Sleeper C [Hardcover]

Adam Paul (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2004

Rainaldi was a violin-maker and when he was discovered slumped over his workbench, murdered with one of his own chisels, both the police and his friends are at a loss to discover a motive. Then it comes to light that Rainaldi had believed he was on the track of an infamous Stradivari - twin to the one housed in the Asmolean Museum and subject to two hundred years of myth and rumour. With nothing else to go on his two close friends pick up the search from where he left off, and plunge headlong into a world where great musical instruments change hands for millions, where forgery is an art form and where murder is often a dealer's chosen method of negotiation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For THE SHADOW CHASERS: 'Tough, worldly Euro-thriller ... Highly effective, undoubtedly authentic.' Philip Oakes For UNHOLY TRINITY: 'Tingling political thriller...Highly recommended. The great Eric Ambler would have enjoyed reading this.' Literary Review

About the Author

Paul Adam is a journalist and the author of several novels. He has recently returned to the city of his birth after spending several years in Nottingham.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown Hardbacks (a & C) (October 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316724335
• ISBN-13: 978-0316724333
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,821,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating book, December 26, 2005

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleeper Hb (Hardcover)

Giovanni "Gianni" Castiglioni is a luthier--a violin maker--at whose home his friends--a policeman, Guastafeste, a priest, Father Arrigh, and a fellow luthier, Rainaldi--gather each month as an informal string quartet. After one of their sessions, a murdered Rainaldi is found in his studio by Guastafeste and Gianni. His widow tells them he was searching for The Messiah's Sister, the twin to a perfect, unplayed, priceless violin made by Stradivari. Gianni is asked by Guastafeste to help in the investigation.

This book is being released in hardcover by St. Martin's as "The Rainaldi Quartet" in February 2006. No matter the title, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character of Gianni, the supporting characters and the settings in Italy were well done. The killer, and the motive, weren't ones I anitipcated. But it was the history of violins and violin making I found fascinating. The information enhanced, rather than detracted, from the story. If this is an example of Mr. Adam's writing, I should definitely read another book by him.