Murder at the National Gallery (Capital Crime Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Truman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 1997 | Series: Capital Crime Mysteries

"POWERFUL . . . FASCINATING . . . Truman absolutely amazes."
--Atlanta Journal & Constitution

When the senior curator at Washington's famed National Gallery finds a missing painting by the Renaissance master Caravaggio, he mounts a world-class exhibition--and plots a brilliant forgery scheme that will stun the art world.

"A THRILLING CHASE."
--Publishers Weekly

But an artful deception suddenly becomes a portrait of blackmail and murder--as gallery owner and part-time sleuth Annabel Reed-Smith and her husband go searching for clues in the heady arena of international art and uncover a rare collection of unscrupulous characters that leads all the way to Italy.

"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED . . . One of [Margaret] Truman's best."
--Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Truman, daughter of Harry and Bess, centers the latest in her Capitol Crimes series, starring Washington, D.C., insiders Annabel and Mac Reed, in the often corrupt world of international art. Although the title incident doesn't occur until nearly the last chapter, the pace of the preceding action is breathless. As the National Gallery prepares for a special Caravaggio exhibit, senior curator Luther Mason happens to "discover" a lost Caravaggio masterpiece while in Italy. Installing the original in the exhibit but making plans to replace it afterwards, Mason, aided by cultural attache Carlo Giliberti, commissions two forgeries?one to send back to Italy and the other to sell to an underground art dealer who believes he is buying the original. In the meantime, Mason must deal with his scrounging son, Julian, and his mistress and gallery assistant, Lynn Marshall, who is angling for a quick promotion. Along for the ride is well-known art critic, the asexual M. Scott Pims, who adores intrigue. After four murders, the players who remain meet for a thrilling chase from Rome to Abruzzi. The amiable Reeds?Annabel is a gallery owner and Mac a law school professor?are in top form here.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

YA. Truman introduces readers to an art world in which theft, forgery, blackmail, and murder are everyday occurrences, and big money is the catalyst. Senior curator of the National Gallery of Art, Luther Mason, is planning a brilliant exhibition of Caravaggio paintings, culminating with the "surprising" discovery of a work that has been lost for hundreds of years. The commission of two expert forgeries of the lost painting propel Mason, the staff of the museum, the wife of the Vice-President of the United States, and the government of Italy into a dangerous treasure hunt. Truman writes comfortably and simply. By using a modern literary device, she forces readers to synthesize events and information presented in the beginning of the book into the plot. An entertaining mystery.?Debbie Hyman, R. E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett; 1st edition (May 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449219380
• ISBN-13: 978-0449219386
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.8 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overlong unless You're a Caravaggio cultie, April 8, 2000

By 

richard_t "richard_t" (Overseas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder at the National Gallery (Capital Crime Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Truman knows Washington, and she's done her homework on the National Gallery and the life of sixteenth century painter Caravaggio. The plot turns on a blockbuster Caravaggio exhibition at the National and bounces from Italy to Washington and the underground world of stolen masterpieces. Truman's series of crime novels set in Washington ring true to anyone who has spent time there. She knows the neighborhoods, the restaurants, the atmosphere, and the attitude. But the novel is only average. The pages keep turning, the characters are thinly-drawn, and the plot is adequate. The story is overlong. The final third of the book builds toward a predictable denouement that is fun to read but would have benefited from judicious cutting. Thirty pages less would have been much more.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tired and Trite... Overweight Readers Beware!, July 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder At the National Gallery (Paperback)

I have enjoyed Truman's mysteries in the past, but found this one contrived, mildly entertaining, and significantly irritating. The characterizations seemed melodramatic and/or stereotypical. Not a total loss, but you can do much better for your book-buying buck.

What I really found offensive in this book was the consistent characterization of every overweight character as disgusting, repellent, absurd, etc. Apparently, in Truman's mind fat equals bad and thin equals good. How sad for the overweight reader who picks up this book to escape from the unkindness of the world he/she inhabits, only to be bashed by Truman's obvious prejudice. Shame on you, Margaret.

1.0 out of 5 stars what a disappointment!, August 19, 2007

By 

Lexi Andreas (Danville, Pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder at the National Gallery (Hardcover)

Having read and enjoyed other Truman books in the Capital Crimes series years ago, I was extremely disappointed in this rather sophomoric story. The plot is completely predictable, way too long and dragged down with unnecessary details which do nothing to advance plot, characterization or setting. The characters are either thoroughly unlikable or cliched stereotypes. (Sometimes both.) The toast on the last page which lauds the Mason, senior curator, as "a good and decent man who made one mistake" is exceptionally nauseating. Finally, the relationship between Annabel and her husband, Mac, is so corny, it makes the marriages depicted on "The Donna Reed Show" or "Father Knows Best" look noir. I bought this book because I was going to be spending a few days in Washington, DC and wanted to read something "on site." Any other Washington book would have been preferable.