The Portrait of Molly Dean cover art

The Portrait of Molly Dean

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Portrait of Molly Dean

By: Katherine Kovacic
Narrated by: Casey Withoos
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

About this listen

In 1999, art dealer Alex Clayton stumbles across a lost portrait of Molly Dean, an artist’s muse brutally slain in Melbourne in 1930. Alex buys the painting and sets out to uncover more details, but finds there are strange inconsistencies: Molly’s mother seemed unconcerned by her daughter’s violent death, the main suspect was never brought to trial despite compelling evidence and vital records are missing. Alex enlists the help of her close friend, art conservator John Porter, and together they sift through the clues and deceptions that swirl around the last days of Molly Dean.

©2018 Katherine Kovacic (P)2020 W F Howes Crime Fiction Historical Mystery
All stars
Most relevant  
I’ve listened to all the Alex Clayton art mysteries now (in reverse order!) and this is a classic. More moody perhaps, more of a traditional murder mystery but structured in an interesting way. I liked that the narrative is told across two timelines, Molly Dean’s and Alex Clayton’s; both bold, strong, intelligent and interesting women. It’s unlike any story I’ve heard in that way. The hero and victim merge into one somehow through these voices. Or perhaps it’s more true to say the victim, the subject, the object herself becomes the hero. The writing is beautiful and skilful, the references to art and Melbourne are delightful (especially to this Melbourne artist!) but it’s the realism of the characters and their imperfect and charm (perhaps Hogarth whom I love the most) that makes these SO addictive!!

I’m not sure what I’m going to do now - apart from write to the author and beg her for more!!

These deserve an international audience.

The performance was exceptional too and I will happily relisten.

A Classic - with an intelligent, arty twist.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.