"A haunting, razor-sharp mystery set in the charged aftermath of 9/11, Kate Belli’s THE GALLERY ASSISTANT is as intoxicating as the art world it explores. With an unforgettable protagonist and a plot that spirals into ever-deeper layers of intrigue, Belli crafts a haunting story about memory, truth, and the dangerous secrets hidden beneath the surface. A stunning work that lingers long after the final page."
Description
“A stunning work that lingers long after the final page.” —Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author
A shocking death rocks the elite New York City art world, unearthing old secrets for a young gallery assistant who finds herself at the center of a dangerous web of deceit in this twisty and sinister thriller that is perfect for fans of Katy Hays and Julia Bartz.
November 2001: Chloe Harlow wakes up late, with hazy memories of last night’s party but no recollection of how she got back to her Brooklyn apartment. Ever since the terrifying and catastrophic terrorist attack two months ago, she has been on a collision course with destruction.
When she finally arrives at the exclusive Upper East Side art gallery where she works, a pair of NYPD detectives greet her, also very curious to know how her evening ended…because the host of the party, a rising painter and the gallery’s newest artist, is dead.
Navigating both the sophisticated high-stakes art world and her personal life in burgeoning Williamsburg, Chloe struggles to piece together a complete picture of that lost night. As she digs deeper, inconsistencies emerge between what she remembers and what people tell her actually happened, and more questions are raised. Everything begins to feel like a conspiracy—and maybe it is. Because in this “taut, tightly plotted thriller ride” (Sophie Stava, author of Count My Lies), Chloe is the only one who glimpses the secrets the murdered artist left behind, and the closer she gets to the truth…the more deadly it becomes.
Reviews
"A haunting, post-9/11 psychological thriller that combines the glittering facade of New York’s art world with the messy, painful aftermath of trauma."
"A taut, tightly-plotted thrill ride! Belli expertly dials up the tension as readers race toward a shocking, twisty conclusion. The prose is smart, sharp and compelling; THE GALLERY ASSISTANT is not to be missed."
"A fast-paced thriller set in the New York art world. THE GALLERY ASSISTANT kept me guessing until the end."
