This book investigates the clandestine and unregulated world of the international art trade by documenting the author's undercover operation to recover a stolen Caravaggio painting. Peter Watson, an experienced investigative journalist, utilizes his expertise in art history and his access to high-level contacts to infiltrate criminal networks. He presents a detailed account of the illicit market, arguing that the lack of transparency in the art world facilitates the movement of stolen cultural property.

Experts in the field of art crime recognize this work as a significant primary account of the vulnerabilities within the art market. Readers frequently note the high-stakes tension of the narrative, which reads with the pacing of a thriller while maintaining journalistic rigor.