Aaron Elkins

A Dangerous Talent Aaron Elkins

On the surface, Alix London is living every young woman's dream: a budding career as an art consultant, a spectacular condo in a deluxe high-rise in Seattle's toniest neighborhood; an enviable "presence"--voice, manners, bearing--that reflect the input of old money, silk-stocking society, and ivy-league education; a reasonably pretty face; and an eye-catching figure on which to sport her classic wardrobe. But Alix herself is all too aware that it's all precisely that: surface. What you saw was not what you got. Thus, she is more than ready when opportunity comes knocking in the imposing, six-foot-two form of Christine Lemay, a wealthy, novice art collector. Chris, it turns out, has been offered the chance to buy a newly discovered painting by the great Georgia O'Keefe. The seller is a Santa Fe art dealer and an old friend of Chris's. Chris is excited about the idea, but wisely decides she needs to hire herself some expert advice before committing to buy. It is Alix London she comes to, and it is just the sort of high-profile consulting job Alix has been dreaming about. Authenticating an unknown piece by the legendary O'Keeffe would be a terrific challenge and a real jump start to her career. And the perk of an all-expenses-paid trip to Santa Fe is nothing to sneeze at. But Alix has barely set foot in Santa Fe before her troubles begin. By the time her five-day stay in New Mexico is over, she will find herself tangled in a sticky web of forgery, deceit, envy, and homicide. And when her expert probing brings her too near the truth, she winds up frighteningly close to becoming a murder victim herself. In the end, it takes the combined talents of Alix and FBI special agent Ted Ellesworth--his investigative skills and her "connoisseur's eye"--to get to the unexpected bottom of enigmas both artistic and homicidal.