Harmony in Flesh and Black — Nicholas Kilmer

NOT A PRETTY PICTURE

Highbrow Boston art collector Clayton Reed prefers to keep his distance from the dirty details of art acquisition. He leaves that to his business partner Fred Taylor, an ex-Vietnam vet whose nerves of steel, serve him well in the auction room and in some very unsavory situations. Which is a good thing when he discovers the body of a down-and-out collector just hours after buying an unsigned nude from him--one that may actually prove to be the work of a major American painter.

Now it's up to Fred to keep Clayton and himself away from the prying eyes of the police, or risk losing the ultimate prize. Unfortunately, there are others scheming to snag the painting, and before long Fred finds himself dancing with some not-so-refined vultures, facing down a dangerous hostage situation, and dodging the daggers behind the deals in the cutthroat world of fine art.