Maestra

By: L. S. Hilton

Narrated by: Emilia Fox

The instant New York Times best seller and the perfect listen for fans of Killing Eve

The best of Skimm Reads 2016

“One of this year’s most talked about novels.” (The Washington Post)

“A twenty-first-century femme fatale as lethal as Tom Ripley and as seductive as Bacall.” (Vogue)

A put-upon assistant at a prestigious London art house, Judith Rashleigh is well-educated, well-groomed, and impeccably behaved - keeping the darker desires she indulges on nights off as her own little secret.

But when Judith uncovers a dangerous heist, her life is shattered and she’s forced to run. Armed with just her wits and a talent for self-invention, she makes her way from the French Riviera to Geneva, Rome, and the nightclubs of Paris, determined to take back what is rightfully hers.

The beginning of a darkly irresistible trilogy, Maestra follows the rise of Judith, a woman whose vulnerability and ruthlessness have left listeners worldwide begging to know: Where do you go when you've gone too far?

©2016 L. S. Hilton (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A radical heroine. She deploys a uniquely female arsenal...weaponizing femininity.... It’s hard not to feel vicariously empowered by a woman unapologetically in pursuit. Let’s call her the Sheryl Sandberg of sociopaths, leaning in to the hilt.” (O, The Oprah Magazine)

“One of this year’s most talked-about novels.... More mayhem, more art—and certainly more sex - lie ahead for insatiable Judith.” (The Washington Post)

“This year's most erotic novel.... Unapologetic, confident and quite the sociopath, protagonist Judith Rashleigh is no Anastasia Steele.”(New York Post)

Performance is amazing!

Definitely racy parts - just a heads up since I wasn't expecting that, but they were great in the story. I listened going back and forth from work and I couldn't wait to get in my car to hear what was next. Never a dull minute from beginning to end. The best part was Emilia Fox's performance. She did an incredible job of capturing the essence of every character and exactly the right tone and mood of every step of the story. I think she really made the story so interesting to listen to. I will be looking for others she has done. I recommend this for readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, and aren't offended by erotica. Enjoy!

Bonk

"Maestra" is more than erotica. It's like watching those movies that you rent in your hotel room after dark. For some odd reason, the graphic sex, murder and art heist all works. The story doesn't really flow together in any form, but after she bonks her clients for her pleasure, the scene shifts to something else. I would not listen to the reader when you are driving because the sex might lead you at having an accident. It would be funny in the police report that the wreck was caused from an audiobook. "Maestra" is better than anything that you can get on pay per view.

Take it for what it is

I actually enjoyed 50 shades of gray and read the twilight series as if my life depended on it. I love a story that sucks me in and this one did. Some parts were predictable but I loved it and can't wait for the next!

Good thriller but plot has holes that need filling

The graphic sex depictions seem thrown in but don't seem to add to the plot, The main story of swapping and stealing art is good but the character takes leaps of knowledge that is not told to you and then acts on it. It leave you at times wondering if you missed something in the telling. If looking for an erotic thriller, the it is erotic at times to the over the top gross end.

Hot hot hot

The Skimm said it best "The European art world mixes with an underground world. This thriller is like 'The Talented Mr Ripley' meets 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Good Grief could you be anymore pretentious?

it was a good plot, but the constant name dropping (every handbag, shoe, blouse. newspaper) became very tedious. Towards the end I just wanted it to be over. I kept thinking this author has got to be such a snotty jerk.

Interesting twists from sex to murder

Although originally lured in by my interest in art, I thought perhaps when the sex scenes popped up I had entered a new version of "fifty shades" but when murder came into play I decided to go on. This profile of a female serial killer is interesting, and looks like is first of a series?

Murder, art and sex

A young , talented art graduate comes to the complex world of art galleries in London and gradually turns into a serial killer. The storyline is captivating, moving from Mayfair to South of France, Rome and then Paris. It could have been an interesting and pleasant reading with the glamour of exotic places, the complexity of art business and the excitement of unusual sex situations. But the underlying depth of characters is thin and basic, the plot not always consistent and believable and the -sex at times - a turnoff. It is a first book and it shows.
Hopefully the second book will more mature and fluid, with more enjoyable characters.

Good, sexy story of a murderess

i thought the story was good. I enjoyed that the sex was not over done. However I feel there was a couple chapters missing after James, it seemed she turned into this greedy monster out of no where. Despite that, I'm interested to see what a sequel will bring.

Just ok.

So much hype with this book is truly expected more, but it passed the time & the narrator was fabulous enough to keep me hooked..