The Flanders Panel

Arturo "perez-Reverte has created a literate, intelligent, sophisticated plot. Full of suspense, complex characters, innovative incorporation of art..........wow.
This is a new author for me, loved this book.

I agree. This is one of the best books in this genre that I've read. I thought the chess match illustrated in the painting and woven through the book was particularly masterful story telling. I also recommend "The Fencing Master" by the same author. It's not in the genre of this group, but the character study of the main character is fascinating.

Just adding a touchstone for The Flanders Panel so that a direct link is on the page and this discussion shows up on the work page.

Just finished The Club Dumas, also excellent. I read the Fencing Master already. It was ok but not in the league of these two. And the one of the church-the Seville Communion- needed to be severly edited. Way too dragged out.
Often the editing or lack of editing ruins a good book.

I agree - found this book at a $1.00 bargain sale and fell in love with it. I was just off my The Da Vinci Code high and wanted more art historical fiction. This was absolutely perfect because it involved a lot more about the physical makeup of the artwork and the iconography more than religious and cultish parables. I felt the characters a lot more interesting as well. I've only also read The Seville Communion by him and was not as impressed, though I will definitely check out more of his work.

What is a touchtone,why a direct link and what is a work page.
I do not want to wade through endless e-mails as I
have to on other browsers. And who are YOU?