1819 Venice - renowned nineteenth century artist JMW Turner has a sketchbook containing controversial drawings of his host, Lord Byron, taken from him. The book...

1819 Venice - renowned nineteenth century artist JMW Turner has a sketchbook containing controversial drawings of his host, Lord Byron, taken from him. The book disappears until it is found in 1961 by a London seller of fine books.

An Italian descendant of Byron's thenmistress learns of the sketchbook's existence and claims a familial right to own it. The men meet. Ownership rights ensue leading to blackmail over the book seller's homosexuality with far-reaching consequences.

One man is prepared to do whatever it takes to own the valuable book; the other will do all he can to make it his.

The Lost Sketchbook - the first book of the Robert Ferngrove mystery series