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Review
Praise for ‘Giotto’s Hand’:
‘An elegant and amusing book, perfect for those who love a clever puzzle’ 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
Praise for 'The Portrait':
'A wonderful, grimly entertaining novel.' Sunday Telegraph
'A revenge fantasy to relish.' Independent on Sunday
'Genuinely creepy.' The Times
'An exquisite miniature that explores the roles of artist and critic with wit and gore.' Evening Standard
'This is an atmospheric tour de force of historical writing, as it is of narrative skill.' Independent
'Taut, disturbing…full of interesting observations about the late nineteenth – and early twentieth-century art world…mesmerising.' Spectator
Product Description
Witty and clever art history-mystery featuring Jonathan Argyll, from the author of the bestselling masterpiece ‘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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Customer Reviews
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.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
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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