What would happen if Greek extremists blackmailed Britain into returning ancient sculptures? And what if that blackmail involved not only Queen Elizabeth II, but also dark secrets about her uncle, the Duke of Windsor? When Edward Andover, Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures, receives a painting by Raphael from an anonymous collective known only as the “Apollo Brigade,” he’s nonplussed. But the ominous delivery is soon followed by two more. All three paintings, it turns out, were looted by the Nazis during World War II. Soon, Andover finds himself racing to prevent the public exposure of secrets from the royal family’s past, should they not meet the group’s demand to return of the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, on display at the British Museum. What’s more, his very life may be at stake as the Apollo Brigade makes its violent intentions known.
Author
Peter Watson was educated at the universities of Durham, London and Rome, and was awarded scholarships in Italy and the United States. After a stint as Deputy Editor of New Society magazine, he was for four years part of the Sunday Times ‘Insight’ team of investigative journalists. He wrote the daily Diary column of the London Times before becoming that paper’s New York correspondent. He returned to London to write a column about the art world for the Observer and then at The Sunday Times. He has published three exposes in the world of art and antiquities and from 1997 to 2007 was a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. He has published twelve books of non-fiction and seven novels, some under the pen name of Mackenzie Ford. He lives in London where his interests include theatre, opera and fishing. Awards, Etc. Psychology Prize Durham University, 1961 Italian Government Music Scholarship Rome University, 1965 United States Government Bursary “for future world leaders” To study the psychiatric profession and its links to the administration of justice Books of the Year Psychology Today Magazine, 1978, for War on the Mind Daily Mail, 1990, for Wisdom and Strength Independent on Sunday, for A Terrible Beauty, 2000 Times Literary Supplement, for Ideas, 2005 Time Magazine, for The Medici Conspiracy, 2006 Queen’s Pardon Copy from Patrick Meehan after I had written a series of articles which brought about his release from prison after he had been wrongly convicted of murder, 1976. Gold Dagger – Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain For The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1983 Beacon Award – SAFE Award – Saving Antiquities for Everyone For The Medici Conspiracy, 2006 US Library Association The Great Divide. Emmy Nomination ‘The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1984. Best sellers The Caravaggio Conspiracy Crusade Landscape of Lies Sotheby’s: The Inside Story Nureyev Lectures Peter Watson has lectured at the following venues: Universities Cambridge Berkeley London UCLA Birmingham Georgia Georgia Chicago Birmingham Santiago de Chile York Madrid Harvard Tufts Military Bases Fort Bragg Private Institutions in Cleveland Berlin Chicago Belfast Los Angeles New York Washington Boston Palm Beach Other venues Smithsonian Institution National Museum, Copenhagen Royal Society of Arts Rugby School Royal Library, Copenhagen Festivals Edinburgh Oxford Dartington York
