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Portrait of Ignatius Jones
In 1896, renowned psychic Ignatius Jones commissions his portrait to be painted by one of the leading artists of his time. He promises his followers that he will communicate with them through his portrait after he passes to spirit.
On the day that he is murdered in 1903, his portrait is stolen.
It turns up more than 100 years later at a church rummage sale in picturesque Tudorsville, Vermont.
Current-day psychic mediums are invited to see the long-lost portrait at the newly-established Ignatius Jones Center for Spiritualist Discovery.
When Boston psychic Dr. Frances Gourmelon (from Ghosts on the Red Line) arrives at the Center, she discovers that things there are very odd, and getting odder.
Charles Philip Tucker, former con man and the Center's founder, claims that he’s in touch with Ignatius Jones through the portrait. He says that he's channeling Ignatius Jones when he punishes a visitor to the Center for blasphemy and when he selects an eighteen-year-old girl to bear his children on Ignatius Jones' behalf.
Frances decides to get involved.
Portrait of Ignatius Jones is a mind-bending story of con artists, psychics, and the paranormal in peaceable Vermont.
On the day that he is murdered in 1903, his portrait is stolen.
It turns up more than 100 years later at a church rummage sale in picturesque Tudorsville, Vermont.
Current-day psychic mediums are invited to see the long-lost portrait at the newly-established Ignatius Jones Center for Spiritualist Discovery.
When Boston psychic Dr. Frances Gourmelon (from Ghosts on the Red Line) arrives at the Center, she discovers that things there are very odd, and getting odder.
Charles Philip Tucker, former con man and the Center's founder, claims that he’s in touch with Ignatius Jones through the portrait. He says that he's channeling Ignatius Jones when he punishes a visitor to the Center for blasphemy and when he selects an eighteen-year-old girl to bear his children on Ignatius Jones' behalf.
Frances decides to get involved.
Portrait of Ignatius Jones is a mind-bending story of con artists, psychics, and the paranormal in peaceable Vermont.
- GenresParanormal
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2014
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Peter David Shapiro
8 books4 followersPeter David Shapiro was born in Montreal, Canada, and now lives in the Boston area. He frequently rides the Red Line, the one that was disrupted by ghostly encounters in GHOSTS ON THE RED LINE. He spent quality time in Hong Kong where a story of intrigue and revenge unfolds in THE TRAIL OF MONEY. He loves the area in Vermont where a remarkable oil painting opens a portal for the paranormal in PORTRAIT OF IGNATIUS JONES. His fourth novel, JACOB'S PLAN, released in May 2019, is about a man who who does what he must to survive. More info at www.peterdshapiro.com...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 30, 2014
REVIEW: PORTRAIT OF IGNATIUS JONES by Peter David Shapiro
Readers of author Peter David Shapiro' s GHOSTS OF THE RED LINE know his gift for not just suspending disbelief, but for holding faith and belief in a sort of bubble or force field, acknowledging that belief exists, while simultaneously showcasing the absence of belief through skepticism and downright cynicism. He is no proselytizer, so don't expect to be bludgeoned with conviction. I stead, each reader decides, just as each character must. Here again, the question of Spiritualism arises, the possibility of Afterlife continuance, and even more, of Afterlife communication.
The focus is an 1896 portrait, a painting of a famed Boston Spiritualist, murdered 7 years later, when the portrait simply disappeared. Over 100 years later, it is serendipitously discovered by a well-to-do con artist, who makes it central to his new operation.
Readers of author Peter David Shapiro' s GHOSTS OF THE RED LINE know his gift for not just suspending disbelief, but for holding faith and belief in a sort of bubble or force field, acknowledging that belief exists, while simultaneously showcasing the absence of belief through skepticism and downright cynicism. He is no proselytizer, so don't expect to be bludgeoned with conviction. I stead, each reader decides, just as each character must. Here again, the question of Spiritualism arises, the possibility of Afterlife continuance, and even more, of Afterlife communication.
The focus is an 1896 portrait, a painting of a famed Boston Spiritualist, murdered 7 years later, when the portrait simply disappeared. Over 100 years later, it is serendipitously discovered by a well-to-do con artist, who makes it central to his new operation.
December 19, 2014
It is always refreshing for me to see an author that can switch genres and be a master of each one. Plus, I thought I would dislike this book when I read the blurb, but that turned out not to be the case at all.
Peter Shapiro is good with action, and the previous novel I read by him was a true thrill ride, so when I began this one, I wasn't sure what to expect, since it is obviously very different from his other work.
Right away I felt like I was a part of this story. The setting felt right and the book begins with a character that you may not love, but you will certainly find interesting.
One of the things I tend to judge books on is whether the idea is simply an idea I have already seen used before. With so many books out on the market it is hard to find pure originality, but I felt I got that with this book. I liked the way this author handled this novel, leading the reader to believe it would end one way and then not having it do so. I truly was expecting a Waco-Compound-style psychotic break at the end, but it was handled much more maturely and thoughtfully than that.
This was a pleasant surprise. The characters were good, the story was interesting and the ending was carried out with dignity. If you like your books to keep you on your toes and make you guess, this one will do the trick. Recommended.
Peter Shapiro is good with action, and the previous novel I read by him was a true thrill ride, so when I began this one, I wasn't sure what to expect, since it is obviously very different from his other work.
Right away I felt like I was a part of this story. The setting felt right and the book begins with a character that you may not love, but you will certainly find interesting.
One of the things I tend to judge books on is whether the idea is simply an idea I have already seen used before. With so many books out on the market it is hard to find pure originality, but I felt I got that with this book. I liked the way this author handled this novel, leading the reader to believe it would end one way and then not having it do so. I truly was expecting a Waco-Compound-style psychotic break at the end, but it was handled much more maturely and thoughtfully than that.
This was a pleasant surprise. The characters were good, the story was interesting and the ending was carried out with dignity. If you like your books to keep you on your toes and make you guess, this one will do the trick. Recommended.
September 8, 2015
There’s a smoothly authentic Victorian feel to the beginning of this tale, but the modern-day writing is equally enthralling and convincing, pulling the reader in to mystery that grows deeper, wider and scarier as the story progresses. Start with one old-fashioned psychic. Let him imbue a portrait with his presence. Then see what happens a hundred years after his death.
In the present day, a painting that has haunted a young woman’s childhood is sold to haunt a con-man’s future instead. But there’s so much more to this story, as psychic powers intersect with human greed, old-fashioned ways give space to the new, devotees are pulled into mystery while true psychics ponder the myth, and very human danger looms.
The story ebbs and flows like the tide, while one strong woman seeks a safe solution to what’s fast becoming dangerously strange. It’s beautifully crafted, with subtle hints and slowly believable change. And it works to a pleasingly honest conclusion, satisfying and just. I really enjoyed this book.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.
In the present day, a painting that has haunted a young woman’s childhood is sold to haunt a con-man’s future instead. But there’s so much more to this story, as psychic powers intersect with human greed, old-fashioned ways give space to the new, devotees are pulled into mystery while true psychics ponder the myth, and very human danger looms.
The story ebbs and flows like the tide, while one strong woman seeks a safe solution to what’s fast becoming dangerously strange. It’s beautifully crafted, with subtle hints and slowly believable change. And it works to a pleasingly honest conclusion, satisfying and just. I really enjoyed this book.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.
May 24, 2015
Portrait As A Portal
Fascinating tale of a portrait painted by a renowned artist of a famous psychic. The psychic embeds it with a fractional piece of his soul that it might be a link across the veil of death. I enjoyed it very much, but found the ending a big simplistic for a rather complicated plot. It was still an excellent read!
Fascinating tale of a portrait painted by a renowned artist of a famous psychic. The psychic embeds it with a fractional piece of his soul that it might be a link across the veil of death. I enjoyed it very much, but found the ending a big simplistic for a rather complicated plot. It was still an excellent read!
February 23, 2017
Interesting premise. I wanted to like this book and I did like the beginning but the rest just didn't work for me. I thought the actions of several characters were unbelievable.
August 8, 2025
The 3rd book of the author. The plot has surprising turns but still plausible, so I could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews