Circles of Confusion (Claire Montrose Mysteries) [Hardcover]

April Henry (Author)

Book Description

Series: Claire Montrose Mysteries | Publication Date: February 1999

GR8 LYF?

Claire Montrose doesn't know it yet, but her ho-hum world is about to go wild. Lately, Claire doesn't know which is worseher uninspired romance with her insurance adjuster boyfriend, or her job approving applications for vanity license plates.

BIG$?

When Claire's distant, elderly aunt dies, she leaves a fitting estate for her mousy niecea trailer full of junk, Claire finds a painting that haunts her with its beauty. Might this be a long-lost masterpiece? To learn the painting's secrets, Claire leaves Portland behind for a dazzling solo trip to New York City.

BEWARE!

In the Big Apple, Claire must keep up her guard against the charms of two mysterious men, each of whom is intent on figuring out what it is she's uncovered from her aunt's past. Could the canvas Claire is totting around in her backpack really be worth millions? It certainly seems to be her ticket into a whole new realm of adventure. Along the way, she just might discover her painting's true worthand her own.

X-CTG!

Claire took a deep breath. "I've decided to go to New York for a couple of days. I'm going to get the painting appraised."

Evan sat back in his chair and steepled his hands. "You're going to go off on some wild-goose chase, based on nothing more than the opinions of your hundred-and-three-year-old roommate and some guy who runs a junk shop? No, I don't think so."

She took a soundless step backward on the plush carpet, then another, until her hand was on the doorknob.

"Evan?"

"Hm?" he said, looking at his paperwork.

"I am going."

She closed the door on his surprised face.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An amateur sleuth with an unusual day job debuts in this lively romantic mystery, Henry's first novel. Claire Montrose works for the Oregon Motor Vehicles Division in Portland, checking applications for vanity license plates. Her mundane job is interrupted by a call from her mother, who reports that Claire's great-aunt has died, bequeathing to Claire the contents of her mobile home. Aided by her boyfriend, an obsessively careful insurance adjuster, Claire sorts through Aunt Cady's belongings. Among the piles of old knickknacks, she finds a beautiful small painting of a woman sitting at a table. Aunt Cady had been in Germany during WWII and Claire suspects the artwork might be one of many masterpieces that disappeared in Europe around that time. To have it appraised, she flies to New York, where an expert tells her that the painting is a forgery. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, however, a handsome artist says that the canvas may be an authentic Vermeer. Attempts to steal the painting convince Claire that the artist may be right?but can she trust him? Or should she trust the expert who thought the painting a forgery? Danger follows Claire back to Portland, but she proves clever enough to outwit even the wiliest villain in her offbeat, vital first outing as a sleuth. Agent, Wendy Schmalz at Harold Ober.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An amateur sleuth with an unusual day job debuts in this lively, romantic mystery....An off-beat, vital first outing." -- Publishers Weekly

"In her first novel, April Henry has created a cracker-jack plot that is intelligent, internally consistent and interesting. She has created an attractive protagonist and the tale is told in a strong voice that never drifts toward the cute." -- THE DROOD REVIEW OF MYSTERY

"In her first novel, April Henry has created a cracker-jack plot that is intelligent, internally consistent and interesting. She has created an attractive protagonist and the tale is told in a strong voice that never drifts toward the cute." -- The Drood Review of Mystery

"The most fun of all are the chapter endings, each one featuring a vanity license plate that needs to be deciphered, with a key to the puzzles at the end of the book.Want more? BYDBK." -- Denver Post

"Tremendous fun. It's the most adventurous, humorous and romantic novel since Dame Agatha gave us The Man in the Brown Suit. You'll be spellbound by Claire's adventures and will also find yourself envying her romantic interludes. The superb ending will have you shaking your head and smiling at the same time. Brava, Ms. Henry, and thank you for some highly diverting entertainment." -- Romantic Times

"Wonderful! Henry shows a knack for characters, a wry view, and research smarts." -- The Poisoned Pen

"Circles of Confusion is a thoroughly entertaining debut mystery. Claire Montrose is a heroine you can root for." -- Phillip Margolin, author of Gone, but Not Forgotten

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st edition (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060192046
• ISBN-13: 978-0060192044
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,596,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.

When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He took it to lunch and showed it to the editor of an international children's magazine - and she asked to publish the story! (For no money, which might have been a warning about how hard it is to make a living writing.)

My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written ten novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into four languages, been named to state reading lists, and short-listed for the Oregon Book Award. And Face of Betrayal, which I co-wrote with Lis Wiehl, was on the New York Times bestseller list for four weeks in 2009.

I also review YA literature and mysteries and thrillers for the Oregonian, and have written articles for both The Writer and Writers Digest.

Heart of Ice (co-written with Lis Wiehl) came out in early April. And a teen thriller, The Night She Disappeared, will be published in January 2012.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GR8 MYSTRE! X-CTG!, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Circles of Confusion (Claire Montrose Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I learned a little about art forgeries and the WWII background made it more interesting. Clair Montrose is a very likable character and I found myself rooting for her the whole time. I'm looking forward to more of the series-this one is a keeper!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GR8 Book!, May 20, 2000

By 

Karen Bierman Hirsh (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circles of Confusion: A Claire Montrose Mystery (Claire Montrose Mysteries) (Paperback)

I bought this book because Amazon recommended it to me and boy am I glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed April Henry's first Claire Montrose novel and eagerly await the arrival of her second in my mail box! I love bibliomysteries and that love drew me to this book.

Claire works at the DMV in the specialty plates division - making sure that no offensive license plates get made and April Henry sprinkles fun brain teaser plates throughout the book which is just one reason this novel is so delectable. Everything in Claire's life changes when she learns that her great Aunt Cady has died and left her everything. Claire and her dull as dirt boyfriend Evan go to the trailer park to see just what Claire has inherited. Amongst the trash Claire discovers a suitcase full of nazi memorabilia and a lovely painting which she decides to keep.

Claire decides to discover just who painted the beautiful, intriguing woman and who she was. Despite what the auction house in New York says, that it is simply a cheap copy of a master's work, Claire believes that it is something more. While in New York she meets Troy, the valuator at the auction house and Dante, an art enthusiast at the MET. Both offer her their ideas on the paintings origins (plus something more....) and Claire finds out that this painting is more than meets the eye.

With her life and the painting in danger Claire does not know who to trust or where to turn. Circles of Confusion is well written and has a fabulous ending. I could not put this gem down. Claire is a complex character and I can't wait to see what she will do next in Square in the Face. Brava April Henry for allowing us to share in your wonderful novel.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent First Mystery, March 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Circles of Confusion (Claire Montrose Mysteries) (Hardcover)

At the heart of this fine novel, the first in what should be a long series, is Claire Montrose, a wonderful heroine that all readers will find good company. She is so appealing that I was as anxious to discover how the complications in her love life would be resolved as I was to learn the truth about the painting she's inherited. I'm ready to follow Claire anywhere she goes in her future adventures. Outstanding.