The Weighing of the Heart by Paul Tudor Owen was a fascinating look at the psychological ramifications of crime on two young souls brought together in the Big Apple. 

Nick Braeburn, in need of a place to stay, is directed to the Peacock sisters by their nephew. They have a small room in their sprawling flat, and need a part-time caretaker as they travel back and forth between a second residence. Another tenant, Lydia, lives in a small apartment nearby. As the two grow slowly closer to one another, drawn together by a love of art and Egypt, they plot to steal their landladies’ prize Hazlemere painting called ‘The Weighing of the Heart’, replacing it with a reprint. They sell it on the black market for way less than it’s true value, yet still a princely sum to two young ‘starving artist’ types. 

Ultimately, this is a story about a descent into jealousy, paranoia, obsession, and desperation. I loved the symbolism of the painting stolen and the subsequent downspiral the characters took. For me, it resonated with my personal spiritual beliefs- that we provide our own judgement to ourselves. The Egyptian aspects are what really lured me in, as they appeal to the archaeologist in me, who loves Egyptology and Egyptian myth. Thanks to this, I ended up being inspired to create the below picture.  

The beginning felt a little slow to me, but still kept me engaged. I was quickly invested in the psychology of the story, the toll the characters actions took on themselves and one another. And the ending! That was just perfect. It took me off guard, yet looking back, I see all the early hints pointing to the true nature of one particular character. Highly recommended if you want an engaging psychological read!

***Many thanks to the author for providing a hardcopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for R & R Blog Tours.