The Masterminds by Olivia Wildenstein

Certified-fresh, gripping and mind-blowing. 

The Masterminds by Olivia Wildenstein has blown me away.

Before I write about anything else, I’d like to rave about my experience while reading The Masterminds.

This novel is fine and prime example of how one book can be more powerful than reading a dragged-out story in parts (read series) and the painful time every reader dreads to kill while waiting for the next installment. I have nothing against series, but when 

something as dominant as The Masterminds comes along the way, I believe I’m converted; and I haven’t even read the first book, yet.

​The Masterminds is told from the perspective of Brook and Josh.

Josh is trying to nail the Discoli family down which leads him to Brook, who fronts as a judge of a famous competition while behind the scenes, he is doing things he’s not supposed to. Both of them are trying to save who they love the most. Ivy and Aster, the twins from the first novel are tangled in this mess and the story moves forward with a pace that had me biting my nails till I didn't have any left.

Olivia Wildenstein is a fine craftswoman of words. She weaved a story so gripping and profoundly moving, giving each and every character a powerful motive to make The Mastermindswhole. What surprised me even more is how she didn’t usedetailed sex scenes as a common literary device I’ve come across these days that many authors use to shove the plot forward and stretch the words count to a painful extent. She knows which genre she’s writing for and how to present it well. Her writing is simple because the complexities lie in her characters and the dense plot. She is a true mastermind in devising crisp sentences that don’t come across robotic.

In addition to this, I liked that Olivia Wildenstein didn’t overdo the descriptions of settings and places because I tend to skip those paragraphs altogether. I hate reading about the color of the drapes and the cracks on the wall unless it's coming from Agatha Christie. Do you catch my drift? Descriptions can be poetic, but can also ruin the story if the writing is sloppy. That's where some readers like me struggle to connect with the characters. I agree, some of the readers might disagree with me on this. But, give The Masterminds a chance and see for yourself how clever Olivia Wildenstein’s writing actually is. Even without the flowery descriptions, I could relate to the characters, their stories, fears and insecurities.

I also appreciate her writing more because every time I tried guessing the mystery of the missing diamonds, I was proved wrong. I loved the fact how Olivia Wildenstein didn’t describe Diana’s physical attributes at first when she talks to Brook and carefully unwraps her in another scene in the future when I kept racking my head wondering who is the woman Josh is describing, using her physical attributes. The way this author created doubt in my mind in every chapter and scene was spectacular.

The ending was gut-wrenching and I did not see that coming. Olivia Wildenstein, you knocked the wind out of me using a sledgehammer.

How could you?

Although, I do believe it was not easy for you to write it as well. Maybe that’s why the chapter was short and a tough one. I went back to reading it twice before I could grasp what happened and what I read was actually what it meant.

Before I forget, here are my favorite quotes from the book:

Unfortunately, I’ve learned that sometimes you’ll love people who won’t love you back, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

&

My other half.
My sweeter half.
My shattered half. 

& one more….

To me, Ivy and Aster are two parts of the same person. In the womb, a person’s right arm doesn’t grow sooner than the left. 

I’m a fan and am looking forward to read more of Olivia Wildenstein’s works of art.

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