Dodge and Burn

Dodge and Burn - Stolen Antiquities Lead to Death

Sophie Medina in "Dodge and Burn' is a former photographer/journalist who has covered everything from wars to celebrities. She has come to live in Washington, D.C. after the death of her husband during a CIA operation. That's how she discovered he was a covert agent. It's been two years and she's made a new life for herself taking photographs for non-profits in exchange for photo credits.

Her mother and step-father live in Virginia outside of D.C., and a number of her friends from childhood live in work in the D.C. area.

Her family, as well as her friends, are well-to-do and the book includes descriptions of outfits worn, beautifully decorated houses, food, and art. Her landlord is a designer and an art dealer. She has friends who work for the local newspapers and international publications, as well as holding jobs as lawyers and doctors.

When she is hired by a local man who is well known for his art collection, his connections, and his philanthropy - mostly in donating art to museums, she accidentally sees a piece of art she should not have seen.

This opens the story to the mystery - the man is murdered, the piece (a very old and famous Russian Icon of Mary) goes missing, and suddenly Sophie's life includes police and front page news stories.

While she tries to continue her non-profit work by photographing a soccer training session with homeless children taught by the Real Madrid professional soccer team, she also has her life disturbed by a Spanish journalist who says he was friends with her real father - a famous Spanish Soccer player who died many years ago.

This further complicates her life as he drags out into the open (at least to Sophie) details about the life of her father and she discovers she has a half-brother as well.

The stolen icon turns out to have disappeared from a church in the Ukraine. The plot reveals a great deal about both the stolen antiquities business, and a group that is working to retrieve these items and return them to their true home.

Dodge and Burn has an interesting mystery, and intriguing characters. The secrets of Sophie's life are as interesting as the murder mystery and the stolen art. The book also offers a tour of some very beautiful places in Washington, D.C.

This is a superior series, featuring semi-retired photojournalist Sophie Medina in an interesting Washington D.C. setting. Sophie is widowed, and financially independent. She is asked to take some photos for a wealthy art collector/philanthropist and arrives at the appointment to find him murdered.

The door opens on the world of "stolen" (unethically acquired) artworks and the details are fascinating. Then a personal family discover makes Sophie's involvement even more perilous.

This is a well-written series and the narrative moves quickly. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ellen Crosby's DODGE AND BURN, the fourththird instalment in the Sophie Medina series, finds the Washington, D.C.-based international photographer still in mourning following the death of her husband. But when her neighbor introduces her to billionaire philanthropist Robson Blake, and she is hired by him to take photographs, her life takes a dramatic turn. She arrives for an appointment and finds her client murdered in his study, and a priceless piece of art is missing. When she meets a half-obrother she'd previously had no knowledge of, she learns that he is in the business of taking back stolen treasures. He cautions her that the item may have been stolen from a small church in Ukraine., and that perhaps Robson may have been heavily involved in the underworld of stolen masterpieces. Is the brother legit? Is anyone who they say they are? In this smart, punchy, and glamourous page-turner Crosby again delivers a sophisticated and satisfying mystery. Thanks to #DodgeandBurn and #NetGalley for a review copy of the book.

This is a fast moving story that escalates from two simple photography requests: one pro bono for a good cause, and one for a multimillionaire. The plot twists and turns until Sophie doesn't know if she's coming or going but she's afraid of the possibilities. I love the familiarity with Washington, D.C. the author displays. I feel like I could follow along with the book and wind up wherever Sophie does. This is my first Sophie Medina book and I really enjoyed it. Now I have to catch up and read the earlier ones!

I always enjoy Ellen Crosby's books for their strong female lead characters, their mysteries, and their intelligent writing. In Dodge and Burn, the characters shine once again. From Sophie herself to her newfound half-brother to her basketcase of a mother to the friends in her circle, I enjoy the time I spend with each and every one. (Well, maybe not so much Sophie's mother...)

I don't know why, but I've always enjoyed plots that revolve around jewelry and art thefts, so I was wired to like this book from the start. The information Crosby shares on stolen art is fascinating. I rely on this author to teach me many new things without making me feel as though I'm sitting in a classroom, and she does it once again in Dodge and Burn.

As strong as the characters are and as fascinating as the world of stolen art is, I did feel as though the plotting in this latest book in the Sophie Medina series was a bit of a letdown, and I found the ending to be predictable. Is this going to stop me from reading future books in the series? Absolutely not, and it shouldn't stop you from becoming acquainted with Sophie. I suggest you begin with the first book in the series, Multiple Exposure.