Mountâs, Londonâs oldest auction house, founded in 1670, is owned by Azerbaijani multi-billionaire Kerem Akbarov. The auction house staff, along with Kerem and his stunning wife, Rosemary, attend a never-ending series of glamorous parties, receptions, dinners and auctions, doing everything they can to beat the competition, Balfourâs and Setonâs. Mountâs is booming, and profits are rising.
The emergence of an online porn video, shown to the Home Secretary, featuring a senior British policewoman results in her career being sidelined and her partner freezing her out. She is cornered into heading the inconsequential Art Squad, and desperate to redeem her career and relationship, she takes on board a suggestion to investigate the suspicious deaths of auction house clients that have resulted in large sales.
She travels the world with her intern, the Home Secretaryâs nephew, but is blind-sided when one of Mountâs staff dies suddenly at the Dubai Art Fair. Back in London, with her chance of redemption quashed, she settles into a dull, daily routine investigating low-level crimes until an informant provides her with a lead, and she finally uncovers the truth.
Clive worked at Sothebyâs in New Bond Street, London, for 22 years, 15 of them as Chief Operating Officer.
This is Cliveâs first novel since leaving Sothebyâs. He lives in London and Surrey with his partner.