Stephen Cooper, a middle-aged university professor who is suddenly
utterly bored by his life, plots an intricate scheme with his lover.
They arrange a spectacular forgery of a disappeared art relic, and in
order to sell it, also craft new identities for themselves: together
they become somebody else.
We move inside Cooper's chilly satisfaction as he and his
lover-accomplice bring off one trick after another in the identity
switching necessary to their scam. . . . And we're also brought close to
the pain and rage . . . of the women whom Cooper (incorrigible to the
end) deceives.--Benjamin DeMott, New York Times Book Review
An authentic and ingenious account of the ingeniously counterfeit in art
and in life.--D. J. Enright
This offbeat romp intrigues with its ironic probing of life values at
the same time that it provides lively entertainment.--Kirkus Reviews
An extended and absorbing mediation on the loss of integrity.--Chicago
Sun-Times
Witty, sophisticated and intriguing, this tale of a forger is the
genuine article: an example of the art of suspense and the suspense of
art.--Jack Fuller
An entertainingly mordant psychological thriller.--Washington Times
Magazine