Giotto's Hand

Jonathan Argyll #5

by Iain Pears

General Bottando of Rome’s Art Theft Squad believes that a lone criminal mastermind—dubbed “Giotto”—has been stealing priceless Renaissance art for over thirty years. But his theory—prompted by a letter from an embittered, dying old woman—is scorned by archrival Corrado Argan, a bureaucrat more interested in politics than policing.

Bottando’s right hand, the beautiful Flavia di Stefano, quickly locates a possible culprit—but he’s in England. Since the conniving Argan considers even a trip across town an unnecessary expense for Bottando’s squad, Flavia must rely on her fiancé, Jonathan Argyll. In England on business, he finds the suspect suspiciously dead. That’s a pity—especially for Jonathan. Were he not on the scene—raving about art thefts and coincidences—the police may have ruled that the deceased had a few too many and tripped on a loose stair. Now, Jonathan’s passport has been lifted until Her Majesty’s magistrate is satisfied that he has told all he knows… 

 

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Art, Crime, Italy, Mystery Thriller, Historical

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Iain Pears is an English art historian, novelist and journalist. He was educated at Warwick School, Warwick, Wadham College and Wolfson College, Oxford. Before writing, he worked as a reporter for the BBC, Channel 4 (UK) and ZDF (Germany) and correspondent for Reuters from 1982 to 1990 in Italy, France, UK and US. In 1987 he became a Getty Fellow in the Arts and Humanities at Yale University. His well-known novel series features Jonathan Argyll, art historian, though international fame first arrived with his best selling book An Instance of the Fingerpost (1998), which was translated into several languages. Pears currently lives with his wife and children in Oxford.

Reviews

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing valuable until the last twenty pages or so.
- the plot is thin, the characters are far from pleasant
- the action lances, there is more insignificant talk
- there is no need of Bottando-Argan war in order to rise the value of the book; that's quite boring
- perhaps Mr. Pears has something against his own country, as the weather is ugly, trains are dirty, highways are too slow, food is bad and so on and on.
- I've guessed the "killer" from the first pages, she's too good to be innocent
but, as I've said, last pages save almost all. Three stars, no more...

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyably easy reading little book, part of a series I had never hear of until I picked it up. Jonathan Argyll is an Englishman living in Rome trying to make a living as an art dealer, procrastinating about accepting a job as an art teacher. His partner, Flavia, is a member of Rome's Art theft squad and the art theft connection is what I really enjoyed about this book.

Most of it takes place in England, where Jonathan goes to visit an art dealer as a favour to Flavia's boss - when he arrives the dealer is dead. How does the dead art dealer tie into the theory of a single master criminal responsible for a series of art thefts over a couple of decades? That is what the book unfolds for you....

While I would not go so far as to say that this is a 'whodunnit' it is a fun little detective story. Anyone who likes detective stories with a theme should enjoy it. The conclusion was no surprise - not even to me, who has no facility for guessing solutions to mysteries.

Most is set in an English town, and I loved the village politics and gentle fun being poked at communities where everyone knows everyone. The descriptions of Italian departmental politics were also light, fun and entertaining. I will definitely read more of this series.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this over a decade ago, but I noted witty passages--and there are many. Like Leon on Venice, Pears captures Italian policing bureaucracy, its authoritarian sexism combined with a bracing incompetence: the Amanda Knox case provides the best illustration, where poorly gathered, doubtful evidence was used to pursue a criminal prosecutor's (i.e., himself facing a trial) original, unwavering idea.
But additional to Leon, Pears adds the delicious factor of comparative incompetence between Italy and the UK. Bottando is a fine invention, a bit like Leon's Brunetti in that both can negotiate the impenetrable bureaucracy, but at a cost, personal and professional. His assistant Flavia affiliates with the British art dealer Jonathan Argyll, who appreciates genuine, less famous art, so therefore makes little profit.
This one begins with Bottando's boss criticising the Art Squad's work, and especially, their expense accounts. His critique makes the expense of Flavia's trip to England delicious. She goes to catch up with Argyll and mutually to inspect a deceased art dealer and possible major thief.
Meanwhile, Argyll has been staying at a grand, fifteen bedroom, though declining country house inherited by the only relation who isn't a total deadbeat, Mrs Verney. She talks "normally," "None of the thick rusticity of the locals, nor the tonsil-strangling accents normally associated with the English aristocracy"(70).
Mrs Verney reflects on having inherited, "I had no idea being priviledged required so much work...I was bringing in some wood. Chopped with my own hands. It's another skill you learn when you're priviledged"(91).

[David Schwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me the last of the seven books in the series (I bought and read a number of them out of sequence). A file of old cases becomes active due to a series of confessions in rapid order. There is a brown noser in the the department who is determined to become the big boss. The team over a number of days solves most (if not all) thefts in the special file, proves that the brown noser is not qualified, and even finds some unrelated stolen artworks.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in the series, this time a delightful trip to the English countryside where crime solving art dealer Jonathan Argyll gets to the bottom of an historical string of art thefts.

[Lars Dradrach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathan is struggling to make a living as an art dealer and considers taking up a teaching position instead, meanwhile Bottando and Flavia is chasing the elusive (maybe non existing) master thief Giotto.

The story mostly unfolds in England in a small village where several murders are conducted, straight out of Midsomer Murders.

It’s a more serious tale than the previous books and Jonathan even gets to conduct some real detective work, which in the end helps him to decide on his future employment.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

🍷🍷🍷🍷
Fifth entry in this charming little series, and quite enjoyable. Here General Bottando of the Art Theft Department in Rome sets himself the task of unmasking “Giotto,” the elusive thief who may have stolen a score or more of Italy’s art treasures. He has received a letter from an elderly woman who claims to have aided in one of those thefts many years ago, and he dispatches his assistant Flavia de Stefano to the Palazzo Strega in Florence to interview said woman. Surprisingly, she gives up some information that might provide a clue to Giotto’s identity. While Flavia continues to investigate in Italy, she sends her boyfriend Jonathan Argyll back to England to research an art dealer there who may just be the man they seek...who inconveniently dies just as Argyll gets there, likely by foul play. And we’re off! Only seven in this series, and merely two left yet to read. I console myself with the pleasant anticipation of sometime reading them all again...

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my students loaned this to me, so I had to finish before class ends this week. I had read one of the earlier in the series, which didn't impel me to run out and read the rest. This was a fine diversion, but I had some issues with it. The plot was overly convoluted, I kept losing track of who was who among the villagers (George and Gordon? Couldn't one be Ed or Hank?), and I didn't buy the motivation of the villain. It struck me as ironic that Romans were complaining about British trains. Finally, nothing about the drawing, from Jonathan's first notice of it to his final disposition of it, rang true to me. So, not Mr. Pears' best work, but I guess it beats trying to make a living as an art historian.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often re-read a series but this one is worth it.
Jonathan Argyll and his fiance Flavia di Stefano, of the Italian Art Crimes police, investigate a string of art thefts that occurred over 30 years and across Europe. Traveling between Italy and England, this intrepid duo ferret out not only the thief but all the thief's associates. Pears sets forth a convoluted crime and investigation worthy of an excellent, rainy-day mystery. For art history lovers everywhere.

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This probably isn't the best book in the series, as a mystery, though it is puzzling and has a big twist at the end. The strength of this edition are the focus on Jonathan and lovely Mary Varney. Also, the shenanigans at the bureau in Italy will have ramifications for later books. I always enjoy reading this series, and I look forward to this one each time because it's just so fun to read.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good mystery, stolen art, lives tangled, the continuing story of Jonathan and Flavia. And of course General Bottando. Sometimes I got a little lost with who did what, when...but it all comes together in the end.

[Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for

[Steven Belanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good entry in the series, second-best in my view, though I haven’t read them all. Oddly told, as the narration keeps its light fluency, yet the story is serious, the characters are likable (even the bad ones) and the ending is lightly-told downer.

Paintings are being stolen on the sly, from absentee owners who don’t even know for a long time that they’re gone. Who’s taking them? Argyll finds himself in a quaint British village, the suspect is murdered, and a past murder comes up.

Suspects are few, and you’ll guess right away who it was. But how to prove it? The explanations at the end are long, and there are a few wraparounds, lies, red-herrings, etc. You’ll get one of those long explanations that you’ll say you got mostly right. And you won’t feel you were expected to get it all.

Overall, it’s a very satisfying read, but you’ll probably feel sorry for one of the main characters, and maybe a bit letdown at the end. Not from the writing, or from the story, but from an understanding that sometimes life and justice go that way. The guilty go free and feel no remorse, the innocent feel awful and sometimes pay the price. Ignorance is bliss.

[Colleen Villasenor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an old book that I picked up at a charity sale. Apparently, it is part of a series, but it stands on its own well. The head of the art crimes department in Rome, Bottando, is battling to keep his job as a newcomer is trying to oust him in the name of efficiency and modern techniques. Some new leads on missing paintings arouse suspicions and Flavia, his chief investigator, sets out to see if there is any validity to them. As suspicion points to an Englishman, Flavia's fiancee, Jonathan Argyll, decides to check him out since he will be in England on business anyway. Before Argyll can interview him, the suspect is found dead. The result is a mystery to find the actual art thief and to determine if the suspect's death was an accident or murder. And all must be resolved in time for the meeting to determine if Bottando will continue as the department director or lose his job. There are the mandatory twists and hints that are dropped in the course of the story. It was an enjoyable read.

[Miriamgreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bottando said in a whisper to Flavia never attack an old lion till you are sure his teeth are gone
Of the entire series, this is possibly the best read
Of all the characters introduced in the series, Bottando Flavia, Jonathan Mary Verneyis perhaps the most amazing curious and compelling
This title reveals her history and brings together all the tantalizing references to her the throughout the series
In the last book, she Matando are happily together, and if I have a suggestion, I would read this book and the final title together
If you can say for a plot, there was never a dull moment giottos hand is a perfect exemplar
My only disappointment was with the tantalizing drawing by Leonardo of the hand, which I would never have parted with I think that Mary verney must be one of my favorite female heroines
The entire series is a definite reread

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! A master art thief has been carefully picking paintings to nab for over 30 years. The thefts have taken place all over Italy, always from family collections and always small enough paintings/drawings to carry away without notice. None of the chosen items had been phographed for insrance, so tracing them as nearly impossible. General Bottando of the Italian art squad ha, however, developed a theory of the thief himself. The difficulty was in proving it. Suspicion has fallen upon an English art dealer who lived in Florence for a time in the 1960s...this intelligent mystery is set in bith Rome and a small English village. Flavia and Jonathan, Bottando's official and unofficial aides, are on the case for him while he fights off nosey bureaucrats in Rome.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bottando of the Art Squad had long ascribed a series of missing paintings to the master art thief he had nicknamed ‘Giotto’. Flavia had always thought it unlikely, but suddenly circumstances - and a suspicious death - combined to make the investigation into Giotto spark back into life. Would they discover a criminal mastermind, or was it all just an illusion?

I read this book in a very bitty way, which didn’t help me keep straight the different strands of the plot. It’s easy to feel yourself smarter than bumbling art dealer Jonathan Argyll, but Iain Pears has a knack of surprising you with a revelation here and a plot twist there. The English setting of a large part of this book starts out reminiscent of Midsomer Murders but turns very Inspector Morse, which is a compliment.

[Ed Mestre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can always count on a Jonathan Argyle art mystery for a bit of class and a large dose of sardonic observations on the Italian legal system and the art world. In this volume you can throw in English country life as well. This one may be one of my favorite in the series with not only a who-done-it, but was it actually done? A dead body and a cold case stolen painting, mixed in with Italian Art Police office politics, suspects galore, and his romantic relation with Flavia, puts Jonathan in both a personal and moral dilemma. The conclusion may have been a frustrating disappointment for Mr. Argyle, but a satisfying one for this reader. The only downside is now I only have two left to read in this delightful series.

[Terry Steinborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, although very slow moving for the most part. Faced with a large number of unsolved art thefts, the Italian art crimes units receives some information that may lead to a solution for at least some of those crimes. An English not-particularly-successful art dealer, Jonathan Argyll, works with the Italian investigator (and his girlfriend) Flavia to try and find a resolution. The story starts very slowly with very little (if any) evidence, then eventually picks up the pace in the last few chapters. Plot reversals make the story interesting, if rather frustrating as previously unknown information comes to light.

[Nancy Gillies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a generous three-star rating. Giotto's Hand is a quick and enjoyable read with some twists and turns and steady pacing. I liked that it doesn't have a pat ending, but I found the characters kind of flat; I couldn't picture them or hear their voices. I also found the buying/selling involving Forster and Winterton kind of confusing, although I suppose that was likely intentional. While I really liked Pears' An Instance of the Fingerpost, I wouldn't go out of my way to read other books in this series.

[Silvio111 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot was complicated but interested right until the end. Flavia and Jonathan had interlocking roles in solving this mystery, although they spent most of their time in different countries following up on the clues.

Having now reached #5 of this light-hearted series, I think i might just be ready to tackle one of Pears' more demanding novels; say, The Dream of Scipio. (I loved Arcadia and Stone's Fall; could not stand Instance of the Fingerpost. This author's work contains infinite variety.)

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun and light read of a mystery set in the art world of Italy and England. Jonathan Argyll, not-very-successful art dealer, and his fiancée Flavia di Stefano of the Italian Art Police, are following the tracks of the unknown thief, nicknamed Giotto, who has stolen secondary works from old houses for many years. With settings in Rome, Florence, London, and Norfolk, it's another romp through the world of art sales and thefts with the plot reaching back 30 years or more. Read the series in order.

[William Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another funny, cleverly plotted art theft mystery. Not as complex at least initially, but pays off in a twist or two. Mostly set in England, it had a bit of a Midsommer small village air, in a good way. Argyll is charming and Flavia dogged and snarky. Bottando gets a larger chunk of stage time as well. A great entry in this witty art/academia series.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing, but major advance in Jonathan's and Flavia's stories around a rather good mystery that surprised and pleased me quite a bit. Pears' ironic truthfulness about the art world continues to sparkle, though his attempt to apply it to village life felt a bit condescending and dishonest.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than his last one I read, in that I was truly surprised by some twists near the end. Still, a little too slow and wordy for a mystery. I loved his other stand alone books so much, but these are just not as good.

[Liz Polding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, fun, clever, and satisfying. A quick read, but an enjoyable one, and part of a series, which I appear to have begun at the end. I enjoyed Fingerpost and Sharpe’s Fall, and although this is rather different from either of those, I’m now minded to read the others in the series.

[Sarka B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I have already read several books of this serie before. I like reading about mysteries related with art. The book is engaging especially thrilling in last chapters and with several twists in the end. It is well written and worth reading.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've become quite fond of the characters in this series and Argyll personality is front and center in this book. The plot is good, Flavia gets a starring role, and the boss even leaves the office for some actual field work. As a bonus, the author gets to rant about British weather and rails.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. Art dealer & art cop & art thieves & italy & england...and I did end up loving it. Well, the last 20 pages of it. That's all I can say 'bout it.

[Margaret Rosen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd heard raves about this author and series but the characters just didn't appeal to me enough. Perhaps I should have started with the first book.