 Author: Connie Mann Genre: Romantic Suspense Pages: 352 Release Date: June 4, 2024 Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers She’s a master at spotting a forgery . . . and knowing how to create one. But can she solve a decades-old mystery? The media spotlight is the last thing art thief and forger Sophie Williams needs. But when one of three long-missing royal portraits turns up in Germany at her best friend’s art gallery, the spotlight is exactly what she gets. Since the tragic deaths of Princess Johanna of Neuhansberg and her two children forty years ago, the whereabouts of these portraits have been unknown . . . and the timing of their reappearance—just days before a new prince’s coronation—reignites questions surrounding the infamous accident. Then Sophie’s best friend vanishes, and a rumor about hidden treasure connected to the paintings surfaces, seemingly confirmed by a cryptic message on the back of the first canvas. Convinced that finding the other two portraits will lead to her friend, Sophie begins a twisty investigation that pits her against other ruthless treasure hunters, a handsome who seems to dog her trail at every turn, and a mysterious group that offers help, wearing an emblem identical to one on the painting. From Germany’s grand castles and soaring cathedrals through the Alps to the canals of Venice, Sophie must choose her allies carefully if she hopes to find the portraits, rescue her best friend—and perhaps save a throne—before time runs out.
 Reviewer: Kristina Hall A good start to a new series! Sophie and Mac both had intriguing occupations. While I never truly connected to them as characters, I liked following along on their adventures. The cast of side characters was well-developed. As far as the plot went, The Crown Conspiracy had plenty of high-stakes, adventure, and suspenseful moments. I appreciated that the author kept the hints of romance between Sophie and Mac clean, and that Sophie grew in her faith over the course of the novel. While The Crown Conspiracy contained a lot of the elements I enjoy in novels (action/adventure, a little romance, cool characters, and treasure hunts), I never really felt that engaged by the story. I did read it over a longer period of time, so that might've been a contributing factor. Overall, I found The Crown Conspiracy to be an interesting read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and suspense novels. Disclosure: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford This was a complex mystery with a definite mystique to it. Think Indiana Jones meets Mission Impossible, with treasure hunts and long-held secrets coming to light, as well as dangerous missions with many disguises and dangers around every corner. Sophie Williams is an art forger and art thief. She is not your ordinary thief, as she steals stolen art and returns it to the rightful owners. She is a modern-day Robin Hood in the international world of art. When a portrait of Princess Johanna and her children, who died 40 years ago, reappears, the frenzy begins. Sophie's best friend disappears, and she is determined to find her. She will need help, but she trusts no one. Sophie was quickly my hero. She has an inner strength and is fearless. She faces challenges head-on without any regard for her well-being. It was an electrifying ride of deception, danger, and intrigue. Speranza means hope, and you will learn that this means something special to the people she meets along the way. The book got very exciting during the latter half of the book as Sophie was on the run, and the twists were magnificent. The cast of characters were special and engaging. The inspirational message was an important part of the story as the characters leaned on their faith. If you enjoy adventure, puzzles, and intrigue, you will enjoy this wonderful book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale Publishers through Interviews & Reviews, for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Anna Bottoms What an absolutely perfect book full of intrigue, mystery, secret society, kidnapping, and murder! I was blown away at how the author tightly plotted so much between the pages and still managed to make it believable. I was drawn into the story immediately, and I didn’t want to put it down. Only a well-written storyline can do this, and the author was spot-on in every area. Sophie is the Robin Hood of the art world, stealing paintings and returning them to their rightful owners. Soon, she finds she’s drawn into much more than expected when she finds herself pulled into the search for three missing paintings after her best friend disappears. Finding the clues in the paintings might lead to her rescue. Mac has been tasked with finding the three lost portraits of the royal family of Neuhansberg. When he spots Sophie in disguise, he’s intrigued and begins to follow her, starting a friendly rivalry. He must use all his wits to get his hands on those paintings, but there are others with the same goal, and the stakes just got higher. Not only is his mother’s life on the line but Sophie’s could be too. The premise of the story, with a secret society of women who come alongside Sophie on her quest, helping her thwart Mac and also seeking to help other women in need while displaying extraordinary skills, is a step away from your typical crime thriller, and I loved it. I was given a copy courtesy of Tyndale House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book. Reviewer: Rebecca Maney
"... and I believe in God even when He is silent. I believe through any trial there is a way." "Stay in character. He can't possibly know who you are." Who would have thought that a little tiny thing like shapely calves could plant a seed of doubt into a savvy art investigator's mind? Sophie Williams' transformation into the much older "Frau Bauernstein" for the evening should have been flawless. She had a job to do and the opportunity to do it, and except for "the incredibly handsome blue-eyed, black-haired, tuxedo-clad man" who showed up on the dance floor, her disguise would never have been questioned. "Had he found Robin Hood?" There was an incredibly elusive art thief roaming the streets of Germany, replacing stolen originals with beautifully painted forgeries, and Mac McKenzie had been hired by the most influential man in the country to find one of them. Sensing that following the mysterious woman he had met the night before was key to discovering the valuable painting, he did, and then again he didn't. She was slippery as an eel and seemed to not only have enemies at every turn, but a host of very competent friends. Multi-layered and overflowing with interesting characters, this high-stakes game of cat and mouse was as pleasant as it was perplexing. Multiple plot lines raced for priority while the details of each remained completely tangled, yet satisfyingly knotted. Admittedly, it was a bit confusing at first to determine which storyline would emerge as pivotal or which characters were worth noting, but it took no time at all to become fully invested in the carefully crafted drama that was taking place between the pages of "Speranza" . . . . "Hope." A finely written suspense with the promise of more of the same! I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. Leave a Reply. |
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