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lfinkenkeller's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a fast-paced thriller in which the main character, Luke Perrone, is searching for the truth of what happened to the Mona Lisa. He knows his great-grandfather, Vincent Peruggia, stole the painting. When Luke discovers that Peruggia left a journal, he decides that he will stop at nothing to get his hands on the journal and find out the truth.
I really liked that the story was based on a real event - the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. I didn't know the Mona Lisa was stolen and was gone for two years. I also liked the characters. They were believable, and while flawed, I liked them. I also liked that it was fast-paced and I didn't figure out everything.
My only issue with the book is that it is confusing. The book is told from multiple characters' points of view. It is hard to know who is talking in each chapter. I would have liked a label at the start of each chapter.
Overall, I really liked the book and would recommend it for people who like The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown or Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
I really liked that the story was based on a real event - the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. I didn't know the Mona Lisa was stolen and was gone for two years. I also liked the characters. They were believable, and while flawed, I liked them. I also liked that it was fast-paced and I didn't figure out everything.
My only issue with the book is that it is confusing. The book is told from multiple characters' points of view. It is hard to know who is talking in each chapter. I would have liked a label at the start of each chapter.
Overall, I really liked the book and would recommend it for people who like The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown or Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
hpbanana's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
It was interesting diving into the world of art collecting and theft and I did enjoy that aspect. But this half baked romance between Luke and Alex was entirely unnecessary. I’m sorry but there doesn’t need to be a love interest for this story to be interesting. Honestly I feel like it did a disservice to the rest of the novel as that’s my only take away at this point. He had so much opportunity to raise the point of wether or not it actually matters if the painting in the Louvre was a fake but instead it was all tied together in a disgustingly artificial bow with the author trying to tie together Luke’s week long romance with a lady he hardly knew and went out with 3-4 times to the love between his great-grandfather and his deceased great-grandmother. Over all, it was a decent read but it wasn’t my favorite style, there were some editing mistakes, and I can’t get over the poorly written romance. I’m just mad that it could have been so much better.
ssmmccann's review
There is a balance when it comes to not enough explanation and too much. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever find a book that was overkill, yet I managed to.
anastasia86's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
temesha's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bookstagramsam's review against another edition
4.0
I received this as a gifted copy!
I am a big historical fiction fan so this was right up my alley. But also, I had no idea that the Mona Lisa was really stolen in 1911. This is a historical fiction book based on the actual theft of the painting.
This book was like a lesson in art combined with a crime mystery! I loved it and couldn’t put it down. It did remind me a little of The DaVinci Code, but actually enjoyed this one so much more.
I am a big historical fiction fan so this was right up my alley. But also, I had no idea that the Mona Lisa was really stolen in 1911. This is a historical fiction book based on the actual theft of the painting.
This book was like a lesson in art combined with a crime mystery! I loved it and couldn’t put it down. It did remind me a little of The DaVinci Code, but actually enjoyed this one so much more.
cathy61r's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
andiesmith's review against another edition
3.0
Art professor Luke Perrone digs for the truth behind his most famous ancestor…the man who stole the Mona Lisa in 1911. He takes a leave of absense to solve to mystry if the mona Lisa in the Louve is authentic or a fordgery, and learn about his infamous ancestor.
Thank you Goodreads for a copy!