Title: The Silk Road Affair: A Novel
Author: Larry Witham
Publisher: ‎ ‎Archway Publishing
ISBN: 978-1665749060
Pages: 324
Genre: Suspense Thriller / Mystery
Reviewed by: Ephantus M.

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In this intriguing tale of international politics, art, mystery and espionage, author Larry Witham immerses us into a complex world where two superpowers enter into a delicate diplomatic limbo as each seeks to control the competitive world of art.

When a Vermeer painting which was stolen decades ago in the United States resurfaces en route to China, Washington sends two CIA agents – namely Grace Ho, a Chinese-American martial arts instructor and trained by the marines, and Julian Peale, an alumni at the Navy Academy having a master’s in art history – for a covert mission to retrieve the prized collection. The operation was delicate and was to be conducted with great secrecy to avoid disrupting the diplomatic front. As China is spreading its influence across the world, its backyard is a hotbed of rivalries, with its own fierce conflicts. This is the world the two agents step into, and must maneuver their way through this labyrinth, even as they brush against ambitious CIAs from both the US and China too.

Larry Witham has done an impressive job unfolding an utterly convincing scenario of international relations and domination of the art world by powerful figures. Through the lenses of two characters, art dealer Quang Daiyi and her rival Soong Rei, both influential personalities and well-connected in this fictional story, Witham exposes the dark underbelly of artwork creating an intricate and illuminating story with exhilarating twists. His deep understanding of Chinese history, culture, economics, and politics permeates his narration with a rich plethora of details that confer plausibility to segments of political tensions and the quirks of ordinary life.

Here, the intelligence game of cat and mouse and a complex tug of war plays out brilliantly even as the book wraps up to a satisfying close. The Silk Road Affair by Larry Witham is a sobering read which defies quick solutions and one that fans of political thrillers will enjoy poring over.