Helpful Score: 3
This is the third of Pears' "art-history mysteries" that I've read - and I really love them. British art dealer Jonathan Argyll and his girlfriend Flavia, a whiz on the Roman police's art squad, are, not surprisingly, always finding themselves mixed up in unsavory doings concerning art...
In this case, Jonathan agrees to deliver an unexceptional painting entitled 'The Death of Socrates' to a client as a favor to a colleague. However, when not only does someone try to steal it from him at the train station, but the client quickly ends up brutally murdered, he realizes not everything about this deal may be on the up-and-up.
A well-crafted plot, engaging and interesting characters, and well-researched details place Pears' mysteries well above average for the genre.
In this case, Jonathan agrees to deliver an unexceptional painting entitled 'The Death of Socrates' to a client as a favor to a colleague. However, when not only does someone try to steal it from him at the train station, but the client quickly ends up brutally murdered, he realizes not everything about this deal may be on the up-and-up.
A well-crafted plot, engaging and interesting characters, and well-researched details place Pears' mysteries well above average for the genre.
Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
Helpful Score: 2
Fourth in series of the Jonathan Argyll art history mysteries in which ghosts of the past float up to haunt Flavia and Jonathan as they try to figure out how a painting that Jonathan bought figures into two murders and a multitude of other curious incidents. Enjoyable read as always, as our two intrepid heroes jaunt across Europe chasing answers about an obscure and unimportant painting, The Death of Socrates, and the people who owned it in the past. Tied in with Nazi war criminals, Resistance members, and people who aren't what they seem, the painting is causing Jonathan more trouble than he ever dreamed possible.
Helpful Score: 1
Iain Pears "lite" as opposed to his heavier works such as The Dream of Scipio or An Instance of the Fingerpost. His art detective books are all good, es pecially, of course, if you're interested in art or art history.
A Reasonably well written book, but too much meandering
with asides and cutesy descriptors. I had a hard time
staying interested in the plot.
with asides and cutesy descriptors. I had a hard time
staying interested in the plot.
An adventurous and gripping story. Fast paced story with lots of plot twist.
I read another Jonathan Argyll book and really liked it. If I had read this one first I would not have looked for any more. There was a lot going on in this book and it was hard for me to keep it all straight.
Set in Rome - great story.
These are excellent mysteries. The characters are fantastic and well thought out. Great story
A good international art world mystery - "a complex plot with clever dialogue with the often nefarious goings-ons of the international art market as a backdrop"
LeAnne G. (Gracious-Granny) reviewed The Last Judgement (Jonathan Argyll, Bk 4) on + 137 more book reviews
Good, interesting, mystery!
Excellent mystery/art read!!
See review under title "The Immaculate Deception" by the same author.
