Product Description

In the icy depths of a Quebec winter, a harmless old Polish man dies in mysterious circumstances. His suspicious niece draws in Montreal investigative journalist, Frank Delaney, to help her find the truth behind the death, a story the authorities seem to want covered up. The search for answers sweeps them into a dangerous web involving Canadian, Polish and Vatican agents who will use any means, even murder, to stop them. The catalyst for this international intrigue is the true story of Polish national art treasures secretly shipped to Canada to be hidden from the Nazis in the opening days of World War Two. This classic thriller combines fascinating history, deft storytelling and psychological depth. THE MAZOVIA LEGACY was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, 2004.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #352599 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Amazon.ca
"The snow in an overlong Montreal winter covers a multitude of sins." That evocative opening line to The Mazovia Legacy hints at the tale of cover-ups, intrigue, and evil that will gradually unfold, in gripping fashion. When an elderly Polish emigré, Stanislaw Janovski, dies in murky circumstances, his niece Natalia, a consulting psychologist, becomes obsessed with discovering what happened and why. She persuades local investigative journalist Francis Delaney that this is a story worth pursuing, though neither could possibly have predicted the can of worms they would uncover in the process. Unravelling the mystery necessitates a journey back to the early days of the Second World War, when concerned Poles smuggled some of the country's art treasures to apparent safety in Canada. These objects have now become of paramount importance to certain groups, and they will stop at nothing to retrieve them.

The ingredients in the plot of The Mazovia Legacy--missing art treasures and possible corruption in the Vatican--are by no means novel, but author Michael E. Rose is able to breathe new life into these elements via some ingenious plotting and a crisp prose style. He also deserves credit for being unafraid to deliver a surprisingly tragic conclusion. Rose is a Canadian journalist now based in Europe, and that background clearly helps him add authenticity to the behaviour of his fellow journalist protagonist. He is a thriller writer of very real promise, and the strengths of The Mazovia Legacy make his future work keenly anticipated. --Kerry Doole

About the Author
Michael E. Rose is a Canadian journalist and broadcaster whose reporting and travel have taken him to Latin America, Europe, Africa, southeast Asia and Australia. He has worked for major media corporations around the world, including CBC, Maclean’s, UPI, Radio French International, the Sydney Morning Herald and Reuters. From 2003-2006 he was Chief of Communications and Publications for Interpol, based at the agency’s headquarters in Lyon, France.

Customer Reviews

An absorbing thriller
Francis Delaney is the Canadian investigative journalist who is drawn into a cover up of international proportions. Discovering what is at stake, who is involved and their motives makes for an absorbing story that I could not put down. This is a finely crafted thriller that flirts with real post world war two politics and events. Engaging to the last page, I'm looking forward to the next instalment.