1973. Art historian Fabiola Bennett sees herself as a prudently observant deer who becomes a daring and even mischievous lioness if the situation calls for it. And that’s exactly what’s required when greedy criminals steal, forge, and tamper with treasured artwork. When the crooks add murder to their list of crimes, the chaos is complete.
A mysterious note is delivered anonymously at the door of the National Gallery in London, and the director immediately calls Fabiola’s office in Oslo and pleads with her to come without delay. The message is confusing, but it seems one of her favorite eighteenth-century portraits is in trouble.
Fabiola hops on the first plane and meets up with her vibrant side-kick Pippa Yates and the ever-loyal Detective Inspector Cary Green from New Scotland Yard. But she is not naïve enough to think untangling the purpose and meaning of the mysterious note will be as simple as a walk in Hyde Park. These things never are.
1750. Newly married Robert and Frances Andrews, members of the landed gentry of Suffolk, England, hire young and talented Thomas Gainsborough to paint their wedding portrait. Their desire is a lovely conversation piece showing their wealth and class, an artwork to remember them by for generations to come.
Little do they know the gifted artist portrays their personalities exactly how he perceives them, and the artistic symbolism is not as flattering as they’d hoped for. Even the looming clouds in the distance promise a troublesome future.
This is the first book in a new dual timeline series by Heidi Eljarbo—an intriguing spin-off from the much-loved Soli Hansen Mysteries.
Fans of Lucinda Riley, Rhys Bowen, Kathleen McGurl, Kate Morton, and Katherine Neville will love this cozy historical art mystery, which takes the readers back to the nostalgia of the groovy seventies and the classical Georgian era of the eighteenth century.
Welcome, Heidi!
Please make yourself at home. Would you prefer tea or coffee, or perhaps something
more…fortifying?
Great first question! I don’t drink coffee or alcohol…but I can drink hot chocolate any time of year.
Before we begin, please introduce yourself.
I have many “loves” in my life; my husband, my children, my fifteen grandchildren, my dog, my friends, my faith, my room full of books. I “love” art history—well, actually most things history—and genealogy, tenor music, violins, photography, and painting watercolors. I “love” Mondays and doing the laundry (odd, I know).
I think I was born cheerful and positive, and although life can be quite a challenge at times, I feel there are so many miracles in everyday life. When my husband encouraged me to pursue my lifelong dream of writing many years ago, I jumped right in and have found that it makes me really happy.
Could you tell us a little about your new novel, and what inspired you to create a story with these characters?
I have written a series called Soli Hansen Mysteries, and when I wrote the fourth book last year, I thought it would be interesting to make a spin-off series—one that could have a dual timeline that featured a famous painter from the past. Fabiola Bennett, the main character in The London Forgery, is Soli Hansen’s daughter. She has the same passion for art history as her mother and travels the world, solving art crimes.
Did you come upon any unexpected surprises during your research?
I was happy to learn how much Thomas Gainsborough loved his wife, and how she contributed to his business in many ways. This was unusual for a woman in the mid-eighteenth century, but they made it work and were great partners.
What do you think is the most challenging aspect of writing dual-timeline Fiction?
It’s important to plan two timelines with days, dates, and characters and to make sure both stories get an interesting start, a compelling middle, and a satisfying end. These two parts—although very different in time period, language, and culture—need to seamlessly entwine in a way that they become a natural blend. It takes a bit of concentration, but it’s a fun challenge.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Probably Thomas Gainsborough. What a talent he had. And he did his best to provide for his family by painting portraits, even though he’d much rather paint landscapes.
What is it about the subject of crimes involving artworks through the ages that you find so fascinating?
Crime itself is not so fascinating to me, but the artwork is. I adore these old masterpieces, and when I can take one of these paintings and make up a story with interesting and diverse characters and a mystery that needs to be solved, well, then I’m excited to do so.
And lastly, what’s coming up next from you?
Every year, I write a romantic historical novella or novel to be published in good time before Christmas. As part of a series called Heartwarming Christmas, these books are set in different time periods and are all standalone stories that may be read in any order. I have not announced this year’s book yet, but I can tell you it’s hauntingly romantic and it’s situated in Sweden in 1810. So, you heard it first.
Thank you for joining us!
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
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Heidi Eljarbo
Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near.
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
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