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For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

In this rich 1920s tale, bestselling author Jocelyn Green invites you into one of New York City's most esteemed museums, where a young woman discovers secrets, betrayal, and romance.



Who's joining in this month?

I don't care for Egyptology or the 1920s era very much, but wanted to try this book because of the author. So... I'm 1/4 of the way through and loving the story.

I started this one on Saturday and am enjoying it so far.

I started this book a little while ago but still reading it, so definitely joining in!

I just ordered it from ThriftBooks. Hope to get it soon so I can start it!!

I found this as an ebook today at my local library so I'm in! (Good thing I'm still waiting on my other August reads to arrive from the library.)

Welcome all!

I’m in!

I just finished and loved this one.

I'm about 25% of the way through this book and loving it. I told my artist/teacher daughter about it and she's listening to the audiobook. Her big sister may join us, too. Perhaps we should start a family book club! LOL

I don't generally read romance but I love archaeology, so count me in.

I finished this last night and whoa! What a ride!

I finished last night also. Whoa! I did NOT see that coming! Great read.

Now that we are mid-month, discussion with spoilers can now begin.

Here's some discussion questions to get us started. Answer as many as you'd like. Look forward to hearing your comments.

1. Lauren craves peace and hates conflict. Do you relate to this or are you more like Joe, who's willing to confront in order to have justice?

2. Lawrence had a pattern of running to Egypt and ignoring the hard realities in his personal life. In what ways do people commonly try to run from problems today, even if they don't leave home?

3. In chapter 6, Lauren tells Joe, "The fact that the Egyptians believed in many things to save and protect them doesn't really set them apart from our culture today." What do you think our culture believes will bring happiness and protection from discomfort? What happens when we put all our trust in those things?

4. In chapter 9, Lauren notes that seeking affirmation is exhausting. Why do you think it's so tiring to pursue affirmation?

5. In chapter 11, we read that Lauren craved her father's approval, if she could not have his love. Even as an adult, how has your relationship with your parents affected your choices?

6. A recurring them in the story is that people see what they want to see. When have you noticed this happening in your own life or with people around you?

7. Lauren longed for a restored relationship with her father, but as Greta told her, he wasn't doing his part. Have you ever had to set aside a relationship because it was harmful to you?

8. Near the end of the book, Lauren tells her audience in the lecture hall, "If you become an expert on the real thing, you'll know the counterfeit when you see it." In what ways, can we apply this to different areas of our own lives?

9. Compare the Lauren at the end of the book to the Lauren from the beginning. In what ways has she changed? What has she lost and what has she gained?

10. In what ways has God brought new, good things out of areas of your own life that you had previously considered a wasteland?

I didn't read all of the questions yet, because I haven't finished the book! I will answer a couple though.

2.�� Lawrence had a pattern of running to Egypt and ignoring the hard realities in his personal life. In what ways do people commonly try to run from problems today, even if they don't leave home?
🙋🏻‍♀�� Thankfully, I've learned to go to the Lord when I have a problem. I pray. I thank Him. I remind myself of who He is. I read His word. I talk to my husband or my friend, Sandy, and they tell me the truth even if I don't want to hear it. 😏 HOWEVER, I am still prone to trying DISTRACTION as problem avoidance. I'll keep very busy in order to not think about something.


3.�� In chapter 6, Lauren tells Joe, "The fact that the Egyptians believed in many things to save and protect them doesn't really set them apart from our culture today." What do you think our culture believes will bring happiness and protection from discomfort? What happens when we put all our trust in those things?
🙋🏻‍♀�� My friend and I havebeen doing a Bible study about idolatry. Relationships and control were 2 of the topics. I see that being a big thing in people's lives that they run to for happiness and security. I know I crave security and control and I can trust in my own actions to get them sometimes instead of trusting God.

That was more reflection than question answering! Sorry if I got way too personal and way too HEAVY with my responses. 🤍

Jan wrote: "I didn't read all of the questions yet, because I haven't finished the book! I will answer a couple though.

2.�� Lawrence had a pattern of running to Egypt and ignoring the hard realities in his pe..."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jan! You've shared some thought provoking things for us.

This book resonates so well with me! I, like Dr. Westlake, did not have a great relationship with my father. Although for different reasons, the hurt was just as deep. When I was 12 years old, I became friends with a girl from school. I began to spend a lot of time with her family. I went to church with them often. But I could not relate as the Sunday School teacher kept referring to God as our Father. All I could think of is that, based on my father, I didn’t want anything to do with God. Then, one day, my Heavenly Father flooded me with His love and my life has been forever changed! The last 12 years of my earthly father’s life, God brought restoration and love to us for which I am extremely thankful. All that to say, I understand the journey Lauren made from the hurt and disappointment from her father to the peace and joy experienced through her Heavenly Father.

Back to the book, I thought I had the plot figured out but I was way off. When I got to the last several chapters, I could not stop reading!

Hi everyone! Just popping in to say a big thank you for taking the time to read and discuss The Metropolitan Affair! In some ways this was the hardest book I've ever written. I had to take it apart at the seams during revisions and do some major work to get it put back together again the right way. So I'm delighted to see that the story has struck a chord with some of you. Lauren's journey touched me, too.

Hi Jocelyn! Thanks so much for dropping in for the discussion.

Only finished the book yesterday. It was a good read. I was wondering up until the end how the author would pull all the pieces together. I'd still like to see Joe's backstory addressed, but just like real life, some things don't get resolved in this world.

I'm guessing the next book centres around one of Lauren's roommates.