Half way into this book, I was on the verge of giving it up.

Yet, some strange and morbid curiosity held me back. I still harbored the hope that, perhaps in the final lines, there would be a series of unexpected events, a shocking revelation, or a smarter ending.

But alas, the flat characters followed their predictable paths to the end.

Actually, I was wrong. Not all endings were so foreseeable. For Cesar, the ending was truly horrid.

Throughout the book, it was evident that the author did not hold a very high opinion of gay people or even women. They were always described as being so beautiful, with their physical traits emphasized, and it was implied that they couldn't be good at playing chess because they supposedly cared too much about what others thought.

But to kill the gay antagonist by giving him a rectal tumor? Really? (Well, this wasn't the actual cause of his death, but it was what set the whole charade in motion.)

Now, let's turn back to the plot. It was thin and poorly constructed. I grew tired of all the long paragraphs in which the author seemed to be telling me how I should feel.

Not to mention the numerous phrases describing how Julia was so beautiful and how much she smoked. The scary parts were, at best, rather funny, and the entire writing style was too pretentious for my liking.

If it weren't for the thorough documentation that went into this book, I would have given it just one star.

But to be honest, all those chess-related parts, although well-researched, were sometimes a bit superfluous for those of us who don't play chess.

In conclusion, I would much rather invest my time in other types of murder-mystery books.

I was waiting for more and at some point it was boring.

I had been looking forward to something exciting to happen, but as time passed, nothing significant occurred.

The anticipation had built up within me, but it seemed that my expectations were not going to be met.

I found myself growing impatient and the waiting became tiresome.

I started to wonder if I should just give up and move on to something else.

However, a part of me still held onto the hope that something good would come along.

Maybe it was just a matter of time before the situation changed.

I tried to occupy myself with other things to pass the time, but my mind kept drifting back to what I was waiting for.

Despite the boredom, I remained determined to wait and see what the future held.

Arturo Pérez-Reverte has found a place in my reading heart. When Roman Polanski directed "The Ninth Gate" based on "The Club Dumas", I was deeply impressed. I read the book in one go, returned to it many times, and the emotions it evoked also extended to the author's other works. I had read "The Flanders Panel" before, only remembering that I really liked it. So when @artragepl reissued it, I seized the opportunity.

"Chess has less in common with the art of war, but more with the art of killing."

500 years ago, the master Pieter van Huys painted the picture "The Chess Game", on which he hid the phrase "Quis necavit equitem", meaning "Who killed the knight?". Julia, an art conservator, discovers the inscription and begins a passionate and dangerous adventure, trying to solve the criminal mystery that connects the figures in the picture - the knight, the prince, and his wife. The case from the 15th century surprisingly begins to connect with the present, the interrupted chess game awaits completion, and obsession excludes reason...

Rereading reminded me of what I loved about the author's books. The mixture of history, art, criminal mystery, and characters who authentically intrigue. Julia interested me the least. My favorite became the "unwilling hero", the chess player Muñoz, in the faded cloak, and overall, he was just so faded, pale, and unremarkable. But thanks to his mind, he was able to arouse all my senses. And of course, Cesar, the antiquarian, the subtle dandy connected by a long and complicated bond with Julia.

I don't know how to play chess. It requires logical thinking and considering many decisions "ahead" - it's not for me. Nevertheless, I couldn't tear myself away from the novel. Once again, the author of "The Flanders Panel" managed to charm me because, after all, "Everything is a chessboard of nights and days, on which Fate plays with people like figures"...

I received this as a birthday gift and carried it along on our Thanksgiving journey.

Oh, how I wish I had chosen the Manhattan phone book instead! It would have been filled with far more fascinating characters, and none of them would be as outrageously implausible as the characters in this novel.

The entire structure of the book is so overly contrived that it ultimately crumbles under its own excessive weight.

The novel is constructed around a convoluted metaphor such as "art is chess is life is art," but the more the author labors to make it work, the more tenuous and flimsy it becomes.

The reader seemingly requires a degree in art history and a US Chess Federation rating of Expert or higher to fully understand it.

Even with a full twenty-five pages of explanation at the end (which is always a telltale sign of trouble), I still lack a clear and firm idea of what drove the villain to commit the murders of two people.

I suspect that this novel may be hampered by a rather pedestrian translation. Perhaps it reads significantly better in its original Spanish.

Nonetheless, the author must shoulder the responsibility for the cumbersome and unwieldy structure that detracts from the overall reading experience.

A formidable artistic investigation, along with a suspense due to a part of the chess game which unfortunately I didn't fully understand as I know nothing about the game of chess.

This book was a reread for me, having read the book at its release, but it was like a new reading as I had still forgotten quite a few details.

Although I didn't completely get hooked on the game of chess due to lack of knowledge, I appreciated the artistic-historical-police investigation that involved not only the characters in the painting but also the investigation into the life of the young painting restorer.

It was a beautiful (re)discovery.

The book's main theme revolves around a painting by Peter van Huys. Julia, who is engaged in restoring paintings, has the task of working on a painting that depicts a chess game between the Duke of Flanders and his knight.

During the course of her tests, she makes a startling discovery. Hidden beneath the tablecloth is a message that reads: Who killed the knight? This prompts Julia to embark on a journey to solve the mystery of a murder that occurred centuries ago.

However, things take a dark turn when murders begin to take place around Julia. Suddenly, the chess game transforms into a death threat.

Although the book started off promisingly, it ultimately left a rather strange taste in the reader's mouth. The concept of a puzzle was appealing, and I found myself following the chess game with great interest.

Unfortunately, everything else about the story made it seem strange and, in the end, uninteresting. The medieval murder is赋予了 an inexplicable importance, as if uncovering the identity of Rose d'Arras' murderer would somehow unbalance history.

The nicest character in the book is the chess player. But as the story progresses, the rest of the characters start to become boring. It seems that around the halfway point, the writer decided to prolong the story, resulting in a plethora of endless thoughts.

The whole plot becomes extravagant, and by the time you finish the book and discover what is truly happening, it all just seems exaggerated and unreal.

I really thought I would have a deep affection for Arturo Perez-Reverte's books, especially this one and \\n  The Club Dumas\\n. The reason being that it appeared to be a wonderful combination of art, mystery, and history. However, to my disappointment, The Flander's Panel just didn't click with me.

Perhaps it wasn't the opportune time to read it. I was in the mood for a mystery, but something rather "quick" and "fast-paced" in a sense, which this novel is not. It is quite slow and has a strong atmosphere. In fact, I really enjoyed imagining Julia's studio, picturing how messy and "cosy" it might be. I also grew fond of some of the characters, like the heroine or César, until something started to bother me a bit. Maybe it was the fact that Julia is repeatedly described as being beautiful by various characters. Maybe it was the sexual innuendos. Maybe it was the strange relationship between Julia and César, which was on the verge of incest. But, clearly, at some point, I found myself disliking this book.

I also had a hard time with the ending. It seemed original, yet a bit far-fetched and abrupt after such a long build-up. I loved the surprise of César being the culprit, but I hated the way Munoz and he are like \\"yes, we know what happened (clever us) but maybe we should tell her, right?\\" while Julia is actually in the room with them. It felt really off and sealed my negative opinion of the book.

I will still give other books by this author a try, but this first encounter has left me with a rather bitter taste.

For me, the motivation for the crime is too unconvincing. The characters are like actors in a musical, puckering and pursing their lips.

The only bright spot is the parts about chess.

It seems that the author spent a lot of time and effort on describing the chess scenes, which are quite detailed and vivid.

However, the overall plot and character development are rather weak.

The story lacks depth and fails to engage the reader on a deeper level.

Perhaps the author could have focused more on building the characters' personalities and motives, and making the plot more complex and interesting.

In conclusion, while the parts about chess are good, the rest of the article needs improvement.

Letto secoli fa, è tempo di rileggerlo.

This old saying implies that something that was read centuries ago is now worthy of being read again.

Perhaps it is a classic piece of literature that has withstood the test of time and still holds valuable lessons and insights.

Or maybe it is a historical document that can provide us with a better understanding of the past.

Rereading such works can offer a fresh perspective and allow us to discover new meanings and interpretations.

It can also be a way to connect with our cultural heritage and gain a deeper appreciation for the wisdom and creativity of those who came before us.

So, the next time you come across a book or text that was read centuries ago, consider giving it another read.

You might be surprised at what you find.

Sometimes, he said at last, as if it were an enormous effort to formulate his thoughts.

“I wonder if chess is something man invented or if he merely discovered it. It's as if it were something that has always been there, since the beginning of the universe. Like whole numbers.”

― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Flanders Panel

I REALLY wanted to LOVE this book. The idea for the story, the art history, the hidden meanings in the painting – all of it seemed very interesting. However, the story itself was just so-so.

The parts of the story that were riveting and most compelling were those dealing with the painting, Peter Van Huys, and the possible background of the story being portrayed. The contemporary murders, on the other hand, were banal and almost unnecessary. The long detailed passages about chess moves and the introduction of Munoz as a Sherlock Holmes type character did not really work well.

Thankfully, the things that saved this book for me were the story of the painting, the restoration process, the glimpse into the world of art, and some great pull quotes. Otherwise, I think my expectations were too high.

“[L]ife is like an expensive restaurant where, sooner or later, someone always hands you the bill, which is not to say that you should deny the joy and pleasure afforded by the dishes already eaten.”

― Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Flanders Panel

If you don't like chess, don't read this book.

Because the story and the characters revolve around the chess pieces that appear in a painting which hides a mystery.

And there are entire conversations in which only the movements of the pieces and chess theory are talked about.

The story itself is entertaining and Reverte knows how to carry it out perfectly until almost the end.

Where in the last chapter, he gets into a muddle and explains in detail everything that has happened in the book.

And because of that, he loses the good rhythm that he had.

But since I really like chess and painting, in the end, it leaves a good taste in my mouth.

Overall, despite the slight dip in quality towards the end, the book still offers an engaging exploration of the intersection between chess and mystery.

The vivid descriptions of the chess pieces and their movements add an extra layer of depth to the story.

Even for those who are not die-hard chess fans, the underlying mystery and the unique narrative style make it worth a read.

It's a book that manages to blend two different art forms in a way that is both interesting and thought-provoking.

Actually, it is 3.5/5 stars, but I didn't have the heart to put only 3 stars for this book!

This book has its own unique charm and闪光点. The story is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from the beginning to the end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for the reader to empathize with them. The writing style is流畅 and easy to understand, which adds to the overall reading experience.

However, like any book, it also has its flaws. Some of the情节 could have been more深入 and detailed, and there were a few parts that felt a bit rushed. But despite these shortcomings, I still think this book is值得一读. It offers a great escape from reality and provides the reader with an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read. Although it may not be perfect, it has enough优点 to make it a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.