Under the Hammer — John Clifford Mortimer

Maggie Perowne is head of Old Masters at Klinsky's auction house in London. Ben Glazier is an art expert. Ben, not as young as he was, is inescapably in love with Maggie, but she has an unfortunate taste for such dubious men as the Hooray Henry in the wine department. Together Ben and Maggie form a crack team that blends integrity and professionalism with a keen eye for uncovering the mysterious circumstances surrounding priceless works of art.

Take for example the matter of the underpriced Raphael, or the questionable Bronzino, or even the Cellini salt cellar. Maggie and Ben may be able to detect the fakes at one hundred paces, but spotting the forger may cause trickier problems .

In the great tradition of Rumpole, John Mortimer has created an unforgettable cast of characters and struck a rich vein of humour.

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