A wonderful descent into the New York art world led by a hero you won’t soon forget. Twenty-something Emma Caan is a highly skilled artist who excels at recreating nineteenth-century paintings. She works for a studio that supplies clients, ranging from high-flying collectors to leading museums, with reproductions to protect their investment. Lest there is any confusion, each work is signed by Emma and indicates it’s a copy. Despite her expertise, the salary is lousy and she can barely afford life in New York City. Until she meets Leonard Sobetsky, Russian billionaire, renowned art collector, and one of her clients. Before she can say do svidaniya to her old life, Sobetsky sets her up as the assistant director of New York’s most important gallery, moves her into a glam SoHo apartment, and continues to feed her paintings to reproduce. Within weeks she’s doing vodka shots on Sobetsky’s private plane, heading to Art Basel Hong Kong. But since every chapter begins with a brief transcript of Emma being interviewed by the FBI, even the least attentive reader will know that something is up. The question is, how bad will it be? And while Emma is really just a copyist—true forgers take much more care, sourcing period canvas, for starters—why quibble when you’re having so much fun? A little chick lit, a little Devil Wears Prada, and a little Barbara Shapiro, Fake should find broad appeal.
