In 1911, the Mona Lisa is stolen. Today, one of the thief's descendants, an art professor named Luke, digs for the truth behind both the theft and the thief. His actions attract the attention of Interpol. Luke is soon deep into the world of art forgery, which leads him in a direction he never anticipated when he began his quest.

Several years ago, I read <i>Vanished Smile</i>, by R.A. Scotti, so the premise of this book wasn't entirely new to me, although the personal connection added a new twist. The descriptions in the book made me want to visit Italy, but the story was bogged down by the numerous art references. I didn't really care about any of the characters, which made it hard to get into the story. Although the story was well-written, it wasn't really my cup of tea.

Come for the heist of the Mona Lisa, with its unexpected twists and turns based on real world thievery of Leonardo’s masterpiece and stay for the in-depth look at the insidious world of high rollers engaged in building private art collections of stolen Masters.

In August 1911, Louvre art framer Vincenzo Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa, dropping its frame and glass case on the staircase. It would be recovered in 1913, Vincent would go to jail for the theft, but what ensued become endless scholarly debate as to whether the Mona Lisa had been replaced by a highly skilled forgery.

The novel kicks on in 2019 with Luke Perrone, a painter and university professor vying, who’s the great grandson of Peruggia. Luke’s struggling to make tenure, get an exhibition of his artwork, and in the meantime churning through unfulfilling relationships with women. He also has been obsessed with finding out more about his great grandfather and figuring out if the stolen Mona Lisa had been replaced by a forgery. An unexpected lead to Vincent’s journal has Luke dashing off to the Laurentian library in Florence, Italy.

Dead bodies start to pile up in connection with the journal - from book dealers who handled it to an innocent Franciscan monk. Luke finds himself surrounded by John Smith, an on-the-outs Interpol investigator from their art theft division stalking Luke to see what he finds; gorgeous Alexandra Greene with whom Luke gets romantically entangled but is harboring a secret; a Russian hit man who’s been hired by a powerful private art collector who has a Mona Lisa and wants to know if it’s real.

Meanwhile, Vincent’s story unfolds in parallel to Luke’s, as we read his journal entries and the past comes alive with vibrant characters, a powerful love story, a broker of stolen artwork and a brilliant forger.

It’s a powerful and mesmerizing story, unfolding unexpectedly until the story rises to its thrilling crescendo.

The Last Mona Lisa, written by Jonathan Santlofer, is somehow everything and more than what I could have expected. This is a novel perfect for art lovers, as it merges historical fiction with elements of the truth.

Vincent Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa in 1911. This is not fiction but fact. Many people don't know about this moment in history, yet one art professor can't seem to let it go. This man is the descendant of Peruggia, and his love of art and history creates an obsession of sorts. Obsession for the truth and understanding.

Wow. I've read many art history novels in my days, but nothing quite like The Last Mona Lisa. This novel perfectly blends history with thriller elements, creating a shockingly captivating tale. I love how seamlessly Santlofer carried a component into the next and how intense the story became.

Then again, I'm fairly biased. I love this sort of story and feel like there isn't enough like it in the world. So naturally, I'm going to cherish what is out there. That includes The Last Mona Lisa, though even so, this book did manage to surprise me at several points.

That's the mark of good writing if you ask me. Regardless of your knowledge of art history – no matter if you knew about the long history of the Mona Lisa or not – this is a fun and informative book to dive into.

Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS and Source books Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my own opinion.

This book I really loved, especially since my mother was such a great artist. Its a mix of fiction and nonfiction and I learned a few things. First, the Mona Lisa painting was stolen in 1911, and didn't resurface until 2 years later. I did not know this. The fiction created by the author is the great grandson of the thief, professor Luke Perrone, wants to find out what happened in those 2 years, especially because many people really do still believe the Mona Lisa in the Lovers, is not Leonardo dark Vinci's, but a fake.

Luke gets a clue and goes to Florence to find out more about his great grandfather but he attracts the attention of an Interpol agent and an art collector who has a basement full of stolen art in his basement..

I liked this book, it was a lot of fun of blending fact and fiction and finding out the reason why Luke's great grandfather did what he did and some people Luke runs into people that once knew him and have some answers.

Like I said, this unique story, was a blend of fiction and nonfiction and would make a great movie. Thrilling!

Highly recommend if you like historical fiction, mystery & thrillers, and if you're intrigued by the art world & art history, forgeries, and of course Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."

A gripping read that combines past and present, art and mystery, Santlofer has penned an intriguing book that explores the dark side of the current day art world, art forgery, and the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911.

I loved this book. I am a huge fan of books with dual timelines and a good mystery and this books fulfilled those loves. I really enjoyed our protagonist and learning about the theft of the Mona Lisa. I knew it was stolen at one time, but never the history and this book sent me down the rabbit hole of research on its background. It is clear that the author is a talented artist as this goes straight to the page in his descriptions and detail. I love the mystery surrounding both the 1911 and present day stories and found it to be a captivating read.

Perfect summer escape for those pandemic weary readers hungry to travel again to Florence and Paris to enjoy the sights and art museums. Ignore the love story and instead jump into the fascinating history and players in the theft/forgery.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for this digital review copy. An exciting historical thriller that reads like a Hollywood script will leave a lasting impression on readers. An alternating story from Paris in 1911 where readers meet Vincent Peruggia the Louvre worker that stole the Mona Lisa and the present day where Luke Perrone tries to uncover the secrets of his Great-Grandfather Peruggia. Through readings of Peruggia journal Luke discovers that forgeries were made and sold of the Mona Lisa after the theft. Could the Mona Lisa in the Louvre seen by millions be a forgery? A cast of unscrupulous characters join in a hunt for the truth in a unique take on a hundred- and ten-year-old mystery. Santlofer’s novel is an intensifying read that build momentum with descriptive prose that transports readers to Florence and Paris. A unique writing style that includes Italian and French conversations with English translations provide a fresh style in a thriller. Art is centre in this novel and Santlofer describes the art as well as Italian and Parisian architecture in painstaking detail. The descriptions are vivid but can be a tad overwhelming to a novice art lover or world traveler. The novel will evoke wanderlust after a long period of staying at home. Many novels have explored the theft of the Mona Lisa, but this novel took a unique and darker turn. “Stealing Mona Lisa” by Carson Morton and “Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa” by R.A Scotti delve into the theft itself. Santlofer’s novel barely touches the actual theft but leads readers into the underworld of art forgery. The description of art forgery, Chaudron’s process, as well as his tell-tale sign of the forged masterpiece was fascinating. I would have enjoyed to learn of the theft in more detail from Peruggia’s perspective. I would suggest (this may already be included in the final text) that headings would be helpful to know who narrates each chapter. Overall, I think this book is beautifully written and an exciting thriller novel that will leave readers captivated by the mysterious lure of the Mona Lisa.

The famous 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa painting from the Louvre was one of the most brazen art thefts ever. Two years later when the culprit, Vincent Perrugia was captured and the famous painting returned, the rumors began that the painting hanging in the Louvre was a well-done forgery. Years later art professor, Luke Perrone, begins a quest for the truth behind his ancestor's famous crime. I found this book to be a fascinating look into the dark side of art collecting, art forgeries and the lengths some will go to to own a great work. The dual storylines of Vincent's journal chronicling his part in the crime and Luke's journey to find the definitive answers about not only the crime but the authenticity of one of the most famous paintings in the world kept me captivated from the beginning.

What a delightful novel, full of history and mystery! The author takes us on a panoramic journey into the world of art and of art theft. With beautiful descriptions of some of art's most legendary pieces we get to experience the beauty of Florence Italy and the awesome grandeur of the most precious artworks of all time.
Luke Perrone is a New York professor and an artist, teaching art history, he is a reformed alcoholic and a one-time gang member in his youth. Having given up his wayward tendencies he has turned his obsessive nature towards art in general, and Leonardo Di Vinci's art specifically. Discovering his great-grandfather was the infamous thief that stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, where it stayed missing for 2 years before being returned, he has made it his life quest to solve the mystery that has surrounded di Vinci's lady ever since. Is it the real Mona Lisa that now resides in her place of honor in the Louvre or is it a very exquisitely done fake? Was the real painting returned after those 2 years and what transpired during that time?
Notified of the discovery of his great-grandfather's journal, Luke travels to Florence to hopefully get answers through the words written in it. What Luke does get is a whole lot more than he bargained for as people connected to the journal and the story start showing up dead, and Luke's own life is in jeopardy if he continues on this trail.
This is a great story, mixing the beautiful history of Florence with the mysteries of stolen art and the risks and high stakes that go along with it. Well written and researched we get to enter the exclusive art world and experience all its wonder first-hand along with Luke as he pieces together the story of Leonardo's mysterious Mona!
5 stars, would give more if I was able, recommend to everyone, a good mystery, filled with wonderful descriptions of historic places and pieces of art, and a good mystery with twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. This novel has something for everyone so don't miss it, it goes on sale August 17, 2021.
Thank you to the publishers at Sourcebooks Landmark and to Net Galley for the free ARC of the novel, I am leaving my honest review in return. '

Could the Mona Lisa in the Louvre be a forgery? This novel explores this question in a fascinating and suspenseful account utilizing the premise that after Vincenzo Peruggia had stolen Leonardo's masterpiece in 1911, the painting that was returned two years later was not the original but a copy.

The author creates an intriguing story where Peruggia's great-grandson, Luke Perrone, is on a quest to discover what really happened with the Mona Lisa. Luke discovers that his great-grandfather had written a journal that may contain the details of the theft, and the secret of what may have occurred during Mona Lisa's unwelcomed vacation from the Louvre. Unfortunately, Luke isn't the only one who is after the secrets the journal may be hiding. A psychopathic killer who is also interested in the journal's secrets, refuses to let anything or anyone stand in his way.

I thought that the character development was excellent. Luke encounters several shady people with ambiguous intentions. As their stories unfold, the plot really begins to take on various dimensions.

As the book progressed, I found myself liking it more and more. The suspense builds to such a point that by the last few chapters, I found myself trying to speed read in order to find out how everything was going to turn out.

As an art lover, I had a tremendous interest in this book. I loved all the references to the various works of art and architecture, and the whole aspect of the question of whether there are forgeries in museums. But I think that even if one isn't a huge art lover, they can still appreciate the subject matter of this novel. I highly recommend this title for anyone interested in well developed, believable characters, and a suspenseful story with plenty of plot twists and moral dilemmas.

Lisa Gioncondo would never have begun to contemplate her likeness would stir such notoriety and infamy the world over. Mona Lisa was painted about five hundred years ago by Leonardo da Vinci and his work has been enshrouded in mystery since. The author bases his book on real people and events and knits the historical details together with fiction to create a fascinating story about art history and what people do to get their hands on it. As a lover of Florence and admirer of the greats mentioned in addition to da Vinci such as Brunelleschi and Caravaggio this book took me there in a split second.

Vincent Peruggia planned his theft of the Mona Lisa painting meticulously and carried it out in 1911. But after all the deception he began to see reasons to doubt the authenticity of the Mona Lisa...which was the original from all the forgeries? Luke, an art professor, treads in the footsteps of his great grandfather to learn more about what drove him to steal the painting but it left him with yet more questions. There are many unknowns...I love unsolved mysteries like this, mysteries which make one wonder with just enough slivers of doubt. Of course Luke's investigations cause people to get nervous and crimes are committed along with loads of deception, missing pages, a broken door, forgeries and INTERPOL involvement. John Smith investigates and finds himself smack dab in the middle of intrigue and murder.

Enter Alex, a blond bombshell who is drawn to art history and Luke but is hot and cold, creating tension. Though I enjoyed the rest of the story, the romance is somewhat unconvincing and some details are not necessary.

My favourite aspects are the historical details such as the art materials used, the wonders of San Lorenzo and Ponte Vecchio as well as the theft plans. Books which educate are my wheelhouse.

My sincere thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this compelling book.

"Art is not what you see but what you make others see." (Degas)

And what you behold from the hands and minds of the masters may not always be from the touch of their brush. Jonathan Santlofer peels back a corner of the mysteries surrounding the most famous painting in the world.......The Mona Lisa. What eyes gaze upon in her residence in the Louvre in Paris may or may not be an imposter. The desire of authenticity by the experts has been tainted many times before. Who knows........

The Last Mona Lisa is based on nuggets of a true crime committed in 1911 in Paris concerning our lovely Leonardo lady. Santlofer creates a breatheable crime scenario around our main character, Luke Perrone. Luke is an art history professor living in the Bowery in New York City. He receives an email concerning the journal of his grandfather found in Florence, Italy. Said grandfather was the infamous individual who stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Vincent Perruggia worked as a handyman there and slipped out of the museum with La Gioconda rolled up undetected under his smock. His plan was to sell the painting.

Jonathan Santlofer does an amazing job in bringing to life the motives of Peruggia. We find ourselves wrapped up in the unfortunate circumstances that surround the man. The connection to his grandson, Luke, is the spark of this story. Luke is determined to find the journal when he flies to Florence. His research in the Lauentian Library perks up the antennae of those who wish to find the journal before he does. We'll meet some shifty characters including the beautiful young woman whom Luke meets in the library. Needless to say, his research will take a side step until he realizes that he may be in danger. Someone is stalking him......

I found The Last Mona Lisa to be a high stakes jaunt into the world of art forgery and art theft. Santlofer takes us on a panoramic view of the stunning churches and museums of Florence and Paris. The author lays the foundation with backstories of the past. What I found fascinating is Santlofer's ability to keep the fires burning while not revealing the stalkers quite yet or the motives of those involved. The Last Mona Lisa is a delectable bite for art lovers and a tasty morsel of intrigue for the mystery lovers as well. Will certainly be back for more from this talented author.

Art history teacher Luke Perrone is in Italy investigating his ancestor Vincent Peruggia who was jailed for stealing the Mona Lisa in the early 20th century. There is some question whether the painting eventually returned to the Louvre is actually the original or a perfect forgery. I enjoyed this book more for the historical parts surrounding the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, but the modern intrigue was also captivating as characters reveal themselves and their motivations slowly over time. A creative look at a historical event.

I wish to thank the publisher who provided a review copy of this book through NetGalley.

The book is set in the town of Northfall, Minnesota, and how it becomes the center of a modern-day gold rush. The debris from a comet strikes the town leaving debris that is made of a previously unknown ninth metal that they call Omnimetal. The fallout that ensues is a modern-day gold rush with the town experiencing all of the riches and the problems that accompany it.

This is a thriller, science fiction/ crime, and horror, action-adventure, story. It includes a family saga of the all-powerful Frontier Family, the primary Omnimetal mining company in the area. It is an easy-reading and fast-paced epic that is the first book in the “Comet Cycle trilogy”.

The characters were well-written, realistic, and believable. This character development is a reason I enjoyed this book. Often sci-fiction has underdeveloped, stereotypical characters, so this was a welcome surprise. The characters were what drives the book and its strongest element. I was involved with the characters and enjoyed the plot as it developed. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, and seeing how the storyline develops. I recommend this one.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

This was an okay book, but not really what I expected. First of all, it was way too long and could have used a lot more editing. I found the descriptions of Florence interesting, but overall the premise just wasn't convincing and the ending contrived.

I found the book interesting and it kept me reading even if it wasn't compelling. I've recently been into art theft movies and books and this hit somewhere in the middle of the pack. I wouldn't say it's thrilling but it there are suspenseful moments.

This book being set in Paris and Florence gave amazing imagery throughout. I enjoyed the aspect of multiple POVs and settings over the course of the book. However, The synopsis is great but nothing kept me wanting to turn the pages. I found that the plot below the surface level could not keep my attention a lot of the time. I also was not able to connect with the characters in the way that I wanted to. Based on the synopsis and imagery I thought I would have enjoyed it more.

The Last Mona Lisa kind of feels like a poor man's Dan Brown or Steve Berry story. It isn't horrible, but it really isn't great either. Santlofer takes details that are based in fact, regarding the theft and speculated authenticity of the Mona Lisa residing in the Louvre, and spins out a story of the thief's great grandson, trying to learn more about his ancestor and the painting. Not surprisingly there's an unscrupulous art collector, a beautiful woman who isn't what she seems, an Interpol agent going rogue, a Russian assassin and lots of dead bodies piling up. It could be compelling, but it never really gets away from feeling formulaic and predictable. The dialogue tends to cheesiness at points as well. If this type of book is your vibe, by all means, read it. The art descriptions and the settings of Florence and Paris are interesting, if slightly overdone. If this is a genre you don't read often, you're probably better sticking with the big name authors, who are better known for a reason.