The Talented Miss Farwell

“One of the most wickedly compelling characters I've read in ages . . .a character to root for despite your better judgment.” — Rebecca Makkai, New York Times–bestselling author of The Great Believers

At the end of the 1990s, with the art market finally recovered from its disastrous collapse, Miss Rebecca Farwell has made a killing at Christie’s in New York City, selling a portion of her extraordinary art collection for a rumored 900 percent profit. Dressed in couture YSL, drinking the finest champagne at trendy Balthazar, Reba, as she’s known, is the picture of a wealthy art collector.

But in the small town of Pierson, Illinois, Miss Farwell is someone else entirely—a quiet single woman known as Becky who still lives in her family’s farmhouse, wears sensible shoes, and works tirelessly as the town’s treasurer and controller.

No one understands the ins and outs of Pierson’s accounts better than Becky. What Pierson doesn’t see is that much of that money is shifted into a separate account that Becky controls, “borrowed” funds used to finance her art habit. Though she quietly repays Pierson when she can, the business of art is cutthroat and unpredictable.

But as Reba Farwell’s deals get bigger and bigger, Becky Farwell’s debt to Pierson spirals out of control. How long can the talented Miss Farwell continue to pull off her double life?

“Stylish.” —New York Times Book Review

“There’s just nothing as compelling as a juicy, sordid scam—which makes Emily Gray Tedrowe’s latest a must-read.” —Harper's Bazaar

“Perfectly executed.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A read-it-to-believe-it page-turner.” —Real Simple