This book is set in London in the 1970s following Pablo Picasso's death. The story alternates between the perspectives of Diana Gilden, the keeper of Modern Collections at the Tate Gallery, and her assistant Lily. Diana decides that the Tate must have a special exhibit in the Memorium of Pablo Picasso for both Diana and Lily to get promotions and secure their places in the Tate. Their success seems achievable until the day of the unveiling when Lily is walking around the exhibit and blurts out that one of the pieces is a forgery.

As this crime gets investigated, we soon learn that Diana and Lily aren't as they seem. Both have parts of themselves hidden away as they feel like what they are doing will bring them happiness even if it keeps them away from their true love of being artists.

This book is fantastic. I couldn't put it down. Katherine Reay does an amazing job of making you doubt what is going on and whether the painting is a forgery. The author also did a great job of weaving in history about Nazi occupation and how it impacted the art world during WW2. There were so many issues touched in this book as well such as dealing with family trauma, dealing with guilt, and acceptance of those in your life and yourself.

I love art and especially books about art. What I didn't expect was for this to be an absorbing thriller!

The story takes place in 1973 when Lily, an art aficionado is hired to assist the Tate's Modern Collections keeper, Diana Gilden. Lily is thrilled when she is asked to set up a last-minute art installation showcasing Picasso's work as the artist had recently died. Everything is set, everything is perfect. But it's not and Lily sees it. What she doesn't expect is that it may cost her reputation.

The details in this story had me referring to the internet constantly to see the artwork described in the book. It was not only a fun read but super interesting as well.

Lily has her dream job. She is the assistant to Diana Gilden at the Tate Modern Gallery in London. She's working on a big assignment. It's a memorial display of Picasso's paintings from around the world, following his demise. But in looking at one of the paintings, Lily blurts out that it's a fake. That's not a good thing to do in front of the press, her boss and the owner of the painting.

Things are tough at home and Lily really needs to keep her job. So, she sets out to prove that the painting is, indeed, a fake, and to find out who is behind it. But things get complicated when the police think that she is the forger.

This well-written novel was a pleasure to read. The characters are well-developed. The plot moves along at a smooth pace. The ending isn't a real shocker, as we are introduced to the real forger early in the book. But, like a good episode of Columbo, it only adds to the level of intrigue as the mystery is solved. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed Reay’s exploration of happiness and career fulfillment. Both Diana, as Tate Gallery’s Keeper of Modern Collections, and Lily, as her assistant, have broken all barriers in the UK as the first female keepers in a major institution. Their personal lives are as curated as their workplace. When Lily discovers that happiness isn’t what she does but how she feels about what she does, she’s willing to undertake gasp-worthy moves! The art of sacrifice kept me intrigued.

Although I’ve read plenty about the art world during the Nazi regime, it was good to see how Reay linked this to equality and freedom for women in the workplace. It was equally interesting to learn about the art of forgery and Picasso.

This story about risks, scandal and personal/professional growth will resonate with many; especially those who take time to peel back the veneer.

I was gifted this copy by Harper Muse and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE by KATHERINE REAY is the extremely well written story of Lily Summers, a talented young woman who loves art, seeing a flaw in a Picasso painting which is part of a special exhibition at the Tate Gallery, causing mayhem in the art and insurance worlds, as well as involving Scotland Yard, and a search for the forger.
Lily works under Diana Gilden who is the first woman Keeper of Modern Collections and feels guilty for causing the person who has done so much for her to lose her job. Still she is sure she is right. She has always followed Diana’s tastes and directions assiduously until she is in trouble and realizes she needs to be her real self and trust her own opinions and feelings. This is true in her painting and in her family life. She needs to be more accessible to her family and friends and trust in her own ability rather than copy famous artists……
The story is gripping as the author takes us through these two women’s emotions, and we wonder at the outcome.
There are other interesting characters as the author, who is obviously knowledgeable about London’s art scene in the 1970’s and passionate about art, creates a scenario that is full of mystery, even going back to the Nazi’s art thefts during World War 11…….
I cannot recommend this interesting and exciting novel strongly enough.
I waa given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Harper Muse. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay is a fantastic story about the possible forgery of a famous Picasso painting in 1970s London.
We meet Lily, the assistant to Diana, who runs a Collections Gallery. Picasso has recently passed away so they create a collection by bringing in Picasso art to display. This is where Lily thinks she can see one of the paintings as a forgery.
This story had me captivated from the start. I loved the characters in this novel.
I really didn't know much about Picasso's work and was intrigued. I found myself looking him up online so I could see his paintings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and received an advanced complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When Picasso dies in 1973, Diana Gilden, Keeper of Modern Collections at the Tate Gallery asks for her assistant Lily’s help in planning a memorial exhibition that will secure both of their places in the art world.

Their success seems inevitable until Lily unexpectedly ruins the exhibition opening by declaring one of the paintings to be a forgery.

As the police and insurance inspectors work to investigate the claim, readers begin to realize that both women are living carefully curated lives, lives they convince themselves will bring them happiness, even if it demands they sacrifice embracing their true selves.

Katherine Reay does a superb job of keeping readers guessing about the authenticity of the painting while layering in connections to so many other conflicts. She touches on the Nazi’s theft of hundreds of thousands of paintings during WWII. She explores the difficulties of being women trying to establish themselves in a male-dominated field. And she highlights the complicated nature of families where trauma, guilt, and desperation for acceptance can all get in the way of love and connection.

This was my first time experiencing Reay’s work, and I’m eager to read more. Thanks to Harper Muse and Netgalley for providing me with a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE is a thoroughly enjoyable novel to sink yourself into. Lily and Diana are terrific POV protagonists, and the differences between their lifestyles are immediately noticeable. I had a little bit of a hard time believing Lily's outburst, which serves as the inciting incident, but I suspended my disbelief and was able to immerse myself into the story. The 1970s art world in London is vividly conveyed, and the mystery surrounding the alleged forgery kept me turning the pages. The resolution is completely satisfying. This is another winner from Katherine Reay. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and women's fiction. You don't need an interest in art to enjoy the novel, but readers who do have such an interest will find much of interest here.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.