Couldn't download this before it was archived way back in 2016. Not reviewing it. Star rating only because it's required, no reflection on the book.

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Bodies of Art series by Ritter Ames.

I felt like I dove into this book starting at a jog and the farther I got into the book the faster I was running. This book didn’t let up. I wound up exhausted by the end. I would have enjoyed a few more areas where I could slow down and breathe for a minute. But the book was so good I gobbled it up as fast as I could.

We spent a good portion of the book wondering who Jack Hawke was and if he might make a good love interest for Laurel. Laurel was mainly focused on getting her job done instead of checking out Jack for personal swoon-worthy reasons. Dear me. She needed to find Simon, her co-worker and former lover and bring back the supposed sword of King Arthur. She knew what she needed and was single minded in her focus. Dang her. I wanted some sly looks across a gallery as they wanted each other as much as they wanted to capture the bad guy. Maybe I will get that in upcoming books.

This reads more like a spy thriller than a couple of agents working to bring priceless paintings and artifacts back to their proper owners. But I guess these types of people can be spy-like so it makes sense in my mind.

This was intense and high-energy. Not a moment was wasted and everything is a clue even if you don’t think a section of the story fits with the overall story arc. Pay attention to it all. It will all come around in the end and make total sense.

Great book. I enjoyed it and will continue with the series. And here’s hoping Jack and Laurel find more then friendship in upcoming books. :)

Highly recommended.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Laurel Beacham, premier art recovery specialist with a penchant for lycra, narrates our story. This is a fast paced game of cat and mouse, with plenty of plot twists and red herrings to keep the reader suitably intrigued. Think James Bond crossed with Lara Croft.

Full review here @ Melisende's Library
https://melisendeslibrary.blogspot.com/2019/01/reviews-bodies-of-art-mysteries-by.html

Counterfeit Conspiracies is the first book in Ritter Ames' Bodies of Art Mystery Series. The story begins with Laurel Beacham, the Beacham Foundation's premier art recovery expert, in Italy to pick up an objet d'art to be returned to its rightful owner. But things are going terribly wrong--she is sent a text with the wrong directions to the black tie event, her contact is not to be found at the meet and greet, and there is a a very good looking man paying far much attention to Laurel.

When Laurel finds her contact dead and escapes the clutches of her admirer, she makes the report, heads for London and then is scheduled to fly to a well deserved vacation at Lake Tahoe. As she approaches her flight to the states, she receives a call from her boss, Max, that a very rare antiquity has been found and she is to pick it up along with its documentation before she comes home. Laurel is to contact the London office head, and her former lover, Simon Babbage, to work on the collection. They set up to meet, but when Laurel arrives at Simon's office, he is not there but a strange woman is and is ransacking it. A quick escape with Simon's laptop and a flash drive opens up a race to locate the missing Simon as well as finding the artifact. And the kicker is that the mysterious party attendee has inserted himself into her quest and is, just perhaps, a member of MI6.

A fast paced read that moves from the streets of London to the French countryside. Laurel is being chased and shot at as she makes her way to the final twist that will leave you surprised, even stunned. A real page turner that will leave you wanting more. I recommend this novel.

Great start of a really entertaining series with great characters and humour. Would recommend to other lover of this genre.