Katherine Reay's The English Masterpiece is an undeniable triumph, a novel that instantly captivates and holds you in its thrall as it masterfully plunges the reader into the high-stakes world of fine art. Lily, assistant to the Tate's esteemed Diana Gilden, helps orchestrate a monumental Picasso exhibit—the culmination of a lifetime's ambition. But the glittering opening night shatters when Lily, in a moment of shocking conviction, declares, "It's a forgery." This electrifying statement immediately sets the stage for a high-stakes drama that will leave readers breathless.

What unfolds is a meticulously crafted tale of ambition, betrayal, and the perilous pursuit of truth. Diana Gilden, a respected figure in London's art scene, sees her crowning achievement and meticulous career threatened by Lily's audacious claim. The newly discovered Picasso, one she personally vouched for, becomes the epicenter of a swirling scandal, igniting fears of a widespread forgery ring across Europe. The narrative skillfully explores the intricate relationship between mentor and protégé, and the devastating consequences one unexpected statement can unleash.

The author's captivating narrative is a brilliant blend of art historical detail and gripping suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Lily delves deeper into the shadows of the art world. As someone who appreciates fine art and the collection of such timeless pieces, I found this novel sophisticated, thrilling, and ultimately a deeply satisfying journey. Katherine Reay is a true artisan of intelligent and compelling fiction, and The English Masterpiece isn't just a book; it's a masterpiece in its own right—essential reading for anyone who appreciates truly exceptional storytelling

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay is a fast-paced historical mystery that offers a refreshing departure from the usual war-centric narratives. Set in the art world shortly after Picasso’s death, the novel delivers an engrossing mix of suspense, drama, and intrigue.

When Pablo Picasso dies, Diana Gilden, Tate Modern’s esteemed Collections Keeper, rushes to organize a tribute exhibit in his honor. What should be the crowning achievement of her career is suddenly overshadowed when her assistant, aspiring artist Lily, publicly declares one of the featured paintings a forgery—right in front of a stunned crowd and the press.

In a post-war world where the provenance of artworks traded during the Nazi era is already under scrutiny, Lily’s accusation sends shockwaves through the art community. Fearing for both her reputation and Diana’s, Lily dives into an investigation to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more the evidence seems to point to her as the forger. To clear her name, Lily must unravel the mystery before everything she holds dear is destroyed.

Brimming with art history, layered family dynamics, and a hint of romance, The English Masterpiece hooks readers from the start. Katherine Reay has crafted a smart and compelling novel that will satisfy fans of historical fiction and art-world thrillers alike

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and of course the author Katherine Reay for the advanced copy of the book. The English Masterpiece is out Tuesday, June 10th. All opinions are my own.

I love a good historical fiction set in the art world, especially when things take mysterious turn. Told between the points of view Diana the curator and her assistant Lily, the story gets started when during the opening of a tribute to Picasso, Lily blurts out that she has spotted a forgery.. From that point on we get to go along for fun ride. We also get introduced to Diana's husband which brings in another layer.

Looking forward to reading more of Katherine Reay's work. This one gave me hints of Lisa Barr's Woman on Fire, it's been a couple of years since I've read a historical art mystery that good until this one came along.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC to me in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book and it definitely gave me “Charade” vibes even before the reference. Part of that is probably because the narrator’s voice reminded me of Katherine Hepburn.

The English Masterpiece has wide appeal - set in the captivating period of 1970s London with the right touch of romance, family relationships and a suspenseful tale of art forgery.

Author Katherine Reay builds a fascinating and head turning introduction to the world of modern art by centering the story on a composition by Picasso. She branches into other modern artists, such as Mondrian, Miro, and even Warhol. She gives insight into the artists that complements her character development. It is a lively story of intrigue, not a textbook art history lesson.

This is one of Reay’s many talents - sharing her expertise of the visual arts in a user-friendly way. She invites us into the artist studio, the museum administrative offices as well as the art gallery. She even found a way to introduce us to a lesser known modern artist who was a contemporary of Picasso - Heinrich Campendonk.

I can see The English Masterpiece fitting well on a shelf with books by B. A. Shapiro, Jonathan Santlofer, Fiona Davis, and other historical fiction and/or mystery writers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook ARC. The audio is narrated by the popular voices of Fiona Hardingham and Saskia Maarleveld.

The English Masterpiece
By Katherine Reay

Reviewed by Nadya Mercik

The English Masterpiece became the first novel by Katherine Ray that I read, and it swept me off my feet so that now I’m looking forward to discovering other books by her. Most of the time I prefer visual texts, but this book I listened to in audio. Created by Harper Audio and narrated by Fiona Hardingham and Saskia Maarleveld, it turned out to be the audiobook I was tempted to turn on from the very beginning the moment I listened to the final lines. In the story which revolves around two compelling female figures, the narrators did a great job showing their strong characters and determination yet threaded by insecurities and ghosts from the past.
The novel takes us back into the second half of the 20th century. It’s London, 1973. In this male dominated world Diana Gilden has managed to get the position of Tate’s Modern Collections Keeper, and she has recently promoted her secretary, Lily Summers, to the position of assistant. Lily, who paints herself but tells everyone (herself included) it’s just a hobby, loves her job and works hard to prove herself worthy of it.
The story starts on the day of Pablo Picasso’s death. Diana decides they must arrange a small exhibition in the Tate to commemorate the artist. In just a fortnight, she and Lily perform a miracle – they select and bring Picasso’s masterpieces from Europe and States and open the exhibition. The event is supposed to become something special. Lily, who has worked hard to make it happen, perceives it as almost her own achievement.
On the opening day she is giddy with happiness and pride and perhaps a bit of champagne. As she walks around the hall, observing the people (as her boss instructed her to) and the paintings, one of the exhibits strikes her as odd. The Woman Laughing is clearly a masterpiece, but it stands out in the row of other Picasso’s works. The more Lily looks at the painting, the more it dawns on her that this is not the great artist’s work. Shocked with her discovery, she blurts out “It’s a forgery” for everyone, including the owner of the painting and The Times’s journalist, to hear. Troubles follow, and Lily feels really anxious and guilty. With her careless exclamation she has put her boss’s and her own career in danger, and, coming from a working class, she cannot afford losing her job. To add to the troubles, an insurance investigator arrives from New York to sort out the problem.
Ridden with guilt, Lily tries to mitigate the situation. However, something about the circumstances and the behaviour of her boss makes her doubt. Was she really wrong about the painting? In order to protect herself and in spirit of recovering the truth, Lily starts her own sort of investigation, and it takes her on a rather tumultuous journey.
The English Masterpiece combines so many interesting threads and topics, that it simultaneously makes you want to pause and look more closely at every brushstroke and keep on reading to find out how the situation will resolve. Katherine Reay submerges the reader in the atmosphere of the art London, the city which still feels some aftermaths of the Great War and the current economic depression, the city of contrasts and great power – all of it for you to savour in small details. Then there is the world of art and fascinating stories about certain pictures and artists. You can read a great passion and love for art behind every line, and it is very interesting to understand more about how forgers work, what techniques, tools and ways they use to be able to copy a great master.
But the story is much more than the depiction of one heist and an investigation to solve it. There are, of course, two very personal female stories – Lily’s and Diana’s. Lily who suffers from a childhood trauma and denies herself the true expression in art. Lily who tells each and everyone who sees her painting that it’s just a hobby, and at the same time wishes to take part in the new Emerging Artist programme of her boss. Lily who considers herself a forger – not in practice but in her heart.
And Diana, who had to erase her old self. Diana who is in a rather controversial relationship. Diana who fought to occupy the post she has now. An ambitious woman who wants to go further, sometimes regardless of the price to pay.
There is also the family line. I loved the way Katherine Reay describes and portrays Lily’s family. The relationship in it is far from ideal and there are so many things for Lily to understand as she ploughs through this whole conundrum – about herself, about the people around her. I loved a phrase that Conor Walsh, the insurance investigator, says at some point – “Families are complicated, Lily. You can love them and hurt them, want to draw them close while shoving them away. Those two states – the pull and the push – can be true simultaneously.” How do you go on as a family when a disaster hits it? How do you navigate the conflicting desires and keep supporting each other? In the end, despite all of it, Lily’s family feels like a cosy place you want to be part of.
And this story doesn’t shy away from the social background of this time. Can you surpass the borders and limitations of your class? Can you become something bigger? And may be do you need to?
In comparison to all the other threads the love line sometimes feel like it’s been left on the curb, yet it is like a cherry on top of the cake. It gives the protagonist the completion she needs. After all, it may be the story of the forged marsterpiece, of art and artists, but in the first place, it is the story of finding oneself and asserting oneself in this world. Quoting the novel, “After all, that’s what art is as well – a form of self-expression” or “Art is the singular soul – the flaws, the vulnerability and the memory all on display”. And to show it all you need to find it first, together with the courage to open it up to the world and thus proclaim yourself, and become part of the world.
All in all, it’s a wonderful novel. If you love reading about art and people who create it, it’s the novel for you. If you enjoy heists, mysteries and dark pasts, you’ll find a lot in this book. And you will fall in love with these characters, who come as they may from a different era, but are still very much like us. Happy reading!

Set in 1970's in the UK we follow 27 year old Lily. She was recently promoted to her dream job as assistant keeper at an art museum. Growing up in a working class family she has always felt the burden to pursue a job rather than art. In her free time she spends copying and closely studying art. When Picasso passes away her boss Diana wants to do a tribute exhibit in his honor. On the big day she is poised and admiring the paintings when she gets to one she blurts out "that's a forgery". before she can even stop herself everyone falls silent and the chaos ensues. This leads everything her boss has ever had in possession to attention and questions her reliability. Lily must get to the truth is the painting real or a fake and who can she trust. I LOVED this one. I always love a badass female main character.

The narration was beautifully done.I loved the chatacters and the puzzle overall.
It eas an immersion story all the way through.

This audiobook is narrated quite well by Fiona Hardingham and Saskia Maarleveld, but even listening at a higher speed does not really move the story along. ... THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE by Katherine Reay is described by the publisher as "perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon." Given that I enjoy their work (and Fiona Davis praised it, too) I truly expected to be able to recommend Reay's latest historical fiction/mystery. The cover is beautiful and eye-catching, but the story moves slowly and the alternating narrators, young Lily and her boss, Diana, who work at London's Tate Gallery, are not very engaging. Lily, especially, has issues of confidence and is constantly apologizing. Diana, though bravely battling misogyny in the 1970's curation and art world in Britain, also struggles for recognition, especially from her older husband. They put on a terrific exhibition, but Lily naively (and publicly) calls Picasso's Woman Laughing a forgery. Is it? Can she prove it? Will their careers survive? Why did she say that? Booklist calls THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE "[a] fascinating look behind the scenes of art dealings and the workings of the museum;" hopefully, readers interested in that aspect (like the Historical Novel Society which recommended this title) will have more patience than I did.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF @50%.

Honestly, I tried, but I could not care in the least.

Also, I adore Picasso's work, but, tragically like so many of the surrealist men, he was an abusive, misogynistic arsehole.

There’s a saying about how no one is the villain in their own story—that kept running through my mind as I read this unexpectedly exciting romp through the London art world of the early 1970s. Part career novel, part accidental detective story, part post-WWII fallout, this book was a thrilling delight. I was already familiar with both narrators, they each carried their portion of the story beautifully. I was not familiar with the author but I will be checking out more works from her right away.

First of all, the two narrators did a great job. I enjoyed both of their performances.

For the story itself, though you are thrown into the drama right away, the author then backs up and gives background information on Lily and her family dynamics and Diana and her husband. While this is necessary for the character development, it makes the plot slow down. It didn't take off for me until the 30% mark.

This book has such a sense of time and place. I loved being in the 1970s art world, and the descriptions helped me visualize it very well. I'm not super informed about art pieces and artists, so I enjoyed hearing/learning through this story.

I don't think this can be described as a mystery, unless you're Lily, the MC. From the reader's perspective, you're watching Lily discover the truth about the painting, but you watch other characters' actions enough to know what is happening.

I actually enjoyed the family drama, though I was annoyed with it in the beginning. I just wanted the action to happen! Overall, I think this story is a blend of character development and plot, and it does work.

I did not agree with Lily's decision at the end and thus felt it ended a little weakly. Enjoyable listen though, and I appreciate that I can recommend this to many readers because of the clean language, chaste romance, and low violence.

At a prestigious Picasso exhibit, museum assistant Lily claims a painting is a forgery, jeopardizing her career—and her freedom.

This is an entertaining story with strong characters and a fast-paced plot. I enjoyed the 1970s art world setting. The audiobook narration was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The English Masterpiece is an artful experience, to be savored and appreciated. Lily is a young assistant, far ahead of the professional norm of being a woman, to a woman boss, in a male dominated profession. Lily is creative and talented in her own right and immediately I got the sense she has layers of depth to her character, but has determined to study the masters and learn from her mentor, Diana. She has allowed others to shape her into who she thinks she is supposed to be. I love that this is a story of self-discovery and restoration to what was lost. Lily deeply loves her family and yet, being burdened by many things, feels like she cannot quite connect with them on an intimate level. I love how Katherine Reay uses art and the masters to draw out the characters and their strengths and imperfections. I also learned quite a bit about art along the way. There is a touch of romance, but it is not the center of the story and is just enough to bring an additional layer. There are historical elements woven throughout and the setting of the seventies came through accurately. This is a standalone, but I must confess, my thoughts have lingered on the characters once I finished and I would love another story with them.
The narrators did an excellent job of bringing the various characters to life, capturing the tones, nuances, and personalities of each person.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Let me start by saying- THE DRAMA. I love a book about 'art world' drama. Forgeries??-check. Backstabbing and plotting?-check. Glamour and intrigue of the art world in 1970's London?-check.

Set in 1970's London, surrounding the death of Pablo Picasso and at the Tate Gallery- newly appointed assistant Lily is basking in the reverie of pulling off a commemorative exhibit to celebrate the life and work of Pablo Picasso. Everything is perfect....until Lily realizes that one of the Picasso's is a forgery. And says so out loud. This can ruin everything.


This book will leave you on the edge of your seat. I truly enjoyed this one.


Thanks NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for advance access to this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

Katherine Reay’s newest novel is set in London during the 1970s and filled with fashion and art - such a fun setting to be immersed in! I loved the audio narration and was immediately drawn into the art world and the dilemma in which main character Lily found herself. I don’t know much about art history and felt like I learned quite a bit. A true art aficionado would be in their element with all of the discussion of famous artists and their works!

Along with Lily’s dilemma centered around an art forgery is a storyline regarding her family relationships, which are strained due to a past accident. While at first this seemed unrelated to the main idea of the book, it gave depth to Lily’s character. I enjoyed seeing her growth and realizations as the mystery progressed.

While there were some slower moments, the last third of the book really picked up and the ending was both exciting and satisfying! This book is great for anyone that loves art, mysteries, historical fiction, and stories about crime!

Adult fiction, but perfectly appropriate for teens as well. No language. Clean romance. Mild violence.

I listened to the ALC for The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay and I really enjoyed this book. The audiobook is narrated by Fiona Hardingham; Saskia Maarleveld and they are fantastic. It is the early 1970's in London and our FMC Lily works for Diana at the Tate. Picasso has just died, and Diana and Lily pull together a wonderful Picasso exhibit to honor Picasso's work. At the opening night, which should be a huge triumph for the two women, Lily is walking around the exhibit and blurts out that one of the paintings 'is a forgery'. Well, chaos ensues. Diana and the museum are livid - Lily is not an expert but now she has cast doubt on the museum and Diana's management and expertise. There are insurance and police investigating. I thought this book was really well done. It starts slowly and the momentum builds until I feel we are practically running to the conclusion. There is a sweet romantic subplot, there is family drama, sister drama, and solving the puzzle of what exactly is going on with the Picasso in question. Lily really grows and I loved watching her become the person she is supposed to be. This book comes out Tuesday, June 10th. I need to thank Net Galley and Harper Muse audio for my advance listener copy.

Not my favorite Katherine Reay, but still a great listen. I loved the setting, liked the characters, and enjoyed how the puzzle came together at the end. The narration was excellent.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC. Here’s my honest opinion.

For anyone who likes a lighter historical fiction with art and a mystery this is a good fit. I liked how Lily navigated her way to uncover what was going on, and how the story came together. The audiobook is enjoyable to listen to, and the insights into the art world were interesting.

Art theft and art forgery books are always a hit with me; and this does not disappoint. The only drawback for me is that I felt like the 1970s setting could have been stronger. I kept reminding myself of the date.