Published by The Dome Press,
25 April 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-91253420-3(PB)
Rocco and the Price of Lies by Adrian Magson is the 6th in the superb
Inspector Lucas Rocco series, although it reads well as a stand-alone, as do
all the books. The Inspector left Paris as part of a policing programme, he was
sent to Poissons-les-Marais in rural Picardie to find that his new boss is
Massin, a man he last saw cowering in a foxhole during the Indonesian war.
The Novels are character
driven and the characters are written with great skill and perception. The
relationships with Massin, Mme Denis his
neighbour, and Detective Rene Desmoulins his usual sidekick, give great insights
into Rocco’s personality as well as their own. Another character is the atmosphere of rural France in the 1960’s, it wraps around
them infusing the story and the plot and adding to the rich cassoulet of the
Rocco novels.
In this book Inspector
Lucas Rocco has a decision to make and the crime of art fraud to solve, or is
it that simple? Could it be murder by suicide? Is there a darker side to the case?
A judge, a senior government official and a politician commit suicide, each man
has received a letter. Someone knows that they have each obtained an expensive
but questionable artwork.
Rocco is to work for Marcel Dreycourt,
a man retained by the Ministry of the Interior his job to identify the source
of the paintings. He is helped by Detective Rene Desmoulins
The
investigation has been set up to avoid a government scandal. Rocco is sure that
there is a link. When Rocco only just survives an attempt on his life, he
realises has to bring the truth out - whatever the risks. In the process we are
introduced to new characters as the plot weaves the reader into fresh territory
and an unexpected solution to the crimes.
An
excellent book, in an excellent series, from an excellent writer.
------
Reviewer: Sue Lord
Adrian Magson is a freelance writer and reviewer, the author
of 22 crime and spy thrillers, a writer's help book, a YA ghost novel and 2
collections of short fiction.
Sue Lord originally
studied Fine Art and Art History; her MA is in Creative Writing. She now,
revues, teaches, mentors and script doctors. She lives in central London and Cornwall.
Her favourite pastime is gardening.
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