The Art of Deception

A spell-binding story of greed, love and murder.Nicholas Ochterlonie thinks himself the most conventional of Englishmen, content to live on his private income and dabble in art history. If only his wife had not decided to leave him, he might have remained just that. But she did, and he finds himself on his own in London the night he rescues Julian Bennet from a mugger. Beautiful, mysterious and threatened by dangers Nicholas cannot even begin to understand, Julian draws him into her terrifying world where hot money and the Russian Mafia mix in a murderous cocktail. Then Julian's world and his meet when his speculations about whether a painting is a forgery make him a bitter enemy. The result is murder. Praise for Elizabeth Ironside'Excellent local colour and culture, good adventure and an admirable denouement' Marcel Berlins'She joins those few mystery writers you unreservedly look forward to reading ... a thoroughly satisfying psychological thriller' Harriet Waugh, Spectator'A fine, stylish book to be savoured' James Melville'Superbly handled ... a masterly example of classic crime fiction' Birmingham Post'A spell-binding story of love, murder and deception' Coventry Evening Telegraph'Enticing murder mystery' Manchester Evening News