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Claire Montrose #1
Circles of Confusion
Why did dear departed Aunt Cady have an exquisite old painting buried beneath World War II paraphernalia? And how can a painting so dramatically shift Claire's perspective on everything from her uninspired love life to her ho-hum job in the Oregon state custom license plate division?MSTBF8
(must be fate)
A sophisticated art expert tells Claire the painting isn't valuable. Why, then, is she being followed, her hotel room getting ransacked, and her life being thrown in a state of havoc that reaches back to her quiet home in Portland? The closer Claire comes to the truth about her inherited masterpiece, the more questions--and trouble--she uncovers. Though offers of help are arriving in very intriguing packages, Claire is caught in the middle of a dangerous tug-of-war that can leave her either richer in body, soul, and bank book--or broken, battered, and pushing up daisies.
(must be fate)
A sophisticated art expert tells Claire the painting isn't valuable. Why, then, is she being followed, her hotel room getting ransacked, and her life being thrown in a state of havoc that reaches back to her quiet home in Portland? The closer Claire comes to the truth about her inherited masterpiece, the more questions--and trouble--she uncovers. Though offers of help are arriving in very intriguing packages, Claire is caught in the middle of a dangerous tug-of-war that can leave her either richer in body, soul, and bank book--or broken, battered, and pushing up daisies.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
13 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
April Henry
35Ìýbooks3,292ÌýfollowersI write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 18, 2013
Interesting theme including: art, looting, Nazis theft, and a little on the treatment of Jews. The story was basically a good idea. The writing was enjoyable and the typo’s, misspells, symbols inserted instead of letters (Kindle version) did not really bother me, but the fact that the main character was not too bright did. The author took license with after-the-fact statements of actions that saved the day instead of including them in the narrative up front (think it was supposed to be a surprise). The license plate job was unique and it’s too bad I’m not patient enough for puzzles while reading.
May 14, 2017
First in the Claire Montrose, although Claire's dumb-as-dirt persona makes one wonder how she survives. Somewhat reminiscent of the V.I. Warshawski mysteries, but without the strong characterizations and believeable plots. Still, it's fun to read for the fictional Oregon settings, which do ring true.
May 24, 2017
When Claire inherits a small, but appealing, picture from her Aunt Cady, little does she know what lies ahead. Unravelling the painting's provenance is at the centre of this story, and when there are rumours of Nazi connections and suggestions that Vermeer is the artist, then her troubles multiply. Who can she trust?
Her attempts to solve the mystery certainly bring some much-wanted excitement to her mundane life as a License-plate clerk, but at what price?
A fun read, enjoyable theme and larger-than-life characters.
Her attempts to solve the mystery certainly bring some much-wanted excitement to her mundane life as a License-plate clerk, but at what price?
A fun read, enjoyable theme and larger-than-life characters.
April 29, 2020
“I love to read. I wish I could read all the time.�
First in a series, this book is a great example of April Henry’s writing: fast-paced plot, interesting characters, well-researched, and plot twists.
First in a series, this book is a great example of April Henry’s writing: fast-paced plot, interesting characters, well-researched, and plot twists.
January 13, 2024
Fun little read! 3 stars though because the exposition took foreverrrrrr, it was genuinely (i counted) 100 pages in before the actually plot started taking place. Once it got going it was good, but man that could have been edited down
March 16, 2019
6/10 slightly dated
June 28, 2019
This story took a little too long to actually get going, but it ended up being a decent mystery, and I really liked Claire!
September 3, 2020
B+. fiction, mystery, contemporary, cozy mystery, art, Nazi plunder.
June 17, 2025
Wow
Wow. Loved the license plates. Way too many bad guys to figure out who is who. I'm glad Claire got the right guy in the end.
Wow. Loved the license plates. Way too many bad guys to figure out who is who. I'm glad Claire got the right guy in the end.
January 13, 2024
I’ve read almost everything (YA) by April Henry, so I wanted to track down this, her first novel. It’s not available on audiobook, so I was forced to curl up by the fire and read it old-school. I loved the premise —a lower-middle class 20-something inherits a mysterious painting from an aunt who served in Germany during WWII. The painting may or may not be a Vermeer, and suddenly she being stalked and chased by murderous thieves, not knowing whom to trust. It’s not a complex book, but it kept me entertained and taught me a few things about fine art authentication.
October 8, 2016
Why did dear, departed Aunt Cady have an exquisite old painting buried beneath WW II paraphernalia? And how can a painting so dramatically shift Clair’s perspective on everything from her uninspired love life to her ho-hum job in the Oregon state custom license plate division? A sophisticated art expert tells Claire the painting isn’t valuable. Why, then, is she being followed, her hotel room getting ransacked, and her life being thrown into a state of havoc that reaches back to her quiet home in Portland? The closer Clair comes to the truth about her inherited masterpiece, the more questions—and trouble—she uncovers. Though offers of help are arriving, Clair is caught in the middle of a dangerous tug-of-war that can leave her richer in body, soul and bank book –or broken, battered, and pushing up daisies!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I learned a little about art forgeries and the WWII background made it more interesting. Clair is a very likable character and I found myself rooting for her the whole time. What really made it a fun read was that at the end of chapters � there was a vanity license plate featured and the reader had to figure out what it said! and what else was interesting is that no one was murdered in the book ---the aunt had died of old age. Yet, once I got into it I couldn’t put it down until I was done!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I learned a little about art forgeries and the WWII background made it more interesting. Clair is a very likable character and I found myself rooting for her the whole time. What really made it a fun read was that at the end of chapters � there was a vanity license plate featured and the reader had to figure out what it said! and what else was interesting is that no one was murdered in the book ---the aunt had died of old age. Yet, once I got into it I couldn’t put it down until I was done!
July 17, 2014
This book needs a lot of improvement to bring it up to a decent readable standard. The plot is great but the writing needs more work. The characters were flaky & the errors in grammar are unforgivable. No book should be published without having been proof-read first! I only read this as some one recommended the last of this 4-book series, so did not want to read that without having read the others first. It needs more descriptive writing to be more appealing. Not much more to say really, only should I bother to read the other 3?
December 3, 2013
This was April Henry's first novel and it was a fun little "cozy mystery". I particularly liked the license plate jumbles - there were only two I couldn't figure out!
I really liked the background information on the various artists, and the diary that talked about life with the Nazis. It added a lot to the book and I learned quite a bit.
I do like her later YA books a lot more, but this was still enjoyable. I definitely plan on finishing the series.
I really liked the background information on the various artists, and the diary that talked about life with the Nazis. It added a lot to the book and I learned quite a bit.
I do like her later YA books a lot more, but this was still enjoyable. I definitely plan on finishing the series.
May 16, 2014
This story kept me turning pages to discover how Claire would get out of the mess she's unwittingly gotten herself into when she finds a painting in an old suitcase under her Aunt Cady's bed. Which of her new acquaintances, met while trying to find out if the painting is a real Vermeer or a forgery, can she trust and which are out to steal the painting (and kill her in the process.)
How has it taken me so long to discover this intriguing mystery?
How has it taken me so long to discover this intriguing mystery?
June 18, 2013
This was a nice twist on an old plot. The characters were good and settings were well drawn. There are a couple of places where the story line makes a jump in time and the intervening events are filled in using backstory, but not always completely, leaving some confusing gaps. In the Kindle version I got, there were a number of editing problems.
March 12, 2015
Read for a local library winter reading challenge.
I enjoyed the artwork plotline. Didn't care for the "too stupid to live" actions of the heroine. Occasionally the plot would jump to a new scene and I'd be left wondering how on earth did that happen. I plan to read more in the series for the challenge and will hope that the books improve.
I enjoyed the artwork plotline. Didn't care for the "too stupid to live" actions of the heroine. Occasionally the plot would jump to a new scene and I'd be left wondering how on earth did that happen. I plan to read more in the series for the challenge and will hope that the books improve.
August 27, 2007
Charming little mystery featuring Claire Montrose, a woman who has settled for a dull existence in the Oregon DMV until extraordinary circumstances force her to learn how strong and smart she really is.
June 19, 2011
An adventure in the art world, complicated by seamy characters, by a woman from Jackson County (her father was a public official here decades ago). It’s well-done, and you can learn a little bit about art, art forgery and auction houses, as well as vanity license plate selections.
November 21, 2012
I did enjoy this mystery set around an inherited painting. The characters were believeable, although a bit naive at times. The pace was good and kept me guessing until the end. I would definitely read more by this author.
April 2, 2015
Recommended by Penny.
Good mystery.
Claire issues vanity license plates in Oregon. She is left a painting by her aunt who got it in Europe after WWII.
Is it a Vermeer or not?
Which man is good, which is bad.
She changes her life.
Lots about art, WWII, Goring's collection.
Good mystery.
Claire issues vanity license plates in Oregon. She is left a painting by her aunt who got it in Europe after WWII.
Is it a Vermeer or not?
Which man is good, which is bad.
She changes her life.
Lots about art, WWII, Goring's collection.
May 1, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. Just suspenseful enough with the action building throughout the book. Kept me guessing.
Not the most artistically written book, but enjoyable as an everyday, waiting in line, read when I have a few minutes, type book.
Not the most artistically written book, but enjoyable as an everyday, waiting in line, read when I have a few minutes, type book.
January 7, 2008
This was probably a 2 3/4 as it had received good reviews and was pleasant enough, but not to the point where I yearned to read more about this character.
April 12, 2008
Fun mystery novel that takes place in Portland and piqued my interest in the painter Vermeer.
May 27, 2008
Totally fun to read! You will love this book.
November 23, 2008
Really good book for light mystery genre. Actually quite engaging - and good details on art and art history. I actually liked this book. REcommend for light mystery - nonviolent.
May 2, 2011
If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, you will probably enjoy this first book in the Claire Montrose series. I liked the tie in with the artist Jan Vermeer, also.
August 23, 2012
Nice twists and the supporting cast was alot of fun...
August 17, 2012
Great little mystery--3.5 stars at least
June 25, 2016
I look at license plates as a type of jumble puzzle, after reading April Henry. Her books are fun and easy to read. I have a fondness for Portland authors and books set in Portland, Oregon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
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