Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Caper, 13 Nov 2007
James Twining's first novel, The Double Eagle, was a fast paced, enjoyable conspiracy/caper story. It introduced us to retired art thief Tom Kirk, his former fence/current business partner Archie and FBI Agent Jennifer Browne.
His second novel, The Black Sun, had less caper and more conspiracy, with Tom Kirk caught up in a plot involving lost Nazi treasure. It was also less enjoyable, lacking some of the spark that characterised his debut, although it remained a solid and entertaining thriller.
The Gilded Seal however, is very much a return to Twining's Double Eagle form. In fact in many ways it surpasses his debut and could easily be characterised as the author's best book so far.
Essentially a tale of two halves, it reunites Kirk and Agent Browne and thrusts them into a myriad of different interlinked plots revolving around stolen artworks, forged artworks and hidden artworks. Brought into the mix are corrupt art dealers, mercenaries turned art thieves, self-serving law officers with political aspirations, forgers of fine art and Japanese mobsters. At the centre of it all lies the world's most famous painting; The Mona Lisa.
Its an intricate plot full of twists and turns, which builds up to an explosive set piece robbery. Then, in an audacious but very effective move, Twining pulls several significant twists out of the bag that leaves the reader questioning everything that has happed until that moment and sends the whole book spinning off in a new and unforseen direction.
Its all done with great pacing and clever plotting. It also refuses to take any of the simple options open to it. Characters remain true to the personalities they have been given and motives even amongst the story's heroes retain an element of grey. There is no resorting to cliche or having characters act against type simply to keep the story moving along.
It manages to do the latter without any artificial assistance. From the first page the story moves at a lightning pace, both figuratively and literally; flitting from Spain, to Scotland, to New York, to London, to Paris and on to Cuba. This, along with well written action, keeps the excitement palpable and constant throughout.
Are there any weaknesses? Yes, and they're the sort that usually aflict novels of this type. Outside of three or four recurring central characters, who have benefitted from two or three novels to grow and develop, most of the individuals featured in the book are little more than one dimensional sketches or glorified plot devices. There are also a few whiffs of clambering on Dan Brown's band wagon with a plot that revolves a work by Lenardo DaVinci. In the books defense however, the former doesn't detract from the appeal of the book and is to be expected in a book of this sort. To draw comparisons with DaVinci Code would also be unfair, as this is a very different book in terms of content, style and focus. It is, I have to say, also far superior to Brown's blockbuster.
This could well be Twining's real break through bestseller, thrusting him further into the literary limelight. If it does then it is entirely deserved, because as a novel of its type The Gilded Seal really is that good.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it, read it love it., 14 Feb 2008
This is a highly entertaining thriller. The pace is unrelenting and the action reads like a Die Hard film. A terrific story weaved with interesting history had me turning those pages like there was no tomorrow. James Twining knows how to write a good story. His third book (so far) is probably better than his previous two which are also highly enjoyable affairs.
Bottom line:
If you want to lose yourself in a good book and learn a few things along the way then read this book. Nice one, James. Thank you!
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Third Book in the Tom Kirk Series, 22 Dec 2007
James Twining was born in London but spent a great deal of his childhood in Paris. He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford with a first-class degree in French Literature, James lives in London with his wife, Victoria, and is now a full-time writer.
This is the third book in the Tom Kirk series. Kirk has carried the weight of the title of the world's greatest art thief for quite a while and has been trying to relieve himself of it for some time. The problem is other people won't let him.
This book revolves around one of the most audacious thefts in history and Tom Kirk finds himself yet again right there in the middle of it. A reformed Tom is investigating the theft of a Da Vinci painting, one he may well have contemplated lifting himself a year or two ago. It is not long before he begins to see it as the work of some of his former associates.
The book carries on at a pace and is very readable and exciting. Tom's path is destined to cross with an old acquaintance Jennifer Browne, a New York FBI agent who reader's will remember from the book The Double Eagle. The pair are drawn into a plot like flies to a spiders web . . .
The book is not a literary masterpiece, nor does it pretend to be. It is there to entertain the reader and I think that it does that very well. A good book for a night beside the fire.
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