Reviewed by JZ Sharpe

I confess, I read a lot of books. Always have. Not just for reviews,
either - it's a more basic addiction. I read for the same reason that
mountain climbers endure weeks of cold and danger: because it's there.
Because the books are staring back at me and I never know what I'll get
until I open the cover and start reading. As a result, the variety in
my reading matter ranges wildly, from can't-put-it-down-for-a-nanoseco
and masterpieces to can't-believe-someone-actually-wasted-paper-to-print-this miseries.

This is why discovering books like FleshTones, my friends, makes all
this crazed reading worthwhile. It's been a long time since I read
anything so rich with plot and character, so satisfying to both the
intellect and the imagination. When I insist that it's a must-read, I
really mean it.

Flesh Tones is told through the eyes of film maker Genny Haviland who,
when the book opens, is 38 years old and on trial for the murder of
Slade Gabriel, an artist twenty years her senior. But wait, he did have
a rapidly advancing case of Alzheimer's Disease, so it could be assisted
suicide, if only she could find the suicide note she knows he wrote.
Then there's the matter of Genny's beloved father, who has successfully
sold Gabriel's work in his gallery for many years. There's the state of
the New York art market in 1992, stumbling back to sanity after the
salad days of the '80's. Let's also take into account Genny's love and
anger toward Slade, who stole her heart at 17, disappeared from her life
for twenty years, only to return like a devastating tidal wave.

The story swings like a pendulum between Genny's murder trial and
flashbacks into her life, not only her affair with Slade Gabriel, but
her relationship with her parents, especially her father, whom she
idolizes. Slowly, like the birth of a masterpiece on canvas, the truth
appears, twists and turns, captivating the reader along the way. I've
vowed not to be one of those reviewers who falls back on the old cliche
"I couldn't put this down" - but in this case, I can't lie. With its
lively cast of characters, its complex and seductive plot, Flesh Tones
satisfies many needs. Whether you crave a sensual love story or a
gripping courtroom drama, with this book, you'll get it all.

People who follow books and publishing on the Internet have no doubt
heard of M.J. Rose, the reigning empress of online e-publishing and
promotion. Flesh Tones is her third novel, and believe me, it's her
best yet. Expect it in July, just in time for summer reading. So, if
you choose one book to read on the beach this year, make it this one -
and be prepared to find it nearly impossible to put it down until the
last page, where you'll be sighing with satisfaction after such an
enjoyable read.