In 1656, Diego Velázquez painted Las Meninas, a captivating enigma. The painting captured the Spanish court under King Philip IV and his wife Mariana. Central to the scene is the Infanta Margarita, Philip's curious five-year-old daughter, surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting, dwarfs, and guards.
Hotere's story transports us to the heart of the Alcazar, weaving a tapestry of lives: the sheltered Infanta, the observant painter Velázquez, and the drama-filled court shaped by both fervent religious devotion and hidden corruption in the shadow of the Spanish Inquisition.
Margarita, soon to be married off to her uncle, the Holy Roman Emperor, witnesses the court's turmoil. Her stepmother's struggles to conceive, her sickly brothers, and the relentless maneuvering of courtiers all unfold under her innocent gaze. Velázquez, one of the few who truly sees her, offers her a haven in his art. Yet, even he is entangled in the court's web of secrets, some of which may be hidden within Las Meninas itself.
Fast forward over three centuries. Alex Johns is a young art historian haunted by Las Meninas, working as an intern at London's prestigious Courtauld Institute. Consumed by the unsolved mystery of her mother's death, Alex becomes fixated on a connection between the painting and the accident that threatens her job and her life. This obsession leads her on a thrilling treasure hunt to Spain, where a truth from the past that threatens to rewrite everything. "The Vanishing Point" is a captivating blend of genres. It weaves a richly described historical mystery with supernatural elements that add a touch of intrigue, while the protagonist's pursuit of the truth becomes a fast-paced thrill ride. The result is a deeply satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable read.
