History said she was just a man’s muse. History was wrong. The exquisite new novel from bestselling author Natasha Lester.
In November 1973, a fashion legend vanished, leaving behind only a white silk dress and the question: what really happened to Astrid Bricard?
Paris, 1917: Parentless sixteen-year-old Mizza Bricard makes a vow: to be remembered on her own terms. This promise drives her and her designs through the most exclusive couture houses in France until, finally, a legend is created – one that will endure for generations to come, but not the one she wanted.
New York, 1970: Designer Astrid Bricard arrives in bohemian Chelsea ready to change the fashion world. And she does – but cast in the role of muse to her lover, Hawk Jones. Just as Astrid’s star is finally poised to ascend in its own right, she mysteriously disappears, leaving her family in tatters and perpetuating the infamous Bricard family myth.
French Countryside, Present Day: Blythe Bricard is the daughter of fashion’s most infamous 70s power couple, but she turned her back on that world, and her passion for it, years ago. Fate, however, has other plans, and in a chateau over a whirlwind couple of weeks, Blythe will discover there is more to her iconic mother and grandmother – and herself – than she ever knew.
These three generations now have one chance to prove themselves. Can the women of the Bricard fashion dynasty finally rewrite their history?
Natasha Lester exudes old-school style, both in real life and in her bestselling books. I always feel like I’m transported back in time, reconnecting with my love of those authors from the 1980s whose stories exuded glamour: think Judith Krantz and Shirley Conran. Lester is the modern-day equivalent. Her novels are captivating, filled with gorgeous women, set in fabulous locations, and imbued with secrets and intrigue. I grabbed this latest knowing for sure I was set to be immersed in a world so very different from my own over the weekend. And I was.
The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is the tale of three women across three timelines, and very much set amidst the world of high fashion. It oozes glitz and glam, but Lester doesn’t just rely on that to appeal. Her writing sings as she explores important themes such as trauma, injustice and gender inequality, particularly in the fashion industry. It’s the 1970s, so we’re delving into the Vietnam War, disco and the feminist movement – there is always a feminist bent to Lester’s novels.
Lester is an author at the top of her game here – this is her best yet. Existing fans will adore this novel, complete with some delightful appearances from past characters. New readers will be looking for Lester’s backlist. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is fabulous.
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