#1 - The Bernini Bust by Iain Pears
Recommended by: My friend Hillary
Purchased from: Myopic Books, Chicago
Rating: 8 out of 10
Synopsis (edited from Library Journal): Art dealer Jonathan Argyll has delivered an overpriced Titian to the Moresby Museum, expecting to receive a check momentarily. During a museum party to announce the acquisition of a Bernini statue, however, someone murders the museum’s opinionated billionaire owner. When Argyll’s acquaintance, a shady Spanish art dealer who may have smuggled the Bernini statue out of Italy, becomes the prime suspect, Argyll calls upon Italian art squad investigator Flavia di Stefano for assistance. Art history, literary language, and wry humor realize another auspicious combination.
My Review: This is the first of Pears’ Art History Mysteries that I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it. When I read mysteries, about half the time I can guess “whodunit,” but I was genuinely surprised at the end of the book. I’ve read that the other books in this series take place in Italy and England, which I think is probably a more comfortable setting for these characters than LA was in this book. Pears got LA…close. But not quite right. The Americans really talked like Brits. Overall, though, it was a nicely plotted mystery, complete with intrigue, romance, humor, and some derring-do. I’ve added his other Art History Mysteries to my to-read list.
More information about my 2009 Reading Challenge can be found here.
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