Landscape of Lies

by Peter Watson

Isobel Sadler is dead broke. The only thing she's got that might bring in any money is a stupendously bad painting that's been in her family for generations. It's so ugly she can't imagine it would be worth much, but the other night someone tried to steal it. Mystified, she turns to art dealer Michael Whiting, who identifies the painting as a 16th-century treasure map. If they can decipher the clues, Isobel's money troubles will be history. Whiting, however, isn't the only one who has figured out the painting's true a rival is one step ahead, and he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on the medieval treasure.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Art, Thriller, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

378 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Peter Watson was educated at the universities of Durham, London and Rome, and was awarded scholarships in Italy and the United States.

After a stint as Deputy Editor of New Society magazine, he was for four years part of the Sunday Times ‘Insight’ team of investigative journalists. He wrote the daily Diary column of the London Times before becoming that paper’s New York correspondent. He returned to London to write a column about the art world for the Observer and then at The Sunday Times.

He has published three exposes in the world of art and antiquities and from 1997 to 2007 was a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. He has published twelve books of non-fiction and seven novels, some under the pen name of Mackenzie Ford. He lives in London where his interests include theatre, opera and fishing.

Awards, Etc.

Psychology Prize
Durham University, 1961

Italian Government Music Scholarship
Rome University, 1965

United States Government Bursary “for future world leaders”
To study the psychiatric profession and its links to the administration of justice

Books of the Year

Psychology Today Magazine, 1978, for War on the Mind
Daily Mail, 1990, for Wisdom and Strength
Independent on Sunday, for A Terrible Beauty, 2000
Times Literary Supplement, for Ideas, 2005
Time Magazine, for The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
Queen’s Pardon
Copy from Patrick Meehan after I had written a series of articles which brought about his release from prison after he had been wrongly convicted of murder, 1976.

Gold Dagger – Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain
For The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1983

Beacon Award – SAFE Award – Saving Antiquities for Everyone
For The Medici Conspiracy, 2006

US Library Association
The Great Divide.

Emmy Nomination
‘The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1984.

Best sellers

The Caravaggio Conspiracy
Crusade
Landscape of Lies
Sotheby’s: The Inside Story
Nureyev
Lectures

Peter Watson has lectured at the following venues:

Universities

Cambridge
Berkeley
London
UCLA
Birmingham
Georgia
Georgia
Chicago
Birmingham
Santiago de Chile
York
Madrid
Harvard
Tufts
Military Bases

Fort Bragg
Private Institutions in

Cleveland
Berlin
Chicago
Belfast
Los Angeles
New York
Washington
Boston
Palm Beach
Other venues

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum, Copenhagen
Royal Society of Arts
Rugby School
Royal Library, Copenhagen
Festivals

Edinburgh
Oxford
Dartington
York

Reviews

[Linda Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years and years ago -- it was on the counter of a small bookstore on the North Shore and I looked at it while I was checking out. The owner of the store told me it was fabulous and he was right! It details the protagonists' search for an art treasure (or some kind of treasure) based on following clues in a painting. If you are an art history buff -- or just a devotee of clever plotting -- you'll love this book. It was extremely popular in Great Britain, but didn't catch on here and always remained a niche read. Too bad, because it's fantastic.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I ever read and unfortunately out of print for many years.
So incase the plot sounds good enough to you to order it, make sure to get the hardcover copy, because the painting on the dust wrapper is important for the reader in order to follow the plot. I did read in one amazon.com reader's review that the painting of the Landscape of Lies is not complete in the paperback version.

A young woman who lives by herself on a farm in England finds out that one of her paintings is actually a landscape of lies meaning that something different is hidden below the painting.
This leads to an exciting treasure hunt through some of England's most beautiful regions like the Norfolk Broads, East Anglia, Dorset etc.

I always wanted to explore these places one day, so I copied a map and put it in my book and highlighted the villages that Watson mentioned in the novel. Some are fictitious, most are existing in real life.

It's also a wonderful love story. The perfect book for a rainy day.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! It’s been compared to the DaVinci Code but it’s much smarter and was published almost 15 years before. Fantastic find from my local book sale!
Isobel Sadler wakes in the middle of the night to discover an intruder in the house. She’s naturally cautious as she takes a look from her staircase balcony but more than that she’s perplexed, as she’s been steadily selling off anything of value in the house to pay for the day to day operations of the family farm since her father passed away. The would be thief makes directly for an historic family painting that’s rather mysterious in subject matter and even more hideous in execution. The intruder, cleverly disguised by a motorcycle helmet, is in for a surprise when Isobel starts hurling table vases and old house decor from the balcony with shockingly accurate aim. In these intro pages and this scene author Peter Watson firmly establishes Isobel as an admirable heroine rather than a fainting bystander.
Isobel takes the painting to get a second opinion. She’s referred to Michael Whiting, art dealer, gambling man, wears the unfortunate choice of brown corduroy suits (this was written in 1989 so I guess I should give him a pass but still - cringe!) and smokes too many damn cigars. I guess this is Watson trying to establish his leading man as suave and sophisticated but it reeks of trying too hard. Anyway it’s a small grumble for otherwise very likeable characters with a definite attraction and budding romance.
Michael discovers a hidden meaning to the picture- a landscape featuring nine figures, some ruins, a river, each holding an artifact/treasure of some sort. The painting is essentially a treasure map, the figures and landscape clues, the items each figure holds advertising the contents of the buried treasure.
I was disappointed about 100 pages in when I realized a plot expectation would go unfulfilled. I thought that as they raced to discover the identity of each figure in the painting, they would be lead to a different location and find the artifact that particular figure was holding. That would make for more instant gratification moments during the long race - as Isobel and Michael rush to beat the unknown intruder who is also on the chase. But not so! It’s not even fully explained. Michael and Isobel just jump from one figure and one location to the next, the full treasure revealed only when they get to the end of the clues. I wish this structure was more clearly laid out at the beginning of the book. Again, a small gripe.
Overall this was full of adventure and history and hidden meanings and religious symbolism and mythology and travel across the British countryside and romance. There was a shocking intensity to the rivalry from their unknown opponent and his violence toward the last third of the book alarmed me (it is more of a thriller than I was anticipating) but didn’t deter from the overall enjoyment.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was a stark contrast to the last book I tried reading (Name of the Rose), although there were some similarities. Landscape is set in modern times but is (ala Da Vinci Code) a tale of hunting for ancient secrets. The secrets this time are all clues hidden in the painting Landscape of Lies. The painting owner teams up with a gallery owner and the two of them are in a race against someone else who is hunting for the answers, and is unscrupulous about how he goes about it. Unlike "rose", this one is very character driven and although there is a *lot* of information about paintings, styles, and 16th century religion and religious beliefs the story still moves along quickly and I felt like I learned something but it wasn't hammered into me to the point I didn't care.

I'll be looking to see what else Watson has written.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a story about a painting that is really a map to a treasure trove of medieval artifacts of great value. It was fun to read except for the plethora of esoteric facts which sometimes buried the plot,and the very annoying expression that was used on almost every page which included the word bloody inserted into a variety of exclamations. Fanbloodytastic, Isobloodybel and others became tedious quickly. The cigar smoking subplot was also not a welcome addition.

I still learned quite a bit and refreshed my memory about a lot more so over all it was a positive experience.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favs. of all time. I've read it 3 times, and will likely pick it up again this year. If you're lucky enough to find a hardcover copy with the beautiful cover, you're in for a really exciting treasure hunt. Lots of history,and you feel as though you're right there with Isobel and Michael as they try to find each of the priceless relics stolen from a monastery during the dissolution. But they're not the only ones on the quest. Someone else has a copy of Isobel's painting,which is actually a map full of clues to the whereabouts of the relics ,and he's not a very nice guy.

[L (bardcore_viking) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I go back to this book multiple times for a good escape. The cover illustration is key to interpreting the narrative and following along with the main characters as they solve a riddle in a painting. Featuring libraries, heraldry, a painting conservator, a handful of boat rides, and plenty of galavanting through the English countryside, it's an exciting adventure and easy to follow. I can finish it in a few hours, but its worth a re-read every once and awhile. The characters are fun and genuine and the element of suspense does kick in. Will you find the truth in this Landscape of Lies?

[Thomas Mais · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this - i think - in the eigthies. Found it quite riveting and learned a lot. Now it reminds me of the movies with tom Hanks where here follows hidden pointers ... (just don' t know the movie titles in English).

[Windy Skirt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in the early 90s. Loved it. Somehow tracked down a used copy in 1999 by searching for "ugly painting", treasure, and "art mystery".

Very glad that I have the hardcover - the jacket shows the painting.

[Leslie Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleverly done. But I do wish the author hadn’t assumed that the reader knew nothing about mythology. I kept yelling “Charon” at the book, but it didn’t help. And 3-headed Cerberus is pretty clear. Still, a treasure hunt is always a good thing.

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending was a little rushed, but I loved the story, I loved the fact that the cover actually represents the painting in question, I became fond of the main characters and the growing friendship/romance between them.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery thriller

Interesting characters and background. Well thought clues to the mystery, interesting locations, and well done scenarios. A fine reading mystery that was well enjoyed. Thank you.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most fun books I have ever read! I wish he had written another novel ... so much fun and so much historical information. Wonderful -- and something I go back and read again all the time!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story...it did start out a bit slow and ended a bit strangely, but overall was very entertaining.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! A mystery that plays out like a movie before your eyes...a treasure hunt you are trying to complete before the bad guys do. Highly recommended to history buffs!

['stina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp. I'd read more of the same type by this author.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I felt a little bit let down by the ending

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun mystery

[Ingrid Budts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the way he writes.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever combination of art, medieval history and the search for buried treasure, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Lots of fun.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, light mystery along the lines of The DaVinci Code with appealing characters and a clever art-based treasure hunt.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Landscape of Lies is a novel I've read (quite a while) before, but had good memories of. It is a very clever mystery involving a painting which is actually a map to some treasure. Very enjoyable.

[May McGoldrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining. Likable characters. At times, it's very contrived and there's a childish villain. But I was willing to look past it because of the likable characters. Packed with history.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really exciting read and had many interesting clues to follow.

[Judy Karpathakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books - I loved following the mystery as it unfolded. Hint though - you need a copy with the picture on the dust cover to follow the unfolding mystery properly.

[Wendie Kouwenhoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books!

[Nancy Long]

very good read

[Barbara Hugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Learned some tidbits about art.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isobel Sadler wakes up one night with the distinct impression that someone is in her house. She's right. And he's downstairs trying to steal a painting. She manages to scare him off and is left with questions. Why on earth was the man in the motorcycle helmet trying to steal the painting hanging in the downstairs hall? After she inherited the house and its contents from her father, she had gradually had to sell all the really valuable items to support the family farm. The Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquer, and jade carvings that her father had brought home from his previous life as a diplomat were long gone. The painting wasn't worth anything. It was ugly and not particularly well-painted. All it held was sentimental value because it had been in her family for years and years. But what if she were wrong? Somebody obviously thought it was worth stealing.

So, she takes the painting to Michael Whiting, an art dealer recommended by a friend of her father's. He verifies that as a painting, it isn't worth much. A few hundred pounds, maybe. Definitely not more. It's what she expected and he seems surprised that she didn't think it a priceless treasure. Then she tells him the rest of the story--not long before the attempted theft, she had attended an estate sale which included letters and papers relating to the only famous (or, rather, infamous) person in her family tree. Sir William "Bad Bill" Sadler who helped oversee the dissolution of the monasteries in the 15th century. She wanted to acquire them for the family history and didn't expect anyone else to be interested. But someone was. A man named Molyneaux outbid her (on behalf of a client) and then chatted her up afterward--wanting to know if she was a dealer. When she told him of her family interest, he offered to see if the client would consent to photocopies and said he'd be in touch. He appeared at her house three days before the break-in--no photocopies yet, but "just in the area for an estate sale." Molyneaux was very tall. So was the burglar. Coincidence.

Michael isn't clear on what she wants of him. But she tells him that Edward Ryan (the man who recommended him) said he liked a gamble. She wants him to research the painting to see if there is any secret to it that would warrant a theft. And if the research leads to anything lucrative, she'll share the proceeds with him fifty-fifty. He agrees...and has no idea that the research will take the two of them through the myths and religious legends of early Britain in search of hidden monastic treasures and pit them against a man who will stop at nothing to have the treasure for himself.

So...this starts well. The set-up is good. I really liked the idea of the hidden secrets in the old painting. The whole opening rocks--I like the way Isobel and Michael interact and work together in the early stages of the investigation. But then....the middle part drags and was really quite tedious with all the miscues & running round in circles and then sudden life-threatening events. The earlier danger made the final scenes with our villain lose a bit of their punch. And speaking of final scenes: the ending was too abrupt (especially after the middle dragged on so) and it was especially annoying that the discovery of the treasures was tacked on as a flashback in the epilogue. Seriously? The whole book is aiming towards the solution of the clues in the painting and the discovery of the treasure and when it happens it's regulated to a scene that seems more of an afterthought? Oh...and one final thing. Michael shoving bloody into every exclamation and adjective got to be absobloodylutely annoying. ★★ and 1/2

First published on my blog My Reader's Block.