Pictures

by Robert Daley

Vince Conte was a New York cop until he punched the senior officer having an affair with his wife. Forced to resign, he’s bored by his work for a private security firm. Tony Murano was a tennis player dating the daughter of royalty. Then his career faltered and his girlfriend got pregnant. Now Murano is under his father-in-law’s thumb, unable to find the investors he needs to become a businessman in his own right. When tabloids all over Europe publish pictures of his poolside tryst with an anonymous woman on the day his wife gave birth to the royal heir, Murano’s father-in-law is all too glad to dismiss him. His young wife is heartbroken, though, and her mother decides to investigate. Who arranged the photos? What was the true motive?

Assigned to the job, Conte finds himself a target as he follows a trail of photographs and money that takes him to Italy, Amsterdam, Monaco, and back.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published November 13, 2006

About the author

Robert Daley is the author of seventeen novels and eleven non-fiction books. Born and brought up in New York, he graduated from Fordham University, did his military service in the Air Force and began writing stories, articles and books immediately afterward. He was a New York Times foreign correspondents for six years based in France but covering stories from Russia to Ireland to Tunisia, fifteen or more countries in all. Much later he served as an NYPD deputy commissioner, which explains why many of his books have played out against a police background. His work has been translated into fourteen languages, and six of his books have been filmed. He is married with three daughters. He and his French born wife divide their time between a house in Connecticut and an apartment in Nice. France.

Reviews

[Christine Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vincent Conte is a former NYC cop, now a private investigator. He has cracked some cases, mostly that deal with employee theft from factories and meat-packing plants around the city. But, he is getting bored. He wants a real case; one with some meat to it. And, he gets his wish.

But, as they say, be careful what you wish for. In this case, he is hired by the Duchess of a place referred to as the "Grand Duchy," some very small sovereign country in Europe. His job is to figure out who hired a photographer to take photos of her son-in-law and sold them to a high-profile gossip rag, which resulted in the divorce of her daughter from the man. She just wants to know who did it and why.

Through many fits and starts, Conte cracks this case, but at times he wishes that he hadn't.

According to the blurb on the book jacket, Robert Daley is the author of 17 novels, and 11 nonfiction books. I had never read any of them until now. Based on the writing style of this book, I probably won't read any of his other books.

Although I like the basic storyline, I feel the writing comes up short. Daley uses multiple points of view to tell the tale. I don't mind multiple points of view; in fact, I think they can be really helpful in the telling of a story when there are lots of characters (as in this story) and the reader is enlightened by knowing what other characters are thinking. However, in this case, the author flits back and forth between characters so much (sometimes within the same paragraph - - for Pete's sake!), that I felt like my brain was being ping-ponged back and forth trying to keep up with who was thinking what. It got to be very confusing, and in this manner, was not very helpful.

Also, Daley has an annoying habit of "telling rather than showing," instead of using the preferred method (preferred by me, at least) of "showing not telling." He has it backwards and it is very dull and boring. Sorry Mr. Daley, but that's how I feel. I'd like to take my editing pencil to this manuscript!! If his writing style was more lively, I would be happy to read more of his books, but, as it is, I don't think I'll bother. You can read the book and judge for yourself.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library never having heard of Robert Daley, and was quite pleasantly surprised. I would have given this four stars (and I'm quite picky), but two thirds of the way through it stumbled a bit, then, even though it picked up, the ending was really quite silly.

[Ira Shull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought much of Robert Daley until I read this book--he's a wonderful writer, and this book contains one of the greatest set pieces/action chase scenes I've ever read. Definitely worthwhile.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, not up to his usual high standard

[Harry Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish. I thought the character development was very uneven. When the plot line is predictable, this is fatal.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

After waiting for years on my shelf this poor book failed to capture my imagination and failed the keep on reading test.