BOOK DESCRIPTION release date: June 17th, 2025
On a full moon night in Rotterdam, three Dutch thieves break into the Kunsthal museum and steal four paintings—including two Monets, a Picasso, and Woman with Closed Eyes. Inspired by the real 2012 art heist, this literary thriller follows British MI-6 agent Kit Hobbs, who is unexpectedly assigned to the case. A tip leads him to Sagaponack, New York, where the Monets may be hidden in the bunker of a Russian mobster with a beach house—and a taste for stolen masterpieces.
Just down the beach, Perrin Clayton—daughter of a once-famous abstract expressionist painter—is newly married to art-world superstar Jack Triplett. Their glamorous Hamptons life dazzles from the outside, but something vital is missing. When Kit, whose connection is Jack’s gallerist, meets Perrin at a party in the Russian’s home, he notices the mobster’s fascination with her—and devises a risky plan to draw her into his investigation.
Meanwhile, the thieves are on the run, their alliance unraveling. As Kit and Perrin are pulled deeper into each other’s lives, and a hurricane barrels toward the coast, the fate of Woman with Eyes Closed hangs in the balance—along with their own uncertain futures.
PRAISE for Woman with Eyes Closed release date: June 17th, 2025
“…Woman with Eyes Closed will longingly resonate, recalling a time before luxe building and big money art acquisitions came to dominate a once vital artist’s community. And the novel has—no spoiler alert—a lovely ending.”
Joan Baum, Sag Harbor Express
“A compelling suspense novel, Woman with Eyes Closed explores the contrasting lives of the wealthy living in opulence and the desperate actions of the underprivileged longing for a way out. Matthiessen weaves art into the narrative, increasing the reader’s appreciation of it, while creating deep emotion responses, particularly in regard to the titular painting. Balanced and steady, the parallel story lines kept this reader’s interest by introducing diverse characters from contrasting worlds that never meet but are equally compelling. The intertwining subplots created a sense of intrigue that never flagged. This novel delves into themes of relationships, romance, trust, money, and crime, making it a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries.
Readers’ Favorite, Angelique Papayannopoulos, 5 Stars