Rating: 
Summary: Phew!
Review: As I have written in other reviews, after the reading the first couple hundred pages of Instance of the Fingerpost, I bought the first three books of this series. The first, The Raphael Affair, was very good and I was looking forward to the series. The next, Giotto's Hand was a disappointment, due to a lack of development in the main characters and a disappointing plot.This book restores all my faith in Mr. Pears. The main characters, Flavia and Argyll, develope and become a bit more human than in Giotto. The plot is terrific. As usual for the series the art world and culture are wonderfully portrayed and add depth and color to the book. A bit of history is thrown in to add even more to this novel. Both Flavia and Argyll are truly likeable characters (they got lost Giotto) and investigate the art and the art crime in their usual different ways. This dichotomy works well. One is seeking the policeman's answers, the other the scholar's. When they come together, it forces the reader to smile and wonder. You need not have read both the prior books in the series to enjoy this one; however, I would recommend reading Giotto's Hand first, since one of the protaganists comes from that book. Knowing her and her prior escapades would certainly help.
Rating:
Summary: Phew!
Review: As I have written in other reviews, after the reading the first couple hundred pages of Instance of the Fingerpost, I bought the first three books of this series. The first, The Raphael Affair, was very good and I was looking forward to the series. The next, Giotto's Hand was a disappointment, due to a lack of development in the main characters and a disappointing plot. This book restores all my faith in Mr. Pears. The main characters, Flavia and Argyll, develope and become a bit more human than in Giotto. The plot is terrific. As usual for the series the art world and culture are wonderfully portrayed and add depth and color to the book. A bit of history is thrown in to add even more to this novel. Both Flavia and Argyll are truly likeable characters (they got lost Giotto) and investigate the art and the art crime in their usual different ways. This dichotomy works well. One is seeking the policeman's answers, the other the scholar's. When they come together, it forces the reader to smile and wonder. You need not have read both the prior books in the series to enjoy this one; however, I would recommend reading Giotto's Hand first, since one of the protaganists comes from that book. Knowing her and her prior escapades would certainly help.
Rating:
Summary: Finally excellence!
Review: DEATH AND RESTORATION is one of the "art history mystery" series. The series' protagonists are quite appealing. They are a still unmarried couple living in Rome. I must admit that we end up knowing her by her first name, Flavia, and him by his last, Argyll. If that seems a bit sexist, it is consistent with the European scene where new attitudes must break through habits that have crusted over centuries. Flavia is with the department of the Italian police that specializes in art crime. She has a mantor figure in her department, and faces competition from the regular police, the Carabinieri. Argyll is an expatriated British art scholar. In the earlier book, the Last Judgment, he was an art dealer. In this volume he has become an art history instructor at a university. The adventures revolve around art theft, invariably including murder. The plots exploit historical mysteries and criss-cross Europe. For example, in the LAST JUDGMENT, Flavia and Argyll go from Rome to Paris, Zurich, London, and the English countryside. The plot of DEATH AND RESTORATION involves less traveling or the protagonists but is still strongly international. While the book lets Flavia and Argyll stay in Rome, the chain of events reaches to Athens, Istanbul, and London, and touches Austria. The underlying historical mystery involves the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks and the emigration of its aristocracy to western Europe, mostly Italy. DEATH AND RESTORATION captivated me. The mystery is interesting and its resolution is unexpected, perhaps even surprising. The lives of Flavia and Argyll are at a stage that could be pure drudgery as they wait for their wedding. Instead, both encounter interesting developments, albeit professional ones. Flavia must chose between a move or promotion and Argyll toys with the development of a research project. My reading of Pears leaves me with mixed feelings. DEATH AND RESTORATION is the third book of Ian Pears that I read. The other two were frustrating displays of a great author using excellent themes, yet failing to reach excellence. His book THE INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST relies too heavily on the mystical, while THE LAST JUDGEMENT has a frustratingly obvious plot. DEATH AND RESTORATION is the first that I consider to be a truly first class book, deserving the five star rating'I am very stingy.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best in the series
Review: Death and Restoration is yet another volume in the Jonathan Argyll series which offers an excellent and enjoyable mystery to keep the reader guessing and give a pleasurable read. Weaving a traditional flair for crime writing with considerable knowledge of the history of art, Pears writes an effortlessly intriguing mystery. The characters are delightful and believable and the reader finds themself caught up in the intrigue of all the subplots that they create. There are many questions to be answered, but the whole thing is tied up very well at the end of the book. Well worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: I bought 3 more Iain Pears books 100 pages into this book
Review: I found out that this book is not the first in the series of Pears art history mysteries, but it certainly is not a bad place to start. This is a very fun read, with the right mixture of history, mystery, pace, and humor. You can tell the characters (good mix of male and female too) have been well thought out, as a series gives time for. Not to mention a plot that travels old Byzantium, Rome, Greece, with some political intrigue and all put before a religious backdrop. Pulled of very well!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: Iain Pears' Death and Restoration is a fine mystery that's full of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns. I really like the setting in Rome and the intertwining of art, the Catholic Church and history into an entertaining plot. This is the first in the series that I have read, and it was a pleasant surprise. Great writing. Unfortunately, I did guess the outcome, which was a disappointment, but I still enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I recommend reading this book with 4 stars, but I would probably have given a 3 1/2 stars if I could have.
Rating:
Summary: A tense but amusing mystery with a haunting subplot.
Review: Once again, the charming but luckless young art dealer, Jonathan Argyll, and his new wife, the capable art cop Flavia stumble into an odd situation with a stolen piece of art. Set in a dusty but gorgeous old neighborhood in the streets of Rome, this tale is filled with subplots. A blackmailed grandmother, risking her life and reputation to save her young granddaughter, an ancient order of monks moving reluctantly into the modern century, an ancient legend that seems to have come to life. Throughout the tale, Pears walks a delicate line, allowing the reader to slip into the aura of the past, and to wonder at the possibilities of real backing for old superstitions. This story is not only filled with engrossing secondary stories, but also chock full of wonderfully drawn and realized characters. An old monk slipping into senility, who is the only one with a complete understanding of the history of the missing piece of art. A superstitious and dutiful neighborhood cleaning lady. Two aging, brilliant criminals, with their own stringent moral codes, and a secret past love affair. And the reader meets again with Jonathan and Flavia's favorite nemesis. Again in this warm and engaging series, Pears has produced a charming mystery that stands well above the ordinary.
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining reading
Review: Pears has crafted another delight. While perhaps a bit too smooth in places, on the whole the story is presented with aplomb appropriate to a fine writer delivering another in a series of gems. The entire series is to be highly recommended. I have found this perfect for the beach, but it doesn't encourage one to disengage the brain while reading. It presents Italy warmly but comfortably, without oozing too-sweet prose about the country, and gives the reader a bit of an education and a mental work-out as well. (Though not so taxing as to be draining.) Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Pleasant and intelligent
Review: Pears has crafted another delight. While perhaps a bit too smooth in places, on the whole the story is presented with aplomb appropriate to a fine writer delivering another in a series of gems. The entire series is to be highly recommended. I have found this perfect for the beach, but it doesn't encourage one to disengage the brain while reading. It presents Italy warmly but comfortably, without oozing too-sweet prose about the country, and gives the reader a bit of an education and a mental work-out as well. (Though not so taxing as to be draining.) Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining reading
Review: The 6th in the Jonathan Argyll art mystery series, I enjoyed this title as much as any of the others. The return of a protaganist featured in the previous book, made for very nice continuity, but the book would certainly be enjoyable even if you haven't read any of the others. The "team" of Jonathan and Flavia compliment each other in skills... and I personally enjoy the foreign location settings (primarily Rome in this book). The story lines are better than average and the characters are reasonably well developed. I recommend that you read "Giotto's Hand", if you can, before "Death and Restoration" for maximum enjoyment.
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