The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

Series: On Central Park Book One

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; March 14, 2023

REVIEW BY JOAN HALL

This historical fiction novel is set in New York City in late 1925. Dr. Lauren Westlake has always been fascinated by Egyptology and longed to accompany her father on one of his expeditions to Egypt, only to find his promises to her empty. Now an assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren is approached by a childhood friend, Detective Joe Caravello, to use her expertise to help discover forgeries of Egyptian art.

Lauren’s father also shows up in New York, promoting his newest endeavor, plans to build a museum in Newport that would rival The Metropolitan and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. He also tells her she may be selected to accompany him on a trip to Egypt. More importantly, it seems that for the first time in her life, she’s finally developing the relationship with her father that she always wanted.

A relationship with her dad was more important than anything. Reconciliation and redemption, as Mother had wished, were more important even than Egypt. The hole he’d left in her life for years could only be filled with him.

Jocelyn Green, The Metropolitan Affair

In working with Joe, Lauren discovers many of New York’s wealthiest are the victims of forgeries. As he tries to discover who is behind the scam, Joe learns that Lauren is in danger.

Ms. Green certainly did her research with this book. From the Metropolitan, to Central Park, to the homes of New York’s elite, she makes readers feel as if they are there. The setting is during the period of prohibition when people partied and enjoyed their wealth before the onset of the Great Depression. The facts about Egyptian art are enlightening.

The book is not a page-turner, but a slow burn. However, it kept my interest and kept me guessing about the forger’s identity as well as those involved in the fraud. The Metropolitan Affair is not overly preachy but weaves elements of the Christian faith throughout the book.

I give this one four fish.

I purchased the Kindle version of The Metropolitan Affair.