The English Assassin by Daniel Silva.  Copyright 2002.  Normally, I tend not to review best-selling authors on this page, operating on the assumption that everyone already knows about them.  Somehow, however, I missed Daniel Silva along the way which means you might have as well.  So, it is with great pleasure that I review the most excellent, "The English Assassin."

Mr. Silva has written a number of books and at least two feature Gabriel Allon, the protagonist of this book.  An art restorer by training and profession, Allon is also in the sometime-employ of the Israeli secret service.  In the past, he has hunted down and killed Palestinian terrorists but has since tried to distance himself from such missions after a tragic attack on his family.  Now, sent to Switzerland to ostensibly clean an Old Master painting, Allon instead finds himself caught up in a dizzying maze of stolen  art tied to the Nazis, murders, and terrible secrets of Switzerland's WW II past.  Worse, he eventually finds himself opposed by a hired English assassin that Allon knows to be one of the best alive - because Allon himself helped train him.

From London to Zurich to Venice and back again, this book will take you on a riveting whirlwind that is the hallmark of a master story teller.  The plot flows with a seamless energy and the book is almost impossible to put down once started.  As mystery book lovers, we relish this sort of gem and I am delighted to review it here. 
 

Murder on the Leviathan by Boris Akunin.  Copyright 2004.  Boris Akunin is the pen name of Moscow-based author Grigory Chkhartshvili, who has become well known around the world for his excellent mysteries featuring the dapper young Russian diplomat and detective, Erast Fandorin.  This is the second work in his series and it takes the reader for a wonderful journey into the Victorian era and a particularly gruesome and puzzling crime.

It is the year 1878 and the prominent antiquarian collector Lord Littleby, along with ten servants, has been found murdered in his elegant Paris town home.  Missing is a solid gold statue of an Indian goddess and a priceless hand-painted shawl.  Handling the case is Paris police commissioner "Papa" Gauche, who determines that the killer will be a passenger on the Leviathan, a huge new steamship that is about to sail from Southampton to Calcutta.  Boarding the ship, Gauche thus begins his hunt for the murderer.  In Cairo, the ship is boarded by none other than Fandorin, who joins forces with Gauche to solve the baffling mystery.   Facing the two are a diverse and colorful group of suspects, each with more than a few secrets in their past that could link them to the terrible crime.  

This is a delightful book and one that will particularly appeal to fans of the Agatha Christie mysteries.  Akunin captures well the flavor of the times and lays out a truly perplexing mystery.  And, it is not without a surprise twist at the end!  Grab this book and settle in for a very enjoyable read.
 

A Letter of Mary by Laurie King.  Copyright 1996.  Keeping with the Sherlock Holmes theme that appears in the previous book review, I am pleased to present a book by the talented Laurie King.  Ms. King has a large number of excellent books to her credit but my favorites are those that feature Sherlock Holmes and his wife, Mary Russell.  To properly establish the chronology, first read The Bee Keeper's Apprentice.  Or, take my word for it that by 1923 (when A Letter of Mary takes place), Sherlock Holmes has a young wife and partner, the aforementioned Mary Russell. 

In this work, Russell and Holmes are enjoying life on the Sussex Downs when an elderly female archeologist named Dorothy Ruskin appears on their doorstep.  An old acquaintance of Mary, Ms. Ruskin entrusts the detective couple with a tiny but wondrously carved and jeweled box containing an ancient papyrus scroll and then leaves for London.  When Russell (as Holmes calls her) translates the scroll, she finds it to apparently be a letter from Mary of Magdalene referring to herself as an apostle of Jesus and thus loaded with profound implications for the world of Christianity.  The next day, Dorothy Ruskin is cleverly murdered and Holmes and Russell set off to find her killer.  Was Ruskin killed because of her discovery?  Or, was it something related to the woman's past?  It will take all of the couple's skills, along with help from Mycroft Homes and Inspector Lestrade, to unravel the tangled web.

This is an excellent work and please note that this was written years before Dan Brown's most excellent The Da Vinci Code.  Whether you are a Sherlock Holmes fan or not, you will almost certainly enjoy A Letter of Mary and all the other works in the series.
 

The Empress of India by Michael Kurland.  Copyright 2006.  It will be no surprise to many of you that I am a tremendous fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories.  Thus, it is with great pleasure that I present a review of of Michael Kurland's most recent work, The Empress of India.  Kurland, a recent discovery for me, has authored several books that are told from the point of view of none other than Professor James Moriarty.  As we come to find, while a genius and not inclined to always adhere to the law, Moriarty is perhaps not the evil mastermind that Holmes seems to think he is. 

In this work, Holmes is asked to help protect a large shipment of gold that will be shipped from India to Britain aboard the steamship, The Empress of India.  By coincidence, Moriarty is asked by his friend Colonel Sebastian Moran to assist the latter in retrieving from India a priceless antique gold statuette that is covered in jewels.  Complicating the picture, however, is the intent of London crime lord Pin Dok Low to steal the massive gold shipment before it reaches the British coast.  The result is a fascinating journey from the streets of Calcutta to the docks of London that will delight any mystery reader, whether they are a fan of Sherlock Holmes or not.

The Empress of India is a genuine pleasure to read.  The prose brings to mind the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but Kurland is his own man, make no mistake.  A wry humor often infuses the book and there is even romantic interest among some of the other characters who figure into the story's plot.  Furthermore, Kurland keeps the plot ticking straight to the end and even I was trying to solve the final puzzle before Moriarty and Holmes pieced it together.  All in all, this is a terrific book and I look forward to reading Kurland's other efforts. 

A Dead Man in Trieste by Michael Pearce.  Copyright 2004.  Not long ago, I introduced visitors to this page to Michael Pearce's delightful "Mamur Zapt" series.  Good news: Mr. Pearce has embarked on a new series which promises to be every bit as good as his original one.  The central figure in this new series is Seymour of Special Branch, a policeman of humble origins but with a remarkable fluency in European languages. 

In this book, Seymour is dispatched to Trieste in 1906 to solve the disappearance of the British consul.  Seymour finds that notwithstanding the heavy presence of the militarist regime in charge of the city, Trieste is a cauldron of nationalist sympathies that has made the city a tinderbox.  Could the consul have become involved in this political morass?  Oddly, Seymour finds that the consul had conducted most of his business from cafe tables shared with a group of Italian artists.  Despite this, the consul seems to have wielded impressive power.  As he probes deeper, Seymour finds himself drawn into a tangled, dangerous plot that threatens to ignite World War I while at the same time the Italian painters prepare to launch a controversial movement they call "Futurism".  

As with his Mamur Zapt books, Pearce infuses this work with a wonderful dry sense of humor and excellent grasp of historical events.  The inclusion of the Italian Futurists, portrayed (probably correctly) as colorful and often outrageous cafe society-types, adds a wonderful dash of flavor to the book and simultaneously ties in well with the book's plot. 

Watch Your Back! by Donald Westlake. Copyright 2005.  Donald Westlake is an outstanding, prolific author whose efforts include the humorous series featuring dour burglar John Dortmunder and his luckless gang of fellow thieves.  In this book, Dortmunder and company seem to have finally gotten a sure thing: a tip on an unoccupied Manhattan apartment filled with valuable artwork, including several Picassos.  The apartment is unoccupied because the odious wealthy owner, Preston Fareweather, is hiding at a tropical Club Med in order to avoid being served papers by five bitter ex-wives.  Complicating things, however, is the takeover of Dortmunder's favorite bar and meeting place by a New Jersey mob that seems straight out of the Sopranos.  As only he can, Westlake weaves the disparate strands of the story into a hilarious tale that puts Dortmunder, Fareweather, and the goofy mobsters on a Manhattan collision course that will make this book very hard to put down.
 

The Mamur Zapt and the Spoils of Egypt by Michael Pearce.  Copyright 1992.  Thanks to the fine public library in Venice, Florida, I now have an entire new series of mystery books to enjoy and share with visitors to this site.  This is the "Mamur Zapt" series, which take place in Cairo during British rule at the beginning of the 20th century.  The central figure in each book is Cadwallader Owen, who is the Mamur Zapt, or head of British-ruled Cairo's secret police. It is now largely a political post concerned more with keeping an eye out for foreign spies and seditious activities but one that still brings Owen into mystery after mystery.  Constantly complicating matters is Owen's Egyptian girlfriend Zeinab, whose mercurial mood swings, flair for the dramatic, and penchant for jealousy make Owen's life anything but calm. 

In this work, Owen has been asked to keep an eye on a politically-connected woman visitor from Boston after she is apparently almost pushed beneath a Cairo tram car. As Owen investigates, he finds that the woman, Miss Skinner, is ostensibly in Egypt to help put a stop to illegal trafficking in ancient Egyptian antiquities.  As he digs deeper, however, he begins to suspect that there is more to her visit than meets the eye.  More threads in his investigation begin to appear and ultimately, all seem to tie together at the archeological dig at Der al Bahari.  It was here that a priceless golden relic, the Cow of Hathor, was originally found and rumors are beginning to swirl that a companion piece may be awaiting discovery.  When two Egyptian diggers die from improbable accidents at the site, Owen realizes the stakes in the game may be higher than he originally thought.   

From the streets of Old Cairo to Egyptian tombs, this book will transport you in the way that only a skilled writer can.  Like the other works in this series, a wonderful dry humor pervades the book and makes it very hard to put the book down.  This work in particular provides a fascinating glimpse into the Egyptian antiquities market and all its attendant shenanigans at the end of the 19th century.  Get this or any other book in the series and you will not be disappointed.

Death of an Old Master by David Dickinson.  Copyright 2004.  For fans of the traditional British mystery genre, this a great book for you.  It is the third in Mr. Dickinson's excellent series featuring Lord Francis Powerscourt, a private London investigator and member of the British peerage.  As in the previous books, Powerscourt is assisted in his work by his wife, the Lady Lucy, and former army comrade Johnny Fitzgerald.

In this work, the year is 1899 and a prominent London gallery is assembling an exhibit of Italian Old Master works, both genuine and otherwise.  Just prior to the event, a prominent London art critic is found murdered and evidence mounts that he was about to expose the art exhibit's fraudulent nature just prior to his death.  Powerscourt is called in to investigate and quickly finds the story to be far more tangled than it appeared to be on the surface.  As he probes deeper, he is plunged into the art world of London at a time when wealthy American industrialists and robber barons are descending upon London in hopes of acquiring massive numbers of works for their personal collections. 

As in his other books, Mr. Dickinson infuses a delightful dry humor throughout the story and creates a mesmerizing plot that makes the book quite difficult to put down.  And, he does an excellent job of capturing the flavor of the times as well through his excellent word imagery.  The time period and events that Dickinson focuses on, that of the American industrialists buying in Europe at the turn of the century, is one of the most interesting in recent art history.  It lends itself well to skullduggery and intrigue and Mr. Dickinson has taken excellent advantage of it in this book. 
 

The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton.  Copyright 2000.  The works of Lyn Hamilton are a terrific recent discovery for me and one that I am pleased to be able to share with you.  A resident of Toronto, Ms. Hamilton has written a most enjoyable series of archeological-based mysteries featuring  Lara McClintoch, a Canadian globe-trotting antiques dealer.  The books are written with a delightful dry humor throughout and are packed with fascinating historic details. 

In this work, Lara accompanies her aging employee, Alex Stewart, to County Kerry, Ireland for the reading of a will.  The will is that of the late  Eamon Byrne, an eccentric millionaire businessman and an old friend of Alex's.  In an effort to posthumously force his strife-torn and bickering family to work together, Byrne has left each person named in the will a clue that, when combined with the others, will lead to a priceless antique treasure.  As Lara and Alex delve deeper they find that the clues relate to Irish mythology and that their search will carry them to some of Irelands most ancient sacred places.  They also find, however, that someone else is searching just as diligently and that they are not interested in sharing.  It isn't long before the bodies begin to pile up and Lara starts to realize that far more than just simple greed is behind the shadowy killer's actions.

As in her other books, Ms. Hamilton displays a remarkable gift for word imagery.  The book is packed with fascinating historic detail and imparted in a way that blends seamlessly with the story line.  I would also highly recommend her book, The African Quest.  This is also a terrific book and I came away from it amazed at her ability to make the reader feel that they are right on location (in this latter case, Tunisia).  Settle in with one of her books and get ready for some real mystery-reading enjoyment.    Also, visit the author's excellent website at www.lynhamilton.com !

Corpse Candle by P.C. Doherty. Copyright 2001.  This is another fine work by Doherty featuring Sir Hugh Corbett,  the head of the Chancery and special emissary under King Edward I.  As I noted in a previous review, P. C. Doherty is a scholar of ancient and Medieval history and one of the best authors I have ever run across.  His prose is a genuine pleasure to read and he has an exceptional talent for word imagery.  

In this work, it is the winter of 1303 and Abbot Stephen of the abbey St. Martin's in the Marsh has been found stabbed to death in his locked chamber.  Corbett and his manservants Ranulf (now a clerk himself) and Chanson have been sent by King Edward to solve the crime, which some believe to have been committed by the ghost of the evil baron Sir Geoffrey Mandeville.  Corbett suspects a flesh and blood killer and comes to realize that the keys to solving the mystery lie in an ancient Roman mosaic picture unearthed in an abbey storeroom floor, drawings of a spoked wheel left by Abbott Stephen, and an ancient burial mound in an adjacent field.  As the investigation continues, a murderer within the abbey begins to strike repeatedly and soon even Corbett and his henchmen are being stalked by the killer, who seems to appear and vanish at will.  It will take all of Corbett's logic and cunning to sort out the complex secrets at the heart of the mystery.

As always, Doherty presents a fine tale woven with historical detail.  Curl up with this book and you will be in for a real literary treat.

A Secret Dying by Roy Lewis.  Copyright 1992.  Few authors have produced as many good mysteries as Roy Lewis.   Among his many works are several series, my favorite of which is that of the Arthur Landon mysteries.  Landon is a rather mild-mannered planning office clerk in England who is also an amateur archaeologist and medieval scholar.  In this book, Landon and his book dealer friend Jane Wilson try to solve a puzzle whose pieces are a painting in a medieval rectory, two murders, a local occult legend, and a colleague's recent disappearance. Woven amongst all of these pieces is the history and legends of the Knights Templar and their missing treasure.  Like all of the Arthur Landon books, this one is very well written and gains much from Lewis' wonderful grasp of early history.  This one definitely gets "two picture frames up" or something like that!   Anyway, you won't want to miss this one.

Skeleton Dance by Aaron Elkins.  This is a fine effort by one of my favorite authors (see other works by Elkins on this page).  It is also the latest in the author's series featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver.  In this work, Oliver and his wife Julie take time from a European vacation to assist an old friend, Inspector Lucien Joly, in solving a mystery in France's  Neanderthal bone-rich Tayac region.  

A body, dead some three years, has been found buried in a prehistoric cave alongside artifacts thousands of years old.  Ties to the nearby Institut de Prehistoire quickly unfold and Oliver and Joly soon  find themselves trying to unravel the intertwined threads of a site worker's disappearance, an archeologist's apparent suicide, and bitter rivalries among the Institute's academic staff.  Soon it becomes apparent that at least one of the academics is a cunning killer who will not hesitate to strike again to protect his or her secrets.

This is yet another outstanding effort on the part of Mr. Elkins, who has yet to disappoint his many readers.

The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters. Copyright 1999.  Ms. Peters has done it again with this work, one of the latest in her series featuring the wife and husband team of English Egyptologists Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson.  Set in Edwardian England, Ms. Peters' books are extremely well-written mysteries that present a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and fascinating information.  Not only do the books satisfy the mystery-lover in all of us, they also provide an intriguing glimpse into the social and political aspects of England's domination of Egypt's antiquity affairs in the late 19th century.

In this excellent book, Amelia finds herself the quarry of a relentless, shadowy killer who strikes at her first in England and then abroad, as Amelia and her family go to Egypt for excavation work in the Valley of the Kings.  In some unknown manner, the killer seems to be closely linked to a fabulous copy of the Book of the Dead, purchased at great peril from an evil antiquities dealer in a Cairo slum.  Eventually, not only Amelia but her entire family will face the risk of death before the killer is exposed.

The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte.  Copyright 1989.  This most excellent mystery begins with a young Italian art restorer named Julia who is entrusted with the cleaning of a valuable early painting.  The painting depicts a game of chess between a King and a knight and as her work progresses, she uncovers an intriguing inscription.  The inscription reads, "Who killed the knight?", and was apparently deliberately painted over by the artist when the painting was completed.

Julia begins to research the history of the people depicted in the work and finds that the knight had indeed been mysteriously assassinated two years before the painting was done.  Then, when a former lover is slain while preparing some research information for her, Julia discovers to her horror that her hunt for the solution to the Renaissance murder has stirred the intense interest of someone five centuries after the crime.   What follows is a tense game of death and betrayal as the identity of her mysterious opponent begins to emerge.

This is an ingenious and well-written book that will hold your interest from the very start.  Highly recommended!

Clockwork by Neville Steed.  Copyright 1989.  This is one of several delightful books by the author that features antique toy dealer and amateur sleuth Peter Marklin.  The stories are set in Dorset, England and are written in a humorous vein that is a genuine pleasure to read.  In addition to spinning a good mystery story, Steed also imparts a good amount of information regarding a field of antiques that many people (myself included) are quite unfamiliar with: that of the die-cast and tin-plate toys of the early and mid-20th century.

In this particular book, Marklin is drawn reluctantly into solving the mystery behind the theft of charitable funds and the murder of a well-liked teacher at a local private school.  Butting heads as usual with Digby Whetstone, the pompous head of the Dorset police, Marklin seeks to determine how the crimes were possibly related and who was behind them.  Ultimately, the case will take yet one more life before the answer is laid bare!

Antique Dust by Robert Westfall.  Copyright 1989.  In keeping with the theme of the book described below, I take much pleasure in bringing Antique Dust to everyone's attention.   Much in the vein of M. R. James and to whom the book is dedicated, Antique Dust is a collection of wonderfully written stories of the supernatural by British author Robert Westfall.  Most of the stories are presented as being told by an English antiques dealer and generally center around an antique object.  This is a terrific book to read beside a blazing hearth on a cold winter's night!

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M. R. James.  Copyright 1971, Dover Pub.; first printed 1904.  This work is a classic collection of stories and the author, M. R. James (1862-1936), is considered to be one of the best supernatural authors of the 20th century.   A fellow at King's College, Cambridge and eventually the Provost of Eton, James was also one of the world's greatest experts on medieval manuscripts.  

James began writing ghost stories in 1893 and it quickly became a tradition that he would read stories aloud each Christmas Eve at the Chitchat Club in Cambridge, with all the lights out except a single candle.   James was a brilliant author and his stories reflect his knowledge of English history.  Most deal with antiques or related things like lost medieval treasures, old churches, and the like.  His stories are masterpieces in subtlety and he generally lets the readers imagination do much of the "spooking".  Again, all of the stories are terrific but I found "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas", and "Count Magnus" to be particularly creepy.  So, run this book down, settle in on a cold night with it, and enjoy.  Caution: you may think twice before you turn off the light when you are done.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lillian Jackson Braun.  Copyright 1966.  This the first of long series (around 20 and counting) of delightful books by Ms. Braun, all of which feature an unusual detective team of big city newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cat Koko.  Koko, who is joined in a later book by a second Siamese named Yum Yum, seems to be gifted with an ability to ferret out clues that invariably help "Qwill" (as he is known) solve the various mysteries he is frequently involved in.  Early in the series, Qwill inherits an enormous fortune with the only stipulation that to receive it, he must become a permanent resident of a far north rural community.  Almost all of the other books take place there, which readers must assume is either the northern peninsula of Michigan or perhaps northern Wisconsin (Ms. Jackson never tells us precisely where Moose County is).  As goofy as this whole premise sounds, the books are actually quite enjoyable if you want a fun, easy read with no sex, profanity, and virtually no violence (when was the last time you saw an author make good with that formula?) 

In this book, Qwill is assigned to cover the art beat for his paper, the Daily Fluxion.  A former crime reporter, Qwill is far from pleased with the job but takes it anyway.  Much to his surprise, however, his seemingly innocuous reporting lands him in the middle of a complex case involving vandalized paintings, a murdered gallery owner, and the mysterious death of an art critic.   With a little nudging from Koko, Qwill eventually assembles the clues that reveal the killer's identity and motive.  Like all her other books, this one is a pleasure to read.  Ms. Braun always constructs a good plot and infuses her works with a marvelous sense of humor that will appeal to everyone - not just cat owners!

Angel of a Dark Wind by P.C. Doherty. Copyright 1994.  Let me immediately admit that I am stretching the art and antiques theme a bit on this book in order to introduce you to the author, P.C. Doherty.  Doherty is a scholar of Medieval history and a brilliant author who can make the period come alive as well or better than any author I have had the pleasure of reading.  He has published a large number of works, including many under several different pseudonyms, but is perhaps best known for his series of mysteries featuring Sir Hugh Corbett,  the head of the Chancery and special emissary under King Edward I. 

In this work Corbett, along with his roguish criminal-turned- manservant Ranulf, is ordered by King Edward to investigate a series of grisly events that have brought terror to an area of Norfolk.  A man's headless body has been found on the beach, with the head impaled on a nearby pole.  Graves are being plundered and a young baker's wife has been found hanging from a crossroads gallows.   Arriving at Mortlake Manor, Corbett quickly finds himself confronting treachery and intrigue which ultimately will have at its heart a lost treasure of England's King John.

The works of Doherty are a delight, both in the skillful prose and the rich foundation of historical events that is always woven into the plot.  Settle in with one of this author's efforts and you will NOT be disappointed.

Hung Over by John Malcolm.  Copyright 1994.  John Malcolm is the author of a fine series of books featuring Tim Simpson, an ex-rugby player who manages an art investment fund for a prominent London bank.  In this work, Simpson is called upon to evaluate a collection of British equestrian art.  What at first seems to be a straightforward task quickly becomes anything but as a complicated web of theft, fraud, and murder emerges. 

This book is the 11th of the series.  Readers may want to start with the first book in the series, which is "A Back Room in Somers Town".  Over the course of the series, readers can follow the evolution both of Simpson's career and his romantic involvement with his eventual wife, Sue, a curator at the Tate Gallery.   Malcolm's books are well-written, enjoyable, and unpretentious... all the ingredients for great summer reading.


Landscape of Lies by Peter Watson.  Copyright 1989.   Copyright 1989.  This is a highly enjoyable work by a recognized art scholar who also writes a terrific mystery.  The plot centers around a race between an art dealer (the good guy, naturally!) and a homicidal academic to find a lost treasure from a medieval monastery.  Clues to the whereabouts of the treasure are contained in a medieval allegorical painting, owned by a femme fatale with whom the art dealer predictably but happily becomes involved with.  Overall, this a  really terrific mystery book and one that provides the reader with an excellent look at the field of medieval art.  

The Estuary Pilgrim by Douglas Skeggs.  Copyright 1989.  This is another highly enjoyable book and one that I always thought  highly enjoyable book and one that I always thought would make a good movie.   In a nutshell, an art scholar is called upon by the French government to authenticate a recently-found Monet painting long believed to have been destroyed during WW II.  As the protagonist delves deeper, a sinister plot regarding the painting's origin begins to emerge and the adventure begins in earnest.  As in the above book, our hero gets romantically involved along the way and the book is thoroughly enjoyable from cover to cover.  Skeggs has written several other art mysteries, some better than others, but he is in top form on this one.  Don't miss it!

The Phoenix of Prague by Douglas Skeggs.  Copyright 1996.  I recently read this work and quite enjoyed it.  It is the latest effort by the author and departs from his excellent The Estuary Pilgrim in that it is told from a  first-person view and done in sort of a hard-boiled detective style.  Sort of like Mike Hammer meets the art world!  The plot centers around the efforts of a Czech-born British intelligence agent to locate a large cache of paintings that were brought out of Romania before the collapse of the Cecescu dictatorship.  The paintings are in the possession of an up-and-coming fascist politician, who hopes to use the proceeds from their sale to fuel his bid for political leadership.  The book is fast-paced with plenty of action and also has a nice romantic interest as well.  In particular, the book gives a fascinating glimpse into the world of post-Communist eastern Europe.  Definitely worth reading. 

The Titian Committee by Iain Pears.  Copyright 1999.  If you have not yet read one of Mr. Pears' mysteries, run - don't walk - to the nearest bookstore.  Pears, an Oxford-trained art historian, is the author of a delightful series of books featuring a slightly bumbling English art dealer, Jonathan Argyle, and his friend Flavia di Stefano, who is a rather glamorous member of the Rome Art Theft Squad.  

In this book, the second in the series, Argyle is confronted with both mystery and danger when an art scholar's murder interrupts an international research conference on the artist Titian.   The skullduggery is mixed with fascinating insights into the life and work of the 15th century master, all set against the wonderful backdrop of Venice.  Pears is a writer of great skill, deftly weaving his plots and painting wonderful images with his slightly humorous style of prose.  Incidentally, a mutual attraction between Argyle and Flavia grows over the course of Pears' series, so you might want to start at the beginning of the series (The Raphael Affair).  If not, don't worry... ALL of the books are terrific.

Don't Worry by Donald Westlake.  Copyright 1992.  On a lighter side, this is a most enjoyable book from the prolific Mr. Westlake.  In this work, Westlake brings back his luckless burglar Dortmunder and his equally hapless gang as they simultaneously try to steal a multi-million dollar art collection and a sacred relic (the latter being the thighbone of a cannibalized 13th century saint).   The relic is housed in the embassy of a tiny third world nation (said embassy being a boat anchored in the East River of NYC) and is sought by a rival nation vying for UN membership (their embassy is a dilapidated storefront on Second Avenue).   Westlake, who is one of the funniest writers around, keeps the tale moving at a brisk pace with tons of laughs along the way.  If you are ever feeling blue, grab this book and you will be smiling in no time!
  

City of Bones by Martha Wells.  Copyright 1995.  Martha Wells, one of my prize discoveries of 1998,  is an extremely gifted writer and storyteller, with an amazing talent for word imagery. Her book,  City of Bones, will especially appeal to all of you who like fantasy and sci-fi with your art and antiques.  

The story takes place on a post-apocalyptic world and centers around a relics dealer, Khat, who has been hired to search for three particular artifacts from a previous civilization.  Joined by a beautiful young woman named Elen, Khat must confront murderous forces working against him while unraveling the true nature of the relics and the world-destroying nightmare creatures their use will unleash.  This is an exciting, captivating book that you will find very hard to put down, once started.  It is Wells at her best, which is very good indeed.  

The Resurrection Man by Charlotte MacLeod.  Copyright 1992.   If you are on the prowl for something gentle and fun, look no further than than the enjoyable books of author Charlotte MacLeod.   In this work, one of her series featuring Boston art detective Max Bittersohn and his wife Sarah Kelling, mystery swirls around the arrival of art restorer Bartolo Arbalest.  In particular, a large number of the valuable objects so freshly restored begin to subsequently vanish from their owners homes, with all the signs pointing back to the secretive Arbalest and his group of artisans.   When an elderly friend of Sarah's winds up dead in one of the heists,  Max and Sarah are quickly on the trail.

Ms. MacLeod's books are delightful, well written, and provide a humorous look into the world of Boston upper class society and its crusty Yankee roots.  Regardless of which title you pick up by the author, you will not be disappointed.   

Giotto's Hand by Iain Pears.  Copyright 1994.  This is another work in Mr. Pear's engaging series featuring Rome Art Theft Squad member Flavia di Stefano and her somewhat bumbling English art dealer boyfriend, Jonathan Argyle.  In this book Flavia's boss, General Taddeo Bottando, is in danger of losing his job to a hostile  bureaucrat unless he can prove his theory that a single master criminal is behind a long string of art thefts dating to 1963.   Rallying to his side, however, are Flavia and Jonathan, who are quickly on the trail, assembling such diverse pieces of the puzzle as a murder in England and a dying woman's confessions in Italy.  And as the pieces come together, the thief, dubbed "Giotto" for the mysterious 14th century Florentine painter, finally begins to emerge from the shadows.

More soon!

P.S.  If you have good books in this vein to recommend, by all means do so!  Many thanks.        BHR