The art world has always been a match made in heaven for crime fiction and Dangerous Art capitalises on that with a fast paced story set, for the most part, in the beautiful city of Prague. Businessman Jake Elderfield gets entangled in a rigged auction for a high value painting and soon finds himself in the company of some very shady characters. The story could so easily be based on real events, given that the sums involved in art, especially when the painting is by a revered artist, can be astronomical. With some beautiful settings and food and drink to make you salivate, Dangerous Art is a rewarding read.

My thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me an advance copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jack Elderfield last saw Liz on Burgh Island and the next day she went to Prague for business and disappeared.
Jack is now looking for her in Prague and is uncovering a world of lies, deceit and secrecy.

Set in 1997, this thriller is a fast paced, gripping read from start to finish, with beautifully described locations and likable characters.

Jake tries to contact his good friend Liz who has travelled to Prague to get take some publicity shots of a painting which will be auctioned on a new online auction website. The stakes immediately skyrocket when Liz isn't returning anyone's phone calls or messages, pulling you into a tense mystery. At the center of the mystery is the painting, which has been estimated to be worth millions, adding a clever twist of art crime that keeps the plot fresh and intriguing.

Jake is a standout hero. Smart, determined, and relentless in his search for Liz. Watching him piece together the clues and elisting the help of new and old friends and unravel the deception is incredibly satisfying. The story builds suspense brilliantly.

A fast paced, page turner perfect for any crime and thriller reader.

I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

This was a superb read that kept me on the edge throughout. The descriptions of all the places made them really seem alive and in some cases I had to go and research the details out. The story is based upon Jake finding Liz who has gone missing and eventually finding her but with 2 more reading hours on my kindle to go I knew that there was a lot more to this book. The story goes very deep into the art world as well as all the possible criminal activities that surround it.
Highly recommend this to anyone who loves a true mystery and has time to spend to devote to non stop reading as this is such a compelling story full of so much intrigue.

An entertaining read about skullduggery in the art world. The hero Jake is tasked with trying to retrieve the relationship between his university friends Nellie (Neville),, a banker and Liz, an art historian. However his first problem is that he can't find Liz.
By the time he has spoken to her somewhat shady boss Matravers he realises that the situation is a lot more complicated than either he or Nellie realised.
The settings are great. The ones I know are described authentically (although I think the author is a bit unkind about Coventry Cathedral).
Relations between the key characters and the police are too good to be entirely plausible but otherwise the story hangs together well. I was a bit disappointed that the final peril was resolved quickly, probably because I wanted the story to go on longer. My only criticism is the frequent references to what is clearly an earlier book. At the beginning it is particularly annoying and unnecessary.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book.

Jake Elderfield, an accountant but now a fixer for the well heeled, works his magic in Prague by rescuing Liz (an old friend). Liz had got involved with some shady characters who wanted to sell an artwork. Anyway, Jake to the rescue, a hero figure who seems to live a charmed life. A man with the Midas touch in turning around failing businesses as well as rescuing damsels in distress.
As a thriller it's highly entertaining but tough, gritty and realistic it isn't. Horses for courses I guess.
I judge it purely on entertainment value.

This is the first time I have read a book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is set in Prague, involving some... well, not very nice people!

The story is set in the 90s, mobile phones are not as advanced as they are now, and people are beginning to see how the internet could potentially be used in business. Oh, and also for not-so-legal things.

The main character is Jake Elderfield; his best friend, Nellie (Neville), has asked Jake to go to Prague to see Liz and talk her into marrying him, Nellie that is. Liz is there to photograph and get things organised for an online auction, something that is a first and hopefully will be the start of how business is done in the future.

I really like the character of Jake; he is one of those characters you just kind of root for. Not shy of getting into the thick of things, but also seeing the bigger picture. He definitely didn't plan to have his own life threatened when he was doing a favour for his best friend. From gloomy cellars to the best hotels, some dodgy Europeans, as well as some he will remain friends with, there is a mix of things going on in this book.

I did think there was quite a vast array of characters, but this also helped show how large a spread the crime that was being committed involved so many different people and agencies. From Tavistock to Prague, London to Glasgow, Jake definitely did some miles in this action-packed art-based thriller.

If you are a fan of fast-paced crime thrillers that have a well-plotted storyline and some surprises, then this is one I would definitely recommend.

This is a well written thriller. I liked the main character but found it harder to keep track of the many other characters. I don't often read thrillers and got a bit bored with this. I started skimming and speed reading, hence how I read it so quickly.
Satisfactory conclusion though.

I think if you enjoy a good thriller with settings in Czech Republic and Scotland adding to its appeal you will enjoy this.
I read an ARC provided by Netgalley.co.uk and the publishers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I have not read the first book about Jake Elderfield but as far as I can tell this book can be read as a standalone. It is not so much a thriller or a mystery as a book about Jake and unfortunately I did not warm to him or find him or his associates to be particularly interesting. I found the book to be slow going and eventually I resorted to a bit of skimming so it is possible that I missed the good and interesting stuff. There is a lot of details about people's appearance and particularly what they are wearing and I think the book could be a lot shorter and more focused on the mystery/thriller aspect.

It is hard to write a book and the author seems like a genuine and nice person so I will be generous and give this 3 stars.

Although this book is set in 1997 , I felt it could have been set decades earlier in the past, a bit like the art deco hotel where the action starts. If I had come across Spiffing or Jolly-Ho I would not have batted an eyelid. When Jake and Nellie storm some dangerous armed villains they treat it like a game played at school while of course nobody gets injured by the bullets. The women are all glamorous or femme fatales and Nelly is the obligatory posh and entitled male. Jake is the central character and is an interesting choice for a crime thriller in that he is an accountant who has become an expert at solving companies in financial distress and has become an excellent fixer of everything and conveniently has helpful police friends to call upon.
It all sounds rather cliched but it it was very easy reading with Jake zapping about between countries investigating missing persons and art fraud although I was slightly disappointed by the final confrontation ending which seemed to wraps things up far too easily after building up the tension for many chapters.
Thanks to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the ARC

A perfect beach read if you like a gentle thriller. Accountant Jake takes on some international art thieves in Prague who are trying to make a killing selling a painting with a dodgy provenance. An undemanding story (in the right way), set in the late 1990s.

I found this a pleasant book to read but really only worth three stars because nothing in it was different or sensational or interesting. It followed a very formulaic approach and was quite predictable. I also thought that the ending came far too quickly based on the time it took for action to happen in the rest of the book.

That said, it was fun to read and it is certainly worth three stars.

This book is the second in a series, but if like me you haven't read the prequel it doesn't matter. The story can still be easily followed and enjoyed.

Dangerous Art has the feel of a book that could easily be adapted into a mystery drama that you would see on a Sunday night, just not set in Midsomer. Set in the 1990s the book's protagonist Jake is someone that everyone turns to for solving problems. For someone that has a business brain, he has an interesting affinity for dealing with crises. Green has written him in a way that means that he isn't a know it all and his actions do not seem preposterous.

The main action is set in Prague, which makes a nice change as so many novels are set in Germany, Italy or Russia. There is a minor nod to the city, but it is a small backdrop to the plot. Prague does not become another character that you find in other novels but is fleetingly mentioned to progress the plot.

A rip roaring yarn of a book that is a great quick read.

1990's, mainly set in Prague with a dodgy painting and even dodgier characters. The main characters are Jake Elderfield; his best friend, Nellie who has asked Jake to go to Prague to see Liz and talk Nellie into marrying him, Trouble is Liz is missing.

I was not sure about that but the story concerning the art world was well worth enjoying. Lots of other places involved, for instance, Tavistock, were also enjoyable it is just the whole book was 'gentle' and maybe the source of a television story?

Thanks to Endsleigh Press for the chance to read and review.

As I began to read this book, I realised from one or two comments made in the book by Jake, that I had read the author’s previous novel Redline, and greatly enjoyed it. However, this book is absolutely fine as a standalone story if you haven’t read the first one. Once again, it’s a refreshing change to read a crime thriller that is not led by a detective and his team.
Although make no mistake, Jake Elderfield, fixer extraordinaire, has his own team. He has people from numerous walks of life on speed dial when he needs them. And they always show up for him.
This is a fun read, with sometimes implausible coincidences, which rattles along at great pace. The narrative never flags, it’s a perfect holiday read, on a long flight, for the beach, or just whenever the reader needs some enjoyable reading. . I thoroughly enjoyed this crazy, art world caper, and I look forward to whatever Jake gets himself embroiled in next!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. Great fun!

I really enjoyed this art-world thriller. Set mostly in beautiful Prague in the late 90s, the story mixes crime, mystery, and the beginning of online business in a way that felt both interesting and surprisingly believable. The whole idea around the painting auction and the amount of money involved made the story feel realistic, and I loved the atmosphere throughout.

Jake was such an easy character to root for. What starts as a favour for his friend quickly turns into something much darker and far more dangerous. I liked that he wasn’t a detective, just someone determined enough to keep digging even when things became risky. Watching him follow clues through shady deals, missing people, and the complicated art world kept me fully invested.

The pacing was fast, with plenty of twists and suspicious characters along the way. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the locations, food, hotels, and old streets of Prague — it added so much atmosphere to the story. At times there were quite a few characters to keep track of, but it also showed how wide the whole scheme really was.

This was my first book by Terry Green, and now I definitely want to read more, especially the previous Jake Elderfield story. A fun, entertaining thriller with art crime, danger, and a great setting. Perfect for fans of fast-paced crime fiction.

★★★☆☆

Whilst I did enjoy parts of this story and really liked the author’s writing style, overall it just wasn’t quite the right fit for me 🖤📚

The storyline itself had potential and there were moments that definitely kept me interested, but I personally found it a little too slow paced at times. I tend to prefer faster, more gripping thrillers that keep the tension building throughout.

Then the ending felt very sudden and almost came out of nowhere, which left me wanting a little more from the final twist.

That said, I still enjoyed the writing enough that I’d definitely be open to reading another book by this author in the future ✨

Interesting and quite entertaining - Jake is a freelancing business consultant, specialising in turning around good business suffering from poor management. His last success has brought him moderate riches, a superb car from the firm he saved and a massive boost to his reputation. With contacts and friends around the world he is well placed to help his old friend Liz with the sale of a painting that may boost the prospects of her employer, an old family auction house on the road to bancruptcy. With lots going on, factor in a drugs and money laundering and a surprise catch up with the love of his life when his childhood friend asks him to go to Prague on his behalf and convince Liz to accept his proposal. There ensues a great deal of first class travel and mixing with Interpol, detectives in London and Prague, fine dining and a wedding. Busy !

This is a compelling read that keeps the pages turning. An interesting and exciting storyline with kidnap, art double dealing, money laundering, and criminal gang of bad guys. The main character, Jake, is very likeable and a great lead for this entertaining thriller. Highly recommend. I look forward to reading Redline.

What a rollercoaster! Great plot! Kidnap, money laundering, criminal gang, art dealing, love, weddings, good guys, bad guys … it’s got the lot!!! Could not put it down! It’s a must read!

A new Author for me to follow now. A very enjoyable crime/thriller. Plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing. I very much liked Jake’s character, and look forward to seeing where his character goes next and his relationship with Kat.

The pace of this suspenseful thriller was fast and gripping. Set predominantly in the city of Prague. There were some intriguing and dangerous characters. The story felt as if it were true and had a ring of something which may easily happen. It is written about the world of art
A great compelling read

The story opens in 1997. The plot unfolds at a good steady pace. It also becomes more like a detective novel written in the 1940’s or 50’s with the speech of the main protagonists becoming increasingly archaic. Jake is able to conjure just the accomplices he needs at just the right time for them to have the skills he needs and for them be free to drop everything to come and assist. It becomes just a little far-fetched.
I couldn’t help thinking this is very like Wes Anderson style story.

Incredibly fast paced and doesn’t let up on the suspense at all! There’s so much tension and twists that I didn’t see come and the plot has some great and thrilling action scenes! I couldn’t put the book down!

The characters themselves are witty and resourceful and have an energy about them that makes them so easy to root for. I found Jake to be a really likeable protagonist and very heroic. He’s both compassionate and courageous which is always a good mix!

Dangerous Art is a fast-paced mystery thriller that plunges readers into the sophisticated yet shadowy world of fine art, fraud, and international crime. The story begins when auctioneer Liz vanishes overseas while assessing a newly discovered painting, setting off a gripping investigation that moves from the Devon coast to Prague, via Glasgow, before circling back to Prague again. At the centre of it all is Jake Elderfield, who must rely on his intelligence and determination if he is to save his friend and uncover the truth.

As heroes go, Jake makes for an engaging and refreshingly grounded protagonist. An accountant making a name for himself as a consultant skilled at rescuing struggling companies, he’s taking a well-earned break after a recent success when an unexpected phone call pulls him into a dangerous world of kidnapping, money laundering, and suspected art fraud. With plenty of twists and turns the pacing is sharp throughout, that keep the tension building from the first to the last page making this book difficult to put down. The supporting cast adds real depth to the story, particularly Jake’s long-standing friends from his school and university days, who alongside the colourful range of characters he picks up during his investigation, all play a large part in helping him uncover what has happened to Liz and rescue her, providing inside expertise where necessary but what stands out most is how normal and likeable Jake feels compared to many thriller heroes, free of the usual dark baggage often attached to them with no ex-wives waiting in the wings to cause any unnecessary drama. He’s capable without appearing unrealistic, and while he does give off vibes of having a tendency to ‘ride to the rescue,’ it never undermines his judgement or credibility, so you know he won’t be taken in by a pretty face. His on-again/off-again relationship with Katerina Dominova AKA Kat also adds another enjoyable layer to the story and, as a Czech national with valuable local knowledge, she becomes an essential ally in Prague, though her indecision about Jake keeps their relationship intriguingly unresolved.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its distinctive sense of atmosphere. Set in the late 1990s, it captures a time when mobile phones were still a novelty, communication over a distance relied heavily on fax machines, and online auctions were still in their infancy – it actually made me feel slightly nostalgic for those days when you could travel on a train without being surrounded by the incessant beeping of technology. The settings are richly described and evocative, bringing each location to life. From the elegant Art Deco hotel on the Devon coast, which carries echoes of a classic Agatha Christie mystery enough that you half expect Hercule Poirot to appear, to the cobbled streets of a post-communist Prague and the grittier backdrop of Glasgow. Overall, Dangerous Art is an entertaining and well-crafted thriller with strong pacing, memorable settings, and an appealing lead character. This is one of those rare stories that is easy to imagine as a television adaptation, it certainly leaves you hoping this is not the last appearance of Jake Elderfield.