Book

The curse of Pietro Houdini : a novel

Miller, Derek B., 1970- author

2024

Overview

\"August, 1943. Fourteen-year-old Massimo is all alone. Newly orphaned and fleeing from Rome after surviving the American bombing raid that killed his parents, Massimo is attacked by thugs and finds himself bloodied at the base of the Montecassino. It is there in the Benedictine abbey's shadow that a charismatic and cryptic man calling himself Pietro Houdini, the self-proclaimed 'Master Artist and confidante of the Vatican,' rescues Massimo and brings him up the mountain to serve as his assistant in preserving the treasures that lay within the monastery walls. But can Massimo believe what Pietro is saying, particularly when Massimo has secrets too? Who is this extraordinary man? When it becomes evident that Montecassino will soon become the front line in the war, Pietro Houdini and Massimo execute a plan to smuggle three priceless Titian paintings to safety down the mountain. They are joined by a nurse concealing a nefarious past, a café owner turned murderer, a wounded but chipper German soldier, and a pair of lovers along with their injured mule, Ferrari. Together they will lie, cheat, steal, fight, kill, and sin their way through battlefields to survive, all while smuggling the Renaissance masterpieces and the bag full of ancient Greek gold they have rescued from the 'safe keeping' of the Germans\"-- Provided by publisher.

• Publisher: Avid Reader Press
• Subject: Teenage boys Fiction. / Orphans Italy Fiction. / World War, 1939-1945 Fiction. / Smugglers Fiction. / Art Fiction. / Contrebandiers Romans, nouvelles, etc. / Art Romans, nouvelles, etc. / Garçons adolescents Romans, nouvelles, etc. / Monasteries Fiction. / Orphans Fiction. / Italy History 20th century Fiction. / Italie Histoire 20e siècle Romans, nouvelles, etc. / Italy Fiction.
• ISBN: 9781668020883, 1668020882

Item info:

1 item available

1 item total in all locations

Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
PS3613.I5337 C87 2024	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE