House of Honor: The Heist of Caravaggio's Nativity, Limited Color Edition

By Margaret Ann Philbrick

Book Overview

Two Italian sons, linked by a masterpiece painting, are put to a test of loyalty and honor.

At the heart of this gripping tale is Orazio Bordoni, the wayward son of a construction magnate, living a reckless life like that of his artistic hero Caravaggio. He finds himself befriended by Nicolo Giotto, the devoted son of a powerful Sicilian mafia clan, who wants to uphold the honor of his family.

As the dark underbelly of the art world and the Vatican expose their true character, Orazio finds himself in a world where his loyalty is tested, honor is at stake, and the boundaries between life and art blur. He and Nicolo discover just how far they're willing to push those boundaries, even if it means sacrificing everything else.

House of Honor is a pivotal story that weaves the threads of history, the ruthless allure of the mafia, the enigmatic power of the Vatican, and the timeless brilliance of Caravaggio.

"With lyrical language and vivid description, House of Honor captivated me from the first page to the last. Philbrick will transport you to the Italy of the 1960s and the Renaissance era, complete with reproductions of Caravaggio's masterpieces...It is reminiscent of The Godfather meets The Da Vinci Code, but with a redemptive twist. Masterfully crafted and beautifully written "

Taryn R. Hutchison

Author of One Degree of Freedom and Two Lights of Hope

"The title of Margaret Philbrick's House of Honor hints at the dark backdrop for her suspenseful tale: the atrocities of the Italian Mafia, the corruption of the Catholic church, and the flashbacks to the lascivious lifestyle of Caravaggio. Without being a spoiler, I can tell you that you won't be left in the cold at the glorious close (but wait for it )"

Dee Brestin

Best-selling author of The Friendships of Women, Idol Lies, and Falling in Love with Jesus

"This book has art, history, romance, and an exotic setting filled with intrigue set against the story of one of the greatest painters of all time. If you like Italy, art, and history, this is a highly recommended, well-written must-read."

Angela Correll

Best-selling author of May Hollow Trilogy and author of Restored in Tuscany

"Philbrick uses the uniquely powerful bonds of Italian families to reveal the effects of loyalty versus disloyalty in the complicated yet beautiful world of Italy...It's a story of the ever-present prodigal in all of us."

Katherine James

Award-winning author of Can You See Anything Now? and A Prayer for Orion: A Son's Addiction and a Mother's Love

"House of Honor is a sweeping, modern twist on an enduring narrative. Set in Italy in the late 1960s, it carries the reader into the world of the Mafia, the inner workings of the Vatican, and the time-honored expectations of Italian families for their sons. The depth of historical and art research in the novel is amazing; the romance and intrigue in the book will keep you turning the pages "

Rhona Weaver

Award-winning author of A Noble Calling and A Sacred Duty

"With a fast-paced narrative and tense family drama throughout, House of Honor offers readers a compelling storyline about the heist of a renowned Caravaggio painting, complete with Mafia families, devoted priests at the Vatican, and wayward children. Philbrick's characters and their exploits will keep readers riveted from beginning to end."

Linda MacKillop

Author of The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1649604238
• ISBN13: 9781649604231
• Release Date: June 2024
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Multi-Layered Tale of Suspense

House of Honor presents a multi-layered tale full of intrigue and suspense combined with a modern retelling of the parable of the prodigal son. In the process you learn more about the Renaissance artist Caravaggio and the Sicilian underworld of the 1960s. Author Margaret Philbrick weaves all these seemingly disparate elements into a fascinating and satisfying story.

Fresh paint to an old canvas

House of Honor is a beautiful twist on a classic story. If you love art, Italy, architecture, romance, historical fiction, suspense, mystery, or any combination of those, this book is for you. With brush strokes similar to Rembrandts painting of the Prodigal Son, Philbrick weaves the relationships of son to father, father to son, brothers, friends, and what family ties and truth mean through the retellings of fictionalized histories of Art and Mafia that connect over 350 years. Throughout the novel, the characters mirror universal human struggles as he/she searches for meaning in the material and spiritual underpinnings of a beautifully broken world, creating space to cheer, and cajole, and question each motive because we understand what it means to make hard decisions and the ever present want to belong in a world we all too often seek to shape into our own wants.

Riveting!

In her opening lines, author Philbrick waded me into an unfamiliar landscape, then immersed me in the utterly intriguing world of Italian art, Vatican catacombs and the Sicilian mafia. Inspired by the unresolved theft of Caravaggio’s Nativity, a masterpiece stolen from an Italian chapel, the novelist layers a suspenseful tale of that heist with a parable so subtle and tenderly human that I simultaneously wept for the protagonist's family and chewed nails over the prodigal's descent into underworld darkness. Vivid fictional scenes melded seamlessly with historically accurate settings and events. The author did her homework, and her imagination blazed when she wrote this one. Well-done, Margaret Philbrick! I was riveted!