The Immaculate Deception

Life in Pears' Rome never pretends to be simple, and it's always loads of fun for the reader. Here the theft of a priceless painting on loan from the Louvre leads to the Italian prime minister's order to Flavia to find it, but she must not allow the public or the press to know about the theft, she must get it back no matter the cost, she must pay whatever ransom is demanded without using public funds, and she must do this knowing in advance that she will be a scapegoat--that the prime minister will publicly deny everything he's told her. As the search for the painting gets underway, further mysteries unfold, until even Bottando himself is implicated in an art theft.

Influence peddling, payoffs, and old political rivalries are both accepted and taken for granted here as Flavia negotiates the minefields of art and politics. The satire is gentle, and the action is non-stop. The intricacies of the characters' relationships keep the reader constantly challenged and always thinking, and the art history angle, more about provenance than about painters, should appeal to readers with little art background. The surprising conclusion and the major changes resulting to the lives of the main characters are stunning. If Pears continues this series, it will undoubtedly be in new directions. Mary Whipple


Roman Mind Candy   October 24, 2001
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This was my first introduction to Pears and I'd read him again. He has a lovely light touch and you might as well be in Piazza Navona the way he gets his Italian setting just right. The story? A mildly diverting caper that turns out to be a bit far-fetched. But the characters are well drawn and the yarn keeps you engaged.


A pleasant surprise   October 15, 2001
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I was forced into reading this as one of my university set texts, so was expecting one of those dire "literary thrillers" and left reading it until the weekend before. In the end, this wasn't a problem. Though slow of pace, it carries itself well, the writer deals with his material confidently and brought a smile to my face more than I would ever have expected. Another plus point is that whilst I have no knowledge of art, and about as much interest, the author knows not to show off with his knowledge of art history, instead concentrating on his charming characters.


Predictability   October 12, 2001
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book can only be something of a disappointment as it deals with an interesting topic in a very dull and predictable way. The plot, although flowing and not without the odd interesting twist, is fairly clear from the beginning as an amateurish and obvious sequence. The characters, although not unrealistic, lack any deep feelings or passions and their interaction is stiff. This perhaps is a little harsh as there are some quite charming moments, particularly in the descriptions of Italy, that capture something real. Apart from the odd merits which crop up, the book is generally flat, unprovocative and unchallenging.