CALPURNIA
Anne Scott
Knopf
Fiction
ISBN: 0375413804

The once grand Philadelphia mansion called Calpurnia is the setting for Anne Scott's first novel, CALPURNIA. She writes in the present tense and in the viewpoint of the character who predominates each chapter. The lead character is Elisabeth Oliver, a professional hired to conduct an estate sale for the family of deceased artist Maribel Davies. From the onset, Elisabeth is challenged by the assorted family members and by the mansion itself.

There are parallels between Elisabeth's life and that of the deceased artist. Divorce, adultery, struggles for economic stability, parenthood, and love for art are ties that bind her to Maribel's life. However, Elisabeth's stability contrasts to Maribel's Bohemian lifestyle. In the course of collecting and pricing the myriad of items in the house, Elisabeth discovers ghosts from the artist's past life that continue to haunt the present.

The heirs each have their own agenda for discovery. Nina, niece and executor, has the ability to wield the most power from the sale, but she has much to lose as well from dark discovery. Cody, Maribel's wayward son, stands to give up his heritage and birthright if Calpurnia is sold and becomes a museum. He uses deception to gain entrance to his childhood home after Nina changes door locks. His unlawful entrance and theft sets off a reaction that halts the sale. It is taken for granted that Cody is the intruder. The reader is cheated by the low-key reaction from the other heirs.

Neighbor Peg had the closest relationship to Maribel, but she is seen as a nosey obstacle. She is the sole champion to the dispossessed son, linked to him by his friendship to her own dead son. It is unclear what caused Mikey's death, but it's a nagging question. Similar doubts remain breaths of wind that waft into and out of the story. Did Maribel die from natural causes or from a drug overdose? She had been racked with pain from cancer before her death.

Her art, finished and unfinished, is the predominant subject in CALPURNIA. Though touted as having possibilities for greatness, she spurns the professional limelight while alive. Her affair with renowned portrait artist Lipscomb is the source of conjecture and investigation after her death. The discovery of erotic art and the subsequent question of its origin becomes Elisabeth's obsession.

CALPURNIA is more character-driven than plot-directed. There is little dialogue, much detail and more introspection from the characters. CALPURNIA makes a drafty estate that has outlived its glory days the object of emotion in Scott's story. Before its conclusion, one cares more about the future of the mansion than about the desires of its characters. Elisabeth pursues her instincts and eases family dilemmas. No real mystery is solved and numerous ends remain untied.

   --- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad

• Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.