- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New edition edition (3 Dec 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007121253
- ISBN-13: 978-0007121250
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,132,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Praise for The Immaculate Deception:
‘The writing is graceful, the characters are people in whose company it would be a delight to pass an evening. And Pears gives a rich sense of what it is to live in raddled, ever-glorious Rome’ Donna Leon, Sunday Times
‘With his attractive evocation of Berenson-type connoisseurs in crumbling Italian villas, Pears is that rare bird: a crime writer who can grip without gore’ Jane Jakeman, Independent
‘An intricately plotted, entertaining murder mystery’ Observer Review
‘Superior entertainment’ Allan Massie, Scotsman
‘There is nothing so satisfactory as the deconstruction of a puzzle in the hands of such an erudite and sure-footed author’ Elizabeth Buchan, Times
Review
'A witty and exceptionally brilliant puzzler' Sunday Times 'Fresh, contemporary and coloured with sardonic wit' She Praise for the Jonathan Argyll novels: 'Superior entertainment.' Allan Massie, Scotsman 'There is nothing so satisfactory as the deconstruction of a puzzle in the hands of such an erudite and sure-footed author.' The Times 'Pears is a delightful writer, with a light, ironic touch.' Frances Fyfield, Mail on Sunday 'Iain Pears writes delightfully witty, elegant, well-informed crime novels.' The Times 'You don't have to know much about art to enjoy Iain Pears's Italian mysteries. Like a good teacher, he shares his passion unobtrusively and flavours his lessons with wit.' Val McDermid 'Pears is a delightful writer, with a light, ironic touch.' Mail on Sunday
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first book by Iain Pears that I have read, and I found it enjoyable. He seems to have a light style of writing, similar in some ways to Dick Francis. Some of the characterisation may have been a little thin, but didn't detract from the overall tale. A cleverly constructed plot, a good attention to detail and a sharp, humorous style (together with some well observed references to European 'unity') combined to make this an easy, satisfying read. The sort of book you could take on holiday and read by the pool - and that can be taken as a compliment! I shall be reading more of Mr Pears' novels.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've never read a detective novel. I don't know why, but it has never appealed to me as a literary genre. For some reason, I picked this one up having been enticed by the dust-jacket synopsis and started reading it. From the first page, I was hooked. Unfortunately I couldn't put it down. I'd travelled miles to spend a social weekend with my family and finally spent every car journey, every evening immersed in this book.
It's true that it's not the best characterisation I've come across, but one marvels at the mastery of plot and somehow the characters redeem themselves as highly satisfactory vehicles with which to move the story on. It doesn't matter that they are a bit shadowy. With imagination one manages to give them more gravity oneself as the plot unfurls.
Wherever the writer takes us; Rome, Paris or England, the setting is perfectly expressed. I felt like I had lived through what the characters had by the end of the tale. I too was exhausted!
An intriguing plot and what is perhaps lost in characterisation is more than compensated in the storyline.
I will be reading many more books by Iain Pears. I haven't read any others by this author so if this is part of a series (as apparently it is) I don't believe it matters in the least.
I look forward to the next!
It's true that it's not the best characterisation I've come across, but one marvels at the mastery of plot and somehow the characters redeem themselves as highly satisfactory vehicles with which to move the story on. It doesn't matter that they are a bit shadowy. With imagination one manages to give them more gravity oneself as the plot unfurls.
Wherever the writer takes us; Rome, Paris or England, the setting is perfectly expressed. I felt like I had lived through what the characters had by the end of the tale. I too was exhausted!
An intriguing plot and what is perhaps lost in characterisation is more than compensated in the storyline.
I will be reading many more books by Iain Pears. I haven't read any others by this author so if this is part of a series (as apparently it is) I don't believe it matters in the least.
I look forward to the next!
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've not read too many detective novels, in fact I wouldn't normally read one, let alone buy one. However I enjoyed Iain Pears's Instance at the Fingerpost so much that I thought I'd give this a spin. I can honestly say that I was glad I did so. The fact that the novel is part of a series is obvious, but it did not detract from the enjoyment of the book. The characters are well developed and (more or less) believable, the plot is strong and has plenty to keep one thinking and the descriptive and atmospheric writing is sublime.
Have I become a detective novel addict? Well the jury's still out on that. Will I buy and read more in this series? Absolutely
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Pits -- But Don't Take My Word For It
I've got competent writer-friends who can't get their work published, who've been turned down despite innovative, professional, and quality work. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2008 by Carlo Matthews
A disappointing read
This is the most disappointing books I have read in ages. Maybe I expected too much after' An Instance of the Fingerpost'. Read more
Published on 9 April 2002 by jneirinckx@skynet.be
A recommenation for you. . .
To all lovers of Pears, let me recommend another sensational author you will love: Glenn Kleier. His novel, THE LAST DAY is nothing short of brilliant and I believe you will find... Read more
Published on 25 May 1999
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