The Raphael Affair

Art History Mysteries, Book 1

By: Iain Pears

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in Rome, The Raphael Affair features the perpetually beset General Bottando of the Italian National Art Theft Squad; his glamorous assistant, Flavia di Stefano; and Jonathan Argyll, a British art historian. When Jonathan is arrested for breaking into an obscure church in Rome, he claims that it contains a long-lost Raphael hidden under a painting by Mantini. The painting disappears - then reappears in the hands of the top British art dealer, Edward Byrnes. How has Byrnes found out about the hidden masterpiece, and whom is he acting for?

There is also the curious matter of the safe deposit box full of sketches closely resembling features of the newly discovered painting. A hideous act of vandalism occurs, then murder. Bottando faces the most critical challenge of his career, and Jonathan and Flavia find themselves in unexpected danger.

©1990 Iain Pears (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A clever thriller.…Pears balances politics, love, and danger nicely in a plot that has a cunning and satisfactory outcome.” ( Sunday Times)

“Masterful and calls for an encore.” ( Houston Post)

“Presents a world the author knows well in the satisfying way Margaret Truman and Dick Francis set their mysteries in milieus they know.” ( Associated Press)

3 and a half stars!

I don't know how to make this better than 3 stars, just not quite 4. My audio book expectations are to be entertained, and this does. Good story, holds together reasonably well and some dry humor thrown in. Overall good entertainment.

Twisty and subtly humorous tale of skulduggery in the art world

This was a very entertaining story of art forgery and theft, of academia and museums. Three protagonist to root for and a story you really have to pay attention to if you’re going to get it. Best of all one of my favorite narrators, the late Ralph Cosham. So happy to have encountered this, the first book in a series.

Nice Read

Ralph Cosham is a wonderful narrator! The story is interesting, and the dry humor is entertaining. I will read more by this author, as it will be interesting to see him hone his writing skills.

Another great Iain Pears

Loved it. this is the second time I listened to this book. My wife listened also while we were on a rode trip. Love the details and the character development.

Reminds me of Three Pines series

Maybe that had a lot to do with the narrator. I really enjoyed the story/plot. It amazes me how much to-do some people make over paintings - and other art. True, nobody should make unauthorized copies and fraudulently pass them off as originals, but really, if someone is passionate about a particular work that should be in a museum for everyone to enjoy, why not let good copies be sold? Anyway, another essentially human perversion at least makes for an interesting mystery for me.

Hidden Gem

Oh, what a delightful audio! Intricate plot, nuanced and devilishly witty dialogue, plus narration by the incomparably talented Ralph Cosham, I loved it!

Beautiful art, elegant wit and amusing writing

If you could sum up The Raphael Affair in three words, what would they be?

Very happy to see Iain Pears's art history mysteries finally coming to audible. He's a superb writer (see An Instance of the Fingerpost if you want a long, enthralling listen), and lucky for us, a superb mystery plotter too. A hapless English academic, the delightful Italian policewoman who interrogates and then fascinates him, and the avuncular chief of police are all finely drawn, and the story bubbles along with pockets of hilarity. This is one of Ralph Cosham's very best outings—he's eminently suited to both the silly-ass and the thoughtful side of Jonathan. I hope the other books follow quickly!

A delight

This is a gem and is well worth a listen. I had low expectations and was very pleased to be proved wrong.

Clever

Lovely little story. Great ending. Engaging characters. Very different than the other book I read of his.

Great listen

I love Ralph Cosham as the reader of the Inspector Gamache series so I decided to give this book a try. It was a great decision! I will definitely look for more books by this author hopefully also read by Ralph Cosham.