Alessandra Comini Book order

The narrative revolves around Professor Megan Crespi's research on Clara Schumann and her children, which uncovers intense emotions surrounding the Schumann family, leading to vandalism and even murder. Accompanied by her sister-in-law Susan, a pediatrician, they encounter a cast of intriguing characters, including detectives and museum directors, while assisting a young prodigy, Stella Scarpauomo. As they navigate this perilous landscape, they must unravel the mystery before more chaos ensues. The book also features a Readers Guide for further exploration.

Set against the backdrop of the vibrant music scene in Europe, the narrative follows Professor Megan Crespi as she uncovers an unknown bust of Johannes Brahms and embarks on a journey through Hamburg and Vienna. Amidst her lectures on Brahms and Klimt, tensions rise during a concert series featuring Brahms and Bruckner, leading to threats against conductor Agatha Endlich. As Megan investigates a long-hidden Brahms score, she navigates a web of suspects, including passionate fans and members of the illustrious Wittgenstein family, in a quest for artistic truth.

"Discovery of an old packet addressed to Ludwig van Beethoven, marked "Return to Sender," sparks a series of murders in Bonn involving the brilliant conductor Bettina Brentano"--

Set against the backdrop of a violent act during a Beethoven performance, the story follows retired art historian Megan Crespi as she investigates the bombing of a Mahler bust in Vienna. Tasked by Chief of Police Erich Decker, she uncovers a wave of anti-Semitic vandalism targeting Jewish monuments. As Crespi delves deeper, the investigation leads to a shocking climax during Mahler's "Resurrection" symphony, raising questions about culture, identity, and the persistence of hatred. The narrative explores themes of art, history, and resilience.

Set against the backdrop of a violent neo-Nazi demonstration, a moving van carrying eleven stolen Kandinsky paintings is hijacked in Slovakia. The plot thickens with the involvement of rival collectors Igor Rasputin and Boris Zima, as well as Zima's watchful agent, Raisa Sokolova. Despite the murder of the museum's night watchman, the Lenbach House Museum insists no theft has occurred, raising questions about the true nature of the events unfolding around the stolen artwork.

Egon Schiele's brief but impactful life as an artist in early 20th-century Vienna is marked by his intense exploration of sexuality, revealing both voyeuristic and participatory elements. His provocative works reflect a cultural anxiety during the decline of the Austrian empire, paralleling Freud's psychological insights. Schiele's art is characterized by a striking duality; while his erotic pieces showcase modern sensibilities, his landscapes and town scenes convey a haunting loneliness and deep pathos, embodied in his melancholy allegories and existential portraits.

Amidst a shocking series of art thefts involving Edvard Munch's paintings, retired art history professor Megan Crespi is drawn into a dangerous investigation while vacationing in Scandinavia. Accompanied by her Maltese dog, Button, and her friend Lili, she navigates a web of suspects, including a nationalistic clan, a cosmetics mogul concealing her heritage, and a Swedish collector with a controversial lineage. As she travels across cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm, the stakes rise, and her life hangs in the balance.

The theft of two monumental granite statues by Käthe Kollwitz from a World War I cemetery sparks a thrilling investigation led by retired art history professor Megan Crespi. As she uncovers clues and meets a diverse cast of characters—including a just-married couple, a dubious CEO, and various suspects—more Kollwitz statues go missing across Germany. Crespi's journey takes her through significant locations tied to the artist's legacy, culminating in an unexpected resolution that intertwines the fates of several individuals and two cats.

Set against the backdrop of Egon Schiele's 1912 imprisonment, this book delves into the artist's emotional turmoil through his poignant diary entries and evocative drawings created during his confinement. It also features the author’s groundbreaking exploration of Schiele's forgotten prison cell, captured decades later. Alongside an English translation of Schiele's diary, readers will find a biographical chronology and two insightful essays that examine his cultural context and the profound impact of his prison artworks.

Gustav Klimt, a pivotal figure in early 20th-century Austrian art, masterfully blends allegory, portraiture, and landscape in his work. His art is characterized by rich symbolism, exploring themes of regeneration and the cycle of life and death. Amid societal repression, his portraits of women convey a powerful message of sensuality. This study examines the interplay between Klimt's art and the cultural context of imperial Vienna, highlighting the connection between his symbolic ornamentation and Freud's theories on eroticism, offering fresh insights into Klimt's private world.