THE ARTFUL BARGAIN

An art curator and a famous sculptor are thrown together by an art-world scandal in Lynden's contemporary romance.

As the story opens, Claire Beaumont, a curator from Milwaukee’s Lafferty Museum, has reached the Lake Michigan home of well-known artist Sinjin Reid, “the wunderkind known for welding and tangling magnificent metals into works of art.” Claire has driven all the way to the artist's home to collect a piece called Coal or Steam. Since the piece “would have folks in the art world talking for the next decade” and bring much-needed publicity to her upcoming Victorious Vectors exhibit, Claire is alarmed to learn, upon arrival, that Sinjin isn't aware that his ex-wife, Meg, donated the piece to the Lafferty. It turns out that Sinjin has hidden the piece to keep it out of the clutches of both his ex-wife and the Lafferty’s slimy director, Larry Chambers, who unashamedly urges Claire to do whatever she needs to do to find the piece’s location: “It’s a logical conclusion that with the way you look, he’d be interested in you. Use your strengths, Ms. Beaumont.” The more they compare notes, the more Claire and Sinjin feel two things: united in their fight against Larry, and mutually attracted to each other. Lynden crafts their unexpected romance in a classic fashion, but long before readers are rooting for Claire and Sinjin to be together, they'll be rooting for them separately. Sinjin is cautious but drawn to the newcomer (“Those purple eyes. The color of royalty and new beginnings,” he notes while looking at a drawing of Claire), and she initially bridles at his undeniable attention (“Quit gawking at me,” she says at one point. “You're doing that artsy thing. Always processing a subject”). The author manages to orchestrate their relationship and the rest of the plot with a good deal of pleasing complexity. It all culminates in a surprise twist and eminently satisfying ending.

A fine romantic mystery, set in a lively Midwest art world.