The Titian Committee (Art History Mystery)

An Ian Pears' view of ever-romantic Venice never lets readers forget they are in a watery wasteland. However appealing visually, the downside is very dirty water, water everywhere. You can't get "there" from "here" without crossing the canals, and God forbid you should ever, ever fall in!
The protagonists fall in the canals, suffer from seasickness, and root around in sub-basements never meant to be seen by the tourists.

The plot is secondary to the fun and the easy-to-digest art history that author Pears provides. Gorgeous, volatile Flavia and diffident Jonathan (think Hugh Grant) team up to investigate the endangered members of the prestigious Titian Committee, who are being picked off one-by-one. Their directive is to bring the investigation to a speedy, expedient closure that will make the various Italian bureaucracies look good. Solving the crime is secondary. As Flavia's marvelous superior General Bottando informs her when she triumphantly states she has found another body in France, "But you're not meant to be finding more," he said grumpily, "You're meant to be dealing with the more than adequate supply we have already."

It is hard to pigeonhole Pears' Art Mysteries as to type. The satire is good humored, but nevertheless has a bite. The protagonists are made far too uncomfortable and the action too graphic to be a "cozy," and the lack of dedication to task make it impossible to label the stories "hard boiled." If you adore things Italian and have more than a passing interest in art history, I highly recommend this series.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer


Another Good Entry in the Series   April 17, 2003
Richard A. Mitchell (candia, new hampshire United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is the second book in this series of art mysteries (Raphael Affair was first). The series need not be read in order as I found when I read this one out of order.

Pears' ironic humor is abundant and his main characters all so human. The cultural aspects always add to the plot and Pears' writing style also adds.

The plot of Titian Committee is good. The author presents the reader with members of a research committee who are all - at some time or other - suspects, prime suspects or murder victims.

Like some of Pears' other books, there is a moral decision/question that throws an extra twist. Are the good guys always good? Or is it good to be a good guy and not so good?

Somehow the reader gets the warm feeling throughout this book that Mr. Pears writes with a constant grin on his face. This is an enjoyable light read.