Perfectly plotted and well-paced, this piece of speculative fiction is set in the Melbourne fine art scene. Author Katherine Kovacic seems to really know her stuff, too.

Centred around the historical murder of artist's muse, Molly Dean, the story alternates between 1999 and 1930. In 1930, schoolteacher Mary 'Molly' Dean yearns to become a writer and is taking steps towards a change of career. Her lover, the artist Colin Colahan, is holding back from giving her the full support she needs to make such an enormous change. Perhaps it's because his thoughts are full of the portrait of Molly that he has only just completed?

Meanwhile, in 1999, art dealer Alex Clayton spots an unattributed Colahan portrait come up at auction, and manages to pick it up at a bargain basement price. She's pretty sure the portrait is of Molly Dean, and sets out to research Molly's story in order to create interest in the painting and boost the eventual re-sale value. It doesn't take long for Alex to realise there's a lot more to Molly's murder than meets the eye.

The historical, factual elements of this story are fascinating and Kovacic has found a way to skilfully deliver them as a juicy, twisty mystery. I really enjoyed the story, but at the same time I also learnt a bit about the Melbourne art scene of the 1930s.

PS - Love the cover!

With thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for a copy to read and review.

I picked this book up because I liked the cover and the description. I haven't read many books set in Australia so I was excited for that as well. This book did not disappoint- it had a good story line, interesting characters, and was well written. I liked that it was told from two perspectives and thought the author did a good job with what can be a challenging premise. I couldn't put this down and finished it in one sitting! Will definitely be recommending this to others!

I got this as a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In her debut novel, Katherine Kovacic has woven a very absorbing mystery around the real events surrounding the death of Molly Dean, a young teacher and aspiring writer, in 1930. Her murder in a Melbourne laneway shocked society at the time and was never solved. Although the police had evidence pointing strongly towards a suspect he was inexplicably never brought to trial.
In this re-imagining of the events leading up to Molly's murder, Alex Cole an Art dealer spots a portrait of Molly Dean painted by her lover, artist Colin Colahan at an auction and knows it will be worth quite a bit once she has it restored and finds out a bit more about it's story. Her investigations lead her to the fictional daughter of the detective assigned the case and eventually to the seamy underbelly of Melbourne in the 1930s.
Told in two time frames from Molly's and Alex's point of views, the author has set the scene perfectly both for the bohemian art world of the 1930s and the restrictions that Molly felt as a women who must make her own way in the world and Alex's world of art history, auctions and restorations in the 1990s.

A book not for me. Struggled all the way through it and did not enjoy the story nor did I feel anything for the characters.

I love nothing more than when authors find obscure events and expound upon them. This was a very well formed murder mystery. The concept of coming across a painting and investigating its provenance it is not a new one. The author makes her fictional inventions entwine nicely with the slim facts that surround the case. Her additional characters all seem entirely believable. This was not a difficult read and it moved along at a good pace. This could certainly become a lovely series based upon the main character Alex Clayton.

There’s something deliciously fascinating about murder mysteries based on or inspired by real life cases. This one, set in the art world, goes that extra level, recreating the 1930s art world of Melbourne, the fate of a wanna be writer and the murder which follows. Talk about interesting! An impressive and very well written and captivating read.

I must admit I’d never heard of Molly Dean and am so pleased I have now. Its not just the mystery which enthralled me but the entire art world of 1930s Melbourne. The writing was assured and confident and the dialogue was also very realistic which really made the novel shine for me. A writer who is murdered for apparently stumbling on a dangerous plot? Which is stranger again fact or fiction?

I was captivated throughout this Melbourne set mystery, totally immersed in time and place and the wonderful atmospheric world of art

Perhaps my first time reading a book about Australia that dabbles with the Melbourne art scene. Katherine Kovacic 's debut novel The Portrait of Molly Dean is a dual narrative that switches from the 1990's to the 1930's and surrounds the real life murder of an aspiring female writer that was the subject of a popular art work.

I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting, but must confess that it was the gripping mystery style narrative with Alex Clayton that held my attention the most. I cannot say that I was a big fan of the flighty Molly Dean, but I do like what KK does with her story. I will definitely be looking out for the author's next book.

When art dealer Alex Clayton discovered the portrait of the young woman, she was determined to keep her interest low-key. If any of her rival dealers knew of her interest, she would be sure to lose out - at the very least, the price would be much higher at the auction. But buy it she did - immediately she began to investigate the life and brutal death of Molly Dean back in 1930 in Melbourne.

Alex and her friend, art conservator John Porter did much research into the unfortunate young woman's short life, and what they found was disconcerting to say the least. The fact that almost seventy years later and Molly's murderer had never been held to account, peaked their interest.

Could Alex discover the murderer after all this time? The fact that the lead Detective into Molly's death, Percy Lambell, was intensely frustrated with a case he couldn't solve was evidenced by his daughter, Daphne, whom Alex met up with and they discussed it at length. Would Molly Dean's murder remain unsolved?

The Portrait of Molly Dean by Aussie author Katherine Kovocic is an intense and gripping historical mystery which kept me enthralled. Based entirely on fact - Molly Dean was indeed murdered in Melbourne in 1930 and her case remains unsolved - the complete aspect of The Portrait of Molly Dean is a fascinating story which is told in 1930 by Molly and 1999 by Alex. Plus the author's notes at the end give more, interesting detail. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

3.5 stars.
The concept of this novel is stellar - a portrait of a murder victim is obtained by an art dealer, who then attempts to solve her murder, 70 years later. The execution was admirable, but uneven. I wasn't very connected to Alex Clayton, and found myself more immersed in the 1930 narrative than the other. I felt some allusions to Miss Fisher's mysteries - I'd love to read more historical fiction set in Australia. I was completely intrigued that Kovacic based this novel on actual events; I wish I had known that while reading it (instead of after I was finished).

I received this novel through NetGalley, from Candlewick Press, in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. The Portrait of Molly Dean by Katherine Kovocic is a novel based on the unsolved murder of a young woman in 1930’s Melbourne Australia and the characters are a combination of actual and fictional. The book alternates chapters between 1999 and 1930. In 1999 Alex Clayton an art dealer buys a portrait of a young woman at an auction and while doing a bit of research so as to perhaps get a better price for the painting she discovers a mystery and feels compelled to try and solve it. In 1930 we meet Molly Dean the subject of the portrait and learn about her and hopes and dreams. I could not put this book down and stayed up much to late reading this fascinating story. I highly recommend this book. Publishing Date March 1 2018. #ThePortraitofMollyDean #NetGalley

While you are reading this novel you are destined to feel the loyalty Alex has for Molly. She is determined to sold a 70 year old mystery that had been covered up. Alex an art broker has her eyes set on a Portrait of Molly Dean who was brutally murdered in the thirties. She was a women who was breaking out of the norm for her time. A determined women who wants to dedicate herself as a journalist and writer. She finds herself in a troubled position as her social profile subject becomes more dangerous. The more she digs the more she finds she is putting herself in an unsafe place.

Alex continues to dig deeper finding road blocks at every turn. The police and coroner documents have mysteriously disappeared, the investigation in the 30's had been very minimal, finding only one suspect who was promptly released and all charges were dropped the day proceeding the trial.

With twists and turns at every turn this book will keep you on your toes while also becoming protective of Molly as well.

When Alex comes across a painting, her motto of buy it, fix it up and sell it off is put on hold because she knows that first, it's a famous work of art and second, the lady in the picture (Molly Dean) was brutally murdered over sixty years ago and her killer was never found. She enlists the help of her friend John and together they embark on the journey of uncovering a mysterious past and when she comes across Daphne, the daughter of the Lead Detective in the case, the search for answers becomes personal.
I loved the pace and Alex's ability to immerse and extricate herself both in situations and conversations.
The author's decision to go back and forth in time, giving accounts from Alex's perspective and Molly's perspective gave the story the historical shift it needed. It felt like reading an episode on Cold Case rather than just watching it.
I believe a reader looking into mysteries, historical recollections and one who is fascinated by art would definitely love this. In one of the chapters Molly says, "I don't need something unexpected, I just need a chance," and it made me ask myself "don't we all feel the same at some point if not every day in our lives?" However in Molly's world then...that phrase is like the weight of the world. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I actually love this book. Thanks, Netgalley and to the publisher for the free copy. I'll definitely recommend this to my friends.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions, details and vocabulary that the author uses really helped me visualize the characters and the setting. One thing I didn't like so much was that the book has some unnecessary cursing, that could have been left out and the story would have flowed the same.

The character Molly Dean is relatable and likable. She is an aspiring author who spends her days teaching (which is something she doesn't enjoy). She feels as if she can't really become a true writer until she breaks away from the Education Department.

What really drew me into the story was finding out that Mary (Molly) Winifred Dean was a real person. At the end of the book, the author, Katherine Kovocic, has an author's note that details what parts and characters are real and what is fictional.

I stayed up into the wee hours of the night to finish this book and find out who was behind the murder of Molly Dean.

A mystery wrapped in an enigma? Hardly - this moderately interesting story about the unsolved murder of a young Australian journalist whose unsigned but not unrecognizable portrait piques the curiosity of a Melbourne gallerist won't get your pulse racing. Based on a true story, it's mostly interesting for the picture it paints of the art scene down under in the years between the wars

Loved it, stayed up all night to read and had to find out who did it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy to read.

Alex Clayton is an art collector who finds a painting of Molly Dean, a woman who was brutally murdered in 1930. Upon collecting this piece, Alex dives in to figure out more about Molly's life.

This novel moves between Alex researching Molly's life in 1999 and Molly herself in 1930. The first couple of chapters are slow and a little hard to get into as it is setting up Alex's background. For me, the story started to take off during Molly's first chapter and continued to get better after that.

It left me wanting to continue to read and never put it down. It's a wonderful debut novel that leaves me excited to see what else Kovacic will write.

Molly Dean is a modern woman of Melbourne, Australia, 1930, straddling a teaching job and a life spent with artists and pursuing her dreams of writing-- poetry, journalistic pieces, and a notebook full of ideas. She is moving away from life with her disapproving and abusive mother and finding small ways to success with her writing. Just after her famous lover finishes her portrait, she is brutally murdered and the painting disappears until is comes up unattributed in a 1999 auction. The murder is never solved. Enter Alex Clayton, an art dealer with Hogarth the dog (a fun side character). Alex recognizes the portrait's painter and subject. She is drawn into Molly's story. Like Molly, she stumbles into information that is more than she bargained for. Kovocic's spare writing style nicely draws out her characters and there are several that are compelling, not the least of which is Molly herself, whose voice we hear. The book is based on an unsolved murder. The story line is engaging though somewhat predictable. The first couple chapters seemed a bit dry even though I enjoyed the discussion of art auctions and establishing Alex's credentials as a serious researcher and expert in her field. However, the book took off with the story of Molly and Alex's need to find her truth at a time when the players are dead or elderly. I would definitely buy this book and thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

When a woman comes across a rare portrait by a long ago artist, she is instantly intrigued by her history. Her name was Molly Dean. She was a young woman aspiring to be a writer but she was also the lover of the artist who painted her. Until one night in November, when she was brutally murdered. So this begins Alex's research into finding out what happened to Molly but someone else is wanting that painting, badly. Told through Alex's and Molly's POV, the story unfolds with mystery and intrigue. I throughly enjoyed this novel. It's a great debut novel and I would definitely read more from this author.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun read, with a different twist. It was great to read about the art, although my knowledge of Austrailian art is pretty limited.

The art dealer becomes consumed with a mystery about a painting that normally would not attract much attention. A mysterious and persistent bidder makes sher wonder about the woman in the painting, murdered many years earlier and she determines to learn all she can.

Its a nice story, with fun characters, Alex the dealer, John the conservator and mostly Hogwarth, the dog.
The wrap up is pretty satisfying but there are some unanswered questions that are addressed by speculation that would be have been more fun if we learned really nasty stuff about the bad guys.

Will for sure read her other books.