The author writes plots in this series which remind me of Russian Matryoshka dolls. Some of the books nest up to six dolls deep in twists, while others nest four. This is a five doll mystery. The characters, Flavia di Stefano and Jonathan Argyll, are quickly moved along a life timeline as well; Flavia started as a researcher, then she was promoted to investigator and now she is the acting chief of Italy's Art Theft Squad. Jonathan and Flavia met in the first novel, began dating in the next, soon moved in together and they are now engaged. Unlike most light cozies, these are erudite and witty, with history and urban awareness.A vicious argument is taking place in a Roman monastery: the monks are divided over what to do over falling attendance and revenues. Father Xavier wants to modernize, Father Jean insists on maintaining the traditions of the Church. The Order of St. John the Pietist possesses few assets, except for a painting of some value, a Caravaggio currently being restored by an unpleasant expert, Dan Menzies. Xavier has much to worry about, so he does not take a warning from the Art Squad as seriously as he should. Jonathan found Mary Verney in his apartment, calmly waiting for him. Verney is an art thief with the mind of a chessmaster, never caught, who we met in the previous book. Her presence, along with a phone tip that a theft is planned at the monastery has put everyone on notice. But despite extra police surveillance, the worst happens. Father Xavier is attacked. However, it is an icon that has gone missing, a Madonna reputed to have powers of protection. It couldn't get any worse. Then a suspect's body is fished out of the Tiber.
This was the best mystery novel I've read in a very long time. It was MUCH better than either the Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons. (I may not be an art restorer, but as far as I noticed, at least nothing in Pears' background [the Italian art world] was WRONG!)The Art Theft Squad has received an anonymous tip that a small monastery in Rome may soon be the victim of a heist - but their only valuable painting (a Caravaggio of doubtful provenance) is currently under restoration by an art restorer of dubious reputation. Still, the police warn the monks (who are in the midst of an internal political struggle) to be careful... but soon, an elderly member of the community is found coshed in the head... and of course, an artwork is missing....The team of Flavia, Italian Art Theft Squad officer, and her boyfriend, academic art historian Jonathan Argyll, works well, and all the characters - even the villains - were colorful, reasonably well-rounded, interesting characters.But I was most impressed by the plot - a steady tension was kept up - it kept taking unexpected turns, revealing new layers of deception and new motivations for nearly everyone involved.... some things I really feared/expected would happen didn't - but what did happen all made sense.... (I hate it when, in a mystery, something is revealed, and you're just like, "What? Where did THAT come from? You didn't give me ANY clues!")
What do You think about Death And Restoration (2003)?
Sometimes an author falls in love with one of his characters and finds it hard to let him or her go. Such is the case in this second to last Flavia And Jonathan adventure. Pears brings back his master thief from The Giotto's Hand to support a somewhat good plot but unfortunately the character's presence only annoyed me instead of adding to the tale. And what a tale it is. A forgotten monastery in the heart of Rome, an obscure order with a dubious Caravaggio and a miraculous icon worshipped by the local people. Jonathan and Flavia unravel the different threads to a satisfying end if it wasn't for the intrusion of the master thief in the story.
—Writerlibrarian
I just had a major score at my local used book store and picked up the rest of this series AND An Instance of the Fingerpost (a title I don't understand, but plan to read this summer). Death and Restoration continues our acquaintance with Mary Verney, the English art thief, who is brought out of retirement by the kidnapping of her grand daughter. The story weaves together history from the time of Constantine and the Crusades with a discussion of modern theology and the principals of art restoration. Lovely!
—Annie Oosterwyk
This is how you keep a series fresh! The characters grow and the writing gets ever smarter, with lines like:"Medieval monks scourged themselves with birch rods; we do the same thing with essays...It comes to the same thing in the end. Painful and humiliating, but part of the job. And purifying, in its way: it makes you see the futility of your existence. "Jonathan Argyll is finally an academic, which suits him much better than being an art dealer. Interestingly enough, he is much better at selling paintings now that he is an academic. Bottando is being promoted and Flavia needs to decide what to do. She realizes that there are many things Bottando is better at than she; he knows when and how to be difficult, and when and how to comfort. At one point, she uncovers heartbreak in the course of investigation and realizes that, unlike her, Bottando would be able to give worldly advice, as "he was fat and sixty." Pears balances this respect for age by shaking up establishments with excellent young leadership.Lastly, he pulls off quite a trick. This book can be read as a secular romp or as a religious work, and it works as well either way.
—Hester
