Val Caruso is a curator at the Met and is headed to Milan for work. He’s down on his luck since turning 40 - not pleased with his career and recently divorced. Since he is already going to be in Milan for work, he has been asked to conduct some business on behalf of IRSA, an organization involved in returning stolen artwork to its rightful owner.

This was one of those books where I was waiting for something big to happen and it never really did. I had hoped for a bit more action and a more historical background. I did find the concept of recovering stolen artwork interesting and I’d like to read more on that topic.

A Long Time Coming
Aaron Elkins
Thomas & Mercer, Aug 2018
263 pages, Kindle ARC
Also in paperback, audiobook, and MP3 CD
Murder mystery
Provided by NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐🌙

I liked the cover since I really like maps and old gold frames as they use in museums. It gave me the feeling that the story would take me on another one of Elkins crazy labyrinthian chases around the world and time for some clues and a treasure. Great job!

The story was interesting and has some twists in it. Nowhere near the usual number of twists an Elkins story normally has though.

The pace isn’t as fast as the typical Elkins story either. Typically I’m racing to keep up with the Skeleton Detective. This time the story opens with the curator at the Met not getting the promotion he’d been promised because of funding changes, getting his final divorce papers, and turning 40 all on one day. So it’s a bit of a downer and the tone seems to hang over everything throughout. Val Caruso goes off on his trip to Italy to arrange for the art collection being sent to the US museums. He has a secondary mission his friend Esther has asked him to take on. A mission of mercy more or less. To try to get the recently rediscovered Renoir back in the hands of the original owner, at least for the rest of his lifetime. Since the man is 89 and in poor health, that shouldn’t really be too long.

It’s all very touching, the whole story behind the theft of the Renoirs (there are two of them). The efforts Val goes to and the whole telling of the story is done well, but still, the tension and the tone seem depressed. It never seems to quite escape the doldrums that Val feels at the beginning with his trifecta of letdowns. And it seems to be contagious among the other characters as well. I actually read this book almost immediately after I received the ARC in April 2018, and set it aside. I couldn’t write a review of it because I was so disappointed. Here was a book by a favorite author and it had let me down so badly. And who was I to give such a big author such a low rating? So, this book has sat here not getting a review for months. But now I have read it again and I am doing this review. I feel a bit better about the book, but still not thrilled. I highly recommend Aaron Elkins as an author. This story is good, but this is not his best book.

Aaron Elkin has been writing mysteries for a long time, but he is new to me. When I saw this title listed on Net Galley, I went to Goodreads and found that his work is well regarded by some of my friends; add to this his residence in my own Pacific Northwest, and I am ready to give his work a try. Thanks go to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer for the DRC, which I received free of charge in exchange for this honest review.

The story starts well. Val Caruso is an art curator, and his personal life is a mess. He’s stone cold broke, and so when he is approached to do a job involving a stolen-but-found Renoir, his interest is piqued. An ancient Holocaust survivor claims ownership of a painting that has been sold to someone else, and Caruso is hired to help. I particularly enjoy the character of Esther, the domineering but charming friend that connects the two men; alas, we will soon leave her behind when we go to Milan.

At the outset the amount of art related information feels just about right to me. The book is sold as a popular read rather than a niche item for art aficionados, and I am cheered by this, since I have little to no interest in art. As we travel to Milan, however, the art lectures become oppressive. By the forty percent mark I find myself watching the page numbers roll by, oh so slowly, and cursing myself for having taken the galley. Brush strokes? Historical nature of paint color? Who the hell cares? The travelogue aspect of the book also starts well, but eventually the level of detail slooows this story to a crawl. I find myself cynically wondering whether this series is simply a ruse for the author to claim his globe-trotting expenses on his tax returns.

Elkin has a solid reputation built on an earlier series, and at some point I may give that one a whirl, but Val Caruso and I are done.

This entertaining art mystery started a little slow but picked up about half-way through. The characters are well drawn and the settings are atmospheric. I enjoy art theft thrillers and the author has clearly done a lot of research into museums, the art world and WWII looted art.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for providing a copy of A Long Time Coming for an honest review.
This was the first book I've read by this author but would like to read more. A Long Time Coming is a murder/mystery that keeps you guessing. I loved the plot, the writing held my interest and the characters were well developed and flowed well together.
I liked the descriptive nature of the scenery and buildings of Milan and surrounding area. I was very interested in the brief education of art forensics and art restoration.
Add all of this together and throw in a sense of wry humor that had me chuckling through out the book and it came together for a great book. Gets a 5 star!

"The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief." (William Shakespeare)

Valentino Caruso seems to feel that life has stolen some of its golden moments from him. It's turning forty that has put him in the doldrums. He reflects back upon his two failed marriages and the reality that there's not even a glimpse of a new relationship in sight. Perhaps he should just tread water for a while.......

But often opportunity doesn't just rap lightly on the door of our lives. Sometimes it just kicks the door in with a heavy leather boot.

What Val lacks in his personal life, he makes up for in his professional life. As an art curator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Val comes in contact with highly-prized masterpieces every day. But this particular day will swing things around drastically for him. He's contacted by the IRSA who deal in recovering stolen art. Science has made great advances through the years in art forensics that reveal fine-tuned renderings in the form of bogus replicas.

Enter Solomon Bezzecca, a man teetering on the rim of ninety years old. He reveals to Val that his great grandfather possessed two unknown works of Renoit. As a child, Sol grew up viewing these two art pieces on the wall of their kitchen in Italy. As Sol's story unfolds, we learn of the brutality of the Italian Fascists who stole the art off the wall, beat his grandfather to death, and sent young Jewish Sol to the fate of the encampments. Miraculously, Sol escaped to New York after the war.

Here's the draw: Sol only desires the light Renoir sketch of a cafe scene in Paris. In the background is a depiction of his great grandfather seated at a table. He knew Renoir well early on in his career. The IRSA has found the latest owner of the artwork who bought the art in a Hungarian flea market. Ulisse Agnello is someone who Val knows through his art dealings in Milan. Sounds like an easy turnover, right? Not so fast.....

This was my first book by Aaron Elkins. His character of Val is almost like a rendition of Everyman. Val wants desperately to do the right thing. The transition from New York City to Milan is quite the interesting one. Elkins inserts an almost travelogue mystique in roaming the streets of said city. But there's plenty of action here with bodily harm coming to Val and a dead body in the Alps. Art may be in the eye of the beholder and international law bends like a colorful rainbow.

I received a copy of A Long Time Coming through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Aaron Elkins for the opportunity.

The book is written in first person. Our main character Val goes to Milan and is mixed up in a battle for two Renoir sketches that have been off the radar for years. Val has many friends with his many years in the art world.
This is a very enjoyable book.

I adore a good art history mystery, and Aaron Elkins has assembled a great one. At the heart of “A Long Time Coming” are two Renoir paintings that were stolen by the Nazis. After a long legal battle, the original owner has failed to recover them. With the help of curator Valentino Caruso, the hunt is on. Plenty of Italian atmosphere (I’m ready for an aperitif), skullduggery, forgery, and some really, really greedy people, make this an excellent read.

Aaron Elkins seems to have fallen into writing smooth travelogues in which unexceptional pleasant main characters wander through colorful parts dispensing opinions about views, architecture, history, food, wine, scenery, art, forensics and anthropology; while a murder mystery is the nominal focus of the plot. These are smoothly and stylishly written, mildly pleasant to read, totally forgettable once you close the book. Don't confuse these with some of his fine work from decades past, even though this one seems to draw on leftover research from Loot and Old Scores.

Another sign of age in Elkin's work is the historical portions of this book bristle with great adventure, good and evil; while the present is comically petty, with no sign of heroes or villains, just people muddling through hoping for a little pleasure and friendship.

This book will entertain you for a couple of hours and teach you a few things, but there is nothing original or striking. I personally found it depressing both in its assumptions about the world, and as evidence of a great mystery writer going through the motions.

Val Caruso is able to look in a mirror and give a perfect self-assessment of his present, not so enviable, situation. He did need a few drinks, some clam dip and crackers to make that admission. Who can blame him?! He has lost out on a job promotion, lost another marriage and is losing his youth. He has no home and is staying in a friend’s multi million dollar condo. Simply, his ego has taken a beating. He is in the process of asking himself “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going.” The answers to the latter two form the basis of the book. Val Caruso is an associate curator of art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is given to “profound five-second character analyses” which might be a problem. He is leaving for Milan to coordinate logistics for an art exhibit that will tour several cities in the United States. And that makes him a candidate for an extracurricular job that promises to be a thankless and impossible task, which is really going to be a problem.

There was a lot to like about this book. The plot and characters formed a cohesive, enjoyable narrative. The tongue in cheek humor had me chuckling, well if not chuckling, grinning. But Mr. Elkins you have been caught reusing Goldstein’s Law of Interconnected Monkey Business, that clever law of coincidences from “Skeleton Dance.” Never mind, it was timely and clever once again. I got a brief but very interesting education in art forensics and art restoration vis-à-vis a forger’s perspective. A very satisfactory murder mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC.

An intriguing and imaginative mystery linked by history and the world of art! I have a strange fondness for books about paintings and art, especially when history and mystery are tied into the story, and I really enjoyed A Long Time Coming!

I loved this book. It's well written, with an interesting and well devised plot.
It's an enthralling and fascinating book set in the world of art dealer, art forgeries and theft.
I loved the main character, Valentino, and his wry sense of humour.
I appreciated how well researched the historical background and the Milan setting are.
A very pleasant reading experience and a very good mystery.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this ARC

Dottor Valentino Caruso is going to Milan to arrange for a tour of some pieces of art. Since he will be there anyway, a friend asks him for a favor: convince someone to lend a piece of artwork to the man it was stolen from during WWII. (rather simplistic summary) This request leads Val into the world of art theft, forgery, international recovery laws, etc. Much of this was well over my head but this didn't stop me from sounding out loud every Italian name, place, saying, etc that was included in the book. I'll admit I was a bit farther ahead of the game than Val, but it was enjoyable to watch him catch up.

There's more to the art world than most of us know. Val, on the other hand, gets a quick and harried introduction into how devious people can be. He's had a rough time with a (second) divorce and career problems so a time in Italy and Renoir sketches sounds good. Ha! Very quickly his assistance to Holocaust survivor Sol turns into a murder mystery, conspiracy, and thefts dating back for years. This is a standalone novel which makes it a good introduction to Elkins. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has some intriguing characters and you'll learn a bit as well.

I tried, I really did. I read almost half of "A Long Time Coming," and finally stopped.

There was a lot about the story that was interesting but it came to the point of feeling as though it was the author saying "look at all the nifty research I did that I'm now dumping on you." Unfortunately, the story around all the research just wasn't there.

The greatest failing for me, however, was that I just wasn't captivated by the protagonist. He seemed to serve little purpose other than a hatrack on which to hang all the research.

I'm so sorry, but it just didn't do it for me in spite of my love of art. I won't say I hated it. I just lost interest and didn't finish it.

4.5 stars. Everything about this novel keeps you hooked. It’s the perfect length for a mystery/thriller, the mystery itself is a thinker, and our MC, Valentino Caruso, is multifaceted.

It all starts out when Val, a curator at the MET, is tasked with getting his hands on an early Renoir for Sol Bezzecca, an old man wanting to spend the rest of his days looking at the painting that hung on his wall as a kid, before it was stolen in a Nazi raid. Of course, with a years long court battle over the rightful owner just coming to a close, it’s not going to be an easy feat. Puzzling conundrums, injuries and, gasp, a MURDER later, Val is now well aware that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the paintings.

One thing I particularly loved about ALTC, is it allows you to step into the ‘art world’ and Elkins explains everything so concisely and articulately that there’s no room for confusion or boredom. He truly immerses you into this nature leaving you with no unanswered questions. The only reason it’s a 4.5 instead of 5 stars is how new female characters are introduced. This is a personal tick.

If you love mysteries, immersion, great writing and concise storylines, this one’s for you.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Aaron Elkins, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

A fan of one particular series Aaron Elkins penned over the years, I was curious to see how one of these standalone novels might work for me. Valentino ‘Val’ Caruso is facing middle-age head on, though life has not dealt him the hand he would have liked. An assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Caruso knows his stuff and makes it his business to ensure the New York art world remains on pace with its European counterparts. When Caruso is approached to help with the return of a few pieces of art confiscated by the Italian Government during the lead-up to the Second World War, he jumps at the opportunity to assist. Mr. Solomon Bezzecca, into his ninetieth year, tells of how he witnessed his great-grandfather lose two early pieces by Renoir, torn from his grasp, including an early self-portrait of the author. Caruso soon learns that the current owner is none other than his old friend and mentor, Ulisse Agnello. After securing a plan with Bezzecca, Caruso travels to Italy to determine what might be done. Armed with the knowledge that the Italian courts rejected Bezzecca’s claims of rightful return, Caruso will use his familiarity with the current owner to find a happy medium. After reaching out to Agnello, Caruso discovers that things are more complicated than they first appear. Pulled into the darker side of the Italian art world, Caruso will not stop until he brings these pieces home to a man who wants nothing more than to set the world right once again. Elkins proves that he is able to write effectively outside his forensic genre and still entertain the reader with his captivating writing. Those who enjoy art and mysteries centred around them will surely find much in this book to their liking.

I first became familiar with Aaron Elkins as the father of modern forensic anthropology mysteries, which proved to be a lighthearted and highly educational binge read a few years ago. I knew he had worked on a few other novels, including a husband-wife series, some of which might have an art flavour to them. However, this was my first venture outside of forensics with Elkins at the helm (admittedly, he adds some in this novel). Val Caruso proves to be an interesting character, with much of his backstories relayed through first-person narrative in the opening chapter. Moving forward, he presents as an intelligent man in the art world but one who bumbles around and appears to fall into the crosshairs of those seeking to stop him from accomplishing his mission. The handful of other characters pepper the narrative and inject their own personality traits to provide the reader with some decent contrasts, some more effective than others. The premise of the novel is decent, tracing back a piece of art that was confiscated from its rightful (?) owner in a world where prices change hourly and the criminal element is always lurking. I found the pace of the story decent, but the plot had so many quick resolutions. The art is there, then it’s gone. A shadow changes in the background, then two bodies are left bleeding and alone. There was also a problem with the first-person narrative, as it allowed Elkins (through Caruso) to offer annoying editorialising and information dropping. I have often read books outside of my area of vast knowledge, but I am forced to stumble through and learn for myself, not be told every minute thing that I may not know in a “look at how much I know and will tell you, reader!”.That being said, it is clear that Elkins knows his stuff and has been able to relay it to the reader effectively. I have come to expect Elkins to be a little ‘bumbly’ and ‘preachy’, though it has slightly skewed my enjoyment of this novel.

Kudos, Mr. Elkins, for a decent novel. I know many have lauded your praise and I see much that I enjoyed in this piece. At this stage in your life and career, I suppose it’s best to roll with the punches from reviewers like me.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review. Val Caruso is at a low point in his life. His second divorce has gone through, his promotion to full curator at the museum has fallen through and he has just turned forty. His troubles seem smaller when he meets Solomon Bezzecca. Solomon was raised by his grandfather, who owned two early works by Renoir. Stolen during World War II, they resurfaced when Ulysses Agnello purchased two seascapes at a market for their frames. He discovered that the seascapes covered a portrait and early sketch by the artist. After a lengthy court battle, the works were awarded to Agnello. Now Val’s friend Esther, who works to recover stolen art, has asked him to intervene with Agnello and possibly arrange a temporary loan of the sketch to Solomon. The sketch was a bar scene and one of the patrons was Solomon’s grandfather so there is a great sentimental attachment

While in Milan on an assignment from the museum, Val meets with Agnello, who was once his mentor. Agnello is willing to agree to the loan but there are complications. He has borrowed heavily to have the pictures restored, using the pictures as collateral, and they have been list d for auction. If Val can convince his partner and the representative from the auction house, the deal may be possible. The situation rapidly goes downhill from there. Agnello disappears, Val is attacked and the pictures are stolen. There are also questions surrounding Agnello’s acquisition of the art.

Elkins provides an entertaining mystery with an interesting cast of characters. Solomon is an older gentleman whose story of survival and loss is heartbreaking. Agnello was once a familiar name in Milan art circles, but has fallen on hard times. An egotistical art restorer, thieves and a suspected forgery provide unexpected challenges for Val. When the pictures are stolen a second time he is determined to see that they are returned to their rightful owner.

An Edgar and Agatha award winning author, Aaron Elkins has long been one of my favorites. Long Time Coming was a delightful reminder of how entertaining his stories can be.

I requested this book to review because I like Aaron Elkins' work and also because I love mysteries set in Italy. It did not disappoint. The main character, Valentino Caruso is a curator at the Met going on a business trip to Milan, and is asked to pursue the return of a painting (taken by the Nazis) to an elderly gentleman living in New York. The trip ends up being more about the latter than the former, but turns into a wonderful little mystery. The book also gives a great taste of Milan and of the art world, making it even more enjoyable to read. I learned things, as well as enjoyed a great mystery!

A murder/mystery in the fine art world.

Val Caruso is a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On one level he is a failure as he is divorced and his expected promotion has fallen through. On another level he is well-known with a huge number of contacts world-wide and has extensive knowledge in his field. His contacts and expertise are the main reason why he is asked to attempt to recover a lost masterpiece for the aging, original owner.

I picked up this book to skim read a few pages to assess it briefly before starting to read other books on my list with earlier publication dates and was hooked and read the whole novel in two days which is a mark of my enjoying a book - and I enjoyed this one immensely.

Aaron Elkins style is informal and free-wheeling. I liked his way of directly addressing the reader or making side comments as they were often humorous and added to my enjoyment and sometimes my knowledge. The characters were individual, well-formed and readily identified. The New Yorkers were typical of their type as were the Italians.

It’s basically a whodunnit with an international flavour. I’ll not pretend it’s deep and meaningful but it is very professionally written and an excellent read. The plot is not over-complicated and I had more than an inkling of who the crook was fairly early on although that didn’t spoil the rest of the read.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review