One afternoon, Victor Maitland, an talented but often mean painter opens the door to a friend only to be stabbed in the back and killed. After a few weeks, the police department is stumped. They have a list of suspects but are not getting anywhere with their investigation. Because of strong political connections, the police are feeling pressure to keep on the case, so they hire Edward X. Delaney, a retired police chief, to help them solve the murder. He is paired up with a struggling alcoholic, Sergent Abner Boone and the two start investigating.
There is a legthy list of interesting suspects including the following:
* The painter's wife and son who knew that Victor was spending his money on booze, girls and partying instead of bringing it home to his family. His son is full of anger and resentment towards his father.
* Belle Sarazen is a friend of the painter who was acquitted of killing her first husband. She is a socialite who likes money and enjoys being in the celebrity spotlight. Besides being a friend she also had some buisiness dealings with Victor. She was with Jake Dukker during the time Victor was killed.
* Saul Geltman is the owner of Geltman Galleries and sells Victor Maitland paintings. After Victor's death, Saul begins to arrange for the last showing of Maitland paintings which will sell for around $1,000,000.
* Dora and Emily Maitland are the mother and sister of Victor who live in a large run down estate. Even after Victor's success he had not given any money to help support them.
* Jake Dukker an artist friend of Victor who says that he is as good as Victor and can copy Victor's style easily.
* Julian Simon is Saul Geltman's lawyer who has a previous rap sheet. Saul Geltman was meeting with Mr. Simon during the time when Victor was killed. However, no one saw him during that time and there is a back door to the office where Saul could have snuck out.
* Susan Hemley is a friend of Victor's wife and was meeting with for her for lunch on the day he was murdered. She is also the secretary to Saul Geltman's lawyer.
So there were lots of suspects and motives to kill Victor Maitland. In addition, on the day he was killed, he had a meeting with two women who he was planning to do a painting of. He did several "test" drawings while they were there which were in his studio when he died. No one seems to know who these women are but they were apparently the last ones to see him alive.
I enjoyed this book. However, it did take me awhile to get into it. The beginning was very slow. But once I got into the story I was hooked. There are a lot of twists and turns and you won't put it down until you know who did it.
Recommended:
