THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE is a thoroughly enjoyable novel to sink yourself into. Lily and Diana are terrific POV protagonists, and the differences between their lifestyles are immediately noticeable. I had a little bit of a hard time believing Lily's outburst, which serves as the inciting incident, but I suspended my disbelief and was able to immerse myself into the story. The 1970s art world in London is vividly conveyed, and the mystery surrounding the alleged forgery kept me turning the pages. The resolution is completely satisfying. This is another winner from Katherine Reay. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and women's fiction. You don't need an interest in art to enjoy the novel, but readers who do have such an interest will find much of interest here.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

This an exceptionally well-crafted story about a Picasso art forgery set in London Museum. The story was engaging and Reay developed the characters so that the reader really cared about them. This book falls in line with Jeffrey Archer’s art mysteries and I suspect this will be a breakout hit for this author. I have read a couple other titles by Katherine Reay and loved them and this makes me want to find all her backlist titles so I can read them.

#TheEnglishMasterpiece #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this story! From the very first page, the suspense was gripping, and it was masterfully sustained throughout, keeping me on edge until the very end. The pacing was excellent—every twist and turn felt deliberate and well-timed, making it impossible to put the book down.

I also appreciated the thoughtful execution of the romance subplot. It was beautifully woven into the narrative, adding emotional depth without overpowering the central themes. In particular, I loved that the romance complemented, rather than overshadowed, the theme of women’s empowerment—one that I can never read enough of. The protagonist’s journey was both inspiring and compelling, and it was refreshing to see a strong, multifaceted female lead navigating challenges with resilience and intelligence.

This was my first time reading a book by Katherine Reay, and it certainly won’t be my last. Her storytelling captivated me, and I can’t wait to explore more of her work.

Overall, The English Masterpiece is a brilliant blend of suspense, romance, and empowerment, delivering an unforgettable reading experience. Highly recommended!

I love art and especially books about art. What I didn't expect was for this to be an absorbing thriller!

The story takes place in 1973 when Lily, an art aficionado is hired to assist the Tate's Modern Collections keeper, Diana Gilden. Lily is thrilled when she is asked to set up a last-minute art installation showcasing Picasso's work as the artist had recently died. Everything is set, everything is perfect. But it's not and Lily sees it. What she doesn't expect is that it may cost her reputation.

The details in this story had me referring to the internet constantly to see the artwork described in the book. It was not only a fun read but super interesting as well.

Lily has her dream job. She is the assistant to Diana Gilden at the Tate Modern Gallery in London. She's working on a big assignment. It's a memorial display of Picasso's paintings from around the world, following his demise. But in looking at one of the paintings, Lily blurts out that it's a fake. That's not a good thing to do in front of the press, her boss and the owner of the painting.

Things are tough at home and Lily really needs to keep her job. So, she sets out to prove that the painting is, indeed, a fake, and to find out who is behind it. But things get complicated when the police think that she is the forger.

This well-written novel was a pleasure to read. The characters are well-developed. The plot moves along at a smooth pace. The ending isn't a real shocker, as we are introduced to the real forger early in the book. But, like a good episode of Columbo, it only adds to the level of intrigue as the mystery is solved. I highly recommend this book.

THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE by KATHERINE REAY is the extremely well written story of Lily Summers, a talented young woman who loves art, seeing a flaw in a Picasso painting which is part of a special exhibition at the Tate Gallery, causing mayhem in the art and insurance worlds, as well as involving Scotland Yard, and a search for the forger.
Lily works under Diana Gilden who is the first woman Keeper of Modern Collections and feels guilty for causing the person who has done so much for her to lose her job. Still she is sure she is right. She has always followed Diana’s tastes and directions assiduously until she is in trouble and realizes she needs to be her real self and trust her own opinions and feelings. This is true in her painting and in her family life. She needs to be more accessible to her family and friends and trust in her own ability rather than copy famous artists……
The story is gripping as the author takes us through these two women’s emotions, and we wonder at the outcome.
There are other interesting characters as the author, who is obviously knowledgeable about London’s art scene in the 1970’s and passionate about art, creates a scenario that is full of mystery, even going back to the Nazi’s art thefts during World War 11…….
I cannot recommend this interesting and exciting novel strongly enough.
I waa given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Harper Muse. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay is a fantastic story about the possible forgery of a famous Picasso painting in 1970s London.
We meet Lily, the assistant to Diana, who runs a Collections Gallery. Picasso has recently passed away so they create a collection by bringing in Picasso art to display. This is where Lily thinks she can see one of the paintings as a forgery.
This story had me captivated from the start. I loved the characters in this novel.
I really didn't know much about Picasso's work and was intrigued. I found myself looking him up online so I could see his paintings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and received an advanced complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was an excellent historical novel that dove into the art world in London. I learned much about the business of selling and acquiring artwork, from the perspective of a “keeper” at the Tate Museum. The mystery at the heart of the novel kept me intrigued until the end and the subplots of family, identity and romance added to the story. It was nice to read a historical fiction not completely surrounded by war, despair and heartbreak.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and an honest review of the book.

When you finish a book and you are sad to leave the characters, you know it was a good read! The setting was wonderful, descriptions well done, and characters interesting (even if the main character drove me crazy at times!). I loved the delve into the art world and there is a fun surprise cameo in this book too! 🧐 There’s a bit of a twist that is slowly revealed, cleverly and I loved the two POVs that told the whole story.

I got an #arc of this book thanks to @netgalley and this review is my honest opinion. I already have an #ebook, but I will be getting a physical copy too! It comes out in June, so go pre-order now!

I’m a sucker for @katherinereay and this book just solidified it even more. I would recommend this book - first 5⭐️ read of 2025!! 🎉

This worked well as a mysterious and historical element going on, it had that plot element that I was looking for and enjoyed the concept of this. It was great that Picasso was being used and how it was used in the story. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed going on this journey with them. Katherine Reay wrote this perfectly and thoroughly enjoyed what was happening.

#TheEnglishMasterpiece #NetGalley

Lily works for an art museum and is a closed door artist herself. When a Picasso painting looks slightly off, Lily blutlrts out that it is a forgery.
An investigation insues, and there are times Lily wonders if she only imagined the forgery.
Her boss Diana is temperamental and thinks everything will blow over. At leasť that's what she is telling herself.
This is a fast-paced read that was so hard to put down.