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murdoch_s's review
3.0
"A big museum isn't just a big building and collection. The first thing you do is develop a big bureaucracy worthy of it. Steering committees, hanging committees, budget committees. Hierarchy, interference and plans. Thanet is making the museum about as much fun to work for as General Motors."
aoosterwyk's review
4.0
This story takes place in LA, and therefore lacks some of the charm of the previous books in the series. Alternatively, it provides Americans a chance to see how they might appear to non-Americans/Europeans in the art world. It is not a flattering portrait. I just read on the back cover that Pears lives in Oxford, England. I wonder if he is a native?
roshk99's review
4.0
The setting is fantastic and the art connection makes it unique and interesting.
nhoff's review
4.0
I bought this at the library for $.50. I adored an Instance of the Fingerpost, could not get into Dream of Scipio, so am interested to see how this one goes
A fun, fast read and completely different from Fingerpost. I'm going to check his other art mystery novels out.
A fun, fast read and completely different from Fingerpost. I'm going to check his other art mystery novels out.
majkia's review
4.0
Rating: Art, heists, murder, museum misbehaving, millionaires shown up, what's not to love!
I enjoy this series a lot. the Characters, Flavia and Jonathan are both a hoot, the art is interesting, and the murders are often quite well plotted. And generally they are running around Italy however this time they take their act to L.A. which suffers as a consequence. FTW!
I enjoy this series a lot. the Characters, Flavia and Jonathan are both a hoot, the art is interesting, and the murders are often quite well plotted. And generally they are running around Italy however this time they take their act to L.A. which suffers as a consequence. FTW!
cmbohn's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
jess16's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
lauraellis's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The third in the Flavia and Jonathan Argyll series, set mostly in Italy and written by a Brit with a sense of hmor. Jonathan is a bumbling but sweet Englishman and Flavia is a passionate Italian, both art experts and, since Flavia works for the Italian police’s art squad, ending up in art mysteries. This one surrounds a Bernini bust in California that seems to be linked with a murder. Very enjoyable and humorous.
smcleish's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog here& in July 2000.
The third of Pears' Jonathan Argyll novels is by far the most wide ranging in setting, much of the action (including the murder) taking place in Los Angeles rather than Italy, the country which basically contains the other stories. Jonathan travels there because he has sold a Titian to a minor Californian museum for an inflated price. (The museum was set up by billionaire Arthur Moresby because purchases could be written off against tax.)
At a party given by the museum at which Moresby is to announce plans to massively expand the museum, Jonathan meets an acquaintance from the Italian art trade who has a somewhat dishonest reputation. Herbert di Souza has also made a big sale to the museum, and has been asked by their European buyer to bring over a sealed crate containing a sculpture. When, at the party, it is revealed that this is a bust by Bernini of Pope Pius V, de Souza becomes agitated and demands to speak to Moresby about it in private.
It is just after this meeting that Moresby's body is discovered, while di Souza has disappeared. After this rather complicated setup, the plot develops as a soundly constructed, fairly traditional murder mystery, whose art connections mystify LAPD homicide detectives more used to drug gang killings.
Like the rest of this light-hearted series, The Bernini Bust is enjoyable and worth reading if you like crime fiction.
The third of Pears' Jonathan Argyll novels is by far the most wide ranging in setting, much of the action (including the murder) taking place in Los Angeles rather than Italy, the country which basically contains the other stories. Jonathan travels there because he has sold a Titian to a minor Californian museum for an inflated price. (The museum was set up by billionaire Arthur Moresby because purchases could be written off against tax.)
At a party given by the museum at which Moresby is to announce plans to massively expand the museum, Jonathan meets an acquaintance from the Italian art trade who has a somewhat dishonest reputation. Herbert di Souza has also made a big sale to the museum, and has been asked by their European buyer to bring over a sealed crate containing a sculpture. When, at the party, it is revealed that this is a bust by Bernini of Pope Pius V, de Souza becomes agitated and demands to speak to Moresby about it in private.
It is just after this meeting that Moresby's body is discovered, while di Souza has disappeared. After this rather complicated setup, the plot develops as a soundly constructed, fairly traditional murder mystery, whose art connections mystify LAPD homicide detectives more used to drug gang killings.
Like the rest of this light-hearted series, The Bernini Bust is enjoyable and worth reading if you like crime fiction.