It is 1896 and Charles de Courcy has passed away. His will leaves the
house on his estate to his eldest son Edmund, and shockingly the lands
around the estate to his French mistress Yvette de Castelnau and her
children Francois and Marie-Claire. What is worse the house and lands
are heavily mortgaged while the income has been dropping. The banker
suggests Edmund look at learning the value of art and selling some of
the family paintings.
Time has moved on to 1899 and Lady Lucy
Powerscourt's cousin Christopher Montague has been garotted. Montague
was an up and coming art critic. She asks her husband Francis to
investigate. Powerscourt finds out that Montague was having an affair
with a married woman.
Meantime forgers are copying masters,
which unscrupulous dealers are passing off as the real thing by paying
off people who authenticate works of art. Powerscourt knows of the
existence of the forger, just not where he is situated, nor for whom he
works. It is at this time that a good friend of Montague's is also
garrotted. Powerscourt realises that they are connected, but he is
unsure just how.
Powerscourt's investigation takes him to Corsica
with Lucy. While there someone tries to shoot them. Safely back in
England, Powerscourt continues his investigation. The name of a
possible forger is provided to him, but this person seems to have
disappeared.
When the case is brought to court, Powerscourt's
investigation is able to provide reliable witnesses about the
forgeries. The revelations of the defense lawyer saves the defendant
from the noose and bring to light the real culprit.
Author David Dickinson has provided the reader with a good mystery read.
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