Set in 1973 The English Masterpiece follows the plight of Diana, the Tate Gallery’s Modern Collection Keeper and her junior assistant as they prepare a memorial exhibition to honor the recent death of Picasso. Unfortunately, Diana’s assistant Lily publicly suggests the pinnacle painting in the exhibit is a forgery. The fallout from this sends dominos flipping causing a career spiral for both Diana and Lily.

Through the investigation of authenticity of the painting, and dealing with the ripple effect of the exposure, the author also explores the challenge of women holding positions in a male-dominate field and their particular struggles from two very different social and economic situations.

The book is in two points of view which works really well to unfold the secrets and the little sparks of romance. It’s a smooth easy read, and the pages turn quickly as the reveals on the masterpiece come to light touching on other historical periods to tell the story, including the vast Nazi thefts of art in WWII.

A must read for 1970s art fans, historical fiction readers, and lovers of a twisty mystery in an intriguing setting.

Katherine Reay is the author of one of my favorite Historical Fiction books, A Shadow In Moscow. It is completely different in subject and tone but I still liked the style and FMC of this story as well. Set in the 1970's London art scene where even a whisper of the possibility of a forgery can be the beginning of the downfall of whoever is involved , this was a great time. I loved learning about the paintings and the painters as well as the art scene. The pacing felt a tad uneven at times and brought my rating down just a bit.

Really enjoyed this one. It was such a unique setting and I loved the dive into the art world. Perfect for those who prefer light romance.

4.5 stars

In The English Masterpiece Kathrine Reay has expertly combined art, mystery, valuable life lessons, and just the right amount of romance. The story is intriguing, the characters are well developed, and the imagery is rich.

Lily was working her dream job at The Tate Gallery in the Modern Collections that is until she uttered three little words, “It’s a forgery!” Those three words sent her on search for truth. She discovered more that just where the painting came from. She learned we need our family and friends. She learned to stop shutting people out, to forgive the past, to stop blaming herself for things out of her control. She learned that “In art, as in life, success lies in holding nothing back.”

The book is full of mystery, forgery, greed, revenge, and betrayal. But it is also full of life, love, beauty, and so much art! I did a lot of internet searches to look up all the pieces mentioned. The first 30-40% of the book was a bit slow but the rest of the book more than made up for it!

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Take my word for it, you will want to read it when it releases June 10, 2025.

Thank you Harper Muse for the advance copy of this incredible book! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This historical fiction mystery is set in the 1970's at London's Tate Museum. At the opening of a Picasso exhibit, a young assistant declares a major painting a forgery. I found the first half of the book slow and filled with too many details about artists, painting, and fashion. The plot became suspenseful and moved quickly in the second half of the book. The conclusion with Lily's family seemed out of place.

Thank you, Harper Muse and Net Galley, for the advanced copy of this book. I have read other books by Katherine Reay and enjoyed them, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

1970's London is a hotbed for the art world, where glamor and secrets sit side by side. Forgeries abound as the aftermath of WW II floods the market with unseen masterpieces thought lost or destroyed. Suspense and danger lurk around every corner as the truth seems impossible to find and even harder to bring to light. How can an unknown assistant and painter possibly find the answers everyone is looking for before the danger catches up with her?
The Tate is set to launch into the upper echelon for art with a tribute to Picasso. Everything the newly installed Modern Collections keeper and her assistant want seems to be within reach. Diana is polished and knows her stuff, the first woman in the prestigious keeper position. Acclaim and success are waiting for her after the Picasso installment thrives. Lily wants to be just like her boss, refined and respected in the art world. After helping with the Picasso tribute she wants to linger and enjoy. Then comes the fateful words she doesn't even realize are spoken out loud, "This is a forgery." Now everything has been thrown into chaos, dreams are about to be shattered, and the danger is just starting.
The depth of the characters add such dimension to the story. It brings the learning and danger to life, either cheering or booing for each person. Learning how to find yourself, trust the right people, and listen to the hard fought for truth. Add in the wonderful way Katherine Reay brings the setting to life and this is a book you will not want to put down. Each layer builds on the previous, creating an amazing story with self learning, exposing wrong doing where ever it may appear and keeping the reader hooked until the last page. Katherine Reay has such an outstanding talent to bring stories to life and entertain readers through the entire thing. I always look forward to the next story that comes from Katherine Reay. Another book I happily recommend. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“… in Art as in life, success lies in holding nothing back.”

This was a trip down memory lane for me and brought back fond memories of my time spent as an expat in London: Eaton Square, St. Martin’s School of Art, and the Tate Museum (where my young family rang in 2000 along the banks of the Thames).

In quintessential Reay style, we are immediately dropped into the 1970s London Art scene! Pablo Picasso has just died and Diana Gilden, the Tate Modern Museum Collections keeper, hastily puts together a special exhibition of his works. On opening night Diana’s assistant Lily blurts out, “It’s a forgery”, setting the story of intrigue, greed and corruption into motion.

This is Lily’s story and as we discover her background, we find her motivation to stay true to herself as she tries to avoid taking the fall for the rich and powerful players in the industry. The supporting cast of Lily’s friends and family added some levity to the seemingly insurmountable road blocks.

A single timeline historical fiction novel was unique, and I found the exception refreshing and enjoyable. I am a self proclaimed lover of London, art stories and the seventies so Ms. Reay’s latest felt like it was written for me!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

/5 stars: This is Reay's Historical Mystery stand-alone which is set in England 1973 and is written in multiple POV tale with the main POV following a recently promoted assistant to the Tate's Modern Collections keeper finds herself in the cross hairs after declaring a Picasso a forgery during the opening of the exhibit commemorating the artist's career after his recent death. The other POV features her polished and perfect boss who she idealizes but she's keeping secrets and the young woman will have to decide who she can trust as she races against the clock to uncover the truth before she loses not only the career she's always wanted but her freedom too. While Reay's writing and character work are well done and this is an intriguing plot this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 19%.

I received this eARC thanks to Harper Muse in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

"The English Masterpiece" is another excellent historical fiction book written by Katherine Reay. Her storytelling and writing just keep getting better and better with each book she writes. This book takes place in 1973, right after Pablo Picasso passes away. Right from the first few lines of the book, the reader is engaged in the story, art, culture and most of all - a mystery.

I really liked the main character Lily and the character growth she experienced in the book, especially with the relationship she has with her sister. There is a romance subplot which is a wonderful addition, adding to the entire story arc. There is also a cameo of a world famous actor in the story which was inspired from his real life - I loved that little surprise in the book!

The author's research and details about artists, paintings, paints and everything that went into this story made it super interesting. I really enjoyed reading the tidbits about the artists' techniques and how the main character used inspiration found in art to try and capture a suspect in the story. The author added details on the Nazi art thefts, WWII events as well as the Cold War era struggles of 1973. The aftermath and emotions people of London were still dealing with 18 years after the end of the WWII was evident in the storytelling as the story progressed. All of these details made for such a rich story, I just couldn't put down the book.

Thank you to Harper Muse for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book set in 1970s London at the Tate in London centered around a forged work of Picasso. Lily herself is a talented artist and calling out the forgery does not sit well with her boss, Diana, and the mystery just unfolds from there. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved The English Masterpiece. Not only was it an historical novel about the Art world of the 1960's but it was a great whodunit of a sort. The reader actually knows who but races against time with Lily the main female character to find out how. I loved the complicated characters. Lily who gradually comes to understand herself as her relationships with her family, her employer and her friends are revealed throughout the book. I was fascinated by the Art aspect of the book. I had my phone beside me looking up pieces I didn't recognise, so thanks for the education Katherine. An intriguing, exciting, fast paced, thriller that I am happy to recommend to anyone looking for an intelligent read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

As someone obsessed with stories featuring art crimes and forgeries, I was beyond excited when I got to read this early - and Reay didn’t disappoint.

The characters are complex and intriguing to get to know, and I didn't expect how invested I would get in their storylines when I first started reading. The more of Diana and Heinrich’s relationship that got revealed gave such a fascinating dynamic. Lily's storyline especially was riveting, as her growth was written in a way that felt so natural that at times I forgot I was reading fiction.
While the characters and the plot were written in a stunning prose, my favourite thing about the story was how beautifully Reay wrote about art. I paint every day, and love going to see art exhibits, and I found myself formulating my thoughts on art a little differently after I started reading this story.

The only "negative" thoughts I can find on the story, is how slow paced it was in the first 40-50% of the book - however, pushing through it was definitely worth it because I was thoroughly hooked for the second half.
Regardless, The English Masterpiece is a statement in itself as to how well Reay makes characters come to life, and the stunning historical setting she delivers.

Wow! I was sucked into this book set in the 1970s art world in London! It was truly a journey with twists and turns and healing from the past, and trying to discover who you are. I was completely invested and loved it all. I read and listened to the audiobook of this one. The narrator was fantastic. I was completely lost in the story while listening to her.

Whether you're an art aficionado or not, this one will have you turning the pages quickly to reveal all of the past and history of these characters and pieces of art. Stunning, mysterious, insightful, healing, beautiful, intriguing and much more!

Lily is a very intricate character and I loved how the layers of her character was slowly peeled back. Her heart is so sweet but troubled and she doesn't allow herself to fully achieve her dream because of something from her past. I loved her goodness and her torn loyalty to what was right, what she thought was her dream and protecting the people around her.

Things get a little crazy when she's at an exhibit she helped plan and she looks at a piece of art and says out loud, "It's a forgery!" This sends her life on a spiraling trajectory of lots of unknown. Her job. Her family. Her boss. Her dream. Her friends. Her heart. All of these having changing dynamics that feel like they are spinning out of control and she doesn't know how to hold it all together.

I love reading Katherine Reay's books. Every one of them has pulled me in and had me thinking deeply about life and relationships and finding joy. Her writing style is full of life and hope! And she's great at writing suspense! Get ready for an intriguing read that you won't want to set down until you have discovered all the ins and outs of the story and characters' lives!

Content: Some moments of mild peril.

I received a copy from the publisher, Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audiobooks, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading and Listening!!!

Set in the art world of 1970s London, The English Masterpiece is a fast-paced read to the end, full of glamour and secrets, tensions and lies, as one young woman races against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece.

Intriguing and easy to get lost in, The English Masterpiece brought me right to the London art world in the early ‘70s. The MC, who’s slightly naive in the beginning of the story, grows dramatically throughout the short timeline of the book. The quick pace and the
mystery of the story, along with the history of the characters made this one really enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the ARC!

I am a fan of Katherine Reay and this story did not disappoint at all. It is a well written and exciting story set in the art world, a topic which I also find fascinating. There are a series of forgeries occuring with art masterpieces and the events surrounding that make up much of the plot.
I quickly got absorbed in the story and found it very compelling and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC.

What a unique story, enter into the art world, with intrigue, secrets, lies, and a story that keeps you turning pages!

Lily has her dream job at the Tate Museum in London, and right after Picasso dies, she helps her boss Diana with a last minute extravagant Picasso exhibit to honor the artist. Lily is enjoying the moment, the champagne, all the priceless artwork, and the success of the exhibit. She peruses the room and stops in front of and examines each Picasso painting. She's shocked to find one is a forgery. In one unguarded moment, she says that part out loud. The gallery is silent. A shot has been fired in the art community and nothing will ever be the same.

The author explores masterpieces vs forgeries, and what happens when people are authentic vs inauthentic. I enjoyed watching Lily evolve into her true self, instead of being stuck in a place where she can't forgive herself for an accident her mother was in, and the struggles she has with her sister. From that point on she has tried to control everything she can. I enjoyed this journey of self-discovery, acceptance, forgiveness, and growth amidst a swirling art forgery scandal. I enjoyed her friend Paddy, who encouraged her and helped her find a space to paint at St. Martin's Art School. And Conor Walsh, the insurance company investigator who is sent from New York to work on this case for Mr. Davies, who owns the forgery.

The forger is revealed to the reader, an innocent is framed, and I couldn't stop turning pages to see how it all worked out.

I recommend this multi-layered story based in London in the 1970's for fans of historical fiction, mysteries, art, and a great story!

Thank you to the publisher Harper Muse and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Katherine Reay has once again woven a thoughtful, elegant novel that celebrates literature, history, and personal discovery. The English Masterpiece is a quietly compelling story about legacy, art, and the intricate relationships that shape who we become.
Set against the rich cultural landscape of England, the novel follows a protagonist whose journey is as intellectual as it is emotional.

****Publishing June 10, 2025****

Lilly had the privilege of working for the first female keeper at a major art gallery, Diana. Diana is the keeper at the Tate Gallery for Modern Collections. Lilly is a secretary for Diana. With Picaso’s death, the death of a major donor to the gallery, and with economic fears, the attendance and donations are down to the gallery. Can Diana and Lilly figure out ways to generate revenue for the gallery in order to keep it going? What will they discover and uncover in the process? Can Lilly be successful working in a class she is not a part of?

From the writing to the story, this book will keep you turning the pages! I loved how this story alternated between Lilly and Dianna as it gives you more perspective into the art world! Katherine Reay is one of my favorite authors because you can tell she meticulously researches her books, which turns into a fascinating and well- told story that is informative and entertaining! A great book for book clubs as it will lead to many interesting discussions!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Historical fiction shrouded in the mystery of a Pablo Picasso forgery.
London art gallery circa 1970.
This is a wonderful character driven novel for those who enjoy a who done it that is deeply rooted in the old masters’ paintings. Specifically, Pablo Picasso.
I found this to be a well written novel with good research on Pablo Picasso and his well known art. It was, however, slow moving the first quarter of the book. Then, of course, as it began to get deeper into the plot, the characters came to life a little more and carried it through the rest of the story.

Many thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

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