Simpson's Homer

Sir Richard White appears to have gone crazy. This would not trouble his nephew, Jeremy, but for the fact that his uncle is a major director on the board of an international bank. And Jeremy is determined that Sir Richard's insanity should not jeopardize the family's millions.
So he calls in an old friend, Tim Simpson. A former rugby player and art historian, Tim is despatched to keep a watchful eye on Sir Richard and report back to the bank. The assignment takes him to the Italian countryside, where Sir Richard is busily obsessing himself with the history of an obscure Protestant sect, the Waldensians - and demanding that the bank finance their activities.
And that's just for starters. Named as an executor of a friend's estate, Tim is also gradually becoming embroiled in a mystery involving a missing painting by the distinguished American artist, Winslow Homer. As it becomes clear that Tim's art knowledge is indespensible to several different people, he finds his loyalties torn.