Spanish Enigma

By Joseph Steven

   David Croft is returning to Columbia University after lecturing on Art History for a year at Cambridge University in England. He is approached by Carlos Avila, secretary to Richard Beltron, Director of the Prado Museum in Madrid Spain. Beltron wishes Croft, who has the reputation of finding missing art and authenticating it, to find the original Goya Naked Maja. For years a forgery of the painting has been hanging in the museum unknown to the public. He wishes to find the original which he believes was hidden by impressionist painter Esteban Carals, said to be the forger of the Naked Maja.

   In undertaking the assignment David finds himself caught in a web of murder and terrorism. He must trade wits with the Basque terrorist organization which wants the painting to hold it for ransom, and with Ishii Tanaka, Japanese millionaire who covets the painting for his collection. David is subjected to a car bombing and attempted murder in his search.

    This is a fast moving story with many twists and turns while the outcome comes as a complete surprise. We have some insights into the world of authenticating art. The characters are undeveloped and come and go as the action warrants. The writer's style is short chapters, each chapter encompassing an incident. This helps move the story along. However, the writer could have used a competent proof reader. There are words omitted from sentences; punctuation in the wrong places; to mention a few lapses. If the reader can overlook these faults, this is an interesting book for a quick read.