I didn't quite know what I was getting into with "The Art Forger". It has been in my TBR pile for quite a long time and, honestly, I completely forgot what it was supposed to be about. My only clue was the title.

This debut novel by B.A. Shapiro was an unexpected surprise. The story has just the right mix of fact and fiction with a little mystery thrown in. While the writing isn't exactly stellar, the storyline kept me interested enough. I particular enjoyed the detailed descriptions of painting techniques and the process of forgery. In fact, I would like to read more about the art forgery world as this book has raised a few questions on museum curating and the authentication process of great works of art. Could there be forgeries hanging in the MOMA? How would you know?

What makes this book work for me is the fact that Shapiro did her research. I found myself Googling a few key items and found the descriptions in the book to be quite accurate. Plus I learned a few things, which is always welcome.

"The Art Forger" gets a thumbs up from me.