May 2025 Book Review: The Miniaturist’s Assistant

Book by: Katherine Scott Crawford
Review by: Dr. Wendy Hooper-Meletes, Ed.D., owner of Litchfield Books

In this endeavor, Katherine’s historical fiction novel contains so many of the things I love to find in the pages of a novel–mystery, romance, art history, and strong, if vulnerable, women. The English tradition of small-scale portrait images was initiated in the 1520s where artists painted on parchment or ivory using inks, and precious metals like gold to create the illustrations and valuable works of art. The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a dual timeline story, set in 2004 and 1804 Charleston.

Art conservator Gamble Vance tries to figure out why a miniature portrait in her museum’s collection looks so familiar. One hot Charleston night, at the far end of Stoll’s brick lined Alley a girl in a 1800’s dress was hanging around the flickering gas lit lamp summoning Gamble to come back. Her story seeps into her bones and Gamble is convinced she’s the woman draped in a fox stole in one the museum portraits. Meanwhile, Gamble is reckoning with her recent divorce and the possibility of something more in her friendship with her handsome, friend, Tolliver. Toll helps Gamble travel across centuries to set things straight with Daniel the portrait miniaturist artist. Daniel needs to finish the portrait of Charleston’s high society including General Lafayette, who in this story is dashing, brave and intensely patriotic. But Gambles presence in Daniel’s studio as his assistant puts everything at risk. Steamy nineteenth century passion allows her time travel there long and complicated. Will Daniel savor her or love her enough to let her go so he can paint the rest of the images in the portrait… History, creativity, love, and time itself spin through Gamble’s world, leading her to truths she didn’t know she was looking for.

Katherine Crawford’s love of history, as well as her background in journalism and academia, informed the research for this book. As a native South Carolinian, she includes the details of everything from the miniature portraitist’s tools to the interiors of the Charleston homes. Her love for the city comes from personal experience.

Come meet Katherine Crawford on Friday May 23, 2025 at Caffe Piccolo in Pawleys Island for an Exclusive Litchfield Books Author Luncheon. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.litchfieldbooks.com/events