Uncover the Secrets of the 1970s London Art Scene in Katherine Reay’s Latest Novel, The English Masterpiece
Thursday Apr. 3rd, 2025
Renowned bestselling author Katherine Reay is set to captivate readers once again with her upcoming novel, The English Masterpiece. Inspired by the most lucrative of forgers and slated to hit shelves this June, The English Masterpiece takes readers on a fast-paced ride full of glamour and secrets, tensions and lies, as one young woman races against the clock to uncover the truth about a forged Picasso found in the Tate Gallery, in 1973 London.
Katherine Reay, celebrated for her exquisite storytelling and vivid character development, introduces us to Lily Summers, the recently promoted assistant to the Tate’s Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden. As Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist, the opening is beyond anyone’s expectations—the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim—until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, “It’s a forgery.” The gallery falls silent.
The story continues as we meet Lily’s boss, Diana—polished perfection, schooled in art, who descends from European high society. She’s worked hard to become the trusted voice in London’s modern art scene and respected across the Continent. The Tate’s Picasso Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist’s most iconic and intimate works, but a newly discovered painting—one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration, suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery ring run wild.
All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana’s footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor’s. Unless . . . Was she right? With the clock ticking and the clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she’s always wanted, but her freedom.
Taking readers inside the art scene of 1973 London, The English Masterpiece is a fascinating look into the creation of art, the forgery of art, and the creation of our personas vs. who we really might be inside. A must-read for lovers of historical fiction and suspense.
The English Masterpiece is available for pre-order wherever books are sold.
Harper Muse | Paperback | ISBN: 9781400347278 | $18.99 | Release: June 10, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Bozeman, MT, with her husband and three children.
Follow Katherine on Instagram, Facebook, X, and her personal website here.
ADVANCE BOOK PRAISE
“Crackling with tension from the very start, Reay’s latest is a twisty, smart read infused with the heady atmosphere of the 1970s London art world. The novel deftly explores the nature of artistic genius, the ethics of deception, and the cost of speaking up for what is true. A gem of a read!”
—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen
“Art... London... Seventies Glam... Yes, please. The English Masterpiece has ALL the goodies—especially for historical fiction lovers and art aficionados. Readers will relish Reay’s stylish prose and rich, unforgettable characters amid a propulsive cat and mouse chase into the opulent and obsessive world of multi-million-dollar art and deception.”
—Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author of The Goddess of Warsaw
“A taut and thrilling game of cat and mouse ensues in Katherine Reay’s The English Masterpiece, a story of reality, illusion, and imposters set in the winding streets of seventies London. Reay is a master at the top of her game!” —Bryn Turnbull, author of The Berlin Apartment
“An exhibit honoring the recently deceased Picasso and an alleged forgery at the Tate sets the stage for this historical page-turner. Just when you think the stakes couldn’t get any higher, Reay ratchets up the tension even more. With an eye for the telling details, this author transports the reader back to London in the 1970s. Art lovers and historical fiction fans alike will find this book impossible to put down.” —Renee Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of Let’s Call Her Barbie
“An exhilarating tale that will keep readers spellbound until the very last page, The English Masterpiece is a fresh and thought-provoking read. In a story that explores what it means to live and create authentically, Katherine Reay has given us an underdog heroine to root for as she navigates London’s prestigious, and increasingly dangerous, art scene, unraveling a mystery where nothing is what it seems. I could not put this book down.” —Kristin Beck, author of The Winter Orphans
“The English Masterpiece is a stylish mystery that plunges the reader into the glamorous world of million-dollar art and the inner workings of a famed national gallery. A single sentence dooms the career of the young woman who utters it. As Lily Summers tries to clear her name, she discovers pieces of a puzzle that attract more danger. A thoroughly enjoyable, inventive plot that will keep you up all night.” —Janie Chang, author of The Phoenix Crown
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