As I come back from summer vacation (all of Texas has been cooking y’all!), I’m happy to come home to my books and my creaky old farmhouse in the woods. I’m also excited for the school year to start, to help my seven-year-old channel all that surplus energy into something more constructive (crossing my fingers lol). Part of my routine is writing and reading in equal measure. Which brings me back around to the amazing For the Minds and Wills of Men by Jeff Lanier. Keep reading to learn more about this fantastic historical fiction + my thoughts on the matter. Happy reading!
FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN
by Jeff Lanier
Mystery / Art History
Publisher: Boyle & Dalton
Date of Publication: October 16, 2022
Number of Pages: 310 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!
A gripping, historical art mystery set in 1950s New York, For the Minds and Wills of Men is a story of art, love, and Cold War fear, suspicion, and betrayal.
MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client’s daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left…
With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.
PRAISE FOR FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN
2023 INDIEREADER AWARD WINNER: 1ST PLACE FICTION
“Lanier brilliantly evokes the energy and excitement of the New York art world in this Cold War thriller with an artistic twist. Along the way, he gives us fascinating insights into Abstract Expressionism and the power of art to communicate values and ideas.” –Ross King, Acclaimed art historian and New York Times bestselling author of The Judgment of Paris, Brunelleschi’s Dome, and Michelangelo and The Pope’s Ceiling.
Click to Purchase!
Amazon │Barnes & Noble │ Bookshop.org
“Everyone has something to lose. What makes you any different? Stand up for what’s right.”
What do Communism, Jackson Pollock, and a World War 2 vet turned insurance worker have in common? Plenty, if you’re willing to dive into the spellbinding mystery-drama, For the Minds and Wills of Men.
Once upon a time in 1950s New York City, a painting by an up-and-coming Jackson Pollock is stolen. On the surface, this seems like a small affair. Post-war American economy is booming, and the country craves peace and stability their government can provide. It’s what men like Will Oxley fought for, but his love of art came after the battles were over. Art became a way for Will to decompress, to refocus, and it’s why he’s takes the case of a missing Pollock seriously. Will may not get the abstract movement, but he admires the passion of the artists and their patrons, like the beautiful Liz Bower. But a minor theft is only the tip of the iceberg, and Will is likely to drown unless he can uncover the true powers battling for control in “the city that never sleeps.”
“Unlike paintings, his investigation presented no clear lines, no distinct colors. Everything had become different shades of gray, blurring together with no beginning or end.”
Much like Will Oxley, I never really understood the appeal of abstract art. Having studied the subject through high school and college, I dreaded visits to the modern art museum, and much preferred the lush romanticism of Impressionism. But author Jeff Lanier has gifted me with a fresh appreciation for the genius behind the madness. Like a true artist, Lanier is out to make us take a second look at the purpose and meaning behind the art. His canvas is the Red Scare of the 50s, and his choice of narrator helps shape our perspective. Lanier’s characters, Will Oxley in particular, helped set up the context of the time and mindset of the people while holding up a mirror for our introspection.
There are layers upon layers being drawn here, with witch hunts and misuse of the press, of psychological warfare that eerily echos the events of our present. With vivid detail and crisp prose, Lanier sucks the reader into the grit of the streets: the sights and smells of the city, the love and passions of its people. There’s plenty of action and grit, plenty of romance, and plenty of art to sink your teeth into.
“Painting isn’t confined to what you see. It’s what’s behind it, what’s in it—the emotion, the anger, the pain, the love.”
Meet Jeff Lanier
Jeff Lanier is an award-winning author. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and art history at The University of Texas, Austin, with a focus on the History of American Culture through Art and Literature. He has a master’s from Rice University, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, and currently lives in Houston with his wife and three children.
◆ WEBSITE ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ AMAZON ◆ GOODREADS ◆
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER:
Autographed hardcover copy of
For the Minds and Wills of Men
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/4/23)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly:
| 07/25/23 | The Book’s Delight | Review |
| 07/25/23 | Boys’ Mom Reads | Review |
| 07/25/23 | Hall Ways Blog | BONUS Stop |
| 07/26/23 | Shelf Life Blog | Excerpt |
| 07/26/23 | Writing and Music | Review |
| 07/26/23 | LSBBT Blog | BONUS Stop |
| 07/27/23 | It’s Not All Gravy | Review |
| 07/28/23 | Chapter Break Book Blog | Scrapbook Page |
| 07/28/23 | Rox Burkey Blog | Review |
| 07/29/23 | Jennie Reads | Review |
| 07/30/23 | StoreyBook Reviews | Excerpt |
| 07/31/23 | The Clueless Gent | Review |
| 08/01/23 | Forgotten Winds | Book Club Kit |
| 08/01/23 | Rainy Days with Amanda | Review |
| 08/02/23 | Reading by Moonlight | Review |
| 08/03/23 | Jennifer Silverwood | Review |
| 08/03/23 | The Plain-Spoken Pen | Review |
Jennifer Silverwood 
nice review
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Thank you, Jennifer, for the great review! I’m so glad you liked it and I love the passages you selected to highlight.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey Jeff, thank you so much for the opportunity! Your novel was fantastic, exactly the sort of thing my grandpa (WW2 vet & former P.I. in old Ft. Worth, TX) would have loved 😀 Looking forward to reading more of your work!
LikeLike