The Immaculate Deception - SPOILER Thread - (Jonathan Argyll #7) (Dec 24/Jan 25)

[Susan]

Welcome to our Dec 24/Jan 25 buddy read of The Immaculate Deception
Published in 2000 this is the seventh, and final, book in the Jonathan Argyll series.

When a major painting is kidnapped days before an important international exhibition opens in Rome, Flavia di Stefano, newly appointed head of the Italian Art Squad, has a feeling her life is suddenly going to get very complicated. Things start badly when Flavia is told to get the painting back at all costs without causing any embarrassment to the country and without paying the ransom to the thieves. She knows she will be blamed if something goes wrong, and finds herself pushed ever further into unorthodox tactics to save both the painting and her job. Encouraged by her art-dealing lover Jonathan Argyll and her old boss, Taddeo Bottando, she delves deeply into past cases to try and identify those responsible for the kidnapping before it is too late, and in the process discovers a secret, lying hidden for decades, which gives her the biggest shock of her career. The Immaculate Deception, the seventh in Iain Pears's delightful Jonathan Argyll series, is a fascinating, witty and ingeniously plotted novel.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

I was a bit disappointed with this one to be honest. It was nice to be back with Flavia and Jonathan, but I found the plot hard to follow and it felt rather samey in some ways, with Mary Verney turning up again.

I was also a bit irritated by all the descriptions of the newly-wed Flavia feeling nauseous and not knowing what might be causing it for about half the book - surely two detectives could work this one out between them!

[Sandy]

I thought it was a wonderful wrap up to the series. I agree the plot was intricate and probably a bit unrealistic, but I found it interesting and thought it nicely brought past and future together for Bottando. I am not interested in reading about the four-some's further adventures so it was a satisfying ending, especially as they are set financially. (Also improbable, but a nice touch.)

I doubt Flavia shared her stomach problems with Jonathan and she had her mind on other problems. She should have been more suspicious if things had changed since their marriage.

[Frances]

I agree Sandy that this was a good wrap up, although I for one would probably enjoy reading about the art detective agency as well!

Yes Judy I found the surprise of the pregnancy a bit hard to believe (particularly if it had gone on for long enough that Elena could tell she was pregnant) and I also agree that the plot was a bit convoluted to be able to follow it, and I was disappointed not to get a more definitive attribution of the triptych but love the overall atmosphere of art and delightful architecture around every corner, and the idea of the two couples enjoying wandering around discovering all these hidden treasures-something we don't get much of in North America!

I also appreciated that it was Flavia who had the big revelation and understanding-so often it has been Jonathan who appears to have solved things, so I enjoyed the actual police detective arriving at the solution.

[Judy]

Frances wrote: "I also appreciated that it was Flavia who had the big revelation and understanding-so often it has been Jonathan who appears to have solved things, so I enjoyed the actual police detective arriving at the solution...."

Yes, it was great to have Flavia solving the case for a change! Frances and Sandy, I agree it is a satisfying "happy ever after" for the main characters, but also agree that I would have been happy to read on about their art detective agency! I thought it was quite fun to be left guessing about the artist who created the triptych.