I Am Agatha

An obstinate artist in a remote corner of New Mexico falls for a mild-mannered widow in Foley’s evocative debut, which is based loosely on the life of painter Agnes Martin. It begins in 1971, after 60-something Agatha Smithson has spent the past two years living and working in an adobe house she built on rented land at Mesa Portales. One day, she comes upon her recently widowed landlord, Alice Johnson, who’s of a similar age, chasing after some chickens near her home, a short drive from the mesa. Agatha helps corral them, and Alice invites her in. Alice doesn’t remember that her late husband leased the land to Agatha, but she feels comfortable around the artist and invites her to visit her most sacred site, the backyard grave of her daughter, Lorna, who, according to Alice, was killed by an abusive lover. Agatha and Alice soon begin a secret love affair, and Alice’s son, Frank Jr., becomes suspicious of their bond. When Alice develops dementia, Agatha invites her to move in at Mesa Portales, but she doesn’t want to leave Lorna’s grave. Meanwhile Frank Jr. schemes to put Alice in assisted living and deems Agatha’s lease invalid. Undeterred, Agatha plots a drastic action, until a startling reversal changes her plans. Many of the late plot developments strain credulity, but Foley crafts a colorful portrait of a headstrong artist. For readers intrigued by the lives of bohemian women, this is worth a look. Agent: Susan Golomb, Writers House. (Mar.)