Witty Italian art-history crime series featuring English dealer Jonathan Argyll, from the author of the best-selling literary masterpiece, 'An Instance of the Fingerpost'. Paris can do strange things to a man's mind! like making him agree to an apparently harmless favour of escorting a picture to Rome. 'The Death of Socrates' is a particularly nondescript piece, so art dealer Jonathan Argyll can sympathize when its recipient refuses to accept delivery. But in an unusual twist, the same man is found dead a few hours later. Surely the painting wasn't that bad? Now caught up in a murder investigation, Jonathan recalls an attempt to steal the artwork while he was at the train station. Could this be the killer? The bodies start piling up and Jonathan must uncover the dark wartime secret at the heart of the mystery -- before someone puts him out of the picture for good.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Jonathan Argyll, British art dealer and sleuth, delivers an obscure 18th-century painting to a Parisian dealer's client in Rome. The client, however, ends up dead. Argyll and his fiancee, Flavia de Stefano, pursue the murderer as well as information about the painting. A solidly enjoyable series.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Jonathan Argyll, British art dealer, and his amour, Flavia de Stefano, a member of Rome's art-theft squad, have decided to marry after happy months of living together. But first, there's business to tend to. On a buying trip to Paris, Jonathan is asked by a colleague to deliver a valuable painting to a client in Rome. He soon discovers that whoever is interested in this picture seems to wind up dead. The trail leads both Jonathan and Flavia from Rome to Paris and back, unearthing in the process a story that began with the French Resistance during World War II and has extended its tendrils to the present day, where familial jealousy, greed over an inheritance, and unrequited love provide the perfect motives for murder. In the odd moment when Jonathan and Flavia aren't detecting, they carry on a delightful courtship that provides nearly as much enjoyment as the surprising plot. A sophisticated, adventurous, and gripping story that is sure to hold wide appeal. Emily Melton
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another interesting art historical mystery,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Last Judgement (Art History Mystery) (Paperback)
Pears offers yet another art historical mystery with a cast of characters including art historian Argyll and Italian Art Police Flavia and Bottando. All these characters are a joy to visit once again, especially those who love this series. However, this plot is not as thickly woven as past Pears' novels. It does have its twists and turns, but in the end the killer is quite obvious, and there is not a whole lot to do about art, in the end. Death and Restoration is perhaps the best to start with in this series; once you get hooked, as I have, read this one, too!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More political, still quality,
By trippin toadie (Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Last Judgement (Art History Mystery) (Paperback)
The Last Judgement is slightly more political than the other Argyll art history mysteries. As always there is a dash of sense of humor that keeps the enjoyment level high. A light hearted murder mystery, The Last Judgement involves WW II, family secrets, political intrigue and of course art history. While people will probably see the ending coming; the way it's resolved and the aftermath are appealing.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing on the whole,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Last Judgement (Art History Mystery) (Paperback)
I could hardly believe that this was by the same author as the brilliant "An instance of the fingerpost". Admittedly, it's not the same kind of thing and it's an earlier work, but even so, it is mediocre as whodunnits go. The outcome was largely predictable, and the characters lacked dimension. The best thing I can find to say about it is that it is vastly superior to the art history mysteries of Derek Wilson.
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