Woman on Fire

A Novel

By: Lisa Barr

Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

“An exuberant and propulsive thriller laced with sex, art, and history. Lisa Barr has created an unforgettable story that forces readers to question where the line should be drawn between the pursuit of justice and the hunt for revenge.”—Alyson Richman, bestselling author of The Secret of Clouds

From the author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables, a gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece—forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth.

After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual—and very secret—assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel’s most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan’s help to find it. But Jules doesn’t have much time; the famous designer is dying.

Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family’s millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux’s clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he’ll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.

A thrilling tale of secrets, love, and sacrifice that illuminates the destructive cruelty of war and greed and the triumphant power of beauty and love, Woman on Fire tells the story of a remarkable woman and an exquisite work of art that burns bright, moving through hands, hearts, and history.

©2022 Lisa Barr (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Different and interesting

This has a very different take on the mystery and intrigue. It is a refreshingly different and an enjoyable story.

Couldn’t put it down

I could stop listening. It pulls you in and doesn’t let go. A beautiful story with all the emotions

Woman on Fire

When I first started listening to this book, I told my wife, “this book is not for me.” She suggested that I give it a chance. My reason was that it was very easy to tell that it was written by a woman. It seemed to talk about clothes in a way that only women would. However, it turned into a Novel that is fantastic and well written, a novel that anyone can enjoy, The words were chosen carefully. After trying to write a book myself, I can appreciate everything in her story, especially the ending, the hardest part of any story. Hopefully, you will enjoy the book as much as I did. It truly is an excellent book.

Resonating story

Characters were great. Important story based on similar true stories. Protagonist was one of the creepiest types of people. Not my typical read, but sincerely enjoyed.

Accents, Please!

The story line of this book is mildly original. There aren't that many mysteries written about the art world, so that aspect of it was interesting. I didn't really notice the author's style of prose, which usually means (for me) that it's decent but not great. What really made this book hard for me was the reader. This woman has the worst grasp of accents of any reader I have ever listened to. Sometime she would mix them up, having the same character's accent morph from one to another while reading the characters' dialog,, or forget to turn the accent off when she went back to the non-speaking part of the text. And mispronounced even some very common words - having a character get a "Yuber" instead of an Uber. I suspect I would have liked the book better had I read it rather than listened to it. In audiobook form, however, I can't really recommend it.

Great story, painful narration

Loved the story. A little bit of mystery, history, romance, and suspense all rolled into one! But the narration was painful to listen to at times. She has an awkward American accent. Would have been much more enjoyable with a different reader but still overall a great book!

great mystery

loved this book. very captivating. great narrator. cant wait to read another by author

Narrator excellent

When stories contain jumps through time and location and contain multiple characters, it is often difficult for me to keep track on an audible book. This narrator, Carlotta Brendan, was amazing. Her reading made me feel like there were multiple people reading the story. I could follow the plot and easily tell the voice of each character. Amazing!

Excellent

excellent, exciting, I couldn't put it down. very well written! its a wonderful story!

Fantastic!

Gripping story! I couldn’t stop listening! Great characters and story line. I would search out this author again!