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Rating: 
Summary: Not up to par
Review: I am a big fan of these novels. I have read Raphael, Titian and Bernini before this one and loved all of them. The previous reviewer got it right, this one is not really about art, it is about politics. And as the reader said, the killer is obvious early on. I think that the author was experimenting in a slightly different genre (political thriller) and didn't quite have it down. Instance of A Fingerpost shows that he can do it if he wants. If this is your first Argyll/ de Stefano novel, then please try another, they really are good, if you like art and art history.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing on the whole
Review: I could hardly believe that this was by the same author as the brilliant "An instance of the fingerpost". Admittedly, it's not the same kind of thing and it's an earlier work, but even so, it is mediocre as whodunnits go. The outcome was largely predictable, and the characters lacked dimension. The best thing I can find to say about it is that it is vastly superior to the art history mysteries of Derek Wilson.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing on the whole
Review: I could hardly believe that this was by the same author as the brilliant "An instance of the fingerpost". Admittedly, it's not the same kind of thing and it's an earlier work, but even so, it is mediocre as whodunnits go. The outcome was largely predictable, and the characters lacked dimension. The best thing I can find to say about it is that it is vastly superior to the art history mysteries of Derek Wilson.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best mysteries I've ever read
Review: I could not put this book down, and the minute I finished, I ran to the bookstore to buy another Pears book. I was intrigued by this book because of its claim to be an art history mystery. While the book by no means requires a knowledge of art history, it occasionally references artists that are quite familiar to those interested in early Italian Renaissance. Those references add mental images which can sometimes further the story. It is an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've been reading this series in order and have been enjoying it a lot - the main characters are quirky and amusing, the world of antique art buying, selling, and stealing is fascinating, and the plots are fun. But this one just seemed a bit "off". Maybe Iain Pears was having a bad day (or month or however long it takes to write these). I'm a big fan of Pears' but the bleakness of the historical background and the fact that torture was central to the plot seemed quite dissonant to the usual light-heartedness of the series. I also started to get irritated that Jonathan and Flavia never had enough money. Don't they have credit cards? Oh well, I'm going to continue through the series. I'm still a fan.
Rating:
Summary: Another interesting art historical mystery
Review: Pears offers yet another art historical mystery with a cast of characters including art historian Argyll and Italian Art Police Flavia and Bottando. All these characters are a joy to visit once again, especially those who love this series. However, this plot is not as thickly woven as past Pears' novels. It does have its twists and turns, but in the end the killer is quite obvious, and there is not a whole lot to do about art, in the end. Death and Restoration is perhaps the best to start with in this series; once you get hooked, as I have, read this one, too!
Rating:
Summary: Fun! Why not Excellent?
Review: THE LAST JUDGEMENT is one of the "art history mystery" series. The series' protagonists are quite appealing. They are a still unmarried couple living in Rome. I must admit that we end up knowing her by her first name, Flavia, and him by his last, Argyll. If that seems a bit sexist, it is consistent with the European scene where new attitudes must break through habits that have crusted over centuries. Flavia is with the department of the Italian police that specializes in art crime. She has an interesting mentor in her department and faces competition from the regular police, the Carabinieri. Argyll is an expatriated British art scholar. In this book he is an art dealer. In a later volume, Death and Restoration, he becomes an art history instructor at a university. The adventures revolve around art theft, invariably including murder. The plots exploit historical mysteries and criss-cross Europe. In the LAST JUDGMENT, Flavia and Argyll go from Rome to Paris, Zurich, London, and the English countryside. The historical component is the German occupation of France during WWII, and the post-war punishment of the collaborators. The unfolding of the plot of THE LAST JUDGMENT frustrated me. The mystery is fairly obvious, even before the midpoint of the book. The result is a painful observation of the discovery of the obvious. Nevertheless, the book is fun and I give it three stars.
Rating:
Summary: A recommenation for you. . .
Review: To all lovers of Pears, let me recommend another sensational author you will love: Glenn Kleier. His novel, THE LAST DAY is nothing short of brilliant and I believe you will find it just as astounding as I have. It's become my all time favorite novel and I'd like to share the great enjoyment it gave me.
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