Late Venetian by G N Lawson

Late Venetian by G N Lawson
published by Blossom Spring Publishing
on 21 January 2025

Genre: Crime

Zooloo’s Book Tours- Book Tour Schedule (17-21 February)

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About the book graphic reads:
A disgraced former MP, Teddy Chesterton, is dying. He wants to put things right with his ex-wife, Laura, the only woman he has ever loved, but who left him after believing he deceived her. Teddy finds out that Laura has recently been widowed and invites her to come with him to Venice. To his surprise, she accepts.

They first meet at a gallery where Teddy’s university friend, Paul Merrick works, and Laura is offered the chance to work in London to help stage an exhibition of paintings by Tiepolo. Paul asks Laura to do him a favour and authenticate a sketch by the younger Tiepolo. She is told subsequently that what she believed to be a genuine Tiepolo was a fake, and her reputation in the art world is ruined.

She blames Teddy for his part in getting her involved with Paul. They divorce, and Teddy goes to prison for money laundering. Upon his release, he visits Paul, who explains that he had nothing to do with the sketch being a fake and that it was copied by a forger to whom he had unwittingly sold the original.

In Venice, Teddy gives Laura a pile of papers that prove Paul did not set out to deceive her about the sketch he asked her to authenticate. Teddy knows that he has done what he set out to do, even if everything is just too late.

About the author

G N Lawson

Apart from three years studying History of Art and Philosophy at University College London, I have lived my entire life in the North West – born in Warrington, lived and worked in Manchester, and fourteen years ago moved to north Cumbria.

After several years of freelance arts journalism, I ran a NW-based public relations agency called Lawson Leah in the 1990s, then worked for various organisations in the construction industry, as CEO of Construction for Merseyside Ltd and then Director of the Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association. I have been a guest lecturer on urban regeneration and chaired a housing association for three years, and now work part-time as a consultant.

I have had articles on a range of topics, including the arts, construction, engineering, housing and economic development published in numerous magazines, as well as poetry and a guidebook to waterway walks in the NW.

My approach to writing tends to involve identifying a problematic situation and then finding a means of resolving it. I derive particular pleasure from finding the right words to achieve that. I was first inspired to write, as a teenager, after reading The Catcher in the Rye, and latterly find inspiration in the daunting novels of Bellow, Nabokov and Pynchon.

My thoughts on Late Venetian

Late Venetian by G N Lawson is a slow-paced yet immersive novel that unfolds like a memoir, offering a reflective journey through the lives of Teddy and Laura. Through alternating perspectives, the story explores their complex history—both together and apart—revealing how past choices and betrayals have shaped their futures.

Although the novel begins and ends in Venice, much of the narrative unfolds elsewhere—primarily in England—adding depth to the characters’ journeys. The descriptive prose brings each setting to life, whether it’s the grandeur of the art world or the quieter moments of personal reflection. Themes of love, regret, and redemption are woven throughout, making for a contemplative and layered read.

While the plot involves deception in the art world, the novel leans more toward introspection than suspense. The slower pacing feels fitting, allowing the emotional weight of the story to fully settle.

For those expecting a fast-paced crime novel, Late Venetian may not be the perfect fit. However, readers who enjoy richly developed characters and deeply reflective storytelling will find much to appreciate in its beautifully written prose.

I was drawn to Late Venetian as part of a book tour, and while it’s not my usual read, I’m so glad I gave it a chance. I am enjoying reading a wider variety of books thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours. The book tour runs from today, 17th February until 21st February and I look forward to seeing what other readers thought of this book!

#LateVenetian #GNLawson #BlossomSpringPublishing #ZooloosBookTours #VirtualBookTour #Crime #BookReview

All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts of it, may also be shared on my social media channels and various book platforms. Links are accurate at the time of publication.

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