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The Raphael Affair

Art History Mysteries, Book 1

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The Raphael Affair

Written by: Iain Pears
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
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About this listen

Set in Rome, The Raphael Affair features the perpetually beset General Bottando of the Italian National Art Theft Squad; his glamorous assistant, Flavia di Stefano; and Jonathan Argyll, a British art historian. When Jonathan is arrested for breaking into an obscure church in Rome, he claims that it contains a long-lost Raphael hidden under a painting by Mantini. The painting disappears - then reappears in the hands of the top British art dealer, Edward Byrnes. How has Byrnes found out about the hidden masterpiece, and whom is he acting for?

There is also the curious matter of the safe deposit box full of sketches closely resembling features of the newly discovered painting. A hideous act of vandalism occurs, then murder. Bottando faces the most critical challenge of his career, and Jonathan and Flavia find themselves in unexpected danger.

©1990 Iain Pears (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc. International Mystery & Crime Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Detective Crime Italy Rome Art History Mystery

What the critics say

“A clever thriller.…Pears balances politics, love, and danger nicely in a plot that has a cunning and satisfactory outcome.” ( Sunday Times)
“Masterful and calls for an encore.” ( Houston Post)
“Presents a world the author knows well in the satisfying way Margaret Truman and Dick Francis set their mysteries in milieus they know.” ( Associated Press)

Continue the series
The Last Judgement cover art
The Last Judgement Written by: Iain Pears
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had lots of interesting twists and a pretty good ending. The narrator did a fine job of bringing the characters to life. Definitely a fun listen. I wish the rest of Mr. Pears’ books were available on Audible. I will listen to what is here.

Really Good!

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This is a great mystery for art history fans. Set in Rome, among the great museums, and loads of masterpieces, the fictional and real history are beautifully blended. The characters are a bit hard to get to know, just like Romans are in real life, so it’s quite realistic. Looking forward to the rest of this series and other books by Iain Pears.

An art history fan’s dream!

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I’m glad I stumbled across it. It was a fun listen and the art history mystery was different and interesting. I wish I could find more of this author. I enjoyed the narrator/narration and will look for more of his books too.

A nice surprise

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Droning delivery; sounded like a computer generated voice at times. Story was full of background…little conversation. Bored.

Reader was not the best choice

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