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July, 1924…
Sarah Cunningham, a young Modernist painter, arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her older sister, Ada Belle. En route, she is shocked to learn that Ada Belle’s suspicious death is a suicide. But why kill herself? Her plein air paintings were famous and her upcoming exhibition of portraitures would bring her even wider recognition.
Sarah puts her own artistic career on hold and, trailed by Ada Belle’s devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers in this seemingly idyllic locale.
Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.
Praise
“The Artist Colony is bold, creative, and unexpected—all the things nice ladies weren’t supposed to be when they escaped to Carmel-by-the-Sea to make art without criticism. FitzPatrick, a descendant of one of those feisty female pioneers, has honored her family legacy and entertained her fans with a fast-paced whodunnit that is equal parts loving tribute and killer thriller.”
— Meredith May, author of The Honey Bus and Loving Edie
"...an exquisite whodunit, set to the backdrop of beautiful Carmel, California....A captivating historical fiction with Intrigue, makes for a thrilling page turner of a mystery."
—Gwendalynbooks blog
"Bottom Line: One of my favorite books of 2021! Joanna FitzPatrick deftly pulls the reader into her story... richly sets a scene, painting beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea with an artist’s eye for detail."
—pursuingstacie blog
“The Artist Colony is a sumptuous ride through the Carmel-by-the-Sea, circa 1920, as Sarah Cunningham, newly arrived from Paris, attempts to uncover the truth about her sister’s mysterious death. Atmospheric and delicious, FitzPatrick delivers a thrilling page-turner woven with artistic flourish. This exquisite novel does not disappoint! Highly recommended!”
— Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series
"It’s 1924 and a young woman journeys to Carmel, California, to learn more about her sister’s sudden death. She soon learns that the bohemian arts colony is anything but idyllic, as she’s confronted by flagrant racism and intimations of murder. Fitzpatrick has written a vivid historical novel with an absorbing mystery at the center of it, and I was riveted."
— Elizabeth McKenzie, author of The Portable Veblen
"The dramatic landscapes of Carmel, beautifully depicted by FitzPatrick, are central to the plot, whose blow-by-blow story keeps us gripped to the final revelation of Ada’s murderer . . . a must-read novel for anyone who loves historical fiction, art, detective stories, and the West Coast."
— Maggie Humm, author of Talland House
“A deeply satisfying mystery paired with an equally satisfying prose style. Highly recommended for all historical mystery lovers. And I know it’s a phrase I use frequently, but I mean it—I could not put this book down!”