- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; (Reissue) edition (6 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006490263
- ISBN-13: 978-0006490265
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 615,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
‘An elegant and amusing book, perfect for those who love a clever puzzle’
Frances Hegarty, Mail on Sunday
‘Iain Pears has a superior line in this kind of tale… A divertingly complex, often comic, story in which the art motif is ingeniously central to the solution’
Guardian
‘Giotto’s Hand provides a wry and illuminating portrait of the often devious world of fine art’
Val McDermid
Product Description
Fascinating art-crime novel set in Italy from the bestselling author of An Instance of the Fingerpost.
General Bottando of Rome’s Art Theft Squad is in trouble: his theory that a single master criminal, dubbed ‘Giotto’, is behind a string of major art thefts has aroused the scorn of his arch enemy and rival, the bureaucrat Corrado Argan. He needs a result, and the confession of a dying woman may just provide the vital clue.
In pursuit of the elusive Giotto, Bottando’s colleague, Flavia di Stefano, sets off hotfoot for Florence, and English art dealer Jonathan Argyll is dispatched to London and then on to rural Norfolk…only to discover a body and a mystery which could lead to the greatest art find of his career…
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Something different,
By Paul Judd "Judster" (Northampton, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Giotto's Hand (Hardcover)
My first Iain Pears book and an excellent start. I found the story engrossing, the art world background fascinating and the cast of main characters believable.
Its a very different approach to the detective story with no full on policemen. There are 2 great characters from the Italian art crime squad battling with art crime, internal politics, the Italian state system, and their own mixture of fiery and sleepy Italian nature. There is also an inquisitive, slightly restless and not very good (i.e too moral) art dealer who has a nose for research and a love for the female art crime squad detective. They approach different elements of the crime and this keeps the interest going really well. The criminal is a lovable if slightly barmy individual and works well into the story. I'm a keen Donna Leon fan and that brought me to this book and while not up to Leon's descriptive style it was really enjoyable and i want to find out more about Flavia, Argyll and Bottando. I love books where I learn something, I'm entertained and where there is a real feeling for atmosphere and this book fits the bill.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Mystery,
By A Customer
This review is from: Giotto's Hand (Paperback)
One of the best mystery novels I've read in a long time. Iain Pears is a far better writer of detective novels than Mccabe or Christie. The novel is an easy read without being too simplistic and holds one's attention.I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely worth a read,
By
This review is from: Giotto's Hand (Paperback)
For me, this was a surprisingly light and fast read - started and finished almost in an evening.
The story begins in Tuscany with a rather complicated description of departmental politics - but don't let this put you off. Apparently, the 'art theft' department has to prove itself and defend it's methods against an interloper who is all politics and no substance. This opportunity is given in the form of a cryptic note, which opens up a number of unsolved cases - in themselves, open to question. The story develops as the members of the art theft department scrabble to unravel the obvious and the not so obvious. The most enjoyable part of this book are the twists and double twists. At first, I was bothered that I couldn't really get to grips with the characters, many of whom seem to be little more than cardboard cutouts. However, being patient with this allowed me to really appreciate the denouement which, without giving too much away, hinges on something of a mind game. Definitely worth a read.
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