Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway: For the Minds and Wills of Men by Jeff Lanier

 

FOR THE MINDS

AND WILLS OF MEN

by

Jeff Lanier

Mystery / Art History

Publisher: Boyle & Dalton

Date of Publication: October 16, 2022

Number of Pages: 310 pages 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

A gripping, historical art mystery set in 1950s New York, For the Minds and Wills of Men is a story of art, love, and Cold War fear, suspicion, and betrayal.

MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client's daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left...

With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.

PRAISE FOR FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN

*2023 INDIEREADER AWARD WINNER: 1^ST PLACE FICTION*

"Lanier brilliantly evokes the energy and excitement of the New York art world in this Cold War thriller with an artistic twist. Along the way, he gives us fascinating insights into Abstract Expressionism and the power of art to communicate values and ideas." 

-Ross King, Acclaimed art historian and New York Times bestselling author of The Judgment of Paris, Brunelleschi's Dome, and Michelangelo and The Pope's Ceiling.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Short Story: Intricately plotted multilayered mystery

My Review: WWII vet Will Oxley works as an art insurance agent. A stolen Jackson Pollock painting sends him on a wild hunt for the missing painting, diving into the New York art scene, seedy bars, and hobnobbing with elite society all while dealing with a bad case of PTSD.  He has no idea what he’s getting into. 

For the Minds and Wills of Men is a fast-paced densely plotted thriller; I found it hard to put down. Author Jeff Lanier wields his palette of words to layer his story with art history, McCarthyism and the communist hysteria that swept the nation in the 1940s and 50s, the creation of the C.I.A. and tops it off with a romance! Woven into the story are the leading artists of the day from Pollock to Willem de Kooning, including descriptions of their thought processes and how they executed their art. There’s a deep dive into the anticommunist movement and the lengths groups went to spy on artists and others suspected of communist ties.  Lanier does an amazing job of flavoring his story with 1950s culture, the rich, the poor, race relations, and he touches on the effects of war on the men returning from WWII. 

It’s an ambitious narrative but it’s clear that the author has done his research and knows his stuff. Well written, entertaining without reading like a dry history lesson, it feels authentic and reads like a trip back in time. I think this would make a fantastic movie. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who enjoy a meaty story they can savor. 

I rate this book 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click to Purchase!

Amazon │Barnes & Noble │ Bookshop.org │

More Purchase Options

View on YouTube

Jeff Lanier is an award-winning author. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and art History at the University of Texas, Austin, with a focus on the History of American Culture through Art and Literature. He has a master’s from Rice University, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, and currently lives in Houston with his wife and three children. 

 ◆ WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆

◆  AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆

--------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

ONE WINNER: 

Autographed hardcover copy of

For the Minds and Wills of Men

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/4/23)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 

or visit the blogs directly:

07/25/23	The Book's Delight	Review
07/25/23	Boys' Mom Reads	Review
07/25/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
07/26/23	Shelf Life Blog	Excerpt
07/26/23	Writing and Music	Review
07/26/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
07/27/23	It's Not All Gravy	Review
07/28/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Scrapbook Page
07/28/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review
07/29/23	Jennie Reads	Review
07/30/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Excerpt
07/31/23	The Clueless Gent	Review
08/01/23	Forgotten Winds	Book Club Kit
08/01/23	Rainy Days with Amanda	Review
08/02/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
08/03/23	Jennifer Silverwood	Review
08/03/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review

blog tour services provided by