The Artist Colony - by Joanna Fitzpatrick (Paperback)

About the Book

"July 1924. Sarah Cunningham, a young Modernist painter, arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her older sister Ada Belle. En route, she is shocked to learn that Ada Belle's suspicious death is a suicide. But why kill herself? Her plein air paintings were famous and her upcoming exhibition of portraitures would bring her even wider recognition. Sarah puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle's devoted dog Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale"--Publisher marketing.

Book Synopsis

July 1924. Sarah Cunningham, a young Modernist painter, arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her older sister, Ada Belle. En route, she is shocked to learn that Ada Belle's suspicious death is a suicide. But why kill herself? Her plein air paintings were famous and her upcoming exhibition of portraitures would bring her even wider recognition.

Sarah puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle's devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale.

Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.

Review Quotes

2022 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Historical
2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in Regional (Fiction)
2022 IPPY Awards Gold Winner in Mystery

"FitzPatrick keeps the pot stirred nicely, with revelations popping up like whack-a-mole. There is also a nice sense of scene, capturing this idyllic place on the Monterey peninsula. . . . The Artist Colony delivers an escape to gorgeous Carmel and an engaging mystery."
--Kirkus Reviews

". . . readers who enjoy an exciting narrative with unexpected twists will find this a diverting and illuminating read."
--Historical Novels Review

"Bold, creative, and unexpected--all the things nice ladies weren't supposed to be when they escaped to Carmel-by-the-Sea to make art without criticism. FitzPatrick, a descendant of one of those feisty female pioneers, has honored her family legacy and entertained her fans with a fast-paced whodunit that is equal parts loving tribute and killer thriller."
--Meredith May, author of The Honey Bus and Loving Edie

"The Artist's Colony is a sumptuous ride through the Carmel-by-the-Sea as Sarah Cunningham attempts to uncover the truth about her sister's mysterious death. Atmospheric and delicious, FitzPatrick delivers a thrilling page-turner woven with artistic flourish. This exquisite novel does not disappoint! Highly recommended!"
--Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

"It's 1924 and a young woman journeys to Carmel, California, to learn more about her sister's sudden death. She soon learns that the bohemian arts colony is anything but idyllic, as she's confronted by flagrant racism and intimations of murder. Fitzpatrick has written a vivid historical novel with an absorbing mystery at the center of it, and I was riveted."
--Elizabeth McKenzie, author of The Portable Veblen

"The dramatic landscapes of Carmel, beautifully depicted by FitzPatrick, are central to the plot, whose blow-by-blow story keeps us gripped to the final revelation of Ada's murderer . . . a must-read novel for anyone who loves historical fiction, art, detective stories, and the West Coast."
--Maggie Humm, author of Talland House

Praise for FitzPatrick's Katherine Mansfield:

"FitzPatrick deftly captures Mansfield's fervent dedication to her craft and her unwavering hope that she will overcome her illness. A well-informed, intuitive account of a singular modernist writer whose life is cut short."
--Kirkus Reviews