Janice Law writes this series starring Francis Bacon, artist and bon vivant who is flamboyantly gay and gets himself in more trouble over pretty young men than you can shake a stick at. He's always either way behind in promised paintings to a gallery, or cadging drinks while he looks for jobs.
This time Bacon has fallen hopelessly in love/lust with a man named David who unfortunately for both of them has PTSD from his service in World War II. Bacon himself served by helping people to shelters in London during the blitz as some sort of warden. That experience tends to help him when he's caught in perilous situations in this story. He follows David to Tangier after a break-up caused by David's violent outbursts, and as usual he's made an error in doing so. After all, things were going well in London and London is where Bacon belongs, but . . .
In Tangier they get mixed up with a crowd that attends parties at a wealthy Englishman's home up in the hills. The man also happens to work for British intelligence and there is a German art dealer selling forgeries of Picasso paintings supposedly lost in the war. Bacon is, to make a long story short, forced by the police to replace the forger who has been killed. Just the kind of sticky wicket Bacon often finds himself in.
I laugh all the way through these novels because of the silliness of Bacon and the pickles he gets into but also because the other characters are so over the top. Another thing I like about the books is that Francis Bacon has such a good heart. He means well and always helps the people who deserve that help. Very clever stuff.
Highly recommended
Source: Netgalley
Francis sounds like a terrific character!
ReplyDeleteA new one for me. I do so like your header!
ReplyDeleteSounds different in a good way. May have to try this at some point.
ReplyDeleteI am putting this series on my list. Have not heard of it before but it sounds enjoyable!
ReplyDelete