The Eye of the Virgin

Frederick Ramsay
Poisoned Pen Press (2010)
ISBN 9781590587607
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (02/10)

 

From the first page, readers will find that this book has many twists and turns as we look for why and who did it. We begin with Louis Drakus who comes home to a house where acetone assaults the air, nothing unusual for him, but the broken window and his paintings moved about give him second thoughts. At the same time in a local Urgent Care clinic, hospital staff is working feverishly on helping victims of an automobile accident, while one patient goes unnoticed.

Ike Schwartz is the Sheriff of Picketsville, Virginia, a town that doesn’t have much major crime or murders. Now he is dealing with breaking and entering as well as murder. In addition to this current situation, Ike is trying to figure out his relationship with Ruth Harris and deal with his ex-wife at the same time. After his ex-wife (then remarried) went to Europe, she came home with a boy-toy and Ike was kicked to the curb.  But before he left he took some very important paintings from their shop, much to Lorraine’s dismay.  Her boy-toy is supposed to be on a trip; yet she can’t get hold of him and this adds to her furor.

There is one painting everyone is looking for, but can’t find. Why is this painting so important that some would kill over? Interestingly enough, on this painting is an outdated spycraft. What is on the microdot? Everyone is a suspect. What is really going on?

Just when readers think they know why the painting is so important, many other details and individuals come into play. “The Eye of the Virgin” by Frederick Ramsay will keep you enthralled and wanting to know “why” and you won’t be able to put it down. The author has done a great job in describing his characters and events; his ability to keep things fast-paced and interesting is a true sign of his great writing ability.

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