it was ok. Standard plot and characters, nice bit of exoticism, enjoyed the web sites it drove m e to , searching for more info. on the eggs than any other aspect
( )

I have a weakness for the beauty and brutality of Tsarist Russian history, especially in the fields of art and architecture. Combine that with a love of art history mysteries like Iain Pears' Jonathan Argyll series, and it was inevitable that I would read Thomas Swan's The Final Fabergé.

Scotland Yard art crime detective Jack Oxby has figured in two other books by Swan. He's been in this division of the Yard for fifteen years. He's savvy, he's got all sorts of contacts he can ask for help, and he's more than willing to jump on a plane and fly to who-knows-where in order to track down information.

From a promising beginning, The Final Fabergé rapidly devolved into a standard thriller: dashing from one location to the next to showcase Oxby's expertise in dodging bullets and knives while learning about power-hungry baddies and soulless henchmen. While not bad by any stretch of the imagination, the book would have been improved by spending more time in the historical aspect of the story-- in Fabergé's workshop and in the houses of the rich and titled. So much time was spent in chases and ambushes that it was easy to forget-- or to really understand-- what all the commotion was about. Yes, I would have loved to have spent more time immersed in the mystique of Fabergé and the treasures he and his artists created.

Will I be looking to meet Jack Oxby again? I rather doubt it. ( )

The Final Faberge is the 3rd book in the Jack Oxby series. Jack Oxby is a detective specializing in missing and stolen artworks. I have not read the first 2 books which were not needed for this one but it heavily alludes to many things in them. So if there is strong interest I would suggest starting with the first book.

The book opens with the final hours of Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin. He stopped by Faberge’s shop to pick up a little present for the Tzarina he had commissioned on his way to a diner party. During all the excitement Rasputin’s package was forgotten, and it walked away...

Detective Jack Oxby is in London telling his boss he’s taking a leave of absence and he might not be back. This is in response to a funding issue which is reorganizing the whole department. Jack’s specialty is finding lost and stolen artworks. A rich acquaintance of his, has offered to pay Jack to find a missing Faberge egg that might or might not exist. It’s a puzzle Jack can’t pass up.

Since Faberge was located in St. Petersburg, that is where Jack is going to start looking. He has a friend there who will help him navigate the city and the people. His friend put an ad in the newspaper and for his trouble gets a package warning him to stop. Jack doesn’t like threats, and becomes more resolved in finding the egg, especially since the threat suggests it does exist.

I enjoyed reading the book, it was well written and the story of the egg was very well done. The story of finding the egg was a little theatrical with quite a few coincidences. I enjoyed the reading it and have no problem recommending it. ( )