Stealing The Spanish Princess – Detective Crime

Today I’m joining the blog tour to share my book review of Stealing The Spanish Princess a detective crime series from author Bea Green. Thanks to Anne @randomttours for inviting me on the blog tour. Also, a special thanks to @BeaGreen for sending me a copy of her fabulous book to review. Before we jump into my book review here’s a quick summary about the book.

Book Cover Notes

In this captivating and dazzling art crime mystery, eccentric detective Richard Langley hunts for a 16th-century masterpiece by the artist El Greco. The thief stole the priceless painting from an apartment in Kensington, London, and in the process knifed to death a Russian woman.

DCI Richard Langley from Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiquities Unit joins colleagues from Homicide as they pursue a trail that leads them to St Petersburg and then to Madrid. Following closely in their footsteps is a maverick private investigator hired by the painting’s owner. Knowing how hard it is to sell on stolen artworks of that calibre, Richard wonders what the motive behind its theft might be. The answer, when it comes, takes everyone by surprise.

My Thoughts

From the very first page I was hooked into the intriguing world of art crime. I loved the opening lines of Stealing The Spanish Princess.

Chief Inspector Richard Langley was inspecting a mummified foot in his basement office at New Scotland Yard when the phone call from the Superintendent came. The foot wasn’t the most valuable item confiscated from an Egyptian traveller at Heathrow Airport earlier that week but it was certainly the most interesting.

The main character, DCI Richard Langley works in the Art & Antiquities Unit at New Scotland Yard. He’s not your typical DCI, an introvert and gently spoken, preferring to spend time working in his windowless office surrounded by shelves of unresolved art theft cases. He’s clearly an expert in his field, with a vast knowledge of art history and priceless artefacts.

When a valuable painting is stolen from the home of Russian businessman Igor Babikov, and his girlfriend Irina is found murdered, DCI Langley is called in to work on the case with the murder squad. CI Abdul Hazim and DI Eilidh Simmons are young and keen to solve the murder, with little interest for the painting or its history. DCI Langley however is amazed to discover the paintings history and it’s potential significance in the world of art. Soon he’s following a trail of clues that uncovers so much more to this story than first thought.

I really enjoyed the authors writing, with strong likeable characters. The professional relationship that built between DCI Langley and DI Simmons was interesting to follow. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be an unlikely romance or a father/daughter mentoring relationship. You’ll have to read the book to find out…

Stealing The Spanish Princess as a detective crime novel has plenty of twists and clever plot changes. It wasn’t predictable and it kept me guessing till quite near the end.

Summary

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed going on a journey into the world of Art & Antiquities. The author demonstrates considerable knowledge in her writing of the numerous artists, famous paintings and museums that were included in her crime story. Throughout the book I couldn’t resist dipping into Google Images to look at the paintings and museums the author was describing so beautifully.

If you’re a fan of detective crime novels, especially the likes of Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), then you’ll enjoy this fast paced, cleverly written novel.

Stealing The Spanish Princess is a great murder/mystery full of twists and plot changes. An exciting journey through the art world in a desperate chase to recover a priceless classic painting, The Spanish Princess.

Where to Buy The Book

Amazon UK

Further Book Info:

• Published Date: 8th December 2020 (Paperback + eBook)
• Publisher: The Conrad Press
• Page Count: 320

About The Author

Bea Green has had a somewhat roving life as the daughter of a British diplomat. Her mother is Spanish and growing up Bea spent every summer at her grandfather’s olive tree farm in Andalusia. This olive tree farm was the inspiration for her contemporary romance book, La Finca.

Bea studied Art throughout school and then did Art History for two of her four years at St Andrews University, where she met her husband. She graduated with an MA in English Literature.

Her interest in art was fostered by her father and her Spanish grandmother. Her Spanish grandmother accompanied her to many of Madrid’s art galleries and several of El Prado’s paintings are fondly remembered in Bea’s art crime book, Stealing the Spanish Princess.

Stealing the Spanish Princess was inspired by a Spanish painting, Lady in a Fur Wrap, at Pollok House, Glasgow. When Bea wrote Stealing the Spanish Princess there was a huge debate among art experts about the painting, with some claiming it was painted by El Greco. Some experts thought the painting was of Princess Catalina Micaela, daughter of the Spanish King, Philip II.

Bea Green has lived in Edinburgh since leaving St Andrews University, with her Glaswegian husband and two daughters. She also maintains close links with her family in Spain.

Where To Find Bea Online

Instagram

Blog Tour Organised by

Random Things Tours

Thanks to Anne @randomttours for inviting me on the tour of Stealing The Spanish Princess, a new detective crime series. Also thanks to @BeaGreen and @TheConradPress for my copy of the book for an honest review.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my book review of Stealing The Spanish Princess.

Miche xxx

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