An entertaining read, written and set in the early 1980's so dated in a lot of ways. The story of antiques dealing rogue Lovejoy who's viewpoint it's told from. Shortly after this was written the Lovejoy character became a popular TV series. The shows were slightly toned down from the books, and Tinker became posh! He isn't posh here.
My main problem with the book was that we, the readers, were not there for the climactic auction, because Lovejoy had scarpered, again. He does a lot of scarpering. Plenty happens to keep you engaged; there are murders, thefts, boozing, cons, car chases, lusting, drunken sex, a circus and the fortune (or lack of it) of an unexpected highland laird. Maybe too many character in the plot and the circus convoy for total comprehensibility but who really cares? It's a good ride!
And this book is not PC in any way, get over it!
