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When the letter first arrived at the offices of Rome's Art Theft Squad, General Bottando thought it was just another deranged demand from a demented art fan. But the mysterious correspondent is a woman who claims to know something about a painting that was stolen over thirty years ago--and Bottando believes the theft was just one in a series of clever heists masterminded by an elusive thief he's dubbed "Giotto." Anxious to outwit the conniving colleague who's plotting his professional destruction, Bottando sends the beautiful Flavia di Stefano to investigate. Flavia quickly uncovers a possible culprit--but when her art-dealer boyfriend Jonathan Argyll travels to England to question him, the suspect is very suspiciously dead...
A mysterious letter regarding a decades-old art theft triggers a high-stakes investigation that forces General Bottando and his team into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. When a series of clever heists attributed to the elusive thief known as "Giotto" resurfaces, Bottando dispatches the sharp-witted Flavia di Stefano to navigate the treacherous world of international art dealing. As Flavia tracks the lead, her partner Jonathan Argyll finds himself in England, only to discover that their primary suspect has been silenced by death. The narrative unfolds through a blend of procedural investigation and art-world intrigue, highlighting the professional rivalries and personal stakes that complicate the pursuit of justice.
This work is characterized by its precise balance of procedural mystery and intellectual engagement with the art world. The narrative structure relies on the established rapport between the lead characters, which provides a consistent anchor for the complex, multi-layered plot. Readers often note the author's ability to weave technical details about art provenance into the fabric of a suspenseful investigation. The tone remains clinical and observant, prioritizing the mechanics of the heist and the subsequent inquiry over sensationalist action sequences.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
1996-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers Canada, Limited
ISBN-10:
0006490263
ISBN-13:
9780006490265
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