Julie A. Hyzy Artistic License

Artistic License

Julie A. Hyzy

Five Star, Jan 2004, $25.95, 336 pp.

ISBN: 1594141126

In Tinsley Park, near Chicago, after almost five years of marriage to her loser of a spouse Gary, Annie Callaghan files for divorce. However, Gary persuades her to come out for lunch to talk. A few drinks later, Gary charms his way into her bedroom. Two months later, Annie is pregnant, but decides to finalize the divorce anyway.

Sam Morgan hires Annie to paint a mural on the wall of Millie's Ice Cream Parlour. Her preliminary work looks great until two young boys slop paint all over the wall. Their parents hire Annie to paint murals on the bedroom walls of their children. However, unbeknownst to Annie, that initial act of childhood vandalism has left her knowing about a stolen masterpiece, a Durer painting from the fifteenth century worth ten million dollars. Only Sam, who she now loves, tries to keep Annie safe.

Though readers will wonder why DeChristopher even allowed Annie into his home, fans will appreciate this delightful fine arts mystery. Annie is a charming soul who captures readers' hearts and, as important, their attention as she jumps from the frying pan of Gary into a fire of art theft and murder. The support cast enhances the audience's insight into the beleaguered heroine as Julie A. Hyzt provides a delightful inadvertent (on Annie's part) amateur sleuth thriller.

Harriet Klausner