First Sentence: The box was brown and tightly bund with string.
Someone is stealing ancestral portraits, and a few old masters, from the homes of the landed Protestant gentry in Ireland. Being of that descent, yet having given up his Irish family home, Lord Francis Powerscourt is asked to find the culprit. The question is whether it is a case of traditional theft, or an attempt to force the land-owner Protestant's out of Ireland. When theft turns to murder, the stakes are raised.
I always enjoy Dickinson's writing but this was dryer and more focused on history than murder than his books I've read so far.
Dickinson's wonderful wry humor is still there, as is his perceptiveness. There is a wonderful comparison of two clergymen; the Catholic priest and the Protestant minister. His introspection is there as well; Powercourt's dilemma as to whether he is for or against the Irish struggle.
The descriptiveness of his writing always appeals to me. He involves all the senses and allows you to see, hear, smell and taste the elements of the story. I particularly liked that he included songs of the period. His characters are well defined and alive. Powerscourt, Lady Lucy and, particularly Johnny Fitzgerald are always a pleasure to rediscover.
The plot, in this particular book, was a bit heavy-handed with Irish history. It was fascinating and I did learn a lot, but it also rather overshadowed the suspense of the story. It was a shame as Dickinson can do suspense very well.
Even so, this was a pleasure to read, kept me involved and certainly anxious to read the next book in the series.
DEATH ON THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (Hist/Enq. Agent (PI)-Lord Francis Powerscourt-Ireland-1905) - G+
Dickinson, David - 7th in series
Constable, 2008, UK Hardcover - ISBN: 9781845296032
