Althea M. (althea) reviewed on 9/15/2008 + 774 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 4

This was the first installment of what was to become Iain Pears' "Art History Mystery" series, of which, including this one, I've now read, um, 5 out of 7, I think. I really hope he does more in the series - there hasn't been a new one in 6 years, and it seems like Pears has been concentrating more on his 'serious' writing - which, if 'The Dream of Scipio' is to judge by, I don't enjoy as much. But - I've still got two more to go, before withdrawal really sets in!
I didn't really feel like my enjoyment of this story was spoiled by having already read later stories - rather, I was entertained by the younger and less experienced versions of the characters, and seeing how the author had initially introduced them (a couple of surprises!)
As always, Pears shows that he knows his art history, and, as I work in a museum, I found the depictions of museum politics quite amusing.
As far as the story goes - this mystery has to do with a young art history grad student who believes that he's discovered a long-lost secret - an unassuming work by a mediocre painter may hide beneath its layers of paint a masterpiece by Raphael. Howeve, a savvy dealer snatches the work virtually from under his nose, and soon enough trots out a Raphael, with enough fanfare to let it sell for an astounding price. But is the masterpiece real, or a clever fake? It may take General Bottando, of the Art Crimes Unit, and his young part-time assistant, Flavia, to figure it out...

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