Books & Spoons Review LIAR'S KEY by Carla Neggers

Emma Sharpe is suspicious when retired Special Agent Gordon Wheelock, a legend in FBI art crimes, drops by her Boston office for a visit. Gordy says he's heard rumors about stolen ancient mosaics. Emma, an art crimes specialist herself, won't discuss the rumors. Especially since they involve Oliver York, an unrepentant English art thief. Gordy and Emma's grandfather, a renowned private art detective, chased Oliver for a decade. Gordy knows Wendell Sharpe didn't give him everything he had on the thief. Even now, Oliver will never be prosecuted. 

When a shocking death occurs, Emma is drawn into the investigation. The evidence points to a deadly conspiracy between Wendell and Oliver, and Emma's fiancé, deep cover agent Colin Donovan, knows he can't stay out of this one. He also knows there will be questions about Emma's role and where her loyalties lie. 

From Boston to Maine to Ireland, Emma and Colin track a dangerous killer as the lives of their family and friends are at stake. With the help of their friend, Irish priest Finian Bracken, and Emma's brother, Lucas, the Sharpes and Donovans must band together to stop a killer. 

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Just a hint of a rumor of a crime and the whole FBI division are on their toes, investigating and looking for more information. 
This story takes its time to built up to the action, but if you hang on and keep reading, the intensity does come up, and you'll see some action and bustle, but not before the last part of the story. 
The plot is built in an interesting way. First, there's just a rumor from one person, suspicion of something going on. Then more and more characters are met and interviewed, and every time all that is learned so far is repeated. The tale keeps building up, but it seems that the clues are barely there, nothing more than hints and ideas and possibilities that have the FBI wary. And nothing happens until they all arrive at the open house at Emma's family business in Maine. 
The characters are witty, fun, and well developed. They bring a lot of dry humor to the story that I enjoyed immensely, and in my opinion the best part of the tale. They all seem very mature, older to their age, and world-weary. 
The plot changes from Ireland to London to Boston to the coast of Maine, the scenery that the author paints into the reader's mind are vivid and full of color, so authentic that the events easily run in your mind as a movie or a BBC series.
The slow built up got me nearly giving up on the book, as it does take a long time to get to the point, so to say. But the crescendo was satisfying, and the characters are charmingly fascinating making the story riveting and enticing.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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