The Best Book in This Series
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Lazarus, Arise is the second book in a row where author Nicholas Kilmer chose to exercise his sense of humor more than his sense of the macabre. I found that the new lightness worked well and enjoyed the book very much until the author chose to chose on a familiar macabre note. Too bad. With a slightly different ending, this book could have been a remarkable accomplishment.
Reclusive art collector Clayton Reed has sent his long arm, Fred Taylor, to Europe with inadequate budget to bring back the desired goods. Fred's naturally tired and a little disgusted when an older passenger leaving the same flight from Paris collapses in front of him. Fred sticks around to try to help, but it doesn't look good for the older man. While the man was falling, Fred caught his rolled-up newspaper and walked out of customs with it under his arm.
Imagine Fred's surprise when the newspaper yields up an impeccable illuminated manuscript page. Clayton decides to help, but his help creates more problems than it's worth when word leaks out that a rare manuscript may have been found. The humor begins as goofy dealers and intermediaries try to swarm over the trail.
With a little help from his friends, Fred discovers the identity of the passenger. He was Jacob Geist, a sort of anti-establishment Christo, who makes political statements through his public art.
Looking for any clue as to where the manuscript might be, Fred tracks down Geist's dealer, a prototype for all sleazy gallery owners. Searching closer to home proves to be more effective, and Fred uncovers a truly amazing story.
The book itself is a wonderful satire on the tendency of artists, collectors and dealers to take themselves much too seriously. Without the seemingly gratuitous violence that Mr. Kilmer favors in his novels, this could have been a truly wonderful humorous story. As it is, the story is quite a good one.
If you liked Dirty Linen, this book will probably also appeal to you.
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