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An Instance of the Fingerpost |
Set in Oxford during the Restoration, this historical mystery is brilliantly convincing, with a very dark sense of humour. Since there are lots of twists and turns in the plot, I don't want to give anything away... instead I'll just say that if you don't read it, then you'll never meet the great character, Marco da Cola, gentleman of Venice, who begins the story by writing, 'I'll leave out much, but nothing of significance.'
(Mark Baker - bwl 5 October 2000) |
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An Instance of the Fingerpost |
Set in Oxford during the Restoration, this intellectual whodunit centres around a murder and the young woman convicted of the crime. Four different narrators tell their version of events, each with an axe to grind and so possibly unreliable. I was absolutely engrossed, especially because of the insights into the state of politics, religion, philosophy and medical science during this tumultuous period. The characters are both real and fictional and the ending is brilliant.
(Denise Lewis - bwl 97 Summer 2020) |
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Death and Restoration |
A further story featuring Jonathan Argyll, now graduated from art dealer to art historian, and his now fiancée, Inspector Flavia di Stefano, confronted with the task of solving the mystery behind the theft of an icon from a monastery in Rome. Plenty of twists to a story set in the Eternal City with hero and heroine as congenial as ever. Excellent light reading for an autumn evening.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 26 October 2004) |
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The Bernini Bust |
If you enjoyed 'The Raphael Affair' (bwl 5) and /or 'The Titian Committee' (bwl 11), you will almost certainly enjoy this follow-up. The same engaging hero and heroine are this time in California and confronted with as much skulduggery as ever. The story involves acquisitions for a private art museum. The author uses delightful irony in portraying his characters and his plot keeps one guessing throughout.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 12 January 2002) |
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The Dream of Scipio |
Set in Provence this long book consists of three different stories at three critical periods in European history: the end of the Roman Empire; the Black Death; and WW II. I found the constant switching from one period to the other at times confusing and irritating, yet - like the curate's egg - it was (very) good in parts. It would be difficult to imagine the author surpassing the brilliance of his An Instance of the Fingerpost (bwl 5).
(James Baker - bwl 16 December 2002) |
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The Immaculate Deception |
Jonathan Argyll, art historian/lecturer and Flavia di Stefano, his wife and unconfirmed head of Italy's stolen art squad, find themselves faced with problems arising from the theft of a valuable picture. This the Italian prime minister had planned to make his country's central exhibit at a show put on to mark Italy's presidency of the European Union. Paying a ransom to recover the picture would be illegal. I found it entertaining light reading.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 33 February 2006) |
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The Portrait |
A curious book, largely because it consists of a monologue, in this case delivered by an Edwardian painter to his famous art-critic friend of many years' standing. Don't believe a word of the blurbs on the cover of the paperback edition. None of them seemed relevant to the book. In spite of the resulting disappointment, I found the story interesting . . . up to a point!
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 32 November 2005) |
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The Raphael Affair |
Very different to 'An Instance of the Fingerpost' (the other book by Pears that I've recommended). This is the first in an ongoing series of art world thrillers featuring General Bottando of the Italian Art Theft Squad, his assistant Flavia di Stefano and the Englishman, Jonathan Argyll. If you enjoy this one, you can look forward to (at the last count) five more.
(Mark Baker - bwl 5 October 2000) |
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The Titian Committee |
If you are in need of a light thriller with lots of wit and humour, I couldn't do better than recommend this delightful book set mainly in Venice. English art dealer Jonathan and Flavia, Italian police member of the Art Squad, get caught up in a scarcely believable plot ... but I don't think I will tell you more because it might give the game away. Do try it! I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 11 October 2001) |
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