I had been eager to read Still Lives and was really looking forward to getting stuck into it. Unfortunately, I found it to be different to what I was expecting. There was an awful lot of detail, but not a lot happening so it didn’t really capture my attention fully. The writing is good, and I liked the premise, but it went wide of the mark for me.

I’m always on the lookout for books with unusual settings, or settings I am unfamiliar with, so Still Lives fell squarely in that court. With a background in the big city art scene, I felt like an alien who had landed on a different planet, eager to explore a new world. I must also say that I absolutely loved the title of this one – it is so clever. Still lives, as in art pieces, as in murder, as in corpses and lives being “stilled”. *clap, clap*

When you think of a still life, the artistic kind, corpses aren’t what immediately spring to mind. There may be a strategically placed apple, with the light and the shade just so, or a vase of lovely flowers, or some carefully arranged glassware. Imagine an instagram feed pre internet – idyllic domestic scenes, even though clever artists arranged the objects so there was a hidden meaning behind the scene. I remember doing art classes at school and sighing in exasperation as we were asked to paint yet another fruit bowl. But oh, who would have thought that it would make the perfect basis of a thriller? Because Kim Lord, artist on the L.A. art scene, offers viewers a completely new type of still lives: paintings where she depicts herself in the poses of famous female murder victims to highlight the sensationalising of violence against women in the media. This in itself could be disturbing enough, but Kim fails to show up at the opening night of her exhibition, which is a big no-no. Fears mount as it becomes evident it is not a stunt pulled by the artist to garner attention, but that no one has seen her alive for quite some time ....

For art lovers, who can seamlessly enter this strange new world, understand the lingo and are familiar with artists, galleries and all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, this book may not be quite the same alien world it was for me. Whilst I loved the whole concept of the still lives, I admit that I got lost in the pages like a foreign tourist without a map at times, not only struggling with the language but also the whole culture. Gaping in fascination was not the same as getting truly invested in the story, which took a bit of the thrill and enjoyment away for me, as I was too busy trying to navigate my way through the multitude of characters and divergent plot lines.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and was intrigued by the whole premise, but it lacked a climax for me, instead gently meandering along as seen through the eyes of Maggie, the PA who is trying to work out what has happened to Kim. I really enjoyed the little secret messages in Kim’s paintings that Maggie picks up in her investigation – this kind of breadcrumb trail of clues was my favourite part of the story. I think that if the book had focused more on the solving of the mystery than the politics of the art world, it would have worked much better for me. However, this slow paced mystery was beautifully written and certainly had a unique concept, which is quite hard to find these days.

An insight into the art world for those of us who know little about it, Still Lives focuses around the LA art scene, and an artist called Kim Lord whose first exhibit was both groundbreaking and extremely successful. The Rocque museum is struggling to maintain its reputation for hosting modern and unique art shows, and hopes that hosting Kim's new exhibit 'Still Lives' - a series of self-portraits in which Kim paints herself as a selection of famous murdered women - will put them back in the black and save them from financial disaster.
Until Kim fails to show up to her own opening gala.
Maggie Richter is the Rocque's copy-editor, but gets thrown into the mystery when her ex-boyfriend Greg is suspected of wrong-doing against Kim. Unwilling to believe Greg is involved, Maggie sets herself the task of discovering what really happened , and puts herself in great danger in the process.

Still Lives is a fantastic thriller which kept me hooked, and the ending is phenomenal.
A crime novel in which our protagonist has no real experience in solving crime, and yet finds herself drawn into the mystery to protect both herself and those she cares about.
Not only is the twist at the end expertly written and genuinely surprising, there were some really well considered moments at the end of the book which I loved that the author had included - Do you really want to be known as the one who got away? Do you want to be forever remembered as the 'almost victim'? Or would you rather continue to live your life, as yourself, in obscurity?
A great insight into the fascination society has with murdered women, and the reality of being personally involved in these macabre cases.

Lovely turns of phrase hoooked me from the beginning, I love the way maria writes. The story-telling does disintegrate a little, but for me, this is part and parcel of the main protagonist's journey. The end is a little nebulous, but I prefer that in a way as it left me somethign to mull over - definitely worth a read. Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for the advance copy.

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Still Lives is a refreshingly original take on the contemporary thriller set in glamorous Los Angeles. It focuses on the disappearance of controversial artist Kim Lord and uncovers some of the darkness hidden behind the scenes of the LA art world. There are plenty of surprises and I found myself completely immersed in the story and the wonderful setting. If you appreciate intriguing thrillers that are both chilling and disturbing, you will find much to enjoy here. The writing was easy to connect with and the characters are really very interesting, interesting enough that you want to read way past your bedtime to discover what happens at the end. At its core, is the exploration of societies fascination with the distasteful, sort of like when people can't help but stare at a car crash they are passing on the motorway. People have an insatiable appetite for the macabre, this novel highlights this extremely well.

Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I do not read many thrillers these days, but "Still Live" sounded very compelling - a contemporary novel set in LA about disappearance of Kim Lord, a famous artist ,on the opening night of her new installation. The narrator of the story is Maggie Richter, who works in the museum and is still heartbroken after her boyfriend Greg left her for Kim. Maggie is puzzled when Kim fails to show up; the speculations run high - was it a publicity stunt or did something happen? But when Greg is arrested, Maggie starts to investigate. Soon she is discovering truths and lies in the competitive world of art and arts collectors desperate to prove Greg's innocence.

The beginning of the book was intriguing, interesting and it definitely made me want to find out what happened. Kim Lord's art concentrating on depiction of famous murdered women made the premise of the novel more chilling and somehow rather eye opening. But Maddie in her blind insistence on Greg's innocence and her rather lucky guesses started to grate with me.... This meant that by the end of the book I was not really vested enough in the characters and had found it somehow lacking - lacking the shock surprise and neat explanation I would have expected. However, I liked the language and style of the book and would like to possibly try other books by the author to see if I like them more.

A controversial art show depicting twelve murdered women. It is the gala to open the show, everyone is there except the star of the show. The controversial artist Kim Lord, she has gone missing.
This book is definitely different, set in the art world and behind the scenes. It is dark and distasteful at times. Lots of twists and turns sent me in so many different directions I was getting dizzy.
This is a very interesting, very dark thriller/ mystery which kept me thoroughly engrossed.
Highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author Maria Hummel , Quercus Books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Still Lives is a murder mystery set in contemporary Los Angeles.
Maggie Richter is the editor for an large art gallery that relies on splashy and sensationalist shows that are on the margins of acceptability. The latest of these shows shares a title with the book. It needs to go well.
The artist is Kim Lord. Her new boyfriend Greg is, coincidentally, Maggie's ex boyfriend. She is also passed the peak of her popularity, and Still Lives is something of a comeback show. The exhibition is a series of large portraits. Each portrait depicts a infamously murdered woman, such as Nicole Brown Simpson.
On the opening night of the show there is a large party. The artist is conspicuous by her absence.
Kim has disappeared, and Greg is the obvious suspect. Maggie is also a person of interest. Out of sympathy for Greg, Maggie starts her own investigation into Kim's disappearance. Maggie has another reason. Her current job is a consolation prize. She originally wanted to be an investigative reporter and gave it up after a witness was murdered. Maggie has a point to prove to herself.
Los Angeles’s art world is brought vividly to life. It would make a good Brian De Palma film, and is an entertaining read. Four stars.

There’s something deliciously dark about the setting of the art world and what goes on behind the scenes.

This is dark and the art even darker - imagine the reaction to a display of portraits of ‘famous’ dead women, the victims of crime. I know that people do have a gory sense of fascination at times and that there are alternative artists who like to ‘challenge boundaries’ etc but this sets the dark tone of the novel from the start. I remember that portrait of Myra Hindley made from pictures of children’s hands. I can’t say in polite society what I thought of that! This book reminded me of the hypocrisy in the art world, the differences in those who appreciate art and understand it and the rest. Of course, there’s the big group in the middle who say they like it and understand it when they don’t. The story of The Emperor’s New clothes comes to mind!

When the star of the show so to speak goes missing, given the art, I admit I wasn’t really that bothered given what she painted. BUT therein starts a satirical and tongue in cheek journey through the art world, behind the scenes and back again. It’s a crazy world but a fascinating one. It’s a dark and claustrophobic world - where super collectors pay big bucks to owe controversy and the dealers, not unlike those who deal in the powdered drugs, ensure that art is perhaps the biggest drug of them all.

Los Angeles and its art world provides a dark and unsettling canvas for this murder mystery. There are stains of red paint and black marks everywhere. Become immersed and then stand back for the bigger picture.

It’s Noir, it’s dark and distasteful at times but the central mystery allows for much navel gazing and really looks into our society’s ghoulish fascination for murdered women and violence against women in general.

I’m going to need to read a Christmas romance now to cleanse my reading palette.

Many themes make up this book- dark , mystery ,bright and sparkle. It's an enjoyable read, beautifully written. I loved the cover so bright and inviting.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. In exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Still Lives is a quietly observant, beautifully written noir mystery, set against the backdrop of the LA art world, the glitz and the politics and the dark dark heart lurking underneath it all.

Leading us through this landscape is Maggie, left drifting through this world after a relationship break up – Her ex is now involved with edgy, current artist Kim Lord, a shadowy figure throughout most of the narrative, yet the reason for it, whose disappearance on the opening night of her new show sends shockwaves through Maggie’s life of melancholy.

The descriptive prose is wonderful, the themes explored thought provoking and deeply moving- Kim’s new collection focuses on murdered women and there is a strong emotional core here that I can’t really describe but that speaks volumes.

As Maggie slowly comes to the truth about Kim, about those around her and more reflectively about herself, it is electrifying and addictive, a slow burner that ignites towards the end with a beautifully placed finale. The sense of place is magnetic, the characters realistically imagined and I was fascinated from start to finish.

Loved this. Complex and emotionally raw, Still Lives comes highly recommended from me

Maria Hummel immerses us in the art world of Los Angeles, a corrupt city of dreams and ambitions, mythic in its glamour and legendary in its violence in this Noir thriller. Kim Lord is returning to the contemporary art scene after 1o years away, with a controversial but arresting exhibition of still lives portraits of famous murders of women such as Nicole Brown Simpson, Chandra Levy and the Black Dahlia. Kim Lord herself portrays each murder victim, some see this as beyond good taste, part of the movement for the commodification and consumption of female homicide victims. The opening night at the struggling Rocque Museum is heaving with the rich and famous, art critics and the press, all desperate to meet the feted guest of honour, Kim Lord. As Kim fails to appear, there is a increasing sense of unease and palpable undercurrents, with speculation rife, is it a publicity stunt? Or has something far more sinister happened?

Maggie Richter is the museum editor, struggling to get over the break up of her relationship with Greg Shaw Ferguson, and carrying a haunting burden of the murder of a source that led to her giving up her fledgling career in journalism. Kim Lord's boyfriend was Greg, and he becomes the prime suspect for the police. Maggie has no reason to help Greg, but she is convinced he is innocent, driving her to look into the life of Kim Lord, those involved with the Rocque Museum, and the art world. An ambivalent Maggie looks for answers in Kim's self portraits as the dead women, looking for a stalker, observing varied off kilter behaviours as she searches for motives for killing the prominent artist. Her world becomes increasingly claustrophobic, worrying and paranoid as she delves into the world of the super collectors and the rise of the artificial artist, the rich and art dealers manipulating the art world for financial gain where the artist is irrelevant. Her life begins to disintegrate around her as she begins to get an inkling of the truth.

Maggie is a fascinating protagonist, for she is, of course, a suspect herself as the woman still in love with Greg, she has motive. She continues to try and find out what happened to Kim despite so many telling her to drop it, that it is too dangerous with a killer loose. However, Greg and the sense of unfinished business with the death of a source in her past will not let her give up, she remembers the advice of her journalist mentor which help to guide her present day investigation. The shady art world, with it's symbiotic relationship between the artist, dealer and collector is driven by money with most transactions happening behind closed doors. Hummel writes a chilling and compelling mystery amidst the background of the LA art world that is depicted with detail and authenticity. Maggie's a multi-faceted character, a bundle of contradictions, having to deal with her feelings for Greg, and find out who murdered Kim, a woman she has had antagonistic feelings towards. One of the highlights of the novel is Maggie's changing and deeper personal connection with Kim and her growing appreciation for her art. A great and gripping read. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

Book Review - ‘Still Lives’ by Maria Hummel ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus and Maria Hummel for the chance to review this book.

It’s opening night for renowned artist Kim Lord and her new ‘Still Lives’ exhibit at Rocque, a floundering private museum. The startling show is made up of a series of eleven self-portraits depicting Kim as the female victims of some of America’s most infamous murders, such as Nicole Brown Simpson and Kitty Genovese. The twelfth painting is a still life that is an homage to all other female murder victims.

Maggie Ritchie, copy editor for the museum didn’t want to work that night. Her ex boyfriend, Greg Shaw Ferguson, left her for Kim just months before, but she is roped in last minute to accompany a New York journalist who has been sent to write a front page article on the event. As the rich and famous of L.A eagerly await Kim’s arrival at the Gala opening her boyfriend arrives . But the hours pass with no sign of Kim and she is no longer answering messages…

When Greg is arrested on suspicion of murder a few days later people begin to question if life is intimidating art. Could she have met the same fate as her subjects? Are there clues in the still life painting that might lead to the whereabouts of the missing artist? Refusing to believe her ex is guilty, Maggie embarks on her own investigation to try and solve the mystery and puts herself in danger as she gets closer to the truth.

I had high hopes for this book. I loved that it came with a recommendation from Reese Witherspoon’s book club and couldn’t wait to start reading. I found the story immediately interested me despite the fact that I know nothing about art or the art world. I liked Maggie and could relate to the way she was consumed by the heartbreak and betrayal of Greg leaving her for Kim. I did find the way she kept springing between the present and an incident from six years ago, when her source was killed, very hard to follow. While this did end up explaining how she met Greg and why she abandoned journalism, I felt that it offered little to the story as a whole and just made it feel like it would randomly go back to that time and made the flow of the book feel patchy. I also felt like the book would often lull for long periods where I struggled to hold my interest. Then, just as I was about to stop reading it would grip me again and I’d keep going, only to be soon faced with the same issue.

I liked the fact that I would have never guessed the perpetrator but unfortunately after such a long book that I found an effort to read it was an anti climax and I didn’t really care who’d done it by that point. The build up had been so confusing and there didn’t seem to be any tension when all of a sudden it was over. I think part of the problem with this story is it was too long and if it had been stripped back a little there could have been more excitement instead of feeling like plots were dragged out too far.