The Serpent in the Garden - Janet Gleeson
by Zia ~ May 2nd, 2005. Filed under: Books.Joshua Pope, a Georgian-era painter and contemporary of Gainsborough, is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait–and while at his patron’s estate becomes embroiled in a mystery. There’s the murder. There’s the requisite piece of jewelry with a legend attached. There’s another murder. Pope almost dies. He solves the case. End of story. While well-executed (and perfect to read while lolling in the bath late last night while soothing surfing-strained muscles), it lacked that certain spark. For those seeking a historical painterly novel (a la Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring) I would recommend Michael Kernan’s vastly underrated book, The Lost Diary of Frans Hals.