Stones of Treason

by Peter Watson

What would happen if Greek extremists blackmailed Britain into returning ancient sculptures? And what if that blackmail involved not only Queen Elizabeth II, but also dark secrets about her uncle, the Duke of Windsor? When Edward Andover, Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, receives a painting by Raphael from an anonymous collective known only as the “Apollo Brigade,” he’s nonplussed. But the ominous delivery is soon followed by two more. All three paintings, it turns out, were looted by the Nazis during World War II. Soon, Andover finds himself racing to prevent the public exposure of secrets from the royal family’s past, should they not meet the group’s demand to return of the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, on display at the British Museum. What’s more, his very life may be at stake as the Apollo Brigade makes its violent intentions known.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

392 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1992

About the author

Peter Watson was educated at the universities of Durham, London and Rome, and was awarded scholarships in Italy and the United States.

After a stint as Deputy Editor of New Society magazine, he was for four years part of the Sunday Times ‘Insight’ team of investigative journalists. He wrote the daily Diary column of the London Times before becoming that paper’s New York correspondent. He returned to London to write a column about the art world for the Observer and then at The Sunday Times.

He has published three exposes in the world of art and antiquities and from 1997 to 2007 was a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. He has published twelve books of non-fiction and seven novels, some under the pen name of Mackenzie Ford. He lives in London where his interests include theatre, opera and fishing.

Awards, Etc.

Psychology Prize
Durham University, 1961

Italian Government Music Scholarship
Rome University, 1965

United States Government Bursary “for future world leaders”
To study the psychiatric profession and its links to the administration of justice

Books of the Year

Psychology Today Magazine, 1978, for War on the Mind
Daily Mail, 1990, for Wisdom and Strength
Independent on Sunday, for A Terrible Beauty, 2000
Times Literary Supplement, for Ideas, 2005
Time Magazine, for The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
Queen’s Pardon
Copy from Patrick Meehan after I had written a series of articles which brought about his release from prison after he had been wrongly convicted of murder, 1976.

Gold Dagger – Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain
For The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1983

Beacon Award – SAFE Award – Saving Antiquities for Everyone
For The Medici Conspiracy, 2006

US Library Association
The Great Divide.

Emmy Nomination
‘The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1984.

Best sellers

The Caravaggio Conspiracy
Crusade
Landscape of Lies
Sotheby’s: The Inside Story
Nureyev
Lectures

Peter Watson has lectured at the following venues:

Universities

Cambridge
Berkeley
London
UCLA
Birmingham
Georgia
Georgia
Chicago
Birmingham
Santiago de Chile
York
Madrid
Harvard
Tufts
Military Bases

Fort Bragg
Private Institutions in

Cleveland
Berlin
Chicago
Belfast
Los Angeles
New York
Washington
Boston
Palm Beach
Other venues

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum, Copenhagen
Royal Society of Arts
Rugby School
Royal Library, Copenhagen
Festivals

Edinburgh
Oxford
Dartington
York

Reviews

[GW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stones of Treason

This was an acceptable read. The author tells a good story but in this book there was simply too much regarding the British political system. As a "Yank" I simply didn't understand or care.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!!

The action and suspense just keep coming!
The story builds with a complex plot involving Nazi secrets, international art thefts, and political drama. The more I read, the harder it was to put down!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became interested in this book because I visited Greece and learned a little about the Elgin Marbles. I thought this book was interesting, had characters I could root for and a plausible story.

[J. Cain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing but got a bit long winded at times.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really exciting art world mystery. It kept me on tenterhooks throughout the book. Even though this was my second or third reading.