Redemption, Greed, and Art Mystery

What Meets the Eye excels in creating a gripping mystery with complex characters and a richly detailed setting. Kenna successfully intertwines themes of personal redemption with a critique of the art world's darker side. However, some readers may find the pacing slow at times due to the detailed narrative style. Nonetheless, the book's strengths in character development and plot intricacy make it a compelling read for fans of crime fiction and mystery.
In conclusion, What Meets the Eye is a promising debut from Alex Kenna, showcasing her potential as a master storyteller in the mystery genre.

As a debut novel, this was written fine and I know that I will be reading future novels from this author.

For the book, I don't normally pick up investigator/detective novels but I wanna know what is behind Margot's death. Is it really a suicide based on the inal morgue report or is it something else as what his dad is insinuating?

I like how the POVs of others were given the space here but then again, I am not a fan of going then and now settings in a novel but I went through with this. The first half was very unoutdownable but as I was approaching to the ending and the ending itself was a letdown. Too much explanation of how things happened is something that bores me.

If this is your start with this genre, then this will be an enjoyable read for you. Otherwise, this will just end up as a basic read.

What Meets the Eye is a great fast-paced mystery, with intriguing characters. The protagonist is deeply flawed and yet the reader is still rooting for her. The same can be said for the setting of the book. The city of Los Angeles itself is almost its own character in the book; and it shares the same mix of highs and lows as the protagonist. Perfect read for someone who enjoys a good modern mystery novel.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

this book took me by surprise as it held my attention, right from the get go. The story brief is simple but Alex Kenna has woven the characters well and they are relatable. I like the fact that Kate is working through her own domestic problems and chugging along as she tries to solve a case. The book does bring out a slightly darker shade of the art world, be warned. I am looking forward to more books in this series, as I do want to know if Kate get custody of her daughter and if things work out with Luke too. A good book that will move along at a quick pace and will connect dots through varies scenes. Looking forward to more books from Alex.

Hmmm… ok!

This book really hooked me in from the start… and felt like it kind of morphed something different by the end of it.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, it was fun to read, but at the start of the book it seemed more gritty and noir, then it went into like a domestic life description, then a crime thriller and then into high unbelievably undercover witness thing?

I don’t know, it seemed a little all over the place writing wise and topics seemed to change meaning for the narrative, but overall it was an ok read, which was fun (however I did have to suspend my brief in the last 20% a lot) and ended really with an abrupt ending? I just don’t know anymore, but it did keep me reading, so that’s a plus!

It ends somewhere in the middle, let’s say 2.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

I really tried with this one, but just couldn’t get into it.

I’m not sure if it was the writing style or the detail about at art world but it just didn’t work for me

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review

I'm ripping the bandaid off. I hated this. The characters were flat, as was the story. The only character who had any life to them was Margot, which is ironic because she's dead. Genuinely, this story was all over the place. I don't normally give two or one-star reviews, but I feel like I wasted my time. This is after a long string of DNFs of just mediocre books that I didn't like, so maybe that didn't help. Maybe I'm being harsh, but I don't know if I am. This had so much potential but it just went nowhere. There was no way to figure out who the killer was and no suspense at all because it just fell apart. I finished this book weeks ago I just had a very hard time pinning down and articulating what about it that I didn't like besides just.. all of it. 1.5 🌟 rounded up to 2.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review... at least it was honest 🫣

*this was posted to goodreads as well*

This is a very enjoyable debut novel, and I'll be watching for more from Alex Kenna as a result.

We follow ex-cop turned private investigator Kate on a suicide/murder case that turns into something much more.

I really enjoyed a couple of the characters, the plot was intriguing, the ending satisfying, and while it was a little far-fetched at times, overall it was an enjoyable read.


Star Rating: 4

CAWPILE Rating: 7.85/10

Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
Intrigue: 8/10
Logic: 8/10
Enjoyment: 8/10

Many thanks to the author, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Margot Starling was a talented, controversial artist. Now she’s dead, but her daddy won’t believe it was suicide. He turns to private detective Kate Myles in Alex Kenna’s debut mystery, What Meets the Eye.

Kate is an ex-LAPD detective with an ex-husband, thanks to an on-duty accident and a pain-caused prescription drug dependency. The ex got custody of their daughter after he threatened her with photos. The more she digs into the case, the deeper she gets into a web of art forgery, blackmail, mob ties, and shoddy/shady police work. There are a lot of not-so-nice people in here, and Kate isn’t so sure she isn’t one of them.

Flashbacks told by different characters add background to the book, flashes of memory from the living and the dead. The FBI is involved in investigations and wants Kate to stop. One of Margot’s art projects of names cut into her own flesh provides a list of potential suspects. A gallery sells lots of paintings by artists who died tragically. Kate’s old partner from the force gives help and warnings, and there is a little tentatively-generated, maybe-someday heat. Blackmail. Foreign gangsters. An international art festival. A finger is missing. There are many reasons for Kate to backslide into addiction. Truth comes out, but it takes a while, and may not be the truth you expected.

This is gritty material, like an art exhibit viewed from the windows of a speeding subway train—about the time one picture registers fully and you get an understanding of it, another image takes its place. About the time you think you understand what this story is all about, another viewpoint or piece of information appears that contradicts the framework you thought you understood.

What Meets the Eye is one of those books that you reread, and how everything fits together suddenly becomes clear. It’s worth the effort. Remember, what meets the eye is not always the whole story.

Private Investigator Kate Myles is hired to investigate the alleged suicide of a famous artist. As she dives into the underbelly of the art world, she realizes something shady is afoot.
The story is told from different view points and shifting perspectives from all the characters, with plenty of intrigue to keep you reading.

A great plot and debut book from the author

Thanks to Net Gallery for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this one down!

After a serious accident, Kate Myles, a police detective, struggles to get her life back on track. As she takes to drinking, her husband John divorces her and also gains custody of her daughter Amelia. After a period of discipline, she starts private detective work. Margot Starling, a leading and unconventional artist is found dead, hanging, in her home. The police declare it a case of suicide but her dad is not convinced and approaches Kate. As she learns of how the police led by Bennett reached its conclusions, Kate feels this is a case worth revisiting. The only person in the force she can trust is Luke who has been shunted to financial crimes as a result of a run-in with some others on the force. As Kate investigates, she finds a murky underworld, dealing with fake paintings and money laundering.

I was on the edge of my sit while reading this most of the time. The author's writing is accessible and fast-paced. It has been a while since I have read a well-conducted and engaging plot. I cannot wait to read more books from Alex Kenna.

Overall, a strong crime novel. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone!

Kate Myles had a promising career as a Los Angeles police detective until an accident and an opiate addiction destroyed her family and her profession. Kate chooses to launch a private inquiry as a fresh start. However, she receives far more than she anticipated when she decides to take on the case of a well-known painter who was found dead in a downtown loft. The cause of death was initially assumed to be suicide when Margot Starling’s body was found. The acclaimed artist wasn’t the happiest of ladies. She seemed to have every reason to end her life given her tragic past and her vast concealed collection. But when Kate digs more, she discovers that Margot also faced several powerful foes, including a questionable art dealer who was selling imitations of the artist’s creations. Soon after that, Kate discovers a dirty route that leads her deep into the dangerous part of the city. If Kate doesn’t proceed with caution, she may be the next person to lose their life since Margot gave her life for her profession.

The book’s most compelling investigative work is its main strength. The distinction between catharsis and crime is blurred in Alex Kenna’s debut novel, a bleak and cunning noir mystery. I was impressed by the focus on art and the art world. There are so many potential suspects that the reader is left wondering whodunit. I liked how Margot’s life was depicted from so many different angles. Additionally, I enjoy learning more about Kate’s past. I liked how the characters saw the potential in their relationship without letting their responsibilities or priorities go, and I liked how the book didn’t focus on getting them “legally” together by the end.

With a protagonist character who is both appropriately broken and likable, it is a complicated, engaging drama. I was mostly on the edge of my seat while reading this. The reader was given a gripping narrative by Alex Kenna, along with well realized intriguing characters that may be compared to those who operate in the murky contemporary art market and what goes on there. In the book, Kennas writes in an engrossing and fast-paced manner, offering a poignant viewpoint on what it means to be an artist and to suffer for your profession.

Wow, did I love the beginning of this book and dislike the way it unfolded. The story starts with the suspicious death of a young artist (Margot Starling), who may or may not have died by suicide, being investigated by a disgraced former cop turned private investigator (Kate Myles). Kate is also a recovering opioid addict and a divorced mom who lost custody of her daughter due to the pills.

Kenna made excellent use of multiple timelines and perspectives to build the plot and Kate Myles seemed like a character with potential and depth, but she kind of faded out by the end, and the ultimate explanation for what happened to Margot felt like a cheat.

That said, this is Kenna's debut, and she's clearly got some great ideas, so I'm looking forward to checking out her next book!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am usually a fan of the novels published by Crooked Lane Books. They're often sleeper gems that don't get enough love compared to the mass-marketed crapola. This book showed promise in the first half, but quickly petered out. The MC's interesting character traits were all dropped. And when the Russian mafia was mentioned my heart dropped. This is my least favorite plot line in a crime thriller. Usually I only see it in male-authored books. It is the author's debut and she showed promise, so I hope her next book is a bit tighter and her character's tone and personality remain consistent throughout.

The art theme and premise of What Meets the Eye are both fabulous. My knowledge of painting is limited but it fascinates me so learning more is a bonus. Not only is there death and abuse but also forgery and art dealing with two juxtaposed sides, glamour and the underground. Becoming an artist under abusive tutelage can be awful.

An accident of her own making leaves LAPD Kate Myles suffering with chronic pain and a prescription medication addiction issue, without a job and very little time with her young daughter. She loses virtually everything, including her job. She becomes a private detective but must rebuild her clientele, reputation and bank account. Milt Starling approaches her about the death of his artist star daughter Margot which most think was suicide but there are niggling questions. Kate's friend Luke with connections helps. Her daughter grounds her but her ex husband? Not so much.

In my view the characters are nearly all unlikeable, including the protagonist, though she does have redeeming qualities. In order for me to enjoy a book I needn't like all the characters but I was unable to engage and invest which affected my reading experience. The seedy aspects are intriguing but too...gritty at times. However, the chronic pain angle is well done and there are interesting angles.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this interesting book. Though it did not fully captivate me, I would like to try this author again in future.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A debut crime novel that started out strong – intriguing characters and a plot centered around Margot Starling, a flamboyant up-and-coming new artist with a flair for the dramatic, who appears to have committed suicide. When our lead character Kate Myles, a former police officer turned private eye, is hired by Margot’s father to dig deeper, she becomes enmeshed in figuring out a scheme involving art forgeries, shady gallery dealers, blackmail, and thrown in for good measure, the Russian mob and money laundering. While the first half held my interest, and I found Kate a strong protagonist, the story devolved for me in the last half where Kate seemed to make odd choices in pursuing her investigation and a lot of twists and turns left me scratching my head. I’ll give this author points for coming up with a strong premise but for this reader the story veered off in directions that didn’t make sense and the plot became too muddled by the end for me to recommend it. My thanks to Net Gallery for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced reader copy of What Meets the Eye by Alex Kenna in exchange for an honest review.

What Meets the Eye is about a PI trying to solve the murder of an artist killed in her prime. The death was originally ruled suicide, but as she looks into the case Kate realizes that Margot Starling’s death is part of a much larger plot, and she may be in too deep…

I wasn’t too fond of our protagonist, Kate Myles. The alcoholic protagonist is a tired trope, or at least it gets old. She makes a lot of awful decisions. I feel like she was meant to be a likable protagonist, and that her quirks and failures were meant to make her relatable, but to me they just made her irritating and unlikeable. I don’t mind an unlikable protagonist, but not when we’re supposed to like them.

A personal pet peeve of mine is when a narrator gets too repetitive. In this particular case the issue was with Kate feeling like a terrible mother. Anytime anything happened she started complaining about how bad of a mother she’d been. Yes, we get it. You’re a shit mom. You told us that already, tell us something new.

This review is coming across pretty negative, but I don’t think it was a bad book. It was standard fare, a run of the mill detective thriller. Solid three stars. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy.

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Kate Myles is an ex police officer an now a Private Investigator, she has taken on the task of investigating the suicide of a famous artist, Margo Starling.
Kate has a lot going on in her personal life, conflict with her ex who has full custody of their young daughter, and then struggling to be a good mum, and recovery from an injury which left her addicted to pain medication.
There is obviously some shady dealings going on in the art world, forgery is at the forefront., we have a lot of tedious detail relating to the art world which I felt was unnecessary.
Half way through I lost interest in both the plot, which was ver far fetched and the characters, I didn’t like any of them
There were different narrators telling the story, might have been a smoother read if it had just been Kate and Margo.
Started with lots of intrigue but didn’t hold my attention.