by Frank McDonald
This novel does more than anything since the Mark Rothko estate scandal to end the world's illusions about the integrity of the Machiavellian art world. The story focuses on a ring of murderous art thieves (posing as Vatican clerics), "a swag hunter" (who tracks down missing masterpieces) and manicured dealers whose manipulations make art "the world's last free currency." And there's a trendy cameo scene with decadent habitués of Studio 54, including "Andy Stabler, the Master of Hype and Pop Art." The authenticity of detail reflects two years of research by McDonald, an investigative writer who once spent three months in a Cuban jail accused of espionage while researching for a book. Provenance (which refers to a painting's pedigree) is short on depth of character and realistic dialogue, but not on verve. (Atlantic-Little, Brown, $12.95)
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