barbara fister reviewed Sleeping Nymph by Ekin Oklap
Review of 'Sleeping Nymph' on 'LibraryThing'
Though I enjoyed the author's first book in this series, I nearly put this one down unread, since it seemed to be more in the horror genre than a mystery. I'm glad I persevered. Though there was a bit more "woo woo" and gruesomeness than I find ideal, the setting, the story, and (especially) the ongoing cast of characters turned out to be quite compelling. returnreturnA painting of a woman by a famous but long-mute artist is discovered; Teresa Battaglia and her detectives are called in when it is determined that the medium for the artwork is human blood and tissue. Did the artist murder someone, and is that why he lost his mind and his voice? The team heads into the mountains where an ancient Slavic language is spoken and women seem to wield a great deal of power as they guard the community's past. Teresa is struggling with …
Though I enjoyed the author's first book in this series, I nearly put this one down unread, since it seemed to be more in the horror genre than a mystery. I'm glad I persevered. Though there was a bit more "woo woo" and gruesomeness than I find ideal, the setting, the story, and (especially) the ongoing cast of characters turned out to be quite compelling. returnreturnA painting of a woman by a famous but long-mute artist is discovered; Teresa Battaglia and her detectives are called in when it is determined that the medium for the artwork is human blood and tissue. Did the artist murder someone, and is that why he lost his mind and his voice? The team heads into the mountains where an ancient Slavic language is spoken and women seem to wield a great deal of power as they guard the community's past. Teresa is struggling with the onset of dementia and is trying to conceal her condition from her team and her odious boss; her protege has just learned he is going to be a father and is struggling with a secret he's concealed from everyone. returnreturnWhat particularly pleased me was the author's explanation that the community she portrayed is real, as is their language and ancient culture. Reading rather implausible and dramatic fiction can truly be educational! And truth is often stranger . . .