The Price of Inheritance by Karin Tanabe

2014

I received this ARC from NetGalley for review.

This is a story about the risks one must take in life and love. The decisions made ultimately have consequences. It impossible to predict if the outcome will be worth the risk. After an embarrassing departure from her job in New York, Carolyn attempts to start over in a tiny antique store in Rhode Island. When she purchases a piece of Middle Eastern pottery at an auction, her curiosity gets the better of her. She begins a journey to find the original owner of the item. She isn't prepared for the story she uncovers and the decision she faces about her future. ( )

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. The Price of Inheritance was a very well written book and the characters were well fleshed out, but there were too many useless details that made the story too long and drawn out. I became bored with this book and wanted to stop reading it, but I read it just to see if anything substantial happened. Nothing exciting ever happened and I feel that it was a waste of my time. If you're into valuable antiques, then this book is for you. I give this book two stars just because it was well written. ( )

I just finished reading the novel The Price of Inheritance by Karin Tanabe. Carolyn Everett is twenty-nine years old and has worked at Christie’s for the last ten years (the first two as an intern). She is the Senior Specialist of American Furniture and Decorative Arts. Carolyn recently acquired a desk that sold for $12.5 million dollars. Carolyn is now asked to go to Houston, Texas to see Elizabeth Tumlinsen. Elizabeth’s husband (now deceased) was a big collector and now she might sell off some of her collection. Carolyn and her friend as well as co-worker, Nicole are able to get the Tumlinsen collection. About a month before the items go up for sale, Carolyn receives a call from Nina Caine. Nina claims that a table that is going up for sale originally belonged to her mother and was stolen from her mother’s shop (it was during a period of looting). Carolyn talks to Nina about the desk, but does not get all the details. Nor does Carolyn mention any of this to her boss. After the entire collection is sold, Nina’s story is coming out in the papers. Carolyn’s boss is furious and fires Carolyn.

Carolyn heads home to Newport, Rhode Island. She plans on staying about a month. While staying she works for William Miller Antiques. Carolyn worked for Williams when she was in high school and during the summer’s while in college. Carolyn will acquire items for the store. At a nearby auction Carolyn bids on a little foreign pottery bowl. She is not sure if it is authentic, but buys it for $20. Then she starts researching the little bowl. From the weight she does not believe it is authentic. She starts investigating where the item came from. It leads her to Tyler Ford, a Marine aviator. Tyler states he received it as a gift from a translator. Several people warn Carolyn about Tyler, but she starts dating him. They soon become quite close. Carolyn keeps looking into the bowl, but now she is not sure she is going to like the answers.

I found The Price of Inheritance an interesting book, but a little long. I quickly got tired of Carolyn’s over-the-top reactions to the situation with Tyler (I am surprise she kept her job and friends). I think part of the problem with the book is Carolyn. I did not like her very much. I give The Price of Inheritance 3 out of 5 stars. There are some lovely descriptions of furniture in the book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Price of Inheritance from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own. ( )

A special thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE PRICE OF INHERITANCE by Karin Tanabe is an intriguing novel into the world of contemporary art crime, and historical aspects, while weaving a tangled web of suspense, romance and mystery.

Carolyn, age twenty-nine, single, a Princeton graduate-- resides in New York, a senior specialist in American Furniture at prestigious Christie's, a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour.

Accustomed to a fast pace life, with high stakes glamour of arts, Carolyn has buried herself in her work at Christie’s, driven to excel, involved with auctions, private sales and prestigious and affluent clients with emphasis on Post War and Contemporary, Impressionist, and Modern Art, and Antiquities.

However, after eight years at Christie’s she finds herself in the middle of a scandal, leaving her unemployed. She flees to the comfort of her former friends in Newport, Rhode Island, to work in a small antique shop. As part of buying for the shop, she attends a small auction for her boss, and discovers a piece of Middle Eastern pottery which she purchases for twenty dollars.

While investigating the background of the pottery bowl, she meets sexy Marine Sergeant Tyler Ford, with a mysterious dark past. The piece was purchased at a local Goodwill store and the path leads back to Tyler who claims he received it has a gift from his translator during his days in Iraq.

Carolyn finds herself in the middle of another art crime scandal, and does not know who to trust. Between Tyler’s past, his Marine friends, his ex-girlfriend Hannah (also in the art field), Carolyn’s former colleagues at Christie's, and Sotheby's —Carolyn is second guessing everything and everyone in her past and present.

From her rich and prominent childhood friends to the poor past of Tyler, she finds herself somewhere in the middle. She must decide whether she is willing to risk more than her career. There is also a connection between military and Newport’s old money society, as well as where Carolyn grew up, adjacent to such affluence and friends, and from a history of money in their background which was lost.

From two different worlds, Tyler and Carolyn become obsessed with the mysterious relic—and each other—until the origin of the art comes under intense scrutiny and reveals a darker side of Tyler’s past. Carolyn sees the differences in Tyler versus her old boyfriend, Alex, from New York, yet she is more connected on an intimate level to Tyler, from a dark background.

An engaging novel which keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end, full of suspense, as the rich and powerful dive into the dangerous black market, as well as matters of heart, crossing the lines and boundaries of legal, moral, and ethics.

Loved everything about this captivating novel! From the front cover to the well- researched and richly developed lovable characters, combined with wit and intrigue. Masterfully skilled by talented Tanabe, as an ideal fit with her background, career, and passion with her insights in the areas of art, society, celebrity, and travel journalism—reflective throughout this riveting novel.

I enjoyed Carolyn’s character and felt she grew so much over the course of the novel, and even through tragedy, she was a survivor and looked at life in a different way. She was really down to earth, no matter where she lived.

In addition to the extensive research, readers will find A Readers Club Guide and in depth questions and topics for discussion, and an Enhance your Book Club section, as well as Further Reading and website links into the world of stolen art treasures, history, and the contemporary art world, plus more.

When considering the novel’s Epigraph “Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.” – Oscar Wilde. I definitely found this to apply to Tyler, and also to Carolyn. I am a big believer in taking risks, and do not always follow the rules, and enjoy stepping out of the box. (Would love a sequel, as these characters are too good to end).

The author uses the setting of The Gilded Age, and prominent area of Newport, Rhode Island as fitting; even though a slower pace than New York at Christie's; however, lends itself to an area of wealth, history, beauty and sophistication. A perfect setting for Carolyn to re-evaluate her life after her career nightmare.

A compelling read, I highly recommend. I look forward to reading “The List”, Karin’s previous novel, and reading more from this newfound author!

http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.com/#!The-Price-of-Inheritance/cmoa/6AC98D45...
( )

It doesn't matter if you are an art auction afficienado or.. like me..know nothing, but have heard of Sothebys and Christies.Either way this book is a gem. Read and learn, and wear your running shoes to keep up with the goings-on behind closed doors and long-distance phone calls.
Going from the fast paced life in NYC (where she is exactly where she had always planned to be) , to suddenly losing it all and going home is what Carolyn has to cope with. From the big house of Christie's to the little antique shop in Newport...

But why. And how? THAT's the crux of Price of Inheritance.
I think we see the phrase '"it's a page turner! " all too often, but lordy i'm having to slap my own fingers to keep from typing it!