succeed. It was a great story and I can't wait for Tedrowe's next novel.

Interesting story but it is hardto enjoy a story about a character ho starts ut sympathetic and becoes less and less likable the further you read.