Derek
Wilson's
Tim Lacy Artworld Mysteries
Cumberland's Cradle Pbk 3rd April
1997
The Borgia Chalice
The Camargue Brotherhood
The Hellfire Papers
The Dresden Text
The
Triarchs
Reviewers Comments
About the Author
Bibliography
'Should be read by all who like to take their art with action.' Books
The artworld - a galaxy where the exotic, the beautiful and the priceless draw into their
gravitational fields eccentric collectors, ruthless dealers, bent auctioneers, forgers,
thieves and murderers. No one knows that cosmos better than security expert Tim Lacy. The
first six of his rumbustious, action-packed investigations take him to locations as
diverse as San Francisco, Berlin, Tokyo, the Aegean, Florence, London, Gdansk, the
Camargue, New York, Sydney and the Highlands of Scotland. The pace is relentless, the
intrigue labyrinthine and the detailed information about the glamorous/sordid art world is
totally enthralling.
CUMBERLAND'S
CRADLE
When Tim Lacy receives a summons by a reclusive 'Mr Robertson' to update the security of
his Highland castle the Foreign Office is anxious that he should accept the job. The
laird, whose fortress contains a unique and macabre collection of death-related objects
has received worrying threats. The threats become reality when Robertson is found clamped
in the notorious torture implement known as Cumberland's Cradle. Lacy's investigations
involve Special Branch, arms dealers and Jacobite ghosts.
THE BORGIA CHALICE
One of the most magnificent and notorious Renaissance treasures
is up for sale in a Bond Street auction room. Four leading experts drink from it to dispel
the legend of Pope Alexander VI's poison cup. Within the hour they are dead. Tim Lacy, who
has acquired the chalice for a client, has to skittle around the art establishments of two
continents to discover who is trying to create the illusion that history repeats itself
and, in doing so, exposes a multi-million dollar racket.
THE CAMARGUE
BROTHERHOOD
Catherine Lacy, Tim's art-dealer wife, is thrilled to be offered a cache of paintings by a
little-known Post Impressionist artist. Tim is less than delighted when the paintings'
murdered owner is fished out of the Thames. Worse follows: Tim's assistant following up
the provenance of the pictures is abducted and held in the treacherous Rhone-delta
marshland. Tim is involved with a Marseille crime syndicate and introverted Carmarguais
society in a race against time to free his friend.
THE
HELLFIRE PAPERS
Why should the discovery of some raunchy two-centuries-old documents lead to double murder
in a Cambridge college? Who would want to prevent Tim bringing the collection back from
Australia? Why does mere possession of the papers put at risk his own life and the lives
of his wife and children? Seeking the answers to these questions takes Tim to the upper
levels of the British establishment and reveals some very nasty skeletons in some
exceedingly respectable cupboards.
THE DRESDEN TEXT
A Lacy Security guard is killed when a medieval manuscript is stolen from a New York
gallery. The presumed murderer is killed in a police shoot-out and the NYPD are anxious to
close the file. But Tim is far from satisfied. Following a bizarre trail across eastern
Europe, he reaches a nest of neo-Nazi conspirators drawing their inspiration from ancient
Germany's legends but seeking very real power in the present.
THE TRIARCHS
Tim Lacy's first investigation begins when Venetia Cranville, an ex-lover, is sought by
the police for murder and the theft of 'The Triarchs', a long-lost Raphael. This is only
the latest episode in the painting's blood-soaked history. Unravelling the truth takes Tim
to top-level art dealing circles in London, Paris, Athens and Tokyo and ends in a near
fatal Aegean island inferno.
Reviewers
Comments
'Should be read by all who like to take their art with action.' Books
'Art-history and expertise, and lots of skulduggery make a most successful debut'
'An enthralling and well-written mystery series'
'A rattling-good artworld mystery'
'Plot, suspense and detail are Wilson's forte. For fans of art world skulduggery
combined with action, this is a pacy and eventful read.' Robert Galbraith, Crime
Time (of Cumberland's Cradle)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Derek Wilson is one of our best known authors of
history and biographer whose many books, radio features and TV programmes include the
international best-seller Rothschild - A Story of Wealth and Power and studies of
the Astors, Hans Holbein, Francis Drake, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the history of
diplomacy and the quest for buried treasure. A colourful globe-trotting early career
included a spell as an art and antiques dealer and he brings his wide experience and
knowledge of foreign countries to the Tim Lacy mysteries. He and his wife live at their
homes in Devon and Normandy. Derek's next exciting project will be a series of Renaissance
puzzles featuring the cynical Niccolo Machiavelli
BIBLIOGRAPHY - (Fiction)
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