Still Lives: A Reese's Book Club Pick

Maria Hummel’s Still Lives masterfully intertwines the intrigue of a classic “whodunit” with a sharp critique of America’s morbid fascination with violence against women. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles’s art world, the novel follows Maggie Richter, a museum editor thrust into a murder mystery when artist Kim Lord vanishes on the night of her career-defining exhibition. Lord’s provocative series of self-portraits, depicting herself as famous murdered women, brutally highlights the public’s obsession with female victims—especially when beauty is involved.Hummel provocatively explores how media and society sensationalize brutal crimes against women, making them spectacles rather than tragedies. The novel suggests that the more beautiful or socially prominent the victim, the more compelling the narrative becomes. This theme resonates through the eerie art installations and the unfolding mystery, blending psychological suspense with cultural critique.Still Lives excels as both a gripping thriller and a thoughtful social commentary. Its layered narrative keeps readers on edge while provoking uncomfortable questions about gender, power, and media voyeurism. Hummel’s elegant prose and keen insight into societal dynamics make this novel a compelling and thought-provoking read that lingers long after the last page.

I read this as part of the library’s reading challenge. I was not impressed. Maggie was an annoying main character that made incredibly stupid decisions. Her bad choices were what forced the book along, but they lacked any logic or believability. There wasn’t even a “happy” ending. It was just an ennui filled wasteland homage to LA.

I tend to read non-fiction or historical fiction, but I was in the mood for something different. I enjoy the mini series produced by Reese Witherspoon so bought this not knowing or caring what it was about. As a survivor of assault when I was young it didn’t take me long to get drawn into the sad reality of our culture of female violence. I think this work is well written, interesting and thought provoking. I rarely read a book in a few days. I did this one.

Like it or not, "art" is a commercialised industry that relies upon professional curators of taste and wealthy elitists. In STILL LIVES Hummel sympathizes with artists striving to convey personal and societal truths and find success (?) in a manipulative, sycophantic cocoon. The protagonist and her colleagues, the staff of a Los Angeles art museum, work hard to promote the institution's goals while leading lives replete with the on-going demands of being women in a challenging, vibrant, good/bad metropolitan city. The plot revolves around the museum's current show, a mind-blowing depiction of horrible, bloody sensationalized murders of women (e.g., The Black Dahlia, Nichole Simpson). Strongly political, the paintings, like the author, expound feminist themes ad nauseum , believing their audiences incapable of understanding the relationship between the objectification of women and the violence perpetrated against our sisters. But... the mystery is worth the propagandizing. The artist does not show up for the gala opening of her exhibit. She was being stalked and exploited. Who wanted to hurt her? When Hummel steps down from the soapbox and shows us real people, her characters are friendly and engaging. She anchors the reader solidly in L.A. with a well-crafted plot and a satisfying resolution.

I bought this ebook thinking it was going to be about famous "still life" paintings, but discovered an intriguing mystery thriller instead. Told from the first person perspective, the mystery, the suspense, and an eerie feeling of danger and dread quietly sneaks up on you. Suddenly, you trust nothing you read, and you suspect everyone! You are afraid to keep reading, but you can't put it down til you know the truth. If you like a good old fashioned film noir style mystery/thriller, you can't go wrong with this deliciously modern version.