The novel begins with Fred attending an estate auction, presumably to obtain a painting that everyone thinks is a Constable landscape. However, the real prize, unbeknowst to the auction crowd was a cache of old erotic pictures by Turner bought by Taylor's confederate and friend of sorts, our former Hungarian pianist now "antique" dealer,Marek Hricso. After the auction, Fred gets the pictures and turns them over to Clayton who is staying in a Fall River brothel.

   When Marke is attacked and left for dead it becomes apparent that someone else knows about the cache worth many millions of dollars. It appears that the widow of the late Lord Hanford did not have the right to hold the auction and the real heir wants everyone to return their purchases. When Reed refuses things get violent. In the meantime Fred and a new character,Lakshmi Thompson, hater of Ruskin, sometimes receptionist for Hricso and doctrate candidate at Tufts, investigate the history of the pictures while dodging someone who wants the pictues even if it means they have to kill to obtain them.

   These novels are a bit quirky and this one certainly is. At times with this one and the way Kilmer reveals the history it is often yawn worthy-interesting, yes, well plotted-okay. I rate this one a low 7.