- Paperback: 720 pages
- Publisher: Pan; New edition edition (7 April 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330441604
- ISBN-13: 978-0330441605
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 100,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Crimetime
'Solid, trenchant writing'
Park & Holiday Homes magazine
‘Elegant and witty novel’
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is Adrian Mathews's best novel to date. His handling of plot and suspense as well as his drole and lingusitically inventive style have matured beautifully, making this a most exciting and entertaining story in an Amsterdam evoked as if by someone who lives there and knows it intimately, which, extraordinarily Mathews does not. As with Vienna Blood, it is clear that the writer has done meticulous research on a whole range of subjects. And here he uncovers not only fascinating details about the looting and accumulation of art treasures by the Nazis in World War II but also takes us into the eighteenth-century world of an artist who - I don't want to spoil the plot - is way ahead of his time. The discovery of his papers - invented, written and presented by the novelist - and the background intrigue they reveal are, for me the most remarkably gripping pages Mathews has ever written. The main plot that holds the whole edifice together is in a modern setting - for Mathews may be an accomplished historian but he also has a very fine eye for contemporary detail. Though I sometimes had trouble identifying with his female heroine, one has to admire the challenge Mathews gave himself in choosing a female protagonist for a change - and she is indeed a most original character.
I was impatient to turn the pages of this long novel and found the climax both unexpected and satisfactory. What curbed my impatience to read fast, however, was the inventiveness of Mathews's descriptions and the expressions his narrator and his characters use; the sort one wants to file and use oneself one day. It is novel too that taught me something, made me think and made me laugh. All that and a veritable Ali-Baba's cave of language treasures too. A pity the title and dust jacket are not nearly as attractive as the contents of the book.
I was impatient to turn the pages of this long novel and found the climax both unexpected and satisfactory. What curbed my impatience to read fast, however, was the inventiveness of Mathews's descriptions and the expressions his narrator and his characters use; the sort one wants to file and use oneself one day. It is novel too that taught me something, made me think and made me laugh. All that and a veritable Ali-Baba's cave of language treasures too. A pity the title and dust jacket are not nearly as attractive as the contents of the book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The wording on the front of this book makes you think that it's going to be along the lines of the Da Vinci Code: " A looted painting, a secret code, a deadly pursuit...", but this is not another paint by numbers art thriller.
Firstly, this is a long book, at 700 pages. Don't let that put you off, the language is flowing and easy to read, so it did not take me long to get through the whole thing. The entire book is set in one city and time is taken to get to know the characters,especially Ruth Braams, who works as an art researcher. Ruth grows and changes as a character throughout the story, which gives the book a real depth.
I would have liked a little more adventure and some editing of some of the more long winded sections where nothing happens.
All in all, a good read, but beware of the misleading cover.
Firstly, this is a long book, at 700 pages. Don't let that put you off, the language is flowing and easy to read, so it did not take me long to get through the whole thing. The entire book is set in one city and time is taken to get to know the characters,especially Ruth Braams, who works as an art researcher. Ruth grows and changes as a character throughout the story, which gives the book a real depth.
I would have liked a little more adventure and some editing of some of the more long winded sections where nothing happens.
All in all, a good read, but beware of the misleading cover.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I very much enjoyed this book but it almost seemed as though there were two writers at work here. A contemporary author and one from a 1930's "noir" style detective novel. The main character spoke with a "tough dame" style of lingo but only at certain times. How odd indeed ??? I did feel compelled to plough on regardless of the jumbled writing styles. A very interesting premise and also very descriptive in regards to Amsterdam canal houses. Somehow I get the feeling that men will enjoy this book more then women. Prove me wrong !!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mystery?
This book is a mystery because it is hard to tell whether it is supposed to be a thriller, an historical treatise or a philosophical work. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Diane Clifford
Caught in Amsterdam
The Apothecary's House is a story set in wintery Amsterdam, with a story which stretches back over 250 years. Read more
Published on 2 May 2010 by J. Cronin
So What?
At the end of over 700 pages, I was left with just one thought - So What!
Firstly this book took about three attempts before I could get through it. Read more
Firstly this book took about three attempts before I could get through it. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2008 by Mr. Peter Steward
An interesting plot which somehow fails to deliver
I chose to read this novel because the blurb appealed to me. However, I found it very irritating to read mainly because of the atrocious dialogue between the characters. Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2007 by Dora Brown
A wonderful tale of ancient, War-time and present day Amsterdam and...
I was bought this book as a Christmas present by my mother. She said that books are personal things and she didn't know if it would be to my taste. I said I'll give anything a go. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2007 by Mrs. B
Bit weird
Dead readable but not one for over-analysis. The plot was clever with a great whodunnit bit at the end, but (as everyone has already pointed out) the description tends towards the... Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2006 by R. Barlow
a real narrative mish-mash!
There's probably an averagely good novel in here somewhere but it would take a strong and ruthless editor to find it: the plot bizarrely shifts between Nazi-looted art from Jews... Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2006 by Roman Clodia
The story that goes at the speed of a snail
Good subject for a story but the descriptive passages do go on and on and on...... Takes far to long to reach the next important part of the story. Lost interest half way through.
Published on 16 Aug 2006 by G. M. Buchanan
Am I the only one that spotted this?
A good book - very readable, however, some of the descriptive text did seem to go on. But my main gripe is a huge error in one of the key explanations of the whole story! Read more
Published on 28 May 2006 by Mrs. J. Poole
Okay, But Not Great
I found this book to be okay but nothing worth getting excited about. The main character of Ruth was, from a female perspective, quite masculine in her language and mannerisms and... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2005 by Kat
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