About the Book

Bestselling author Jocelyn Green sweeps you away in a dazzling novel of secrets, betrayal, and romance within one of New York City’s most esteemed museums.

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.

Amazon | B&N | BAM! | Book Depository | Christianbook | IndieBound | Goodreads

In My Opinion

While the description for The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green hints at deception and intrigue—which are both present in the story—this book is first and foremost, character driven. It’s mostly about relationships.

Lauren has always felt left behind and unimportant to her father, so when he shows up inviting her to Egypt, she’s shocked. As an Egyptologist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she’s always dreamed of visiting Egypt on day, but doubt comes on the heels of her father’s offer. And then Joe, a friend she’s not seen since before college, reappears in her life asking for her help locating artifact forgeries.

I liked Lauren and Joe, probably more Lauren but Joe, but both had interesting storylines and backstories that made them feel like real people. And while getting to know them made the plot slower at times (it does pick up the last quarter of the book), I’m appreciative Green took the time to build those layers. Another thing the author did an excellent job with was the research, especially when it came to the art and artifacts that Lauren worked with.

This appears to be book one in a new series, so I’m hoping a couple of characters who showed up in this book get their own stories.

Disclosure statement: I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.