The Master Craftsman
Set in part during the final years of Romanov rule, the novel delves into the world of Karl Fabergé and his magnificent eggs. The story gives an intimate look at life in early 1900s Russia from the perspective of a craftsman who was neither peasant nor a member of the imperial family. After Karl witnesses the carnage at Nevsky Prospect in 1905, he struggles to reconcile what he knows of both worlds and his role in them. As the Russian Revolution progresses, this precarious position ultimately results in the downfall of the House of Fabergé and the scattering of the meticulously crafted eggs made for the Romanov family for more than thirty years.
In modern-day Florida, Ava is longing for something more in her life than her boring job as a waitress when her mother calls with the news that her estranged father is dying and wants to see her one last time. Ava, along with her mother and the overly keen boy next door, end up taking on her father’s final treasure hunt: searching for a missing Fabergé egg that no knew existed. The search takes a dangerous turn and reveals some surprising secrets along the way.
The historical narrative is rich in detail and layered with complex characters. It could easily have held a reader’s attention for a full standalone narrative. The modern-day thread is a bit predictable and occasionally stretches believability. That said, it is still an enjoyable read and does a good job of weaving in the mystery of the past.
