This is not a book you will be able to fly through. You need to take your time & process all the info the Characters discover on the quest for answers in a painting the prostitute steals.The prostitutes character can be a little grating. She is very crass & very crude. But she is not stupid. It took me some time to get used to it. I guess it was supposed to be funny at times with her filthy mouth, but I rarely thought so.Overall, I liked the book & I think I need to read it again. There is so much going on that I feel like I missed a lot of it. So many plots & twists & turns. It absolutely reminds me of The Da Vinci Code but it is not all about the Church. Also The Da Vinci Code doesn't have such a crass creature as the main character.My biggest peeve is the main character always say she noticed 3 things. Then she proceeds to tell you what they were. As in "When I walked in the building, I immediately noticed three things. One it was very dark. Two I should have waited for the Monk. Three the leaper was right there in the corner." Something like that. That is in no way a direct quote. It's just that this noticing of three things & then counting & listing them just messed up the flow for me. I really found it irritating. Now I know I might be making a mountain out of a mole hill as they say, but it is my opinion of the telling of the tale.If you don't mind a very crass & dirty main character & you loved The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons & similar styled books, then I think you will like this book a lot. On the other hand if vulgarity bothers you, I think you might want to consider a different book. I trudged through this book because of my book club. To me, it was a Dan Brown ripoff. At least Brown's characters would find a new clue at each new place. These two characters keep looking at the same painting and find additional clues right next to the last one! The author mentions that she was very careful to be true to the period and location. Maybe with objects but not with language. Mixing in cockney with Brooklyn Italian? Mixing language styles of classes? Some of the inaccuracies that made this book dreary and dull.
A great, fun read ~ traveling through Italy in the 15th century! Loved it ~ very enjoyable!
—Nicole
Interesting idea, gorgeous setting, intrigue & history & romance. Enjoyed very much.
—Micha
One of my favorites. Mystery based on the painting, Primevera 1st.
—Brandee
waaaay too wordy, though a nice historical fiction mystery
—Tiara123
DaVinci Code meets Italian Renaissance romance. Fun read
—Dee
