On Thursday, November 21 at 6pm, artist and writer Jonathon Santlofer will read from and sign copies of his new novel, The Death Artist (William Morrow/An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; September 1, 2002; ISBN 0-06-000441-X; $24.95) at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). After a 1989 Chicago gallery fire destroyed five years of his work, painter Santlofer turned to fiction writing as a therapeutic way to deal with his loss. The novel, with a nod to the fast paced mystery novels of the 1950's, takes place in the center of the contemporary art world, New York. Santlofer uses his first hand knowledge of the art scene to create a psychologically dark, highly visual thriller that amasses horrors right up to its twisted denouement. His visit to the ICA is part of a unique cross-country book signing junket touring museums and galleries rather than bookstores and coffee shops. Attendance is free and open to the public.

The premise is enticing: a string of murders, each meticulously staged to represent a famous work of art (such as the late-eighteenth-century painting "The Death of Marat" featured on the book's cover). It is an intriguingly horrific tale filled with subtle social commentary on racism, sexuality and status -- an edgy and intimate insider's tour of 90's art world. Packed with shocking twists and a powerhouse climax, THE DEATH ARTIST, is as psychologically astute and intense as Seven, and sure to keep both mystery and art lovers riveted to each page.

Jonathon Santlofer Jonathan Santlofer was born in New York City and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at Boston University. He returned to New York to earn his Master of Fine arts from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Mr. Santlofer has had solo and group exhibitions including James Graham & Sons, NYC; The New Museum, NYC; The Drawing Center, NYC; Institute of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan, His work is such permanent collections as the Institute of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana, as well numerous corporate and private collections.

"Truthfully, it's hard to believe no one heard her screaming...He'd have thought a woman like that -- supposedly interested in art -- would let him do his work in peace. But no. One lousy stab into her gut and she's squealing like a... banshee.