On the Fence by Cade Haddock Strong is a romantic suspense novel with an art heist at the centre. Although it’s technically not part of a series, it brings back characters from The Schuyler House and gives us a new couple to fall in love with.
Mattie and Alex are living their happily ever after, with the events of The Schuyler House firmly in the past. Mattie’s done with art thieving and just wants to live out a quiet, married life.
Their friend Wallace has a wild day when she’s rear-ended by a gorgeous woman who hands her $10,000 and walks away without exchanging insurance information. She’s surprised and thrilled when she runs into this woman at a bar while out with Mattie and Alex, only to learn that she’s Mattie’s friend Ellen.
Ellen’s out of the art heisting business too, but an offer too good to ignore has brought her back to Mattie. If they can steal a Warhol painting from a local D.C. gallery, they get to split more than $30 million. Even Alex agrees that that’s too much money to leave on the table. So, Ellen, Mattie, Alex, and Wallace agree to team up and swipe the painting.
Ellen always thought she was straight, but Wallace’s hunky swimmer’s body has her realizing that might not be the case. And for once, Wallace realizes there might be more to life than her parents’ high expectations. So, why not fall in lust (and maybe love) while stealing a painting from one of the most famous artists of the 20th century?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
On the Fence is highly entertaining. I found it very easy to sink into this world and get invested in these characters, whether it was the romance between Ellen and Wallace, or the heist itself. I was rooting for this team all the way and I found myself especially entranced during the heist scene, waiting with bated breath to see what would happen.
I also appreciated that it can be read as a standalone story. I haven’t read The Schuyler House and that didn’t matter at all. The narrator shares enough details that I got all the backstory I needed to understand how Mattie and Alex got together, as well as Mattie and Ellen’s shared history of art thieving.
Cons And Heads Up
I’m going to be a bit cagey to avoid a full spoiler, but there’s a twist that happens near the end of the heist experience that doesn’t really work for me. I don’t know why that character does what they do, which was unsatisfying to read.
Also, from that point on, the rest of the book feels kind of rushed. We’re told a lot of what happens, but we don’t get to experience as much of it as I would have liked. Given how much I enjoyed everything up to that point, it was a bit of a letdown.
The Conclusion
Did you like the film Oceans 8? Do you wish it were explicitly queer? If so, I’d recommend On the Fence! It’s fun and immersive, and even with the ending feeling rushed, it’s still worth checking out.
Excerpt from On the Fence by Cade Haddock Strong
“Hey, Alex. Hi, Mattie,” a voice called out.
Mattie looked up. Their friend Wallace gave her a wave as she neared the table. Her white blond hair was pulled back and she had on a long-sleeve blue T-shirt with the words Georgetown Swimming printed on it.
Alex greeted her with a warm hug. “Hey, girl. Good to see you.” After she introduced Wallace to Ellen, she gestured to the empty seat at their table. “Care to join us?”
“I’d love to,” Wallace said, her eyes never leaving Ellen, “but I’m here with a couple of my old teammates from college. It’s my friend Tamara’s twenty-eighth birthday. I’ll have to catch you next time.” She started to walk away but paused and turned back. With her gaze on Ellen, she said, “We’ve met before…”
Ellen shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m sure of it,” Wallace replied. “Yesterday on the GW Parkway. You were in the black Mercedes.”
“You must have me confused with someone else,” Ellen said. “I live in New York. I don’t even own a car.” She ran her tongue over her lips. “And anyway, I’m more of a motorcycle kind of girl.”
Wallace didn’t look convinced, but she said her goodbyes and headed toward the bar.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Ellen muttered, “Shit. What are the chances?”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781642472387
Publisher: Bella Books
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