Fun, fast art mystery.

The short chapters were great.
I don’t know if it was the fact that this is an ARC but a lot of this felt more like the author was trying to get thoughts down for the story on paper without actually “telling” the story. It was like clumps of text. Much of it seemed awkwardly phrased and there were numerous word repetitions. It also felt like I was reading a movie script during the action sequences and didn’t feel authentic.

The characters were…ok. I wasn’t really attached to any of them.

I very much liked the historical facts and focus on stolen art and the giving back to the rightful owners as well as Vincent’s story.

I doubt I will read from this author again.

QUOTE: “When I have a terrible need of—shall I say the word—religion, then I go outside to paint the stars.”

This was a followup to The Lost Mona Lisa which I did not know before reading- 100% my fault! It felt like I was jumping into a story that had already started, and moved at a very quick pace.
However, the art history behind the novel is fascinating and the author has clearly done his research and woven it throughout the story!

I really enjoyed this book and diving into art history and Van Gogh as it is not a widely written about topic in fiction (at least that i've read). A lot going on at times, but the fast pace was engaging and fitting for the story. Kind of reminds me of a grown up version of the spy books I enjoyed as a teen by author Ally Carter. It would have been beneficial to me to read The Last Mona Lisa first I think, as maybe some of the characters lacked depth in this one, but overall an entertaining read.

I love Van Gogh, it’s my favorite painter, I didn’t know what expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. If you love art, this book is for you.

Luke Perrone, an artist, and his girlfriend, Alexis Verde, purchase a painting for cheap at an antique shop. While looking to clean up they discover that there's something underneath the layer of paint and it turns out to be a layer of paper which is on top of another painting. Carefully removing it they discover what they believe to be a lost Van Gogh self-portrait. A known painting of Van Gogh's went missing during World War II, often believed destroyed. In Jonathan Santlofer's novel The Lost Van Gogh, the painting was rescued and hidden with a painting on top of it.

Unfortunately, before Perrone and Verde can even get it verified and before anyone should even known they have the painting, it is stolen from them. With help from Interpol, Perrone and Verde become embroiled in a high-stakes, black-market art game with some serious and powerful people not wanting anyone to get in the way of whatever they want.

This book flashes back to 1940's, war-era Europe and reminds us often of the massive art thefts the Nazi's engaged in and the struggle for the families of the original owners to get the works' returned. Just who does artwork belong to in these situations?

I'm fascinated by the art-theft crime world - amazed that artwork can have so much value, and yet, it is so highly obvious that the thieves/owners can never let the world know what they have. Is it valuable anymore then? The subject mater here was highly interesting.

The writing - the story ... ? Not so much.

First off, these characters had no definition to them. Was I supposed to know who they were? Is there a series of books with these people? I don't know. But we jump right into action and we never really get to know those involved.. Of course I'm specifically meaning our primary characters mentioned at the top, but there's a HUGE cast of characters here - dizzyingly so - and I know I never got them all straight, which suggests I didn't really need to be introduced to so many people.

And while, on the one hand, there seems to be constant action with travel and threats and curiosity and danger, I also felt like we didn't accomplish a lot, almost as if the constant movement was a distraction to the fact that there wasn't much going on.

All in all, this was a bust for me. I've only read two Santlofer short stories prior to this, one that I liked and one that didn't leave any impression and I'm not in a huge hurry to read more of his work, despite the art themes that I typically like.

Looking for a good book? A general concept is really all that holds together The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fast-paced historical mystery but I felt a bit dropped into the story. Perhaps I should have read his first book before embarking on this tale? I enjoyed the setting and the historical aspects -- clearly the author has done research and knows his topic and time periods well. I enjoyed the adventure of this, but wish I had started with the other book before this one.

The Lost Van Gogh is a narrative is not only about the missing painting, it’s about the legend of Vincent Van Gogh, the masterpieces he created. The story deals with the shady side to the flourishing stolen art trade and it links back to the Second World War. For those who art lovers, this novel full of intrigue, secrets, double dealing, lies My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Intrigue. Stolen or Lost art, Mystery. While there are many characters in this book, they all play their part well. Lots of twists and turns to find this lost painting of Van Gogh. Fans of art, Vincent van Gogh and a good mystery will enjoy the read. Highly recommend this enjoyable read
.

Lots of interesting history throughout the book.

The Lost Van Gogh is a perfect blend of historical and contemporary fiction - following a group of people all going ahead one another to secure the lost self portrait. Elements of love, hope, hopelessness, and betrayal all run throughout this book, with Santlofer exploring the injustices of the art heists during WW2 and the lengths people would go to in order to keep the art in safe hands.

Only flag is that this book has 1st, 2nd, AND 3rd person narratives and I have found that a little bit confusing at times but it hasn't taken away from it being a really well executed narrative

Rating it 3 stars as although I enjoyed it - it did get confusing at times and I found myself looking forward to it ending towards the end and having to really force my way through the several final chapters.

I also had no idea this was a sequel or part of an interconnected series - I don’t think it makes a difference to the experience though as I didn’t even notice until after seeing other reviews.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sharing this ARC with me.

It’s always a bonus for a reader to be introduced and educated in a world we may never meet. An air of privilege surrounds collectors of art masterworks and their desire to own a great masterpiece comes at any cost and via any means.
There's a rumor in the art world that there was a lost self portrait of VanGogh but it was never proven. A painting bought randomly was discovered to have been painted over and when looked at closely, may actually prove history correct.
The book gives us a history lesson. How during the Holocaust, homes were destroyed and looted by the German Army. Those in charge who recognized the value of these items hid what they could for themselves for after the war.
We see the dark side of selling art: backroom deals made by those anxious to own a piece of history with lots of money to make it happen.
It’s a fascinating story of a missing painting, proving provenance, and the intriguing art world.

For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. Curators and art historians have savored this rumor, hoping it could illuminate some of the troubled artist's many secrets, but even they have to concede that the missing painting is likely lost forever.

But when Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzles. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist's last days but draws them into one of history's darkest eras.

Beneath the paint and canvas, beneath the beauty and the legend, the artwork has become linked with something evil, something that continues to flourish on the dark web and on the shadiest corridors of the underground art world.

I am an avid fan of Vincent Van Gogh, and it is nice to see that he gets the recognition as a famed artist. The book was amazing from start to finish.

In short, this book is okay. I finished it in the beginning of January and can’t remember much about it, honestly, which pretty much lets you know how lackluster the story and reading experience was for me. But, read the synopsis, it might be for you.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy.

The Last Van Gogh is now available.

Great great story. Reminds me of the Dan Brown books in a way…chasing down history with action and adventure thrown in. Really enjoyed learning about an Gogh, one of my fave artists.

I wish I knew that there was a book one and these characters were introduced there. I felt like I jumped into a story and I don't know what these people do or who they are in relation to each other. All I know is there is a new Van Gogh and people are fighting to own it. Interpol is after it, auction house are after it, art thieves are after it, and these MCs are (rightfully) after it.

Luke and Alex might have found the one self-portrait whole world thought was long gone. Under their newly bought estate sale painting, there was a Van Gogh hiding. That was the deal you want to have when you try to decide if you should buy that painting or not. When Alex headed to an art dealer to authenticate the painting, some mugged her as if they knew she was going to show up there. After that, it was a mad zigzag between the US, the Netherlands and France.

I think I enjoyed the parts of the book from 1940s; how the painting was hidden under another, how it went from one hand to another. how it was smuggled out of Europe so it wouldn't end up in Hitler's personal "museum". I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to spend time trying to figure out character tree

#arthistory has been a passion for me since my first trip to the #museedorsay and #museedulouvre in college. #artcrime was introduced to me in my Masters program and was part of my thesis project. #thelostvangogh is an entertaining read that inspires the reader to believe that an art masterpiece might be hidden beneath the surface of your next antique store art purchase. I plan to read the author’s other art crime related books and hope they are also ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #my2023readingchallenge #bookstagram

I have to be honest, I was not a fan of this novel. While I found the plot thrilling and mysterious and could fully get behind the intrigue of stolen art, the sheer number of characters were too large to keep track of making reading a chore instead of a pleasure. Fair warning to future readers- read Jonathan Santlofer's The Last Mona Lisa first before taking on this novel. It was clear in the first few chapters that this is a sequel and these characters have back stories. Sadly Santlofer does not do a satisfactory job of explaining the backstory. He simply writes veiled memories and fleeting thoughts as told to us by the characters so that first time readers feel very lost.

As to be expected in an international, art heist thriller, motives get blurred and no one is to be fully trusted; but seriously it seemed like every character was playing both sides. Are they good or evil? You had to pay close attention to each interaction in order to keep everyone's purpose in check. Santlofer's writing the chapters in alternating character voices also does not help in keeping the major players straight. I found the whole book too confusing to enjoy and almost marked as a DNF 120 pages in.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this novel.

In one of the more complicated thriller novels, Jonathan Santlofer connects several historical figures and eras in this dramatic art heist mystery. Following Luke Perrone and Alexis Verde, the son and granddaughter of two celebrated art thieves, as they and Interpol agent John Washington Smith pursue the person who stole the last, lost Van Gogh painting, readers transverse the globe from New York to Amsterdam and France, among other places, as they attempt to outsmart the thief and return the painting. Fans of classic thriller and mystery novels will enjoy this clever heist, but readers must keep their wits about them with Santlofer’s many perspective shifts from chapter to chapter as well as the many names, places, and figures they must keep track of to catch the thief. Santlofer has clearly done his research, and he has incorporated some fascinating historical elements, figures, events, and details into this novel to add to the atmosphere and authenticity of it all. A book like this has some high stakes and complicated plot elements to handle, and Santlofer does so in a way that builds up the novel and its larger plot. This is a complicated but fascinating modern mystery historical fiction and thriller fans alike will enjoy.

A quick paced propulsive art heist novel - that just kept me reading with a very engaging structure of short chapters and varying points of view and timelines. The book is set in the current day NYC and Amsterdam, even Auvers-sur-Oise, with flashbacks to WWil-era Paris and Van Gogh's time Auvers-sur-Oise, I really loved the historical sections about the Parisian Resistance, forbidden art and the looting of art that accompanied the persecution of Jews. But learning and comparing my knowledge about the art world, stolen art, disowned art and all the gears in motion the pass ways between legal and illegal was fascinating - as were the visits to several Amsterdam museums that I have been to as well as the protagonists! I could vividly picture the scenes in my head. This book just kept moving and it was at times hard to keep all these different characters and the interests they represented straight but at the same time the quick movement of time, place and view also kept me glued to the book and reading so it's by no means a detriment. I learned a lot and was reminded of the spectacular French art crime tv series Art Du Crime (or Art Of Crime) and it's Van Gogh episode you can watch it on Amazon Prime MHz choice and it is definitely worth giving it a try - if Art history and a good crime story interests you, yet again kudos to @sararosett whose Mystery Books Podcast let me discover the series.
I didn't read the first book in this series but I will rectify this oversight and put The Last Mona Lisa on my TBR.

I unfortunately did not care for this book. From the very beginning it felt like I missed something & I struggled to catch up. There are also a lot of filler chapters that I feel were not needed.

The Lost Van Gogh | Jonathan Santlofer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to @netgalley, @bookmarked and @jonathansantlofer for a review copy in exchange for an honest review

A mesmerizing lesson in art history,
A reflective study on Van Gogh, his work and life,
An enchanting travelogue through the bylanes of New York City, Amsterdam, Auvers-sur-Oise and
An engaging journey through the annals of history and time;
The Lost Van Gogh, is also a thriller exploring the workings of art dealers and smugglers, the dark web and Interpol.

🎨🖌️🎨🖌️🎨🖌️
When artist Luke and his art scholar, girlfriend, Alex accidentally come across possibly an invaluable, lost self-portrait of Van Gogh, only for it to get stolen within 24 hours; a dangerously wild chase through countries and continents ensues, involving not only them and their appointed PI, but smugglers, Interpol, art fanatics, unscrupulous and unnamed art dealers from the dark web and of course, the Interpol.
🎨🖌️🎨🖌️🎨🖌️

While, as a compulsive reader of thrillers, I initially picked this up because of the genre but what got me hooked was the educative aspect of the book.

Did I just make it sound boring?
Well, the best part of it is that, it's so not!

While I had a very vague idea about the Nazi plunder of "degenerate" art, Santlofer, made reading about the history of it absolutely engaging and riveting.

Van Gogh's art is evocative, emotional and seemingly more accessible to the general population, if only because his art is laced with palpable feelings.
However, most of us, are not aware of the finer aspects of his pieces, the stories and anecdotes that make the art come to life. Santlofer adeptly gives us a glimpse into the life of this eccentric genius and does well to pique our interest.

His fiction bleeds seamlessly into reality and his poetic and vivid prose effortlessly transports us across space and time.

I did enjoy the thriller, but I wish we could read a piece from Santlofer purely on art, artists and their making.
Because history has never sounded this enthralling before!