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L.S. Hilton
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Maestra: The Shocking International Bestseller Kindle Edition

by L. S. Hilton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.3 out of 5 stars 6,333 ratings
READ THE CONTROVERSIAL THRILLER THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

GLAMOUR'S WRITER OF THE YEAR

By day Judith Rashleigh is a put-upon assistant at a London auction house.

By night she's a hostess in one of the capital's unsavoury bars.

Desperate to make something of herself, Judith knows she has to play the game. She's learned to dress, speak and act in the interests of men. She's learned to be a good girl. But after uncovering a dark secret at the heart of the art world, Judith is fired and her dreams of a better life are torn apart.

So she turns to a long-neglected friend.

A friend that kept her chin up and back straight through every past slight.

A friend that a good girl like her shouldn't have: Rage.

Fatal attraction meets The Talented Mr Ripley in this darkly decadent thriller, soon to be a major Hollywood film, that asks:

Where do you go when you've gone too far?
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  1. Part of series
    Maestra
  2. Print length
    250 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Zaffre
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    10 Mar. 2016
  7. File size
    658 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 3 books in this series.
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  • Kindle Price:
    £12.97
    By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of UseSold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

Product description

Review

[U]tterly un-put-down-able, a shocking and sexy psychological thriller - PopSugar

Brimming with scandal, intrigue and mystery, this is a book that everyone is talking about - Heat

Set in a world of oligarchs, Mafiosi and dodgy art dealers, it also has in Judith Rashleigh a heroine you'll either love or loathe, at least two jaw-on-the-floor moments and sex scenes that would make Christian Grey blush - Red magazine

The next Gone Girl thriller everyone will be talking about - GoodReads Review

Smart, pacy and very rude Glamour Riveting... one of the most memorable females in recent fiction - Amy Pascal, Columbia Pictures Producer

Maestra features a feisty, morally complex and sharp heroine who may appeal to fans of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl - New York Times

A psychological thriller set on the French Riviera, rather like Patricia Highsmith crossed with Gone Girl, unsurprisingly, there's a film deal in the works Harpers Bazaar, - '10 Best Books for 2016'

This is already being compared to The Girl On The Train and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in terms of addictability - Glamour, '11 Female Authored Reads for 2016'

One for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey Grazia - 'Best of New Books'

From the Back Cover

'Like Patricia Highsmith crossed with Gone Girl'
Harper's Bazaar


A spectacular fraud in a London auction house.
WHO
A barefoot lover running through the Paris streets.
IS
A colossal theft from a billionaire's yacht.
THE
A vicious murder under a bridge in Rome.
MAESTRA?
They started it.
She'll end it.


'Delicious escapism - I loved it.'
Clare Mackintosh

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B015RG229I
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zaffre
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 10 Mar. 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 658 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1785760020
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Maestra
  • Customer reviews:
    3.3 out of 5 stars 6,333 ratings

About the author

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L.S. Hilton

L.S. Hilton

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L. S. Hilton grew up in England and has lived in Key West, New York City, Paris, and Milan. After graduating from Oxford, she studied art history in Paris and Florence. She has worked as a journalist, art critic, and broadcaster, and is presently based in London.

Customer reviews

3.3 out of 5 stars
6,333 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book intelligent and well-researched, particularly appreciating its insights into the art market and players. The writing style receives mixed reactions, with some finding it elegant while others describe it as unnecessarily crude. Moreover, the plot receives mixed feedback - while some find it enjoyable with unexpected twists, others consider it far-fetched. The book's readability and character development are also mixed, with some finding it a good read worth reading while others consider it bad, and some appreciating the compelling main character while others find the protagonist an unlikable deluded narcissist. Additionally, the sex scenes are criticized for being over-the-top and meaningless, and while some find the book shocking, others say it's not as shocking as advertised.

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27 customers mention ‘Intelligence’22 positive5 negative

Customers find the book intelligent and well-researched, with one customer noting it provides good insights into the art market and players, while another describes it as a fascinating journey into the world of art.

"...Smart and assured, Judith is an observant character with a good eye for the finer things in life (art and fashion) who enjoys indulging in sensual..." Read more

"...I kid you not! Yes, the main character is fun, smart, ambitious and gorgeous, but once you realise..." Read more

"...the good points - well written, good plot which flowed well, and well researched...." Read more

"...This book, although fiction is equally well researched particularly in regard to the fine art which is central to the story." Read more

362 customers mention ‘Readability’201 positive161 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it an unexpected pleasure while others describe it as disappointing and trashy.

"...descriptions (well, the author’s) of the billionaire set’s WAGs are brilliant, hilarious and probably true to life...." Read more

"...It's quite salacious and the sex does seem gratuitous but you have to read this book purely for entertainment value...." Read more

"...Overall, Maestra is a good read. It is a holiday read but I don’t think it will be topping the list of my favourite books of the year...." Read more

"...None, as name after name are dropped every two lines. Awful, tacky, vulgar. Then some man of woman in your way? Kill them, so easy...." Read more

253 customers mention ‘Storyline’132 positive121 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the storyline of the book, with some finding it a really good thriller with many unexpected twists, while others note that the plot is quite far-fetched and not impressive.

"...I did really enjoy the art history featured in Maestra and it shows how skilled Hilton is as a writer...." Read more

"...I ask myself why this story was penned? it links a flimsy story with graphic descriptive sex events, but do I Believe them, well, not really...." Read more

"...It's extremely thrilling and filled with twists and drama that won't leave you bored...." Read more

"...In fact most of it is gratuitous, irrelevant to the story. And it comes across as abusive...." Read more

148 customers mention ‘Writing quality’74 positive74 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it well written and readable, while others describe it as incomprehensible and hard to follow at times.

"...It is a really accomplished book in that it is written very well. No one can argue with Hilton’s ability to write...." Read more

"...But the book has a feel of calculation about it, two parts Shades of Grey, two parts Ripley and so on. In fact Judy behaves like an amoral man...." Read more

"Such entertainment in a few hundred pages. It's written very well and is a rip-roaring ride across exotic locations with a main heroine that's as..." Read more

"...be shocking, but my personal reaction was to giggle as the efforts are a bit obvious and don't carry much credibility...." Read more

81 customers mention ‘Style’38 positive43 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's style, with some finding it elegant and sexy, while others find it unnecessarily crude.

"...None, as name after name are dropped every two lines. Awful, tacky, vulgar. Then some man of woman in your way? Kill them, so easy...." Read more

"...It will make the most perfect holiday book and that cover will certainly draw attention...." Read more

"...and, I suspect, is used as a smokescreen to hide a clumsy plot and mediocre style...." Read more

"...complication and the insights into the art world and art appraisal were very interesting and, perhaps, could have been expanded upon...." Read more

72 customers mention ‘Character development’24 positive48 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding the main character compelling and powerful, while others describe her as an unlikeable deluded narcissist.

"...There is no real character development - and the actions of our psychopath begin to be repetitive and then you know exactly what to expect, with a..." Read more

"...a real page turner and Judith the protagonist makes for a compelling anti-heroine...." Read more

"...Yes what the main (female) character does is thoroughly unpleasant, but this does not seem to be based in over-flowing rage, rather in her..." Read more

"...and a main character who was totally unlikeable, unconvincing and over the top...." Read more

44 customers mention ‘Shock value’21 positive23 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's shock value, with some finding it full of shocks and surprises, while others find it not as shocking as advertised and not believable.

"...And it’s a great rollicking romping ride, full of shocks and surprises, and as a fully paid-up Philistine I learned much about art – many times I..." Read more

"...the lead character, to me, is not believable. I ask myself why this story was penned?..." Read more

"...For me the book was unpredictable and well-written. I look forward to the next book." Read more

"...The plot was quite far fetched and full of unbelievable coincidences...." Read more

110 customers mention ‘Sex scenes’27 positive83 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's sex scenes, with some appreciating their intensity while others find them ridiculous and over-the-top.

"...It's quite salacious and the sex does seem gratuitous but you have to read this book purely for entertainment value...." Read more

"...there was a fair amount, was cold and clinical and totally devoid of any eroticism or passion. I would describe the sex as "seedy"...." Read more

"...sex is explicit certainly but generally good fun and the violence is brutal and unflinching but never played for gore’s sake - I can see that people..." Read more

"...heroine - or anti-heroine - brutally honest and original - the sex scenes are graphic and grown-up - no coy euphemisms - very refreshing - Judith is..." Read more

Waste of time
1 out of 5 stars
Waste of time
Absolutely rubbish. What was all the hype about? I actually nearly died of boredom and had to stop reading it.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • FictionLover
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy, dark and dangerous - and full of paintings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Maestra is LS Hilton’s first outing of three books centring on the beautiful but impoverished Judith Rashleigh, art expert/historian and London gallery drudge (too low-class ever to be accepted by the nobs), the working class daughter of an alcoholic mother who got out of the Liverpool estates and made good (Cambridge no less).
    Maestra starts off as a story about art sales and art fraud at the highest of high ends (British Pictures is modelled on a firm of Sotheby-like heft) By spotting a fraud and piping up, Judith is catapulted into the wilderness of unemployment. The girl wants revenge and most of the rest of Maestra is about how she gets it.

    And it’s a great rollicking romping ride, full of shocks and surprises, and as a fully paid-up Philistine I learned much about art – many times I paused to look up a painter or a painting. Artemisia Gentileschi comes up early on, and that wonderful and much put-upon woman artist’s paintings of decapitated men foreshadows Judy’s deep anger.
    Judith Rashleigh is a piece of work, an anti-hero that Hilton moulds before our eyes into a strong and able woman. She can take care of herself and will render payback for the crime of daring to suggest that A Leading Auction House would perpetrate major fraud.

    The author tells a good yarn which has polarised readers – just look at the horizontal U-shape of the yellow bars. Judy’s invented before us as a rangy good looking clothes-horse (think Charlize Theron in Atomic Blond but with fewer guns) who indulges in unemotional sex with women or men that is described in visceral, graphic detail.

    It’s a first-person narrative too, and we are inside Judith’s head all the time. Judith carries a rage inside her, something that came from her childhood (you’ll only learn what it was in vol 3, Ultima – yes, I’ve read ‘em all), and when that rage comes out in the grown woman it gives us an amoral ruthless protagonist who, as some reviewers have already noted, owes a lot to The Talented Mr Ripley (yes, Judy murders people, some of them bigger than her and quite scary).

    As she gets richer and richer so her wardrobe expands providing a great deal of vicarious shopping advice for female readers. I loved it. No idea who the designers were but clearly as Judy migrates to the hedge fund billionaire Monaco set, she has to dress the part. Her descriptions (well, the author’s) of the billionaire set’s WAGs are brilliant, hilarious and probably true to life.

    Because the author LS Hilton has tremendous powers as a writer, I mean, really top-drawer and Maestra is a wild wonderful unbelievable ride. But the book has a feel of calculation about it, two parts Shades of Grey, two parts Ripley and so on. In fact Judy behaves like an amoral man. So be it. She mixes with some very shady and dangerous characters – and survives by being clever, patient and, frankly, courageous.

    Foreign travel, different languages, foreign cultures: I was reminded of Ian Fleming whose Bond books took readers to far-off and exotic places. It’s like that in Maestra.
    There are two more books in the series: Domina and Ultima (go figure) but I should warn readers they do not live up to Maestra. But you won’t be disappointed either.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • LJBentley
    3.0 out of 5 stars The hype was greater than the book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Where do I start with Maestra?

    Let’s start with the hype. I will admit that it was the hype (along with a funny and intriguing interview with the author on This Morning with the naughty Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby) that made me want to pick up this book. This method of choosing books to read has work well for me in the past; that was how I came to read Harry Potter. It has also left me with some poorly written books too – Fifty Shades, anyone?

    Maestra falls somewhere in the middle.

    It is a really accomplished book in that it is written very well. No one can argue with Hilton’s ability to write. However, I failed to take the story seriously as a thriller; I think I found the main character Judith to be just a bit ridiculous. She is reminiscent of a Bond villain but with a lack of credibility. She seems to slip into the role of sociopath far too seamlessly. What I did find refreshing is that Hilton does not try to justify Judith’s lifestyle by using a childhood trauma as reasoning for her actions. Well done Hilton for not taking the easy option.

    I did really enjoy the art history featured in Maestra and it shows how skilled Hilton is as a writer. She seamlessly weaves her knowledge into the story.

    Overall, Maestra is a good read. It is a holiday read but I don’t think it will be topping the list of my favourite books of the year.

    Maestra by LS Hilton is available now.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • bookcrazy93
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Such entertainment in a few hundred pages. It's written very well and is a rip-roaring ride across exotic locations with a main heroine that's as fabulous as the storyline. It's extremely thrilling and filled with twists and drama that won't leave you bored.

    It's quite salacious and the sex does seem gratuitous but you have to read this book purely for entertainment value. It isn't a literary marvel that defies all genre and is monumental but it is an extremely enjoyable book. It will make the most perfect holiday book and that cover will certainly draw attention. The author writes about the art world with intelligence as well which makes that world more real and accessible to the reader.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Unusual thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 June 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book is quite interesting and surprising. The plot has its good moments. The main character is very different from the usual detective stories. However it is not up to the standard of other thrillers like gone girl or the girl on the train.
    Report
  • Mary Cunningham
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not for me
    Reviewed in Canada on 17 September 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Not for me! What else can I say?
    Report
  • Ginna
    2.0 out of 5 stars DISAPPOINTING
    Reviewed in France on 30 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fairy tale, improbable, with a good deal of unbelievable violence, lack of any human sensibility, some crude sex but overall lacking credibility to the reader. A good build-up not delivered in substance. But a sequel is due sometime. Hopefully more realistic.
    Report
  • DaRa
    1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible
    Reviewed in Italy on 31 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I really do read everything and anything, but this was just meaningless. No grip (in what is supposed to be a 'shocking thriller'?), no character development. The prose is not at all bad, it's just the content that ruins everything. I struggled early before being midway through the book and I feel it can be left midway with no regrets.
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  • Pricey
    1.0 out of 5 stars Porn disguised as a thriller
    Reviewed in Spain on 13 October 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Porn disguised as crime thriller. I am so cross with Amazon for describing this as a crime book, I feel I've wasted my money. The plot is bizarre, I couldn't work out what was going on,it was filled with porn, definitely wasn't what I had been led to expect. I am an avid reader and very rarely not finish a book but I have discarded this halfway through as a waste of my time.
    Report

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