Cosy Crime
No Oil Painting by Genevieve Marenghi is a contemporary cosy crime novel that will grab your attention from the start.
The novel is set in the National Trust property of Ham House, where the author volunteers her time. As such, her knowledge is vast. Comprehensive descriptions enable the reader to ‘walk’ through the house and gardens.
The volunteers are mainly women and elderly. The lead character is in her seventies and feels passed over and unseen. This is a distinct advantage when it comes to committing the perfect crime. There is forward planning but the heist does not run smoothly.
The whole novel is light-hearted. There is a friendly banter between the characters which makes them easily relatable and likable. There is much tongue-in-cheek humour, and I loved the reference to old television programmes such as Porridge.
No Oil Painting is a perfect read for a grey autumnal day. It would make a marvellous early evening television series and is highly entertaining.
I received a free copy from the author for a blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
No Oil Painting
A respectable septuagenarian steals a valuable painting and later tries to return it, with a little help from her friends.
Bored National Trust volunteer, Maureen, steals an obscure still life as a giant up-yours to all those who’ve discounted her. The novice fine art thief is rumbled by some fellow room guides, but snitches get stitches, camaraderie wins out and instead of grassing her up, they decide to help.
Often written off as an insipid old fart, Maureen has a darker side, challenging ingrained ideas of how senior citizens should behave. Her new set of friends make her feel alive again. No longer quite so invisible, can this unlikely pensioner gang return the now infamous painting without being caught by the Feds?
I wrote this after hearing a radio interview in which an art detective revealed how a stolen Titian was dumped at a bus stop outside Richmond station. In a red, white and blue plastic bag! I just couldn’t shake such a compelling image. I volunteered at Ham House for many years, and my passion for this Jacobean gem, together with the volunteers’ indomitable spirit, gave birth to my unlikely anti-hero.
With over five million members, the National Trust is a huge British institution. Yet, next to nothing has been written about it in terms of contemporary fiction. Until now.
While No Oil Painting explores themes of insignificance and loneliness in older age, particularly for women, it is mainly intended to entertain and offer a small haven in dark, uncertain times.
Purchase Links
UK Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Oil-Painting-Genevieve-Marenghi-ebook/dp/B0FNLWTCBS/
UK Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Oil-Painting-Genevieve-Marenghi/dp/1917224125/
US Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/No-Oil-Painting-Genevieve-Marenghi-ebook/dp/B0FNLWTCBS/
US Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/No-Oil-Painting-Genevieve-Marenghi/dp/1917224125/
Author Bio –
With a BA in English and Philosophy, Genevieve worked for eleven years at the Weekend FT, where she helped create and launch How To Spend It magazine.
She volunteered for years as a National Trust guide at Ham House. This became the setting for her debut art heist novel, No Oil Painting, which was listed for the inaugural Women’s Prize Trust and Curtis Brown Discoveries, and was published by Burton Mayers Books on 10th October 2025.
Her writing uses dark humour to probe the difference between our perception of people and their true selves. The gulf between what is said and what is meant. She considers people watching an essential skill for any writer; overheard snippets of conversation or a bonkers exchange at a bus stop are like gold nuggets. She’s been known to follow people to catch the end of a juicy conversation or argument. Women aged over fifty are essentially invisible anyhow and she views this as a kind of superpower.
Unlike her protagonist Maureen, she hasn’t used this to commit art theft. Yet.
Social Media Links –
https://www.instagram.com/genevievemarenghi
https://www.threads.com/@genevievemarenghi
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Giveaway to Win National Trust chocolate, and a Ham House towel and fridge magnet (Open to UK Only)
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