I really enjoyed this book a lot! In the vein of Dan Brown's type of fiction but told from a perspective of a writer focused on the art and with the knowledge of someone in the art field to really make this a fun and memorable mysterious romp.

Pros: Just like the author’s previous book The Last Mona Lisa, this book contains many elements that set it up to be a book I will really enjoy. I love books about art and art history, and I liked this book’s focus on art stolen by the Nazis and efforts to return the art. This book was a quick read with short chapters that kept the plot moving.

Cons: I liked the set up and potential of this book more than the execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book.

I requested this book because I liked the first by this author about Mona Lisa but I didn’t pay attention otherwise to the description. It took me a few pages to realize it was the same main characters in this book. The first book made more sense in terms of how the characters all get involved; now it’s like how in the world would this happen to these same people. But once you get through that part it is enjoyable.

I liked how the main characters stories are woven in with the general world description like museum visits, which build in a bigger world.

My qualm is that there are people doing things that don’t make sense. For example one of the bad guys leaves fingerprints on a vase - he knew to wear disguises and how to track people but not hide fingerprints on a vase- yet he had worn gloves a different time. Smith also is incredibly nervous throughout which I didn’t understand. Hasn’t he been doing interpol for awhile?

There were questions I was left with and I hope we can see these characters come together again on another adventure. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

We begin with our protagonists, Luke and Alex, purchasing an inexpensive, old painting, only to find that a treasure hides beneath - a lost portrait of Van Gogh underneath! However, the painting is (of course), stolen, so they team up with Private Investigator Smith, who himself is trying to recover the painting for Interpol. The author did a great job creating his characters and making them interesting. His plot is filled with red herrings red herrings and some twist and turns. I really enjoyed the thriller/treasure hunter aspect of it because it is filled with suspense and intrigue. The book left me wondering if Vincent van Gogh REALLY committed suicide.

The Lost Van Gogh
By: Jonathan Santlofer
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints

-This is a fast paced book, and will get you hooked from the start.

-I love the time hops as you learn more about the painting.

-There are some really great twists and turns in this book.

-The history built into this book really gives it depth.

-This is a second book in a series, but you do not need to read the first one to follow the story and characters.

——

The Lost Van Gogh was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 1/2/24

The Lost Van Gogh was a fast paced read full of intrigue, history, and art. I fully enjoyed following Luke and Alex as they try to determine if the Van Gogh they found was legitimate.

There is also a lot of really great history in this book, and they discuss World War 2 and stolen “degenerate art”. It really adds depth to the story, and I learned a lot about that time period as well.

I highly recommend you check this book out. I am not planning to read the first one in the series as well!


#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #historicalfiction #arcreview #netgalley #thelostvangogh #jonathansantlofer #sourcebookslandmark

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

I really enjoyed reading this book, from the details of Van High’s life to the present day location and exhibits, it made me want to travel and go to the Chicago Art Institute! The storyline had many twists and turns with the character intertwining in beautiful and mysterious ways.

It was a fun page-turner from the beginning with a great sense of adventure. At times some of the characters fell a bit flat but an overall exciting story that truly made me want to travel to all of the stories destinations.

Jonathan Santlofer’s The Lost Van Gogh is a new novel about a self portrait by Vincent Van Gogh. Written by an author who is also an artist, the book has an action/mystery/spy story feel but also addresses a very real issue in the art world. The book’s plot deals with the long term fallout of Nazi art looting during World War Two and the ongoing struggle to return stolen objects to their rightful owners.

The story involves Luke and Alexis, an artist and art historian couple who find themselves briefly in possession of a long-lost Van Gogh self portrait with a troubling provenance. After the painting is stolen from them, they hire Smith, an art-savvy detective, to help them recover it. Things quickly get complicated, because no one is who they appear to be, and everyone seems to have an agenda for this painting. There’s lots of intrigue, danger, double crosses, shady dealings, and surprise twists. The adventure spans several countries and multiple international crime-fighting organizations. The main characters originally appeared in Santlofer’s earlier novel, The Last Mona Lisa. I haven’t read that first book and can confirm that you can understand The Lost Van Gogh without it, but I suspect the two books are best enjoyed in their proper order.

Overall, The Lost Van Gogh is a fairly average action novel – enjoyable to be sure, but the plot and characters are not particularly standout. However, the story has some good twists and turns, and the art crimes theme will likely appeal to art lovers, especially since it comes from a knowledgeable and informed author. Santofer clearly feels strongly about stolen art repatriation and has obviously done a lot of research on the topic. (That being said, I suspect that repatriation in the real world generally involves a lot more research and a lot less super-spy hijinks than this story suggests.)

The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer will be published by Sourcebooks Landmark on January 2, 2024. (It should not be confused with an older novel of the same name by A. J. Zerries.) Many thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review the book in advance of the its release.

Alex (female) finds a Van Gogh painting underneath an abstract painting. She wants to identify it, sadly gets mugged. Now she and her boyfriend are on a journey to find the painting. A lot of people (including her father) stab their backs and there is a bit of danger involved.

The story itself was interesting and the chapters weren’t long. However (there always is one) there were many filler chapters it unnecessary conversations that shouldn’t have made the cut. The story itself is like 3 NCIS episodes. When it finally ends, you know what happened but whatever.

Can someone please tell my WHY the book is written in the POV of the boyfriend when it all is about Alex?
unless I mixed the characters up. who the hell gives a couple who have similar personalities, masculine names.

Only in the last chapters a random guy called Baine was involved. Turns out he was the father. did we have to guess that part?

This is absolutely a brilliant page turner! The trio returns from the Last Mona Lisa only this time Smith (INTERPOL agent) Alex (art student) and her beau are on the hunt for a long lost Van Gogh. from Manhattan to Amsterdam to the town where Van Gogh died this is suspenseful and filled with history and art that crackles along with the drama playing out!! Loved loved it

Alex and Luke buy an old inexpensive painting only to find a lost portrait of Van Gogh underneath. When the painting is stolen they team up with PI Smith who is actually trying to recover the painting for Interpol. Filled with twist and turns, intrigue and suspense, this historic novel also gives us many new facts about Van Gogh including the belief he may not have killed himself.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an early copy of The Lost van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer

"Stolen art = stolen lives"

One does not need to be an art lover to become completely engaged with Jonathan Santlofer's latest mystery/thriller The Lost van Gogh. This book is all about the hunt for a priceless artifact.

Without giving too much away, John Smith is a private investigator but actually works for Interpol which has been called in to rescue a van Gogh painting long thought to be lost forever. Artist Luke Perrone and his art historian girlfriend, Alex, come across a painting and quite by accident discover that another painting is underneath. When the painting is then stolen from them, it sets up a non-stop search that includes subterfuge, secret identities and plot twists. People are not who we think they are and as things get dangerous, the acrion reaches a feverish pitch. Luke will be faced with a life-changing decision---will he do the right thing at the expense of his own art career?

Santlofer includes a plethora of very interesting information on van Gogh, particularly his last days and the controversy even today about his cause of death. In addition, the issue of stolen art by the Nazis during World War II and the life of Anne Frank make this a treasure to read for the historical context alone--but John, Luke and Alex add so much more to the story!

I look forward to additional novels by this artist/author

Wow I loved this. I know it was basically historical fiction with truth sprinkled in but omg I could see this being a movie. It gave Da Vinci Code with all the twists and turns and it was just fabulous. I also love art history so it was perfect for me. I will say I loved it more than the previous Mona Lisa book but I still loved that one too.

3.5 rounded to 4/5 stars. The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer is a historical thriller based on the premise that Van Gogh’s long-lost, final self portrait has been found, and the race for its acquisition ensues. This novel is action packed and keeps the reader interested with several unexpected twists throughout. The vivd descriptions make you feel as if you yourself are traveling to each of the locations featured in this book. Additionally, the text is rich in factual information surrounding the stolen art of World War II. Each chapter is told from a different character’s viewpoint, which adds to the overall mystery of the novel. However, at times it can be difficult to orient oneself at the start of a new chapter as there are no character names in the headings, and the tone for each character remains fairly similar from person to person. Because of the pacing, I did not find myself fully investing in the characters as much as I would have liked. Despite this, it was an enjoyable read overall.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love nothing more than an art-centric caper and this book had 4-star adventure and dramatic tension. It is definitely a page-turner and does a great job of discussing the Ww2-era art theft by the Nazis.

That, unfortunately, was also what made the book less than interesting to me. I have read so many books on this subject, with this theme, that it felt like the turf had already been covered. It just lacked a fresh approach to the subject.

IF the characters had been more fully realized, and I had bonded with them, that probably would not have mattered. But, I felt the characters were just vehicles to move the plot. . . The familiar plot. . . And, so ultimately I was disappointed in the book.

I decided to venture slightly beyond my usual genre while still staying close to my preferences. I opted for a historical thriller with a mysterious twist. "The Lost Van Gogh" captivated me with its storyline, filled with unexpected plot twists and kept me awake into the late hours as I eagerly tried to unravel the enigma of "who done it." The story begins with a concealed Van Gogh masterpiece, cleverly painted over to safeguard it from the clutches of the Nazis. Years later, this seemingly insignificant piece of artwork finds its way to the United States. An art history student and her artist boyfriend acquire the painting from a roadside antique store, only to uncover its hidden secrets, setting off a series of gripping twists and turns. I don’t want to say more for fear of giving something away, but I am now eager to add a biography about the life of Vincent van Gogh to my "To Be Read" list. This was a great book and I can’t wait to read other books by the author.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of The Lost Van Gogh!

While I am unfamiliar with the author’s previous novel with these characters, The Last Mona Lisa, it didn’t preclude me from diving into the world of this novel. The plot and pacing of The Lost Van Gogh made the novel an entertaining read; however, I found myself more invested in the plot towards the end of the novel, and not evenly throughout. I also found the cast of characters to be rather flat and two-dimensional. We never really get a fully fleshed-out read on them and the sheer amount of characters that the reader must keep track of makes this all the more difficult. This may be a result of my not having read the previous novel, but characters unique to this novel were not particularly fleshed out either. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the author’s writing style, though this is more of a case of personal taste. The author has a habit of creating prolonged run-on sentences that are, in my opinion, superfluous and do not contribute much to the reader’s experience.

Aside from the novel’s elements and style, I did enjoy its content. As a fan of Van Gogh’s art, I enjoyed the in-depth analysis of his work and life and how it is intertwined into the plot. The author’s note at the end indicates the extent of the research undertaken to write this story, which I appreciated. While the novel is a mix of fact and fiction, it did give me a greater understanding of the complicated nature of art theft and what its underworld can be like.

Overall, The Lost Van Gogh makes for a fun quick read, but is not particularly a stand-out for me. If you are interested in Van Gogh or the nature of art theft, however, you will likely enjoy this novel

The Lost Van Gogh is a combination art history lesson and roller coaster. It’s not a spoiler to tell you that it’s about a lost van Gogh that’s found and then lost again and everyone in this tale is trying to find it, each with their own agenda. Nobody is who they pretend to be, and everyone has enough secret baggage to send a 747 plunging to its watery grave. The effect steers awfully close to the comic, but luckily we’re in the hands of a skilled driver.
A New York girl buys an old painting in a second-hand store upstate. Her boyfriend, an up-and-coming young painter, discovers there’s more to this painting than meets the eye. They make a big mistake: they tell somebody. Just a handful of people, really. But every single person they tell, they shouldn’t have.
This story is marinated in the New York art world, seasoned with Amsterdam, and served up fittingly enough, in the little French village of Auvers-sur-Oise, where van Gogh drew his last breath—and he’s not the only one to die there for his art.
Jonathan Santlofer is a rare bird, an author who’s also a painter in his own right, which makes him eminently qualified to pen this tale. (As the author of a mystery title involving van Gogh myself), I was impressed. You will be, too.

“Masterpieces, masterminds, and mystery” and “Van Gogh” - four things that had me reaching eagerly for this book! I’d never read anything by this author before and was curious.

I have read many books in the past few years about Nazi-looted artwork, but this book stands out as unique. There have been numerous restitution claims that have been in the news lately and I’ve been interested in the Musee du Louvre’s investigation into the provenance of the art in their collection. The author highlights the difficulty in making a repatriation/restitution choice and the moral/ethical dilemmas associated. I appreciated having a preview of the process, rather than starting the story after the painting has been altered. Although I’ve been to Arles and visited the tourist highlights associated with this artist, I’m not artistic in any sense. It doesn’t stop me from appreciating art. I was fascinated reading about the names of the colours and the painting process.

I was pulled in by the rumour and the multilayered secrecy. Almost every character is hiding something and trying to cover it up. The tension created by the shady side of the art world had me feverishly turning pages. I wasn’t aware that I’d gobbled up a 400-page book.

I’ve subsequently purchased The Lost Mona Lisa and am looking forward to enjoying more of this author’s work.

If you find Van Gogh, art thefts, forgeries and the race to uncover them fascinating, this one’s for you!

I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of The Lost Van Gogh!

While I am unfamiliar with the author’s previous novel with these characters, The Last Mona Lisa, it didn’t preclude me from diving into the world of this novel. The plot and pacing of The Lost Van Gogh made the novel an entertaining read; however, I found myself more invested in the plot towards the end of the novel, and not evenly throughout. I also found the cast of characters to be rather flat and two-dimensional. We never really get a fully fleshed-out read on them and the sheer amount of characters that the reader must keep track of makes this all the more difficult. This may be a result of my not having read the previous novel, but characters unique to this novel were not particularly fleshed out either. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the author’s writing style, though this is more of a case of personal taste. The author has a habit of creating prolonged run-on sentences that are, in my opinion, superfluous and do not contribute much to the reader’s experience.

Aside from the novel’s elements and style, I did enjoy its content. As a fan of Van Gogh’s art, I enjoyed the in-depth analysis of his work and life and how it is intertwined into the plot. The author’s note at the end indicates the extent of the research undertaken to write this story, which I appreciated. While the novel is a mix of fact and fiction, it did give me a greater understanding of the complicated nature of art theft and what its underworld can be like.

Overall, The Lost Van Gogh makes for a fun quick read, but is not particularly a stand-out for me. If you are interested in Van Gogh or the nature of art theft, however, you will likely enjoy this novel.