The Paris Portrait
(A Fabiola Bennett Mystery #3)
By Heidi Eljarbo
Historical Mystery, Dual Timeline, Fiction
Paperback & eBook, 248 Pages
November 12, 2024
Summary
Fabiola stumbles upon a clue that indicates a royal portrait went missing almost two hundred years ago. Is this true, or is there substance to the rumor?
Paris, France, 1973.
After an enjoyable but dusty road trip, Fabiola and her friends, Pippa and Cary, arrive in a small village on the outskirts of Paris to spend a few days with Fabiola’s brother Eivind and his family.
On their first evening there, Eivind shows Fabiola an ancient recipe book he bought at an auction. The book is filled with old writing, and he asks Fabiola to decipher the pages. After the others have gone to bed, she spends hours reading and is gripped by the last pages that have nothing to do with recipes for baked goods and stews. Certain the author was a famous portrait artist at the time of the French Revolution, Fabiola and her friends set out on a treacherous investigation, dodging murderers and thieves to learn the truth.
Versailles, France, 1789.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun— portraitist and close friend of the extravagant queen of France, Marie Antoinette—has already painted thirty portraits of the queen. Her contemporaries compare her to the old Dutch masters, calling her one of the greatest portrait painters of her time.
But outside on the streets, Paris is becoming more perilous with every day that passes. Madame Le Brun would be a fool to think the rumors of a revolution will pass, and aristocratic life will continue as before.
Amid the turmoil, she paints one final portrait of Marie Antoinette, knowing well her association with the queen could cause her to be arrested or executed. As chaos and riots in Paris turn to violence, Madame Le Brun flees with her young daughter, hoping her royal friend and the portrait will be safe.
Author Interview
Welcome to my blog today to tell us more about THE PARIS PORTRAIT!Hello from Norway! Thank you for having me.
The Paris Portrait is the third instalment in a historical mystery series about art historian Fabiola Bennett. Fabiola lives and breathes art history. She seems to stumble upon an art crime wherever she travels—a missing painting by a famous artist, a curious case of a forged or stolen work of art, or a mysterious heist in a foreign country.
For those new to the series, what should they know?This is a clean series. Even though Fabiola deals with art theft and the occasional murder, the reader can try to solve the mystery without gory details.
Fabiola has two best friend who accompany her on her trips. Pippa who works in a London bookshop and Cary, a detective inspector at New Scotland Yard. The close-knit friendship they share adds a special feeling to the stories.
What inspired the series and focusing this book on this specific historical mystery?This series is a spin-off from the Soli Hansen Mysteries. Soli is Fabiola’s mother and every bit the same art history enthusiast. The four-book series takes the reader back to Oslo during World War II where Soli goes undercover to help rescue precious art from the Nazis.
When I start a Fabiola Bennett book, I always have a real historical artist in mind. I’ve written about Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, and Rafael before. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo have also made cameo appearances.
The Paris Portrait has a French female artist, Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, who painted thirty portraits of Queen Marie Antoinette. Her life was fascinating. She was incredibly talented and spirited, and I studied her autobiography to write her story in this book.
What has been your favorite part of this book, either in writing it or in the story itself?I have a passion for art history and historical settings. I also love dual timelines. The mysteries take place in the early 1970s. I was a young teenager then, and I’m having so much fun reliving those days. I also enjoy writing about the close and loyal relationship Fabiola has with her two friends, and the slow build-up of her feelings for Cary.
What are you hoping readers will get from this story?I hope the reader will have fun trying to find out who the culprit is, and that they’ll enjoy learning about different historical times and the great master artists who created amazing paintings. But more than that, I write for those who like a main character who, even though she makes mistakes and jumps into danger without thinking, is a loyal friend, tries to choose the right, and has faith in God.
What do you love about writing dual timelines and mysteries?Oh, I really love it! The challenge of writing two entwined historical parts and making them blend together and interact is rewarding. I like reading these kinds of books, too.
I don’t make writing easy when I write stories that have two very different time periods, that the historical details need to be exact (no anachronism), real historical artists are involved, the art crimes take place in different countries, and the story needs to progress without the reader guessing who the villain is before the last few pages. But that’s the great challenge I enjoy.
What are you working on next?Towards the end of the year, I usually publish one or two Christmas/winter novellas. These are clean and wholesome romances that take place at different times in history and in different countries. I’ve compiled these in a series on Amazon called Heartwarming Christmas. My current work in progress is a fairytale-like story called
Once Upon a Winter.
Other Books in the Series
Heidi Eljarbo grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.
Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
Connect with Heidi by visiting heidieljarbo.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon giftcard + a paperback of one Fabiola Bennett Mystery of your choice!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 19, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
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