The Artist Colony

A Novel

by Joanna FitzPatrick

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

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Pub Date Sep 07 2021 | Archive Date Dec 05 2021

She Writes Press

Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

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Description

July 1924. Sarah Cunningham, a young Modernist painter, arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her older sister, Ada Belle. En route, she is shocked to learn that Ada Belle’s suspicious death is a suicide. But why kill herself? Her plein air paintings were famous and her upcoming exhibition of portraitures would bring her even wider recognition.

Sarah puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle’s devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale.

Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.

July 1924. Sarah Cunningham, a young Modernist painter, arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her older sister, Ada Belle. En route, she is shocked to learn that Ada Belle’s suspicious...

A Note From the Publisher

JOANNA FITZPATRICK was raised in Hollywood. She started her writing habit by applying her orange fountain pen and a wild imagination to screenplays, which led her early on to produce the film White Lilacs and Pink Champagne. Accepted at Sarah Lawrence College, she wrote her MFA thesis Sha La La: Live for Today about her life as a rock ’n’ roll star’s wife. Her more recent work includes two novels, Katherine Mansfield and The Drummer’s Widow. The Artist Colony is her third book. Presently, FitzPatrick divides her time between a mountaintop cottage in Northern California and a small hameau in Southern France where she begins all her book projects.

Advance Praise

“. . . delivers an escape to gorgeous Carmel and an engaging mystery.”

—KIRKUS REVIEWS

"...readers who enjoy an exciting narrative with unexpected twists will find this a diverting and illuminating read.”

—HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

“The Artist Colony is bold, creative, and unexpected – all the things nice ladies weren’t supposed to be in the 1920’s when they escaped to Carmel-By-The-Sea to make art without criticism. Joanna FitzPatrick, a descendant of one of those feisty female pioneers, has honored her family legacy and entertained her fans yet again with a fast-paced whodunnit that is equal parts loving tribute and killer thriller.”

—Meredith May, author of THE HONEY BUS and LOVING EDIE

“The Artist Colony is a sumptuous ride through the Carmel-by-the-Sea, circa 1920, as Sarah Cunningham, newly arrived from Paris, attempts to uncover the truth about her sister’s mysterious death. Atmospheric and delicious, Fitzpatrick delivers a thrilling page-turner woven with artistic flourish. This exquisite novel does not disappoint! Highly recommended!”

—Michelle Cox, author of THE HENRIETTA AND INSPECTOR HOWARD SERIES

"The Artist Colony brilliantly interweaves real life people - Robinson Jeffers the poet, Louise Brooks Hollywood starlet - with fictional characters many of whom we come to love like the Japanese abalone divers. The dramatic landscapes of Carmel, beautifully depicted by Fitzpatrick, are central to the plot, whose blow-by-blow story keeps us gripped to the final revelation of Ada’s murderer....a must-read novel for anyone who loves historical fiction, art, detective stories, and the West coast."

—Maggie Humm, author of TALLAND HOUSE, chosen by The Washington Independent Review of Books as one of its ’51 Favorite Books of 2020

"It’s 1924 and a young woman journeys to Carmel, California, to learn more about her sister’s sudden death. She soon learns that the bohemian arts colony is anything but idyllic, as she’s confronted by flagrant racism and intimations of murder. Fitzpatrick has written a vivid historical novel with an absorbing mystery at the center of it, and I was riveted."

—Elizabeth McKenzie, author of THE PORTABLE VEBLEN

“. . . delivers an escape to gorgeous Carmel and an engaging mystery.”

—KIRKUS REVIEWS

"...readers who enjoy an exciting narrative with unexpected twists will find this a diverting and illuminating...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781647421694
PRICE	$17.95 (USD)
PAGES	328

Additional Information

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Featured Reviews

Reviewer 47558

I enjoyed this look at 1920s Carmel, which was a haven for women artists. Joanna FitzPatrick did an excellent job bringing Carmel to life. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

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reviewer 0, Media/Journalist

THE ARTIST COLONY is an atmospheric, literary page turner that I highly recommend. I really enjoyed the mystery element and was so anxious to learn what happened to the main character's sister. The artists and other characters are entertaining and FitzPatrick includes sensory details and lovely descriptions so that the reader feels they are in Carmel. The narrative moves at a nice pace, but never feels rushed or contrived.

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Barbara M, Reviewer

Joanna FitzPatrick, the author of The Artist Colony, has painted this wonderful novel with her beautifully written words. The novel, set in the prohibition era in the 1920's, is equal parts historic fiction and murder mystery. I really appreciated the setting and description of Carmel and the Monterey area. It made me want to catch the next plane to visit. The author also focuses on the racism and prejudice towards Asian Americans as well as the era's misogyny. All of the characters are well developed, including Sarah's little dog, but the location is the star of the show.