Missing Matisse

Finished September 3
Missing Matisse by Jan Rehner
This is a mystery with a story within a story. In present day Toronto Chloe Rea is watching Adam Jensen. He has a Matisse drawing that she believes is hers. The drawing was owned by her grandmother Sylvie, and a family story says that Sylvie once posed for Matisse. Chloe's actions draw her to Adam's attention and the picture draws them both to Adam's late brother Jamie and Europe.
The second story, told in its own voice interspersed throughout is a voice from history. It is a voice from a woman who worked in Matisse's house and it takes us a while to discern her identity.
As we see what happened in Matisse's world and with Sylvie, a young Canadian caught in France during World War II, we also learn about art and the makings of it. In the present we also learn about art, but also about the business of it.
Adam and Chloe follow the minimalist clues they have to find what truly happened and whether there really was a painting. Intrigue, subterfuge, and romance all bring this story to life. The art history was interesting and I learned a lot I didn't know, always a plus.
A good read.