A ne'er-do-well artist takes on an international forgery conspiracy in this first mystery by an Australian artist and novelist. Essington Holt, down on his luck in Sydney, is summoned to the French Riviera by his wealthy widowed aunt, Eloise Fabre. She is convinced that forgeries have replaced six Degas monotypes - brothel scenes - that she bought years before. Investigating the insurance broker, lawyer and valuers who had studied the pieces, Holt finds the forger ... Wallace writes fluidly of life in Australia, and nicely depicts the Riviera and its denizens. - Publishers Weekly Essington Holt: a brilliant bitter creation - Time Out Art fraud and Essington Holt make for champagne reading. - Peter Corris, The Australian