Simpson's Homer: A Tim Simpson Mystery (Tim Simpson Mysteries) [Hardcover]

John Malcolm (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tim Simpson Mysteries | Publication Date: December 31, 2001

Sir Richard White, the director of a major international bank, appears to be losing his mind - so his nephew, Jeremy, calls in old friend, former rugby player and art historian Tim Simpson, to watch over his uncle and protect the family millions. Tim follows Sir Richard to the Italian countryside, where he is busily investigating the history of an obscure Protestant sect, the Waldensians - and demanding that the bank finance his activities. And that's just for starters. Named as an executor of a friend's estate, Tim is also gradually becoming embroiled in a mystery involving a missing painting by the distinguished American artist, Winslow Homer. As it becomes clear that Tim's art knowledge is indispensable to several different people, he begins to find his loyalties torn...The thirteenth in what Library Journal described as 'one of the finest series being written today', Simpson's Homer is John Malcolm's richest, most satisfying novel to date.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On first looking into Simpson's Homer, one finds that this intelligent, well-plotted story is the 13th in the series (Into the Vortex, etc.) to feature art historian and amateur detective Tim Simpson and his wife, Sue; therefore, the Homer is likely to be the 19th-century American artist, Winslow Homer. Jeremy White, Tim's superior at White's, an international investment bank in London, sends Tim to Italy to see whether Jeremy's uncle and Tim's friend and mentor, Sir Richard White, has really "gone off his rocker." Sir Richard has been sending messages advocating the bank's support of a tourism project involving Oliver Cromwell and the Waldensians, an early Protestant sect in an Alpine valley now part of Italy. Tim learns Sir Richard's reasons for these messages just before the older man's death, apparently of a heart attack. Sir Richard's contacts in Turin and Paris also die suddenly, and an attempt is made to kill Tim, who decides all the deaths are murders. Meanwhile, Tim is named executor of a friend's estate, so he and Sue visit the friend's aunt in Northumberland, where in the last few pages they make a most satisfying discovery. Sue, who works at the Tate, furnishes some fascinating art history concerning Homer's activities in northern England, while Tim's dialogues with Jeremy bristle with esoteric information about Brillat-Savarin (The Physiology of Taste) and the history of the Waldensian sect. In addition, Malcolm presents a fine portrayal of one of the vilest female scoundrels in the literature of modern banking. (Apr.)Association.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Clean, classy and tough" -- The New Yorker

"The Malcolm recipe of smart plotting, lively humor and art-facts is as tasty as ever." -- Sunday Times

"Vivid, lively and original ... Deft and professional in the extreme." -- Times Literary Supplement

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Allison & Busby LTD; First Edition, 1st Printing edition (December 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749005866
• ISBN-13: 978-0749005863
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,676,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars D'oh!, July 17, 2003

By 

James E. Jones (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simpson's Homer: A Tim Simpson Mystery (Tim Simpson Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This has nothing to do with our favorite Springfield family! There's no nuclear power plant, no Moe's Tavern, no Chief Wiggum. I doubt the characters' hue even approaches the "yellowish" spectrum. For shame, John Malcolm, for shame. Worst book ever!