The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

The Metropolitan Affair
by Jocelyn Green

ISBN-13: 9780764239632
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: March 14th 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud. With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.


My Review:
The Metropolitan Affair is a Christian romantic mystery set in 1925 in New York City. And I can't tell you exactly why I like it so much without genuinely spoiling the story, so in general: Lauren loves her job, but she chose her profession in hopes of gaining her father's approval and a relationship with him. He's been absent on one excuse or another her whole life. Now he's moved nearby and is spending more time with her. She'll make time for him, even though a close childhood friend has asked her professional help with identifying Egyptian forgeries. She and Joe draw closer as they spend time working together.

The main characters were complex, well-developed people that I cared about. They struggled with real issues, and relationship tensions were created by realistic behavior (rather than manufactured obstacles). Lauren and Joe supported each other through hard experiences and built each other up. Interesting historical details were woven into the story and immersed me in the time and place. The mystery was clue-based and the reader can guess the bad guys (though Joe suspected as the clues piled up, so he's not dumb). Joe asked good questions and followed up on leads until he finally uncovered the truth along with proof.

By the end of the story, Lauren realized that God is the perfect Father that she's been looking for. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.