Product Description

Kate Kenyon, the wealthy young widow of an English aristocrat, has an addiction to mortal risk. She feeds it by engaging in the armed robbery of priceless artefacts with her accomplice and lover Ethan Brand. Their latest target is a priceless 'Byzantine' icon hidden in the tower of a chateau by Lake Lucerne. So far they have never had to shoot anyone. This time will be different. Thomas Malloy is a retired CIA man looking for his first lucrative freelance assignment. His chance comes with a presidential favour to a rich but ailing televangelist. Malloy's task seems simple enough: pick up the preacher's newly acquired painting from a Zurich bank and get it to the airport. But, once in Switzerland, Malloy's old friend, the enigmatic Contessa Claudia de Medici tries to warn him off his mission. Sir Julian Corbeau is an international criminal holed up in Switzerland to avoid US extradition proceedings. He is also the sadistic head of the modern Knights Templar. He had the painting and now he desperately wants it back and swears to wreak a bloody revenge upon those who stole it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139113 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Review
'I got paper friction burns on my fingers and pressure sores elsewhere because I could barely move until I'd finished it. Things were so tense that at several points I had to remind myself to breathe.' --Dovegreyreader's literary blog

'A marvellously thrilling book . . . the distinction between villain and hero is constantly blurred. . . a most enthralling story.' --Paul Doherty, author of the Hugh Corbett mysteries

'...a rattling good yarn. Fast paced, exciting and very very filmic.' --Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover

About the Author
Craig Smith holds a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Southern Illinois and is a former professor of English and Humanities at the University of North Colorado. His first novel, published in the UK and Australia as Silent She Sleeps and in the States as The Whisper of Leaves, won a bronze medal in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards. Craig Smith lives with his wife in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Customer Reviews

Don't miss out on this one
This terrific book was recommended to me by a friend who discovered it on DoveGreyReader's Literary blog. When it arrived I just meant to take a first glance but it hooked me so completely that I finished it the same day- a first for me.
The story is built around an old legend about a picture of Christ painted from life and supposedly with miraculous properties- said to have inspired Oscar Wilde's Dorian Grey. Author, Craig Smith's premise is that the portrait was painted on Pontius Pilate's orders. When it turns up nearly two millenia later all hell breaks loose as those rich enough, smart enough or ruthless enough to know are prepared to go to any lengths to get their hands on it.
What follows is a glorious contemporary thriller with an erudite helping of historical back story.Far more like Ludlum than Dan Brown in style the action scenes are vivid and cinematic, the dialogue really crackles and the pace never slackens. Though none of the characters are squeaky clean, the real villans are as sadistic and threatening as any thriller lover could wish for and there's also a delicious triple twist at the end.
I might have read a faster moving and more compulsive novel than this. But if I have, I swear, I can't remember what or when.
Beg, borrow, buy or steal a copy. Kill for one if you must. You won't be disappointed.

A riveting novel
I was riveted to this novel from the onset. Craig Smith has an outstanding talent of developing two or three stories within a novel, which makes it all the more intriguing. I always try to guess the ending of a novel, as I read along. Boy...was I totally wrong. The novel so enthralls me that I am writing my first 'review,' because I think everyone deserves the opportunity to know what a great novel this is. I had to borrow this from a friend, here in the U.S., after reading the review in the Terre Haute Tribune (Indiana). Don't miss out on an adventure in your lifetime. This 321 page novel is easily a two or three day read. You won't be able to put it down!

An Absolute Winner !!
Smith writes with intelligence, breathless intrigue and action. The Painted Messiah is an amazing read that has caused me to put everything else on my plate to one side until I "rode this pony" to the finish line. The character development is crystal and I found myself caring deeply for the protagonists. The research Smith has done is historically fascinating and the book was deeply satisfying. Why is Craig Smith not in the American market ??
Move over Morell, Ludlum, Cornwall and Diehl, Smith is coming to town !!