Artifacts

A repatriation case against a New York City museum forces a lawyer to revisit troubling memories from her college summer abroad in Lemle’s suspenseful debut. The Italian government is seeking the return of an ancient cup made from rare glass that it claims was looted from a Roman villa. The investigation into the cup’s provenance resurrects memories that estate lawyer Lena has largely suppressed of the summer she spent on an archaeological dig in the Italian Alps 18 years prior, during which her professor, Cyrille, disappeared. In alternating chapters, readers see a 19-year-old Lena fall in love and under the sway of a mysterious local. As multiple people from that summer converge in present-day New York City during Lena’s investigation, she confronts her own complicity in the sprawling market for antiquities, which encompasses criminals and preservationists alike. Along the way, Lemle sharply interrogates notions of cultural heritage and ownership (“Museums are mausoleums built to house the spoils of a bunch of rich people”). Keeping track of the overly complex cast of characters can be challenging, and the unrelated subplots on Lena’s upbringing slow the pace. Still, armchair travelers will enjoy themselves. Agent: Sabrina Taitz, WME. (May)