The Costa Affair by Lisa Fantino
Tremors rock the art world when a millionaire patron of the arts vanishes from his Riverdale mansion. The mysterious disappearance of Gianni Costa and millions in art is headline news, triggers an urgent investigation, imperils a multi-million-dollar auction, and threatens to destabilize a huge overseas pipeline of profit.
In “The Costa Affair,” Lisa Fantino's long-awaited follow-up to her Det. Maggie Flynn mystery series, Maggie is plunged into a world of unimaginable wealth where priceless art changes hands with the fall of a gavel.
Beneath the veneer of elegance though is a transatlantic criminal underworld where deals are brokered in blood, and art is used to evade taxes and launder drug money. Is Costa connected? Nosy NYPD detectives who get too close are in grave peril.
About the author
Author Lisa Fantino is a veteran journalist turned attorney & bestselling author...with a burning passion for travel, salsa & dark chocolate!
Review
‘The Costa Affair’ is a great police procedural that has the twist of being centred on the art world. I loved the education you received about the art and how money can be moved around the world and laundered through purchasing art etc. I had no idea about this side of everything. This is why I loving reading as you find out so much about our world!
Nick Costa is a big-time art dealer and collector in New York. When his ‘housekeeper’ comes to the police to report his disappearance Detective Maggie Flynn catches the case and is soon immersed in the high-end art world! Who broke in and stole artworks from his house and where is the man?
I liked Maggie as a detective as she is a strong female lead, shows empathy, is intelligent and is in touch with her history. All the references to the gorgeous Italian food made me very hungry! I'm fascinated when it comes to art crimes and I have read all the Nick Costa mysteries and the new Jeffrey Archer ones as well. Therefore, the narrative had me hooked from the beginning. This is the second Maggie Flynn book but you can certainly read it as a standalone. I will be looking forward to see what comes next for Maggie!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
