Book Review: Lucien
Lucien by J.R. Thornton will be published on March 17, 2026 in the United States.
Lucien feels like a psychological thriller with a hint of dark academia and a deep dive into the world of art forgery.
Christopher Novotny comes from humble beginnings. His parents are Czech immigrants to America, but after his dad passes away, he spends most of his life with his mother as a single parent. Early on, Chris shows artistic promise, and painter and soon-to-be mentor named Marcus helps Chris develop into a painting prodigy. While some of Chris’ paintings sell as a teen, the dealings of a shady art dealer leave Chris and his mom without much to show for them. Marcus, a fellow painter and his mentor, helps Chris get into Harvard, and a fresh start and golden opportunities seem possible.
Art Prodigy Goes to Harvard
At first, Chris is intimidated by the other students at Harvard, yet he is determined to stay focused on his art and goals. Yet his new roommate Lucien, a charming, manipulative, and suave student of potentially, vaguely European origins, draws Chris into the fast life of parties, drugs, and exclusive clubs at Harvard. Lucien is unnerving but charismatic; he convinces Chris to go by a new name, “Atlas,” to seem more interesting the first day they meet. As time passes, the stories and lies surrounding Lucien begin to swirl and Lucien becomes more and more erratic and unstable. Their lives intertwine and unravel, but readers can’t look away. The pacing was fast and the characters were fascinating.
What’s a little art forgery between friends?
Chris is drawn into a new way of life, almost losing the trust of his mom, Marcus, and his love interest, Harriet, as he follows Lucien into the depths of shady art forgery dealings. One or two harmless art forgeries to make pocket money seem like no big deal, until the stakes get higher and Lucien becomes unstable and even dangerous.
My Thoughts
Throughout the book, I could see why Chris was tempted to join the rich kids who seem like they are living the dream; it was almost sad how much he wanted to fit in. I was also very interested in the process of art forgery. The novel shared some stories of real art forgers and the methods used to do things like age canvases, forge documents, choose appropriate paint colors, and trick appraisers and auction houses. If you like art history and true crime blended with a psychological thriller, you should add Lucien to your TBR.
If you liked…
Comparisons to The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith and The Secret History by Donna Tartt are not unfounded; I found the vibes similar, if not the plots…While reading Lucien, I had the same uneasy feeling but fascination to know more that I felt while reading those other novels.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
