Your basic Truman plot line, but old characters making reappearance's. The story lags to start, but picks up by the middle. However, the ending is't worthy of her talent. ( )

I like this mystery set in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and in Italy. There were a lot of twists that kept me guessing throughout the book. ( )

Luther Mason, world-class expert on the works of Caravaggio and head curator at the the Nation Gallery in DC, has arranged for a special exhibition of Caravaggio artworks. On view will be pieces from London, France, Russia, Spain and Italy. It seems all is set until Mason is told of a recently discovered Caravaggio work in Italy. When he goes to view it he is presented with a proposition. One that involves forgery, deception, prestige, fame and more. The unveiling of this piece will make it the centerpiece to the exhibition.

Needless to say, this plan is highly complicated with international links. It becomes even more so as each link has its own tenuous place in the chain leading to the final charm. Certain players are found murdered, some demand more, questions as to the truth of the provenance of the 'found' work; one break in a link and the plan may fail.

Annabel Smith, gallery owner and previous high profile attorney, is asked to be liaison between the White House and the National Gallery by her old college friend Carol Aprile, the current Vice President's wife. The White House has gotten concerned with relations with Italy, there are rumours of possible rifts between the upper echelon at the National Gallery. Aprile feels that Smith could be the 'eyes and ears' for the White House due to her status in the Arts Community.

There are a good number of characters to keep track of and quite a bit of travelling back and forth between the U.S. and Italy. I did find I had to go back and re-read at time to be sure I was on track. The flow does build to a crescendo, but it seemed to end a bit abruptly. I still did enjoy reading it. It has been a while since I've read any of Margaret Truman's books. And I know I will read more. ( )

A very respected curator at the national gallery plans to make off with a recently discovered masterpiece by his favorite painter, Caravaggio. Everything seems to go as planned when he commissions two very good copies, but he ends up in league with too many bad guys and finally everything starts going wrong. Mack and Annabel Smith are involved, especially Annabel due to her connections to the art world.

This story centres around an exhibition at the National Gallery in Washington, DC of the works of Caravaggio. The curator of the exhibit, Luther Mason, discovers a lost work by Caravaggio while he is on a trip to Italy. He manages to have the work copied by an expert forger and then he embarks on an elaborate scheme to switch the forgery for the real work. He plans to take the real work with him when he escapes to a place in the sun. Annabel Reed-Smith, a Washington gallery owner and close friend of the Vice-President's wife, becomes involved in the story when she is asked by her friend to represent the White House in staging the Caravaggio exhibit.

I haven't given this book a very high rating because I thought the plot was too strung out. I kept wondering when the murder would take place. I also thought the curator didn't make a very plausible thief. I have another book by Margaret Truman to be read so I'll try it and give her another chance. ( )