James Twining - The Gilded Seal

Review by Linda Thomas
Somebody described it as a bit ‘Da Vinci’ (by Dan Brown) ish. And I can understand where they get the comparison as it’s about Leonardo DaVinci’s artwork and following cryptic clues but for me that was as far as the comparison went.

Tom Kirk is a former art thief. He, with his partner in crime Archie, had decided to come clean and move to the right side of the law & use their knowledge advising museums on their security and helping recover lost or stolen art.
‘The Madonna of the Yarnwinder’ has been stolen from Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland and Tom Kirk has been sent by the insurance company to investigate the theft. But someone meant for him to be there, as nailed to the wall where the painting once hung was a message for him – a black cat nailed to the wall. Tom Kirk, alias Felix, in his criminal days, believes this is the work of one of his adversaries.
However, when the murder, by torture & crucifixion, of his long time friend Rafael (a forger of artwork) is discovered, Tom has to find out who did it and abandons the search for the missing painting.
In New York, Special Agent Jennifer Browne, who has an expert knowledge of paintings, is investigating a forgery case which is about to get much bigger than she thought. The dead body count is mounting and these torturous murders are linked to the forged painting. The trail leads her to Paris where she unexpectedly encounters Tom. Tom has discovered a plot to remove the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, and is becoming suspicious of the possible link to the death of his friend. But the officials at The Louvre will not believe him; will not believe that anyone can get past their security. Tom uses Jennifer to foil the plot.

Jennifer finds herself behind bars accused of conspiring to steal the painting. Her only option is to help Tom unravel the web. They discover that both their cases are related and they find themselves drawn into a chase around France and Cuba unearthing conspiracies and subterfuge and coded messages dating back to Napoleon himself.

I found this book a good pacy read and the facts about the paintings which were true, very interesting (the theft of the Mona Lisa & the Madonna of the Yarnwinder actual events. During the time of the absence of the Mona Lisa, forgeries were sold and passed off as the originals).
The only irritating thing for me and I think the one thing that spoilt it was the over use of adjectives/adverbs of insignificant objects such as: ‘…wearing an expensive blue suit, pale blue shirt and coloured Gucci tie…’
‘..her jet black bob held off a pale face by the Chanel sunglasses perched on her head..’
‘….Tom checked his watch, a vintage Panerai Marina Militaire….’ So?
‘Tom caught a glimpse of Milo’s watch as he stretched his arm to the horizon, a rare 1950’s IWC Mark 11, originally designed for and issued to the British Air Force. Milo’s model, Tom noted was the ‘No T’ variant, hastily discontinued by the British authorities after they realized that its luminescent Radium dial markings were slightly radioactive’. I could understand this last one if it was a way in which they recognized his body in later chapters but they didn’t, it didn’t, it was nothing to do with the rest of the story.
I found as I was reading it, it was playing in my mind like a ‘made for TV movie’. The places, like the catacombs, were being visualised in my mind which for me makes a good read. It would actually make a great, fast paced, movie but who do I think should play Tom Kirk - I don't know but please not Tom Hanks. Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio, mat Damon..?