I'm a big fan of Christopher Moore's books because of his twisted humor. This book doesn't have the level of humor of his previous books but it makes up for it with an intriguing plot. It certainly helps if you have some knowledge of famous painters, particularly those of 19th century France, as they are the main characters/victims. The story begins with the murder (not suicide) of Vincent Van Gogh by a small mysterious figure known only as "the color man. What follows is a surreal story involving Vincent's friends Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and baker/painter Lucien Lessard who search for the truth behind his death. Everything hinges on the ultramarine blue paint (the sacre bleu used in religious paintings), the color man, and a mysterious artist's model. There are also appearances by Manet, Monet, Seurat, Whistler, Renoir, Gauguin and other famed painters of the era all of whom have had encounters with the color man. The humor in this novel is more subtle than in most of Moore's previous books and sometimes almost slips by before you realize it. I still think Fool is Moore's best book to date but this one is worth a read.
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