Ultima

by L. S. Hilton

First published 2018

Elizabeth Teerlinc lives as a glamorous international art dealer, but her true identity remains Judith Rashleigh, buried beneath carefully constructed lies and the bodies of men who crossed her path. When a Russian Mafia boss and a corrupt Italian detective trap her in their deadly game, Judith faces an impossible choice. She must create a convincing fake painting and sell it through the prestigious auction house where she once worked as a mere assistant. The forged artwork needs to bring $150 million, or she dies. Returning to her former workplace means risking exposure to people who knew her before her transformation. As Judith navigates this dangerous con, she relishes the chance to deceive her despised former boss and the entire art world establishment. But stepping into the spotlight threatens to strip away more than her current false identity. The truth lurking in her past might prove more shocking than even she imagines.

Genres: art, mystery, crime, thriller, action

Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator

Setting: Italy, Russia

Period: 21st-century

320 pages · Hardcover · Bonnier Zaffre

Content warnings: violence

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