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Nov 27, 2018cknightkc rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
THE COLLECTOR’S APPRENTICE is not a masterpiece, but it is an entertaining fast-paced mix of fact and fiction. The novel is set in the 1920s art world of Paris and Philadelphia and has it all: romance, betrayal, intrigue, mystery, and sudden death. The central characters are invented but loosely based on actual people from the time period (see Author’s Note at end of book). Author B.A. Shapiro seamlessly weaves prominent figures, including Henri Matisse, Gertrude Stein, and Pablo Picasso, within the storyline. Shapiro demonstrated her vast knowledge of art and art history in previous books, THE ART FORGER and THE MURALIST, by writing so descriptively that paintings seemed to come alive for the reader. I wish in THE COLLECTOR’S APPRENTICE she had done more of the same instead of focusing so much on the melodramatic plot. Still, keep your iPhone or iPad handy so you can look up and appreciate all the works and places featured in the story.