Craig Smith: The Painted Messiah

A legend persists that, after the scourging, Pilate commanded that his victim be painted from life. Somewhere, the painting survives, the only true image of Christ, granting the gift of everlasting life to whoever possesses it. Kate Kenyon, the wealthy young widow of an English aristocrat killed on a Swiss mountain, 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, a Tennessean who owns a bookshop in Zurich. 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. 395 sider. Myrmidon Books 2008,