I loved this book. I'm very familiar with the Barnes Collection and the subsequent breaking of his will to allow the Philadelphia Museum of Arts to move the collection. The author was very clever in portraying the 1920's art scene in Paris and the United States, coupling real people with fictitious ones. An interesting novel for art lovers and for those who read historical fiction.

Paulien loves art and her dream is to share art with the world. After her world is shattered by her con man fiancee she has to reinvent herself and becomes Vivienne. As Vivienne she has the opportunity to reenter the art world as the adviser to wealthy collector Edwin Bradley. But when Bradley dies will Vivienne be able to survive? A story of art and love and betrayal that provides a fascinating glimpse into the art world of the early 20th century in the United States and Paris.

As much as I wanted to like this book I couldn't. I kept reading hoping for a plot twist or surprise but was sadly bored by another version of a tired theme - naive rich girl, wronged. After nearly five sad chapters I gave up.

In The Collector's Apprentice, B.A. Shapiro takes readers back in time to the art world of the 1920s where we meet Matisse, Gertrude Stein and other visionaries of the day. It's a wonderful historical novel for anyone interested in art and art history, in particular. The story is well written, fairly fast paced, and exciting. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Shapiro's earlier work, The Art Forger.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel. I was not familiar with Barnes and his legacy and was inspired to read up on his and Violette's lives after finishing the book.

This was such a great book. I loved the characters and the story, and I truly appreciated the author notes at the end. Now i need to go see it myself.

This is an incredibly interesting novel about the young woman who worked with the fictioalized Albert Barnes in assembling the magnificent Barnes Collection in Philadelphia. Vivienne had been duped by a con man and lost her comfort and her family. She totally reinvents herself and finds work as an assistant to the millionaire art collector. She works with him in Europe and ultimately moves to Philadelphia as his aide.

What should have been a happy change in her troubled life, becomes a nightmare. Vivienne is wrongly accused and winds up in prison. There are endless twists and turns within the novel. The author also makes use of many famous people and gives the reader sufficient information to place them.

This is a fine read, definitely should be followed by a visit to the Barnes in its magnificent new home.

Every reader should be sure to read the Author ‘s Note at the end of the book which explains the clever manipulation of the real and the fictional.

4.5 stars
In 1922, after her family disowns her after because they were swindled by her fiancée, Paula Mertens ends up in Paris
where she remakes herself, changes her name, lives a life among famous painters, and she gets a job helping Edwin Bradley buy expensive art for his museum.
What happens is a tale of love, money, and vengeance and how far will someone go get these?
Once again BA Shapiro does not disappoint.

Compelling, readable, and a fun slice of the art world in the 1920s. A great pick for anyone who loves art, history, drama, or just a really well told story. Sure to please.

I think this book should be subtitled "Who's the Real Con Artist?"

It's a delightful story about a man, who fleeces a French family and their friends out of all they possess using a pyramid scheme, and escapes with "suitcases full of money". He changes his identity and does it all over again. And again. Meantime, the daughter of the family has also reinvented herself and has a great job with an American billionaire art collector. Names change, locations change, almost too quickly to be recognized, and then the billionaire is dead [murdered??].

A clever whodunit that will keep you guessing as you love to hate the con man all the way through.

I read this EARC courtesy of NetGalley and Algonquin Books. pub date 10/16/18