The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard

November 1, 2023
The Bricard women are legends in the fashion world, but for all the wrong reasons. Mizza is remembered as the scandalous muse of Christian Dior, and Astrid, the daughter Mizza didn't raise, has garnered a similar reputation. Blythe, the daughter Astrid didn't raise, is as gifted as either of them, but her success is muted by past perception. When Blythe is offered the chance to resurrect her mother's MIZZA fashion line, she must first move past the rumors and uncover the truth behind Astrid's mysterious disappearance from a pivotal 1973 competition. The story shifts back and forth among Astrid in the '70s, Blythe in the present day, and Mizza from 1917 through WWII and beyond. The women are chronically underestimated by society, with their immense talent credited to the men in their orbit. In circumstances well beyond their control, they make the best decisions they can, knowing how the rest of the world will perceive them but determined to remain true to themselves. Themes of family, power, resilience, and finding a way back to love will resonate with readers.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2024
Three generations of sartorially inclined women struggle to make their marks on the world. Through alternating viewpoints, Lester weaves together the stories of Mizza, Astrid, and Blythe Bricard, who were all involved in the fashion industry. First up chronologically is Mizza, the only character based loosely on a real person; she's Christian Dior's assistant and muse and, likely ahistorically, a member of the Resistance in Nazi-occupied Paris. Next up is Mizza's daughter, Astrid Bricard, a talented designer the media sees only as the muse and lover of Hawk Jones, a designer wunderkind � la Halston minus the ego. Finally there's Blythe Bricard, Astrid and Hawk's daughter, who was abandoned by both her famous parents and has cast her sustainable-fashion dreams aside in order to raise her two children as a single mother. Astrid's disappearance (murder?) at the 1973 Versailles designer face-off between France and America is the central mystery of the novel. But it's the chapters exploring Astrid's tumultuous rise and fall, as well as her relationship with Hawk--which Lester writes with heartbreaking tenderness--that form the heart of the novel. Unfortunately, Mizza's plot is somehow the most superficial of the three, despite the Nazi fighting. That being said, Blythe's and Astrid's stories more than make up for that weakness, and Lester deftly delivers a scathing critique of the lies that are told to keep women in their place: "What if this is all there is? [Astrid wonders.] Her always scrabbling at the base of a mountain, knocked back by an avalanche of misogyny." An exploration of the lengths to which society will go to subdue a powerful woman.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 29, 2023
In Paris, 1917, 16-year-old Mizza Bricard is determined to leave a lasting mark on the world. She creates a house of couture that will establish a legacy spanning generations, reaching her daughter Astrid Bricard in 1970s New York. Astrid, accompanied by her mysterious lover, also aspires to make her name in the world of fashion but vanishes without a trace at the height of her career, leaving behind nothing but a mysterious white silk dress—the meaning of which is unclear. In a country town in the present day, Blythe Bricard is determined to shake off her family legacy; however she soon finds herself digging into the past and learning about the secrets held by her iconic fashion designer mother and grandmother. Natasha Lester’s eloquent writing style offers a book of richness and depth, seamlessly crossing decades to tell the story of three intersecting family lines. The French settings are brought to life thanks to Lester’s authentic and impeccable research, referred to in a lengthy author's note outlining where and why the author has departed from the public record. She writes her characters with emotion, subtext, secrets and desires, creating powerful meaning behind every word of dialogue or thought process. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is an enormously enjoyable book, brimming with intrigue and mystery in each woman’s lifespan, making for a glossy and compelling read that you will not want to put down. Perfect for fans of Jackie French, Judy Nunn’s historical fiction and any of Natasha Lester’s previous books.