An Instance of the Fingerpost

“The Perfect Deception” is the seventh novel in Ian Pearce’s delightful intellectual detective series about crimes in the world of art, investigated by the English art historian Jonathan Argyle, investigator Flavia di Stefano, and general Bottando. Ian Pearce’s detectives are a refined feast for the soul and the mind. When a masterpiece by Claude Lorrain is stolen on the way from Rome to Paris, the situation seems hopeless. Fortunately, Flavia di Stefano and General Bottando take the case—thanks to them, the painting can be returned, albeit in exchange for a large sum. But soon the kidnapper dies—under the most suspicious circumstances—and Bottando himself vanishes without a trace. What happened, and what was General Bottando hiding? Flavia must investigate this case without the help of her former boss and friend, and in the process it becomes clear that her own life is at stake. Political intrigues, betrayal, and hidden forces intertwine into a new Ian Pearce detective story.