The Two Georges
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The Two Georges is an alternate history novel co-written by science fiction author Harry Turtledove and Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss. It was originally published in 1996 and won the 1995 Sidewise Award for Alternate History.
For more than two centuries, the present-day United States and Canada has been the North American Union, an integral part of the British Empire as a result of an agreement between George Washington and King George III. This event is commemorated in a Gainsborough painting titled The Two Georges and has itself become a symbol of national unity, much like the Stars and Stripes, which in this world is the "Jack and Stripes."
While being displayed in New Liverpool (this world's Los Angeles), the painting is stolen while a crowd is distracted by the murder of "Honest" Dick (a.k.a "Tricky" Dick), the Steamer King, a nationally-known used Steamer (car) salesman - who, based on his nickname and description is clearly intended to be our world's Richard Nixon. Colonel Thomas Bushell of the Royal American Mounted Police leads the search for the painting, accompanied by curator Kathleen Flannery and Captain Samuel Stanley. Some days later, a ransom note is received from the Sons of Liberty, a paramilitary organization that wants to see America independent of Britain.
The search takes Bushell, Flannery, and Stanley across the country via airship (an advanced form of dirigible) and steamer. Along the way, the trio's investigations bring them into contact with many members of the Sons of Liberty including Boston newspaper editor John F. Kennedy.
The Governor-General of the North American Union, Sir Martin Luther King, informs Bushell in confidence that the painting must be recovered in time for King Charles III's state visit, or the government will pay the Sons' ransom demand of fifty million pounds.
The searchers arrive at Victoria (the Washington D.C. of our world) and manage to discover The Two Georges an hour before the King arrives and avert an assassination attempt by Bushell's superior officer and Sons of Liberty sympathizer Lieutenant General Horace Bragg both on the dock where the King lands and at the All-Union Art Museum where the King gives a speech in front of the recovered painting (an explosive is hidden in the picture frame).
Bushell and Stanley are both knighted by the King for their efforts.