THE GOLDENACRE

Narrator Robin Lange brings a strong Scottish accent to this audiobook; it takes some getting used to but ultimately serves this story well. Thomas Tallis, a government official with a checkered past, has come from London to authenticate Charles Rennie Mackintosh's haunting painting titled "The Goldenacre," which was reputedly his last work. It is about to be donated to a public museum to pay off the late owner's taxes. Though primarily about art and commerce, the story also explores the world of journalism. Shona Sandison, a reporter for a struggling newspaper, is trying to uncover the painting's place in the artist's oeuvre--and whether recent murders are connected to it. Her path soon crosses Tallis's, and between them dark secrets are unraveled. Listeners will enjoy pursuing the killer as they learn about Edinburgh, art, and the perils of contemporary journalism. L.W.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2022]