“The Things We Don't Say” by Ella Carey – The Inauthentic Testament

The lives we live, in the end, often boil down into nothing but a series of memories we dearly hold on to. What would happen though, if one day near the end, a shadow of doubt was cast on all you believed to be true about yourself?

This is precisely a predicament the ninety-year-old Emma Temple finds herself in Ella Carey's The Things We Don't Say. The most important thing she has left from her husband is the painting he made of her many years ago... and it has just been declared an inauthentic fraud.

Ella Carey Present Life in a Painting

Most of us don't really enjoy thinking about what our lives might amount to at the very end, but the reality, perhaps a tad sad, is most of our journeys will become memories. Over the years many events and people pass us by without leaving any lasting trace to remember them by, only the workings of our own minds.

For this reason, many of us cherish the truly unique and special objects to which we attribute a personal symbolism and emotional value, objects which stand as a testament to a segment of our lives.

But what if, one day in our old age, we were to discover one such testament to be a lie? How far would we really go to find out the truth about ourselves?

This is precisely the question Emma Temple is asking herself in Ella Carey's The Things We Don't Say.

The novel introduces us to the afore-mentioned Emma, a bohemian in her youth, now ninety years of age with a granddaughter, Laura, attending a prestigious music school.

She was once in great love with a renowned London artist, Patrick Adams, who made a painting of her to commemorate their love for each other... a painting which today hangs in Emma's country home and serves as collateral for Laura's tuition.

On one fateful day, however, an appraiser declares the painting to actually be a fraud, not only putting at risk Laura's bright future but also casting a strong shadow of doubt on how Emma perceived her relationship with Patrick.

Not being one who finds contentment in letting things rest as they are, Laura decides to fight on and try to prove the legitimacy of the painting and perhaps, with a bit of luck, save her grandmother's legacy before it is too late. However, as young minds often ignore, the past always has its fair share of secrets best left undisturbed.

The Grove of Art and Philosophy

This is certainly a story about various themes and ideas, following two plotlines which intertwine in various ways. Personally-speaking, the aspect which stood out the most was the exploration of Emma's bohemian philosophy which she maintained throughout her whole life.

We witness how time and time again her perceptions are challenged in various ways, how she loses her way, waivers, and finds it once again. In essence, we are presented with a lifelong journey which explains in profound detail the formation of one person's unique perspective on life, just as realistic as our very own.

Emma is certainly an interesting enough protagonist to take up the spotlight and the evolution of her inner world resonated with some of my own experiences, making her quite relatable.

As you may have surmised, with the story revolving around a painting and bohemian culture, there is a fair bit of talk about art in general and various depictions of artist circles which, I will admit, at times felt a bit too on-the-nose when compared with our stereotypical perceptions of them.

Nevertheless I found these little flaws to be very much forgettable in the grand scheme of things, especially since the interactions between these artists made for some funny and interesting moments in equal measure.

Additionally, I am certain the author did do her fair share of research on the time period she chose to depict, so I feel she deserves the benefit of the doubt on this one.

The Slow-Burning Mystery

Setting aside all philosophy, art and bohemian tendencies, the main focus of the book does revolve around the painting and the investigation into its legitimacy. As Laura delves deeper and deeper into the story behind it, we are also fed various revelations about Patrick Adams and sort of person he was.

As a big fan of art-related mysteries, I found it tremendously enjoyable to watch this plot unfold as it becomes apparent there was always a bigger picture hidden in the darkness. This is one of those mysteries where we start off with an air of certainty, and the more we learn, the more question all we have known up until this point, until all the threads are untangled in the end and we can realize just how much we have been deceived.

With this being said, I did find the pace of the mystery be somewhat plodding, especially the closer you are to the beginning. While having the two simultaneous stories does have its benefits in presenting some variety and interesting parallels between the past and present, I found it ultimately hurt the pace of the book as it slowed things down on many occasions.

Only in the latter parts of the book is the main plot picked up with greater dedication, but until then we don't much feel a great sense of urgency.

Now, personally-speaking, I have never had problems with slower books, and in this case the lack of development in the main plot is substituted with character development and various reflections on life, so there was enough to keep my attention focused.

As such, I didn't find the pace to really be problematic, but I could see how others would find it a bit daunting, so do be warned this isn't a read for those who enjoy a quick rhythm.

The Final Verdict

The Things We Don't Say by Ella Carey is, all things considered, a very solid mystery coloured by art and philosophy, presenting interesting characters, thought-provoking meditations and an engaging enigma to wrap everything together.

It is a fairly slow book for the most part, but if you're the type of reader who doesn't mind this or can look past it, then I believe you will get a lasting enjoyment out of reading this book, provided of course you are into historical mysteries in the first place.

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Ella Carey Personal site Ella Carey is an Australian author who has claimed Paris as her second home, with all of her stories so far being set in the timeless city of love. Paris Time Capsule was her first novel and the one that launched her into literary notoriety, after which followed the highly-acclaimed The House by the Lake and the widely-beloved From a Paris Balcony.