Tom Gillespie

In the words of the lovable Forrest Gump, I didn't know what I was going to get...only this wasn't with a box of chocolates, but with each turn of the page! Moving paintings, disappearing wives, and a Welsh-speaking Spanish bus driver are just part of what make up this extraordinary and gripping novel.

Jacob Boyce, an Earth scientist and university professor, is fixated by a 17th-century painting in his local art gallery, much to the exasperation of his wife and his university employer. By carefully, and somewhat obsessively, observing the painting and measuring angles and dimensions within, he firmly believes it is ‘moving’. Despite the pleas of his wife, Ella, to desist from his obsession, he continues to indulge in his compulsion. When Ella goes missing, and he follows her to Spain where he believes she is, or has been taken, chance encounters and too much alcohol send him headlong into intrigue, mystery, and a multitude of unanswered questions. What’s the link between the disappearance of his wife and his firm belief he has uncovered some sort of code in the painting?

This was a superbly crafted novel. Jacob, although intelligent, almost geekish even, was a character I just didn't take to initially—his compulsion and neglect of his wife was unreasonable and somewhat annoying at first and I didn't find myself drawn to him at all. But everything changes in the last part of the book. It wasn’t totally unexpected; you find yourself in limbo between normality and surrealism in the first part of the book, never quite knowing which is which or what the next page is going to bring, but it’s what makes the ending so spectacular and so contrastingly poignant.

A brilliant psychological thriller.… (plus d'informations)

An unusual contemporary psychological thriller with hints of the supernatural and even some horror set in the art world, the action taking place in Glasgow, Barcelona and Madrid.

This is a strange book indeed! I didn’t know quite what to make of it and I’m still trying to make sense of it now. There were too many mathematical and scientific equations for me. Maths is not my strong point so a lot of it went over my head. It also went off at a tangent at times and I ended up a little confused. There were some Sliding Doors meets Shutter Island moments. However, it is well written and although it it peaked and troughed for me, I think it was very imaginative and visionary. Just not my cup of tea at the end of the day.… (plus d'informations)

Blurb:
Day after day, Jacob Boyce – faltering academic and failing husband – visits a 17th century allegorical painting which hangs in a Glasgow art gallery. By using a series of measurements and calculations, he attempts to create a mathematical theory that will decipher the code locked into its canvas.

As more of the painting’s hidden secrets are revealed, and he meets a mysterious young woman, Jacob’s life spirals into chaos.

The object of his obsession has begun to move.

Painting by Numbers is a dark, surreal thriller that follows one man’s relentless pursuit into an old truth buried deep within.

My Thoughts:
Have you ever read a book that makes you want to read it all over again once you get through to the end? Painting by Numbers is just such a book. I read the last page and I immediately wanted to start over again so I can see if there was anything that pointed to the shocking ending.

From the opening scene I was sucked into the story and was eagerly turning the pages. Jacob is such a tragic character and even though you can see where his downward spiral is heading you can't help but hope that things turn around for him. When they don't your left guessing how he pulls himself out of the mess he's made.

It's been a couple of weeks since I finished Painting by Numbers and the ending still haunts me. I recommend this one for anyone who loves a shocking suspense thriller.… (plus d'informations)