REVIEWS for Woman with Eyes Closed
“By slow and steady degrees, Matthiessen takes all the familiar elements of the standard heist thriller and transforms them into something more. Readers who might initially feel that too much time is being spent focusing on the lives and relationships of the thieves, for instance, will find themselves increasingly fascinated by the author’s ability to bring all the disparate worlds of the narrative to vivid life. Just as Hobbs is drawn to Perrin (“the sound of her voice, her courage and her forlornness”), readers will be totally engrossed.
A riveting and richly nuanced art-crime novel.”
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Matthiessen’s depictions of Sagaponack, where she grew up, are wonderfully true to life. This high stakes art thriller delivers an entertaining cast of Hamptons characters, from Russian oligarchs to art-world brats. The mob is involved and, oh, a hurricane is barreling in. The author’s delivery of suspense, with a sophisticated insider’s view of the social milieu, makes it a top-notch read.”
East Hampton Star’s EAST magazine
“A beautifully crafted suspense thriller from cover to cover. Woman with Eyes Closed is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs.”
Midwest Book Review
“This briskly paced novel has skillfully crafted twists and consequences that branch into emotional turns of events. Multilayered and diverse characters help paint the atmosphere, add intrigue and drama to the storyline, and drive the plot… Woman with Eyes Closed will appeal not only to fans of thrillers, suspense, and romance, but also to readers curious about the culture and dynamics of the art world.”
Carmen Tenorio, Readers’ Favorite
“…Woman with Eyes Closed will longingly resonate, recalling a time before luxe building and big money art acquisitions came to dominate a once vital artist’s community. And the novel has—no spoiler alert—a lovely ending.”
Joan Baum, Sag Harbor Express
“A compelling suspense novel, Woman with Eyes Closed explores the contrasting lives of the wealthy living in opulence and the desperate actions of the underprivileged longing for a way out. Matthiessen weaves art into the narrative, increasing the reader’s appreciation of it, creating a deep resonance, particularly in regard to the titular painting. The parallel story lines kept this reader’s interest by introducing diverse characters from contrasting worlds that never meet but are equally compelling. The intertwining subplots created a sense of intrigue that never flagged. This novel delves into themes of relationships, romance, trust, money, and crime, making it a must read for fans of suspenseful mysteries.
Angelique Papayannopoulos, Readers’ Favorite
“An art heist that actually happened; a Russian mobster; a handsome British spy, and a lonely American woman. Throw in a hurricane, and you’ve got some of the action packed into Rue Matthiessen’s first novel.”
Rita Plush, The Fire Island Reporter read the entire review here: An Art Heist Novel set in Sagaponack
INTERVIEWS and FEATURES for Woman with Eyes Closed
The Good Men Project Father’s Day Essay
Book Q and A’s, with Deborah Kalb “…I had seen many of Lucian Freud’s paintings here and in London. My very favorite one, Monumental, was at NYC’s Acquavella in 2019. It was so exciting to see these works up close…”
The Eden Magazine Featured Excerpt (page 92)
Writer Unboxed Father’s Day Essay
WLIW Public Radio, Heart of the East End Author Interview (radio)
Elizabeth Spann Craig Blog When Art and Life Collide, the story of my novel
Broken Spine Social Club Podcast, with Zoe Pastec Unpacking a Transatlantic Art Heist
Sag Harbor Express, 27East and Southampton Press Art Heist: Rue Matthiessen’s Debut Novel mixes Mystery and East End Memory
Dial-A-Crime Podcast, with Chris Garcia Sometimes, Crime comes Calling
Greenport Library Author Talks Interview and Q&A