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Pokermonster
03 Jul 15 17:10
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Date Joined: 14 Sep 04
| Topic/replies: 12,992 | Blogger: Pokermonster's blog
The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

The clue to a murder in the art world of contemporary Madrid lies hidden in a medieval painting of a game of chess.  In a 15th-century Flemish painting two noblemen are pictured playing chess.  Yet two years before he could sit for the portrait, one of them was murdered.  In 20th-century Madrid, Julia, a picture restorer preparing the painting for auction, uncovers a hidden inscription in Latin that points to the crime: Quis necavit equitem?  Who killed the knight?  But as she teams up with a brilliant chess theoretician to retrace the moves, she discovers the deadly game is not yet over.

The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

In the world of rare books everything has its price, but when the book is a satanic tract the currency is not money but life.  A well-know bibliophile is found hanged days after selling a rare manuscript of Alexander Dumas's classic, The Three Musketeers.  Across Madrid, Spain's wealthiest book dealer has finally laid his hands on a 17th-century manual for summoning the devil.  Lucas Corso, solitary and obsessive, is the detective hired to authenticate both texts, but the further he follows the trail of devil worship, the more it leads him back to Dumas.
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Report Pokermonster • July 3, 2015 11:57 PM BST
The Roman Polanski film, Ninth Gate, starring Johnny Depp and Emmanuelle Seigner was based on The Club Dumas.
Report MisterBadger • July 4, 2015 12:39 AM BST
I thought that rang a bell, a very good film until the very end when it turned into a total crock of sh1te... I think the rot first set in when she flew down the steps by the seine...

to be honest (without knowing when they were published) they both sound like they're cashing in on the dan brown phenomenon
Report Pokermonster • July 4, 2015 3:42 PM BST
Good afternoon, MB.

The Flanders Panel was published in 1990 and The Club Dumas in 1993, so they are both a good decade before The Da Vinci Code.  Also, it would be fair to contend that Polanski's film was only loosely based on Perez-Reverte's book and, as the ending is different altogether, it might be more to your taste.
Report MisterBadger • July 4, 2015 3:55 PM BST
ah, that's interesting PM - the film was very good until it went a bit off piste, a pity he didn't stick to the plot
Report Pokermonster • July 4, 2015 4:04 PM BST
MB.

Did we discuss audiobooks recently?  It was either your good self or another long-term chit chatter, Rob Dylan.  I only mention this because I have just ordered The Club Dumas and would gladly send you a copy.
Report MisterBadger • July 4, 2015 4:50 PM BST
It must have been rob I think, PM, it wasn't me... thank you for the kind offer, but I'm not a big fan of audio books, I find I tend to stop concentrating and my thoughts drift off into other directions and when I finally return the story has advanced so far that I end up constantly rewinding  Sad
Report Ovalman. • July 4, 2015 6:39 PM BST
Hi Poker, could I be so cheeky to ask for a copy?

Are you on Audible? I haven't joined yet but may join for the 3 months at half price. We may have shared interests.
Report Pokermonster • July 4, 2015 8:32 PM BST
Good evening, Oval, I hope you are well.

I'll certainly send you a copy of The Club Dumas with my compliments.  I ordered the unabridged version yesterday, so it should arrive some time early next week.  How would you like to receive the book, sir?  I could convert the chapters to mp3 files and burn them onto a CD, or you can send me a suitable USB pen drive and I'll mail a copy back by return of post.  Either way requires us to exchange addresses, of course, so perhaps you could drop me a line using the PM service on this forum?

I'm not a member of Audible, although it would probably benefit me to become one as I have purchased fifty to sixty audiobooks in the last year alone.  My tastes are not particularly highbrow, mostly murder mysteries like the titles mentioned above.  The entire library might run to a couple hundred or so, I could compile a list if you're interested.
Report cedarmaster • July 4, 2015 10:10 PM BST
i have been a member of audible for many years as i drive for a living i can listen to books all day, i like the sound of these two recommendations, thanks Poker
Report Pokermonster • July 4, 2015 10:16 PM BST
You're welcome, sir.

I buy audiobooks for an aunt who is blind, a couple hundred so far and counting.  It has become quite expensive when some of them are twenty quid a pop, but they're worth it.  Some of the ones I fancy for myself get copied onto my computer to help me sleep, I guess that might not be strictly legal but as they were purchased in good faith my conscience is clear.
Report johnn • July 4, 2015 11:00 PM BST
The Dumas Club is right up my street, thanks.
Report Pokermonster • July 4, 2015 11:03 PM BST
You're very welcome, John.  I'm guessing you would also probably like the Jack Nightingale series of books by Stephen Leather.  They're quite dark, something in the mould of a modern-day Dennis Wheatley.
Report Ovalman. • July 5, 2015 9:49 AM BST
Hi Poker, many thanks for the offer. Convert to mp3 and upload to one of these http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/top-15-free-online-file-storage-sites-2/118251 and PM the link.

I will join Audible, there's a few deals floating around like your first book free but I listen to a lot of audio (mostly Podcasts), so would benefit from the 3 months at half price better. I'll keep this thread updated on my selections.
Report Mick Sturbs • July 5, 2015 10:17 AM BST
Thanks for the recommendations poker.. will give them a try.
Report johnn • July 5, 2015 10:17 AM BST
I was entranced by my grandfather's Dennis Wheatley books when I was ten.
Report FatherMaguire • July 5, 2015 10:19 AM BST
cheers for the recommendations, will get the Flanders Panel on Amazon now - love books about chess, I'd recommend City of Thieves by David Benioff, an excellent book based in 2nd World War Russia
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