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Janet Pywell
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Golden Icon: Facing one final shot - a thrilling page turner (A Mikky dos Santos Thriller) Kindle Edition

by Janet Pywell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 313 ratings

In the PREQUEL to the MIKKY DOS SANTOS THRILLERS – Josephine Lavelle, a once-famous opera singer who became an international outcast, has one last opportunity to resurrect her career.

She was born to sing Puccini’s Tosca and is determined to earn the right to perform again on the world’s most prestigious and celebrated stages. NOTHING must detract from her last chance.
But her fight for the future she craves is derailed when her ex-husband embroils her in a cynical blackmail plot. She is forced to take possession of a solid gold icon, part of a secret hoard of art treasures stolen by the Nazis - that dangerous men are prepared to kill for.
As well as determining the fate of the Golden Icon, Josephine must come to terms with her past, a thirty-year old secret, and fight for her own life.
If only her choices were simple...

A gripping, page turning crime thriller. You will be hooked on the secrets of this surprising protagonist.

Set in Lake Como (Italy), Dublin (Ireland) and Munich (Germany) – this international crime thriller will leaving you rooting for this unusual and feisty protagonist until the twist at the very end.

For fans of female protagonists and readers of crime thrillers in the style of Donna Leon, Estelle Ryan, Laura Morelli, CJ Lyons and Carmen Armato.

★★★★★ "I rarely give a book 5 Stars but Golden Icon deserves the highest. A clever and totally original story that kept me reading far into the evening when I had other things to do. Easy reading so if you start get ready to be pulled in to an intimate story you will find hard to put down."

★★★★★ "This is a rich, literate, complex examination of who owns art and how it is valued. It is also a thriller, with several villains and unexpected dangers."

★★★★★ "This is a fabulous book especially for those who love a long book to read. The storyline is so totally different to what I normally read but it had me up at all hours reading further & further to find out the ending."

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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    10 Sept. 2013
  5. File size
    11.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

"I love this book. Well written with little pieces of detail without losing the flow. It kept me interested all the way through. Onto the next book Masterpiece now."

"The characters just got more interesting as the storyline progressed. Irish family superstitions juxtaposed with Italian cultures create a book to appeal to anyone with an interesting imagination."

"With believable characters that bring alive the plot, the strands of this story and pulled together nicely so that it made it an enjoyable read."

"Really enjoyed this book although I don't like opera! Got me hooked very early on, and it was fast paced."

" This book is beautifully detailed and very well researched. It is also a fascinating read about Opera and Art through out Europe. Full of great twist and very strong characters. A real page turner."

"That I was unsure of how this story would resolve, how much moral jeopardy could be heaped on this woman, is testament to the skills of the author. I didn't know what to expect, and at times the tension was unbearable. Great."

"The characters just got more interesting as the storyline progressed. Irish family superstitions juxtaposed with Italian cultures create a book to appeal to anyone with an interesting imagination."

"If you're looking for a story that is instantly engrossing and captivating, this debut novel by Janet Pywell ticks all the boxes. Don't be fooled by the sedate opening scenes - this little nugget packs a wallop that has a few surprising twists and turns to make you want to jump into the pages and lend a hand to the harassed heroine."

About the Author

Janet Pywell, writes gripping international mystery and crime thriller novels that will keep you quickly turning the pages.In Janet's international crime thriller series - art forger, artist and photographer Mikky dos Santos is a uniquely lovable female: a tough, tattooed, yet vulnerable heroine who will steal your heart. Each book is a stand-alone exciting action-adventure novel, set in different countries/ locations.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00F45GQE0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Richmond Heights Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 10 Sept. 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 11.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0992668600
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 313 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Janet Pywell

Janet Pywell

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Author Janet Pywell’s storytelling is as mesmerizing and complex as her characters.

After the Covid pandemic Janet published the first book in the Westbay Romance Series, Someone Else’s Dream — a heart-warming, uplifting, feel-good novel about courage, integrity and friendship.

The other novels in the series will also leave you tingling with emotion.

Prior to that, Janet has published two series of gripping crime thriller novels that will keep you quickly turning the pages. The Mikky dos Santos series are set in different locations throughout Europe while the Ronda George series are set in unusual properties in the UK.

Janet gained an MA in Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University, Belfast. She has a background in travel and tourism and she writes using her knowledge of foreign places gained from living abroad and travelling extensively.

Janet currently lives on the Kent coast.

Visit Janetpywellauthor to subscribe to her crime and romance newsletter.

You can find Janet across all social media platforms and on Goodreads, Bookbub and TikTok.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
313 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a page-turner with well-described characters and an engaging plot that brings the story to life. They appreciate the author's knowledge of opera and art, with one review noting how it serves as a backdrop to the narrative. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding it slow.

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ReadabilityCharacter developmentPlotKnowledge of operaPacing
15 customers mention ‘Readability’15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a real page turner, with one customer noting it's an interesting and easy read with a great story.

"The rating for a book, for me, has a large element of 'was it readable, was it believable, was it entertaining?' This is certainly in that bracket...." Read more

"Good read" Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. A new author for me but I have already started reading her Masterpiece book which follows on the story from this...." Read more

"...of this story and pulled together nicely so that it made it an enjoyable read. Worth reading." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Character development’11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with well-described characters, and one customer noting the beautiful descriptions.

"...That said, this is well written. I loved the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy...." Read more

"...Some descriptions re very beautiful and paint pictures in your head. Good twists in plot too. Would I read more by this author?..." Read more

"...Josephine is such a great character, both vulnerable and strong, wounded yet seeking redemption...." Read more

"...The storyline is definitely original and the characters are very well fleshed out, but I did find the relationships rather confusing, as several of..." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Plot’9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, with one review highlighting its exciting pace and great twists, while another appreciates how the narrative strands come together nicely.

"...That said, this is well written. I loved the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy...." Read more

"...Sometimes things are repeated too much but the story is good and gripping, you really want to know what happens...." Read more

"...Great. This is an impressive crime thriller by a debut author." Read more

"...The storyline is definitely original and the characters are very well fleshed out, but I did find the relationships rather confusing, as several of..." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Knowledge of opera’3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's knowledge of opera and art, with one customer noting its detailed portrayal of the world of opera.

"...The opera features highly...the book itself an operatic production, in fitting with the main character. Well done Janet! Great job...." Read more

"...The plot is full of twists and turns with the backdrop of the world of opera, set in Ireland, Germany and the beautiful scenery of Italy." Read more

"For a debut novel, this book was so knowledgable about opera and art and obviously the writer has travelled!..." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced while others report that the pace dragged.

"...of opera divas and exploded it, shattered it with one confident, swift stroke...." Read more

"...The pace of the book is rather variable, at times the story really rolls along at an exciting pace, but then there are periods where Josephine is..." Read more

"...The book flowed nicely and whilst you might not like some of the characters you can't help but be engaged by them Would definitely recommend." Read more

"...This took far too long to get going. I gave up one-third of the way through." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Tim Heath
    5.0 out of 5 stars An operatic read in every sense of the word! Pick up and start reading this book today!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 May 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    The rating for a book, for me, has a large element of 'was it readable, was it believable, was it entertaining?' This is certainly in that bracket. An easy 5-stars.

    It's my first book by this author, her debut novel I believe, and based on what I've read, I'll be back. The future books can only be even better. In my version, there were a few errors, but these might well have been corrected by now, and I'll mention to the author just in case they haven't, not that in any way they detracted from the enjoyment.

    I found some dialogue a little forced, but this is all very subjective, and sometimes I could guess what was happening. That said, this is well written. I loved the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy.

    The opera features highly...the book itself an operatic production, in fitting with the main character.

    Well done Janet! Great job. If you want to find a book you can pick up and keep reading, I would recommend this one highly!
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  • Mrs. F. M. Pinsker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    The Golden Icon
    by Janet Pywell

    There were a few things that irritated me about this book at the beginning, mistypes, missing letters, use of "draw" instead of Drawer and over use of the description of "okra coloured" .These things jarred me which was a shame as I love good language and don't want to be distracted by mistakes. Despite the not so great beginning I got into the story and then really got to enjoy it. Sometimes things are repeated too much but the story is good and gripping, you really want to know what happens. Some descriptions re very beautiful and paint pictures in your head. Good twists in plot too. Would I read more by this author? Yes I definitely would!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Good read
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  • Mike McGlade
    5.0 out of 5 stars Opera Divas and Stolen Nazi War Hoards
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 October 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Josephine Lavelle, the heroine of The Golden Icon, is that rare thing: a fighter. She's unwilling to let her once promising operatic career fade away. She wants it back. Wants to fight for it.

    But the world of opera isn't her biggest problem. It's merely the hors d'oeuvre.

    Josephine is forced by her ex-husband to retrieve a piece of art he has in storage in Germany. All she has to do is bring it to him and he'll not release what he knows about her past to the press, and she can go on with her dream of playing Tosca in a new production. What she doesn't realize is that the artwork she's sent to collect is what some dangerous people have been searching for for a long time, and they're closing in on her.

    Josephine is such a great character, both vulnerable and strong, wounded yet seeking redemption. And her nightmare journey through Europe and the arts world is a twisting, heaving flight. The author has taken the seemingly obtuse world of opera divas and exploded it, shattered it with one confident, swift stroke. Josephine is on her own, no one to turn to, and everyone she once knew is now a potential threat - because she now has this priceless artwork of a golden icon of the Madonna, she sees those around her get injured , picked off and murdered. This is a story of one woman's plight to find herself, find the courage to take a chance, risk it all, and make amends for past mistakes.

    That I was unsure of how this story would resolve, how much moral jeopardy could be heaped on this woman, is testament to the skills of the author. I didn't know what to expect, and at times the tension was unbearable. Great.

    This is an impressive crime thriller by a debut author.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Godiva 2000
    4.0 out of 5 stars Culture crime? Unusual but enjoyable juxtaposition.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This book is described as a prequel to 'Masterpiece', but is actually the back story of one of the characters in that book, an opera singer, Josephine Lavelle, who has somewhat fallen from grace.
    The storyline very much revolves around Josephine's attempt to restart her career by singing Tosca at the opening of a new opera house, but then expands into an international art crime tale.
    The pace of the book is rather variable, at times the story really rolls along at an exciting pace, but then there are periods where Josephine is reflecting on her past where things slow down significantly, there are other times when the author suddenly introduces some very detailed descriptions of places, people or even emotions, which are well written, but for me they sometimes seem to be at inappropriate points of the story, and rather break up the flow of the writing.
    I have absolutely no knowledge of opera or indeed of Tosca, and I think that this hindered my enjoyment of this book.
    The storyline is definitely original and the characters are very well fleshed out, but I did find the relationships rather confusing, as several of them are actually never explained, perhaps the reader is supposed to imply the nature of them, but I found this difficult.
    Overall, despite the comments above, I did mostly enjoy the book, but I think that it would have benefitted from some editing.
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  • PatH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read even if you don't like opera
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. A new author for me but I have already started reading her Masterpiece book which follows on the story from this. The book flowed nicely and whilst you might not like some of the characters you can't help but be engaged by them Would definitely recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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  • AlwaysReading
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 January 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    A well written story about a woman who is forced into a situation and the choices she makes.

    With believable characters that bring alive the plot, the strands of this story and pulled together nicely so that it made it an enjoyable read.

    Worth reading.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Father Ted
    2.0 out of 5 stars "No thrills"
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    If culture crime is a genre that's about to take off, I'll miss my flight on purpose. This took far too long to get going. I gave up one-third of the way through.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • loril19
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great hit!
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 May 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Does Pywell know how to tell a great story? You bet she does and this one makes the grade. Another great read with more to come I'm sure. As all her books so far this one continues to provide well developed story line, characters, and great detail all along the way. She keeps the reader holding on and flipping pages til the wee hours. I recommend you wait til the weekend of you may have to call in sick!
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  • Lola Laslo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading if you love the opera, art and suspense.
    Reviewed in the United States on 14 August 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I wanted to read this book since my old roommate from college hoped to sing in the opera. I also enjoy art and museums. This novel quickly pulled me in with its descriptions of a tiny village in Italy and a woman caught in a dilemma involving blackmail and a stolen work of art. There are some quirky twists that I didn't expect. An attack in an alley was so descriptive,that I felt like I was there, experiencing the fear and pain. Technically, I noticed several spelling errors and other problems, but they were few and far between. Because of my career, I notice little imperfections in the written word. Worth reading if you love the opera, art and suspense.
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  • secyatlaw
    3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Travelogue, Mystery, Survival, Murder
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 November 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    An aging soprano seeks to recapture her fame, while embroiled in efforts to keep a long ago scandalous affair from m coming to light. Stolen World War II artifacts are woven into this tale of a woman coming into her own life.

    I found myself feeling very very exhausted during the first half of the book, much like the heroine herself!
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  • J. S. Klos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Art History
    Reviewed in the United States on 29 October 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I kept checking names and art works because the story is so interesting, and there are many pieces of art mentioned. There is a lot of real history in this book. It also offers a taut story with many plots twists. An engrossing read.
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  • Jodi Bennett
    4.0 out of 5 stars It draws you in and keeps you there
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 March 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This was a really good read. The descriptions are so clear you really feel like you are there. I found it difficult to like Josephine but still found myself rooting for her anyway. A washed up opera star and she has one last chance to get her career back, then her ex- husband begins blackmailing her and things really derail from there. I enjoyed the drama of the characters and they way they played off each other.
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