Kiss of De'Ath

Jack Mowgley, a once highly respected SB officer in the MET and in later years in charge of the continental ferry port of Portsmouth, having fallen foul of his new fast-tracked boss, has set out for new beginnings and a new life in a foreign land before being sacked or even worse. Never a vigilante, but he has a unique sense of justice and metes out his own kind of punishment if he feels the law is inadequate. This invariably leads him into trouble. Throughout his long career he has helped Interpol, European and other countries police forces in the pursuit of international crime leagues, people and drug smugglers and general bad guys. Because of his past reputation for trustworthiness, and a nose for a wrong 'n', he is able to make use of his contacts and friends in foreign parts. His instincts are excellent but this makes him vulnerable as he has a tendency to poke his nose where it is least wanted. Jack is back with - Kiss of De'Ath Worth over 65 billions dollars a year, art is big business. Many thousands of talented artists across the globe try to break into this world, either legitimately or otherwise. Most art museums throughout the world keep quiet about what they have stored in back rooms or even hanging in their galleries from unknown or known forgers and fakers. It is believed that well over half of what we believe to be genuine masterpieces, are actually forgeries. Called in by his friend and former colleague's lover, Colonel Rene Degas is dealing with the death of an Englishman and Jack finds he is drawn in to this fascinating but murky, cynical and corrupt world of Art. Piers DeAth is a celebrity art critic and influencer who has been found dead in unusual circumstances at his chateau in France. But it seems that DeAth is more than a critic. He makes or breaks artists for his own satisfaction and also for his very considerable gain. From Normandy to Cornwall in the westcountry, London and Montmartre Paris, Jack follows the trail of forged art work and artists to seek out the truth. Finding broken dreams and promises, chicanery and deliberate confuscation. Death plays its part in this murky world. And all for money, big money.