Do What Godmother Says

Shanice has had the worst time lately. Her boyfriend left her, she lost her terrible job, and then her grandmother guilts her into taking a painting that has been in the family for generations. The painter, Essie Johnson, was an up-and-coming artist during the Harlem Renaissance who gained sponsorship from art patron Maude Bachmann, known as “the Godmother.” When Bachmann was murdered, Essie fled New York. As she learns more about the pair, Shanice becomes fascinated with the painting and Essie’s life. While she’s struggling to make ends meet, Shanice’s luck gets even worse when an overzealous gallery owner will stop at nothing to get the painting. What sent Essie fleeing in the middle of the night all those years ago, and why is a painting from an obscure artist suddenly attracting so much attention? Shanice is determined to uncover the truth of Essie’s tumultuous life, but she may not discover the answers in time.