The Artist's Secret

The sweeping new saga of strong heroines and family secrets from the bestselling author of The Paris Model. While searching for her lost sister, art historian Wren Summers takes on the glittering world of New York's auction houses.

A missing girl, a hidden masterpiece, and the search for the truth

1965: After escaping from anti-war turmoil and the suffocating weight of family expectations, a beautiful young couple embrace a life free of materialism and tradition by a sapphire lake in Italy. But the past does not always let go so easily ...

1987: When talented art historian Wren Summers lands her dream job at the Sydney Art Museum, it seems she can finally leave her wildly unconventional background behind until a treacherous act threatens everything she has strived for.

The revelation of a monstrous family secret sees Wren head to New York, compelled to find the missing girl who holds the key to this shocking mystery and to make a fresh start in the glittering realm of international art auctions. As she struggles to fulfil her quest, can she navigate this new, high-stakes world of swirling temptation, romance and deceit, danger and betrayal, while staying true to what she knows is right?

About the Author

Alexandra Joel is a former editor of the Australian edition of Harper's Bazaar and of Portfolio , Australia's first magazine for working women. She has also contributed feature articles, interviews and reviews to many national and metropolitan publications. Her first novel, the bestselling The Paris Model, was published around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Germany, Hungary and Romania, and was followed by The Royal Correspondent and The Artist's Secret. Alexandra's biography Rosetta: A Scandalous True Story was optioned for the screen by a major US-owned production company. She is also the author of two books about fashion in Australia.

With an honours degree from the University of Sydney and a graduate diploma from the Australian College of Applied Psychology, she has been a practising counsellor and psychotherapist. Alexandra has two children and lives in Sydney with her husband.