Review: False Impressions

False Impressions (Izzy McNeil #6)
by Laura Caldwell

My rating:         Thriller

False Impressions is an engaging, fast-paced, and quite lighthearted thriller which I finished in a couple of days. Lawyer Izzy McNeil is asked to look into the case of a gallery owner who has been on the receiving end of some threatening comments and emails, as well as allegations of forgery. Madeleine is a big name in the Chicago art world, and seems to know everybody, so the list of suspects isn't a short one.

I really liked the romantic sub-plot (or plots - there are a few), and Izzy's growing relationship with Madeleine added an interesting dimension to the story, particularly when Izzy realises she can't rule out Madeleine as a suspect. In fact, you could argue that the personal relationships are really the main focus of the novel, with the mystery/thriller elements providing a backdrop against which the human drama can play out.

This is the sixth Izzy McNeil novel, but reads perfectly well as a stand-alone, and while there are hints at various elements of Izzy's backstory, there's no heavy-handed exposition.