The book features a young eager journalist who investigates stolen artwork of the World War 2 era. Book is filled with thrills and chills, and a great read.

Wow what a gem this is! My first read by this author and definitely won’t be the last. I need more.
This is one I’ve devoured in just one sitting. I have adored it!

It's rare for me to find a book that I enjoy so much that words completely escape me as the pure joy and amazement take over. Nazi stolen art, heists, villains, villainesses, lifelong secrets, lovers, old friends, beautiful cities, hideaways and so much more are encapsulated in this fascinating novel that had me from start to finish. I want to reread it immediately and enjoy the emotional suspense all over again. It's just that good.

This was a read now on @netgalley and I just couldn’t resist it.

This was another great historical novel set in our time but with flashbacks to the WWII era which I really enjoyed.

The story revolves around the recovery of a famous painting lost during World War II that Ellis Baum, a renowned famous shoe designer, is trying to find. The painting is that of his mother and was painted the night she was murdered when he was a child during the war. Now he is dying and this painting is the last chance he has to see his mother.

Ellis is assisted in his search by Jules, a young aspiring journalist, Dan, her boss, and Adam, Ellis' grandson.

As with any good mystery, we have the antagonist, who is probably the most evil I have met in recent times .... Margaux Laurent. An unscrupulous art dealer, she is almost obsessed with getting her hands on the painting before Ellis does, and believe me, you don't want to cross her.

Parts of the story were a little slow, especially the part about art, I'm not much of an art expert, so a lot of the references flew over my head.

The love story was refreshing and didn't take too much away from the story, and of course Ellis’ history was interesting. But I would have liked a little more character depth because although the ending was touching, I didn’t feel as involved as I should have been.

If you like well written historical thrillers then this one is well worth considering, I really enjoyed it! Brilliant… gripping and addictive, it will pull you in from the first page… A must-read.

Lisa Barr … this is my first novel of her’s, and WOW - what a novel!! ❤️‍🔥

From Goodreads blurb - A gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece--forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An exquisite story combining historical fiction and psychological thriller. Two of my favourite genres!

Main protagonist Jules Roth is working her first assignment as an investigative journalist under her mentor Dan Mansfield to uncover the whereabouts of a stolen painting from WWII - The Woman On Fire

We follow a colourful cast of characters, so well written with emotional depth, you can’t help but be swept along with and thoroughly invested in. All while traversing around the world, learning about art, artists, hearing horrors of the war and horrific acts inflicted during Hitlers regime.

The beauty of this story is how Barr intertwines the characters seamlessly, each with their own personal story and agenda - full of secrets and mysteries.

There is a race against time element that had me turning the pages with tension and speed while catching my breath. There’s a villainous, psychopath bringing with her, greed, corruption and revenge. Add a little romance and steam and - Voila!! This unique novel really has it all!

I cannot recommend Woman on Fire highly enough, I absolutely loved it!

Thank you to @netgalley @wellbeckpublishing and @lisabarr for my advanced reading copy

This novel was a great combination of historical fiction and a thriller, with a psychopath who would stop at nothing to get whatever she wants.

Our main protagonist, Jules Roth, is a recent college grad who is determined to work for Chicago’s well known investigative journalist, Dan Mansfield. After many attempts to get an interview with him, she finally shows up at his workplace and barges into his office. She catches him just at the right time – a very close friend has asked him for a favor. Dan decides that Jules can prove her worth if she finds a painting “Woman on Fire” which has great personal meaning to his friend, Ellis Baum. Jules, Dan and Ellis’s grandson, Adam, will work as a team.

There is, however, someone else who is intent on obtaining and keeping this piece of art, painted by the famous artist, Ernst Engel. THIS WAS THE LAST PAINTING HE COMPLETED BEFORE HE DIED.

Margaux de Laurent is used to luxury, she is heir to her family’s art collection and their considerable fortune. Her grandfather had amassed a family fortune, only to have it squandered by Margaux’s father. She is intent on restoring the family’s name and fortune.

Margaux has discovered where a very sizable collection of Nazi looted paintings have been hidden. She stops at nothing to get these paintings for herself and to sell on the dark web to fund the opening of a new gallery.

We travel to New York, Germany and back to Chicago several times. Through Ellis’s memories, we also travel back in time to WWll when the Nazi’s looted art from the Jewish families that they sent to the camps.

There are multiple layers to this story which I will leave you to discover.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS NOVEL:
The characters were very well described. I could envision Margaux in all of her nefarious actions intent on only WINNING and obtaining Woman on Fire.

Jules and Adam were also wonderful characters, I felt their passion and drive to find the missing painting.

The premise was unique, combining a historical novel with a psychological thriller. I enjoyed this great combination and it kept me turning the pages.

If you are looking for something a bit different, I can recommend Woman On Fire, you won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.
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Woman on fire by Lisa Barr.
After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual--and very secret--assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel's most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan's help to find it. But Jules doesn't have much time; the famous designer is dying.
Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family's millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis's grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux's clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he'll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
I really really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. I loved the cover. That's what drew me to this book. 5*.

This was a riveting read. It was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. I loved the historical elements of this book as well. I couldn't put this book down it was so intense that had art, history, brutality, love and family woven all the way through it I loved it.

Jules Roth talks her way into a job with leading investigative journalist, Dan Mansfield, and her first assignment is to find a stolen painting. But Woman on Fire has a rich history that she must uncover and finding it is personal to Dan's good friend, world renowned shoe designer, Ellis Baum. There are also dangerous people searching for the same painting and Jules finds herself deep within the art world to uncover the history and location of the painting. 

While I don't generally enjoy historical fiction, the characters and mystery surrounding the painting really had me immersed. The author's writing is powerful and captivating. Another fabulous instalment. 

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing UK for the advance review copy.

4+

History + Art + a Thriller + Secrets + a Psychopath = yes, please! Right up my street! The art in question is Woman on Fire painted by Jewish artist Ernst Engel, the history angle is 2nd World War Nazi looted art, the thriller element is a race to find the painting first, many involved have deeply buried secrets, some are heartbreaking and tragic others are downright dirty, the psychopath is gallery owner Margaux de Laurent. Charged with finding the painting before Margaux does is journalist Jules Roth for client Ellis Baum who wants the painting for deeply personal reasons. Time is short principally because Ellis is dying ....

At the beginning the novel feels a bit disjointed but it soon beds down and the strands in the multilayered story slot into place. The plot is clever and complex with the Nazi looted art angle feeling more than believable and authentic - this is an author who has done her research well. The characterisation is very good and you root for Jules who is a likeable tough cookie as well as all those helping her on the deadly journey. Margaux's portrayal is also very good with a beautiful exterior and a deeply ugly interior but I'm actually not that interested if she's clothed in Stella McCartney of Tom Ford!

The plot is a never a dull moment, fast paced twisty read with plenty going on to keep you glued. There's tension, suspense, it's horrifying in places with the depths that some humans will sink to, the historical detail is excellent and there's a dash or two of steam (blushes!).

Overall, I really enjoyed this, it's a compelling page turner and just a bit different from the norm. An added bonus is a journey that takes us from the USA to France and Germany. If you like well written historical thrillers then this one is well worth considering.

With Thanks to NetGalley and especially to Welbeck Publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.