Hello, everyone. I’m Cassie Dean. Sorry if I act a little sidetracked at the moment, but I’ve been poring over a computer file trying to spot art objects that have vanished into the ether.
I guess I should explain. I’m an art conservator/restorer, and up until recently I had an internship at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. My dream job. I originally wanted to be an artist, but found while I’m an expert at copying others’ work, I’ve never really developed a style of my own. This was a major disappointment until a friend, Laurel Beacham, dragged some family heirlooms into the dorm my second year of college.
Laurel was a year ahead of me at Cornell, and was born into an über-wealthy family. However, when she was in her teens her grandfather died, and what money didn’t go to trusts and foundations went to Laurel’s parents. Her mother died soon after, and her father went a little nuts and drank and gambled away all the money before disappearing over a mountainside. Really, no joke. In just a few years Laurel went from richy-rich with a supportive loving family, to broke orphan-girl trying to figure out how a budget works. She never has quite figured out the budget gig, as her credit card statements prove, but she did use money her grandfather left in a trust fund to pay for college. Now she’s the premier art recovery expert to the art world, and museums around the globe count on her to find their missing priceless treasures. She’s also one of the most approachable people I’ve ever met, and tries to help every underdog. Like she did for me.
Anyway, Laurel kind of mentored me along in college, treating me like the little sister she never had. When one of the family homes was auctioned off for debts, she smuggled out some favorite art works, paintings, small statuary, and a couple of pieces of furniture. Several items got a little scratched and dinged in the moving process. Laurel couldn’t afford to send the pieces for professional repair, so she checked out a stack of restoration books to see what she could do on her own. Laurel is extremely self-sufficient, but not particularly skilled at using tools like scalpels and camel-hair brushes for restorative tasks. I asked if I could help and found my true vocation.
My artistic eye for detail is not limited to reclaiming damaged art, however, and Laurel currently uses my trained eye to cross-check and cross-reference photos on a USB drive until I’m nearly cross-eyed. She discovered this backup drive while attempting to find someone she feared was kidnapped, and in the process uncovered what could ultimately be the heist of the century.
I can’t give you many more details—this thing seems to unfold into a bigger and more complex puzzle every day. While I’m in the office looking for leads, Laurel takes trains, planes and motorcycles to find the next point in the maze. Her instincts are legendary, despite having to maneuver around her skin-flint boss, Max.
Aiding Laurel in the field is Jack Hawkes, though we’re not sure if he’s completely trustworthy. Jack is not forthcoming with information about himself, but has a confidence and nerve that makes me glad he sticks close to Laurel. The guy is complex and probably lethal, but he’s the first person you’d choose to have your back. He infuriates Laurel by never confirming or disavowing any personal information, even when she asks a direct question. Yet despite all the exaggerations and half-truths he tells, and, yes, probably flat-out-lies, I think the guy is on the level, and pretty fascinating. Laurel, on the other hand, doesn’t trust him an inch, associates him on the same self-centered jerk-scale as her father, and tends to ignore whatever Jack says to do. Mostly he tries to keep her safe by telling her to stay back and let him take over. Like that’s ever going to happen.
When I became an art restorer, I never dreamed I’d live on the fringes of intrigue, but that’s where I stay most days. Laurel and Jack keep life exciting, and their verbal sparring is worth the price of admission. I can’t wait to watch the next scene unfold.
You can see what I mean and meet Laurel Beacham and Jack Hawkes by reading Counterfeit Conspiracies, the first book in the “Bodies of Art” Mystery Series, published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. Like all of Gemma’s books, this series is a fast-paced mystery with a lot of humor, a quirky plot, and a dash of romance to tie it all together. The novel is available at retail and online booksellers in both print and all ebook formats
GIVEAWAY: Comment on this post by noon EST on December 25, and you will be entered to win a copy of Counterfeit Conspiracies. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Ritter Ames lives in a small town in the middle of America, but spends each day globe trotting the art world from her laptop, with her cat riding shotgun and Pandora blasting from the speakers. COUNTERFEIT CONSPIRACIES is her first full-length fiction. A second cozy mystery series, starting with ORGANIZED FOR MURDER will be released by Gemma Halliday Publishing in January 2014. She tries to blog regularly at ritterames.wordpress.com and uses her Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/ritterames to capture great places and ideas she wants to use in both series. Follow her blog and boards to learn more about Ritter and her upcoming books.
From December 24 until early January, the ebook version of Counterfeit Conspiracies will be only 99 cents.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
Congrats on another great book!! Love the storyline. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Carletta. This is a fun series to write, and lets me dive into a subject I find more interesting every day. Good luck!
Sounds like another fun series to add to my t-b-r mountain.
So many good books out this month. Hope your TBR pile is shorter than mine 🙂 Still, I always know I have something wonderful waiting to be read.
A great After Christmas read. I do not know a lot about art but you sure make it sound quite interesting. Looking forward to following Cassie, Laurel and Jack on the series.
I promise, I’ve given you all the art info you need for this story, Marcy, with more info coming as needed in the rest of the series. You don’t have to know the subject well to enjoy the ride 🙂
This sounds like a perfect read. Happy Holidays!!
Happy Holidays to you, too, Cheryl. The second book is in the brainstorming stage right now, so while readers are enjoying the first after Christmas, I’ll be hard at work on the second come the first of the year!
I love the title and the premise ! Thanks for the giveaway !
Thanks, Kathy, glad you like the title. We’re going to try to stay alliterative with each one. The second in the series will be Marked Masters
This sounds intriguing! I’d love to win a copy!
Intriguing is what the I hoped for, Jan. Good luck!
Sounds like a book I’d enjoy. Thanks for the update!
If you get a chance to read it, Jane, I’d love to know what you think. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Whoa. You have certainly caught my attention. Please enter me in the draw. Thank you for letting me know about this next best seller.
“Whoa” is not a word that really can be used with this book, Jennie. It moves very fast and takes the reader from America to Italy to London to France. 🙂 but I love your taking the book up to best seller status already. LOL! The next in this series is called MARKED MASTERS, but the next book I have out will be a cozy mystery, another first in a series, called ORGANIZED FOR MURDER.
I think being able to restore damaged art – a wonderful premise – thanks for the chance to possibly win – and to everyone Merry Christmas.
When I went to London a few years ago, we went to the V&A and I stood on the catwalk over the restoration pit and watched those pros in their painstaking work. I could have stayed a week if they’d let me, just watching. Good luck in the drawing, and hope your Christmas is merry, too!
would love to read this one!!!
thanx for the intro & the giveaway!!!
Good luck in the drawing, Cyn. Glad you liked Cassie’s take on things!
Dru, this is definitely a winner in my book. I am therefore requesting that you grab my hat and toss it into your ring for me.
Thanks for coming by, Nora Adrienne. Good luck with that hat toss 🙂
Art mysteries always seem so highbrow to me–so I read them while drinking Bailey’s and feel so rich. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Your Bailey’s comment made me laugh! Love your sense of humor. No, this isn’t highbrow, I deliver all the art info you need without deluging you in too much more. Laurel’s job is to find the art, and the story is how she does exactly that. Good luck in the drawing!
This sounds like a great book! Would love a chance to win this one! Thanks Dru for another great blog post!!
Glad you liked the post, Shelley. Good luck in the drawing!
Love getting in at the beginning of a series. Appreciate art and look forward to reading Ames (a new author to me).
Thanks for dropping by, Judy, and good luck in the drawing. This is my first full length novel, so I’m kind of new to everyone 🙂
There is ALWAYS room to get another book in a new series. Interesting write up on this blog and I would love to be included in the drawing to win Counterfeit Conspiracies. I have a feeling that Ritter writes under another or other names too, am I correct about this?? Either way, I am looking forward to this series and others coming up as well.
Thank you for the chance to win; I love any books with art and or food as a topic, so you have me hooked already.
Cynthia
I’m like you, Cynthia–I can always find room for a book in a new series. Saw you wandered over to my blog. Thanks for the interest. As I mentioned earlier, this is my first full length fiction that’s been published. I have another series coming out soon, the Organized Mystery Series, that starts with ORGANIZED FOR MURDER, and is also published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. Just received the proof on the cover art for that one a couple of days ago, so will have to do a big reveal soon on my blog. It’s a cozy series and a lot different from COUNTERFEIT CONSPIRACIES. I love being able to change up my writing. Good luck in the drawing!
This sounds like a great read.
Thanks, Libby! Good luck in the drawing! 🙂
Just had to pop in to say how much I enjoyed working with Ritter on this book. She’s mega talented, and while I’ve never personally been to Europe, she made me feel like I was right there experiencing every awesome place along with her characters. So fun!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Gemma!
Thanks Gemma for dropping by. I love your High Heels mysteries.
Thanks RItter for giving us a glimpse into Cassie’s day.
This has been a real treat for me, too, Dru. Thanks for inviting Cassie to share your blog space! And Merry Christmas!
Sounds like a great beginning to a new series.
The series is great fun to write Kim. Thanks so much for coming by to read Cassie’s story.
contest is closed.