PORTRAIT OF A MURDER

Jecks debuts an exciting modern-day protagonist who’s a far cry from his historical characters.

Attorney Peter Thorogood invites London artist Nick Morris to a party to meet Jason Robart, a hotel owner whose problems are about to explode. Peter says that Jason’s partner, the beautiful Elizabeth Cardew, wants a portrait of him, though it’s clear that Jason doesn’t want to sit for it. Meanwhile, an old friend of Nick’s from his salesman days, who’s now a banker involved with Peter and Jason in a land-buying scheme in Colombia, wants Nick’s opinion of whether the deal is kosher. The promise of a large fee convinces Nick, who’s in financial straits, to go to Devon to paint the portrait of the enigmatic and extremely touchy Jason. He quickly learns that the locals despise Jason, who’s already conned them out of a good deal of money and is definitely hiding something. Nick falls for Elizabeth, who he’s convinced has been the subject of Jason’s violently abusive temper. When Jason apparently kills himself with a shotgun, Nick suspects murder even as Peter threatens him and refuses to pay his fee since the painting wasn't finished. Not only is Nick being followed, possibly by Colombians, but he has an unpleasant interview with members of the Russian Mafia who want the millions Jason owes them. When Elizabeth goes missing, the Russians pay Nick to find her. Nick’s attempts to help Elizabeth and uncover the truth sink him in a morass of murder.

Plenty of action and all-too-plausible suspects hidden in a thicket of duplicity.