The Perfect Landscape
Established Icelandic novelist and longtime art critic Sigurdardottir tells a tale of the intrigues and conflicts of ego that plague the modern art world. Hanna, the plucky Icelandic protagonist, built her career in Amsterdam’s art scene. Conflict with her husband motivated her return to Iceland alone to accept a curatorial position. The museum has received a major donation, a painting by one of Iceland’s most respected artists that is sure to bring them renown. When enigmatic conservator Steinn takes Hanna into his confidence and reveals that the painting is a forgery, the two of them team up to investigate its origins. Sigurdardottir’s prose is subtle and clean, and she steadfastly avoids melodrama in favor of more realistic events. The main story line and some of  the subplots illustrate  social and economic issues, especially for women and children. Readers will relate to Hanna’s growing concern for her distant family, her diplomatic nature, and, most of all, her hunger for truth. Any lover of art or mystery will find this novel perfectly satisfying. --Amber Peckham