Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand (UK 2007)

From the Publisher:
Witty and clever art history-mystery featuring Jonathan Argyll, from the author of the bestselling masterpiece An Instance of the Fingerpost.
General Bottando of Rome's Art Theft Squad is in trouble: his theory that a single master criminal, dubbed ‘Giotto', is behind a string of major art thefts has aroused the scorn of his arch enemy and rival, the bureaucrat Corrado Argan. He needs a result, and the confession of a dying woman may just provide the vital clue.

In pursuit of the elusive Giotto, Bottando's colleague, Flavia di Stefano, sets off hotfoot for Florence, and English art dealer Jonathan Argyll is dispatched to London and then on to rural Norfolk -- only to discover a body and a mystery which could lead to the greatest art find of his career...

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand. A Jonathan Argyll Art Mystery. Harper, ISBN: 0007229240 (July, 2007), 262 p., £7.99.

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand (USA 2003)

From the Publisher:
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...

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand. An Art History Mystery. Berkley, ISBN: 042518854X (April, 2003), 304 p., $15.00.

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand (USA 2000)

From the Publisher:
"Fine art, quirky characters, and scenes set in Rome and an English country village add to the joys of Giotto's Hand... A neat twist at the end is the cherry on this fudge sundae of a mystery." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

When the letter first arrived at the offices of Romes Art Theft Squad, General Bortando thought it was just another deranged demand from a demented art fan. But the mysterious correspondent is a woman who claims to know something about a painting that was stolen over thirty years ago -- and Borrando believes the theft was just one in a series of clever heists masterminded by an elusive thief he's dubbed "Giotto." Anxious to outwit the conniving colleague who's plotting his professional destruction, Bottando sends the beautiful Flavia di Stefano to investigate. Flavia quickly uncovers a possible culprit-but when her art-dealer boyfriend Jonathan Argyll travels to England to question him, the suspect is very suspiciously dead...

"Pears has a whimsical take on the scruples of the art trade, on English food and plumbing, and on Italian bureaucracy... A sweet, art world cozy." -- Mercury News, San Jose, California

"Art, crime, and Italy mix well... Pears masterfully juggles his plot elements while providing delightful diversion in the contrasting manners of his English and Italian characters." -- Booklist

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand. An Art History Mystery. Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN: 0425173585 (March, 2000), 278 p., $6.50.

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand (UK 2000)

From the Publisher:
'An elegant and amusing book, perfect for those who love a clever puzzle' -- Mail on Sunday
General Bottando of Rome's Art Theft Squad is in trouble: his theory that a single master criminal, dubbed "Giotto', is behind a string of major thefts has aroused the scorn of his arch enemy and rival, the bureaucrat Corrado Argan. He needs a result, and the confession of a dying woman may just provide the vital clue.

In pursuit of the elusive Giotto, Bottando's colleague, Flavia di Stefano, sets off hotfoot for Florence, and English art dealer Jonathan Argyll is dispatched to London and then on to rural Norfolk... only to discover a body and a mystery which could lead to the greatest art find of his career.

'Pears writes with such wit and a deep knowledge of art and history that as entertainment his series has few rivals' -- Observer
'There is nothing so satisfactory as the deconstruction of a puzzle in the hands of such an erudite and sure-footed author' -- The Times

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand. A Jonathan Argyll Art Mystery. Harper, ISBN: 0007767390 (January, 2000), 262 p., £5.99.

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand (USA 1997)

From the Publisher:
Author lain Pears recently became a sensation in the New York and London publishing worlds with his extraordinary soon-to-be-published novel, An Instance of the Fingerpost.

Readers of Pears's Jonathan Argyll art mystery series have long appreciated this author's special talent. With memorable characters, a lush Italian setting, and always authentic and intriguing details of the art world, the Argyll novels comprise an oeuvre that connoisseurs of mystery cherish. Giotto's Hand continues this fine tradition. General Taddeo Bottando of Rome's Art Theft Squad is in trouble: his theory that a single master criminal, dubbed "Giotto"-for the fourteenth-century Florentine painter about whom little is known-is behind a string of major thefts has aroused the scorn of his archenemy and rival, the bureaucrat Corrado Argan.

Some clever thief has stolen more than two dozen paintings since 1963, always choosing unphotographed works that would be difficult to identify. Bottando thinks he sees a pattern, but a recent arrest means he may be wrong, and the hated Argan, who clearly wants Bottando's job, may be right again.

Bottando is fortunate in his supporters, however -- especially in Flavia di Stefano and her friend, English art dealer Jonathan Argyll. When a strange letter arrives on Bottando's desk, he hopes that the confession of a dying woman may provide just the clue he needs to find the mysterious Giotto.

As Flavia hurries to Florence to interview the writer of the letter, the elderly Maria Fancelli, Jonathan sets off for England, where he will meet with Geoffrey Arnold Forster, a man who may hold many of the answers if only he will share them. But when Jonathan arrives in Norfolk, he discovers a body and a mystery that could lead to the greatest art find of his career.

Iain Pears: Giotto's Hand. A Jonathan Argyll Mystery. Scribner's, ISBN: 0684814609 (July, 1997), 224 p., $21.00.