Showing posts with label Jonathan Santlofer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonathan Santlofer. Show all posts

April 27, 2023

Color Blind by Jonathan Santlofer (Kate McKinnon #2)

 Synopsis:

Kate McKinnon is back -- and this time it's personal. When two hideously eviscerated bodies are discovered and the only link between them is a bizarre painting left at each crime scene, the NYPD turns to former cop Kate McKinnon, the woman who brought the serial killer the Death Artist to justice. Having settled back into her satisfying life as art historian, published author, host of a weekly PBS television series, and wife of one of New York's top lawyers, Kate wants no part of it. But Kate's sense of tranquillity is shattered when this new sequence of murders strikes too close to home. With grief and fury to fuel her, she rejoins her former partner, detective Floyd Brown, and his elite homicide squad on the hunt for a vicious psychopath known as the Color-Blind Killer. In her rage and desperation, Kate allows herself to be drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. She abandons her glamorous life for the gritty streets of Manhattan, immersing herself in a world where brutality and madness appear to be the norm, where those closest to her may have betrayed her -- and where, in the end, nothing is what it seems.


After greatly enjoying the first book in this series, 'The Death Artist', I was excited to find the sequel and jump into it. 

Kate McKinnon is a great protagonist. A former NYPD cop, not a big shot in the NYC art scene. Her experience brings a unique perspective to the cases she gets involved in, as they all revolve around art. 

In this second book, there are people all around New York City being brutally murdered. At each crime scene, the killer leaves a bizarre painting in which the color schemes make no sense. 

As if a deranged killer on the loose wasn't a big enough problem for Kate to get involved in . . . a murder with seemingly the same M.O. targets her own family. Suddenly, it all becomes personal and she has to try to push her emotions to the side so she can analyze these paintings hoping to find clues. 

The story is intriguing. Kate remains a great protagonist. The book pulls you in and makes you keep turning the page. Even the killer was interesting and I wanted to know what the full story was. 

In other words, it was a great read that keeps your attention until the end. 

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: "Well, you could try one of the merchants who deal in this stuff." He plucked the glasses off his beak and peered at the ceiling. There's that little shop that's recently relocated to Chelsea, the Gallery of Outsider Art, though, if you ask me, it's not nearly outside enough - perhaps New Jersey would be best- and naturally I have never, nor will I ever, step foot inside it.”

"Kate stared past the traffic and passerby, lost in thought. She believed that every artist was searching for something, often trying to understand the world more clearly through their artwork."

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September 10, 2022

The Death Artist (Kate McKinnon #1) by Jonathan Santlofer

Synopsis

Former New York cop Kate McKinnon lives a life of wealth and luxury she never would have dreamed possible. Following her marriage to an elite businessman, her post-police career as an art historian has skyrocketed her to fame and fortune. Her life is perfect, until a young woman is murdered and a close friend of Kate's becomes the prime suspect. Kate's old police instincts naturally reemerge as she delves into the case. Soon, two other murders related to the New York art world occur, and Kate finds that the killer -- now known as "the Death Artist" -- is communicating with her, leaving clues such as Polaroids and jumbled pieces of artwork. Somehow, Jacques-Louis David's famous painting The Death of Marat is at the heart of the murder spree, but how so?


The Death Artist combined three things that I love - Thrillers, art, and a badass female protagonist. And it's all set to the backdrop of the New York City luxury art lifestyle. 

But it isn't all glitz and glam. This book takes you from big penthouse suites that overlook Manhattan to the darkest hidden corners. 

I guess The Death Artist actually combined four things I love. The fourth, and final, being a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal. I can't help but try to guess the twist the entire time I'm reading a book. It's unfortunate since I enjoy being surprised. I wish I could just enjoy the ride and see how it plays out. I feel like most readers who devour mysteries are the same as me, though. So it's always a delight to read a book that I can't guess. This was one of them. 

I was also delighted to discover The Death Artist is the first book in a trilogy involving protagonist Kate McKinnon. I'm not sure how I came to be interested in her character, but I was bummed out when the book was over - until I learned there were two more. Now, I can't wait to jump into those!

If you're into mysteries and have even the smallest interest in art, give this book a try. 

4/5 stars because it took me a few chapters to really want to dig into it. It didn't hook me right from the jump. 

Memorable Quote: “Artists, they’re vain but insecure. They want attention, like you said, but hide behind their work. They like to be alone, but want their work in the public eye. Artists are all about the work.”




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