The Missing Matisse

Murder in Mexico #22

by John Scherber

When Paul Zacher is hired by the painting’s owner to reproduce a rarely seen Matisse, it looks nothing like another detective case. He’s just happy to be painting again, even if it’s a copy. But when the original is stolen just as the copy is finished, the whole project takes on a different look. When bullets start flying, the Paul Zacher Agency is back in business in this, the twenty-second mystery of the series.

Genres: Mystery

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2018

About the author

John Scherber, a Minnesota native, settled in México in 2007. He is the author of 15 Paul Zacher mysteries, (The Murder in México series), set in the old colonial hill town of San Miguel de Allende, as well as his three award-winning nonfiction accounts of the expatriate experience, San Miguel de Allende: A Place in the Heart, Into the Heart of Mexico: Expatriates Find Themselves Off the Beaten Path, and Living in San Miguel: The Heart of the Matter. In addition, two volumes of the Townshend Vampire Trilogy have appeared, and a paranormal thriller titled The Devil’s Workshop.
His work is known for its fast pace, irreverent humor, and light-hearted excursions into the worlds of art and antiques––always with an edge of suspense. Neither highbrow nor lowbrow, his books are written as entertainments and dedicated to the enjoyment of reading. While he has acknowledged being no single one of his characters, he also admits to being all of them.

Reviews

[David Allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful story for a nice diversion from things going on now. Well written and interesting. I think this may the first book from him that I have read. I will be reading more. Downloaded the first of the series.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The culture of Mexico, with the history of art, and the one Paul was asked to paint a copy. Paul was in his element to be painting. Or was it a set up
for murder. Unique and entertaining,

[Marijalas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Story, actually a 3.5 rating

The book, the first in the series I’d read had a good plot, although a bit circuitous.
I liked the characters, and enjoyed the artistic information. Some of his thoughts in the book about art lead me to believe that the author is an artist himself. As an artist I have thought similar thoughts.
I wish authors can drop the “imperfect hero” script. No one does pro bono to their own loss. Or returns a “$20000 tip”
This book was good, I will read another and hopefully can rate the next one as a step up.