The Appraisal - Paperback

by Anna Porter (Author)

In the vein of Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie novels comes a smart thriller with literary chops. Art appraiser Helena Marsh explores shady deals and complicated history as she navigates post-WWII corruption in the art world. "This peppy thriller from Porter bursts with banter and tantalizes the reader with half-revelations and game-changing twists." -- Kirkus Reviews " A]n intelligent and exhilarating thriller." -- Publishers Weekly "A gripping thriller set against the rich post-war history of middle-Europe." -- Staunch Book Prize Committee When wealthy octogenarian Geza Marton hires art expert Helena Marsh to buy back his family's Titian painting, Helena flies to Budapest to close what she expects will be a reasonably simple sale. But nothing is ever simple in this beautiful, flawed city where corruption abounds. Helena discovers that there are multiple bidders for the painting, including some dangerous Slavs. Soon there are also dead bodies, and a complicated history that leads her to men Marton knew in Vorkuta, one of Stalin's notorious gulags. As she works to unravel the truth of the painting's ownership and dodges her tail, the dogged ex-detective Attila Feher, Helena is forced to call on all her considerable skills to stay alive and out of jail. Smart, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining, The Appraisal is a terrific thriller set against Budapest's corruption and lost promise.

Back Jacket

In the vein of Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie novels comes this year's smart new thriller with literary chops

When wealthy octogenarian Geza Marton hires art expert Helena Marsh to buy back his family's Titian painting, Helena flies to Budapest to close what she expects will be a reasonably simple sale. But nothing is ever simple in this beautiful, flawed city where corruption abounds. Helena discovers that there are multiple bidders for the painting, including some dangerous Slavs. Soon there are also dead bodies, and a complicated history that leads her to men Marton knew in Vorkuta, one of Stalin's notorious gulags.

As she works to unravel the truth of the painting's ownership and dodges her tail, the dogged ex-detective Attila Feher, Helena is forced to call on all her considerable skills to stay alive and out of jail. Smart, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining, The Appraisal is a terrific thriller set against Budapest's corruption and lost promise.

Author Biography

Born in Budapest, Anna Porter is the award-winning author of seven books, both non-fiction (The Ghosts of Europe, Kasztner's Train, The Storyteller, and Buying a Better World) and mystery novels (Mortal Sins, Hidden Agenda, and Bookfair Murders). She co-founded Key Porter Books, an influential publishing house she ran for over 20 years. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has received the Order of Ontario. She lives in Toronto with her husband and the occasionally behaved dachshund, Gustav.