Susie Hodge's Art Heist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See gathers global cases of art theft from world war II to the present. The book is divided into two section, one listing the works stolen and still at large or and a second section about art works that were successfully recovered.

It's an okay book, for each chapter, Hodge provides a narration detailing the works creation, some of its provenance and then the theft and investigation into it. In general it reads like a coffee table book, as many of the cases detailed in this single book have full monographs of their own. (WW 2 art theft has been explored in several titles including The Rape of Europe, Stealing the Mystic Lamb about the Ghent Altarpiece, etc.).

Great for generalists or a middle grade audience, but it doesn't provide a list of sources and those interested in this topic might be better served by the books focused on the individual cases.

Art Heists happen around the world much more often than you would think. Art is my biggest passion, and although it makes me incredibly angry/upset that people do it, I do find it very interesting to read about (I guess it’s the true crime junkie in me).

Art Heist tells the stories of heists that have taken place throughout history, many of which are still unsolved to this day. Some of these priceless works of art are probably lost to us forever, but despite so much being lost, it makes me happy that we still remember these works of art, and keep them alive. Hopefully one day (preferably in my lifetime), some of these pieces will resurface and find their way into the hands of the right people.

I found this book incredibly fascinating, not only learning which artworks have been stolen, but also some of the bizarre and downright crazy ways some of the heists were pulled off. There were some heists included that I did already know about, for example, the stealing of Munch’s The Scream, but that didn’t make me enjoy this book any less. A mixture of art, history, and crime, this book will appeal to many, and it’s definitely one I recommend.

I give Art Heist a 4.5 star rating!

This is a beautiful book with stunning photos of missing art pieces along with associated museums and buildings. And that’s not all. Each page has a well-written description of what happened to the art which is heart-breaking.

While thousands of pieces have been stolen, Susie Hodge has highlighted 50 pieces that range from those taken during wars, from burglaries in museums and private homes and even some large pieces taken from outdoor art galleries. She said $4-6 billion worth of art is stolen around the world each year. With slick criminals and months of planning, they are able to move art quickly and take the goods. It’s a huge concern as many are works from the most famous artists. Hodge said when art is stolen, part of the culture is taken away. Most of the book is about stolen art but the last section reports on art that has been returned.

As a former owner of a picture frame business, we were so careful handling paintings and objects of art. Yet, we know that thieves don’t care. They take sharp knives to get a canvas out of the frame and it’s not an easy repair if the art is ever found. It makes me cringe thinking about this devastating loss and thoughtless control of so many pieces.

This is a book for anyone that loves art and history which would also make a great gift. The advantage of an e-book is to expand the details of the photos and make the print larger. Yet, it’s such an interesting conversation piece that it would be ideal to have this on the coffee table to share with your family and friends.

My thanks to Ivy Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 17, 2024.

A book that does just what you'd expect – reveal famous artworks that have been half-inched, whether they are in the final quarter here, of ones that have been recovered and are now back on display, with perhaps more renown than before they went missing – or in the bulk of the book, like so many diverse pieces. Big hitting British sculptors get their metal taken, probably for scrap at a tiny per cent of the art's value, museums are raided and mansions tunnelled into, artists make kind of art in 'Wanted' posters for what was once on display, and is no longer.

Here we get suitable photos and images, showing us what is missing – and in a few famous places the gap where the loss still remains. It's a book that covers the full gamut of the Western art canon, from the Altarpiece of Ghent to Warhol prints. This is kind of a trivial art book – it certainly can't go too far into much, even about the Monuments Men and their more modern recovery-minded colleagues, but from the purloining Nazis to the most uneducated Romanian burglars it's all here in very readable form. File it under 'true crime', file it under 'art', but I'd file it under fun, and I really appreciated my look at it. Bearing no real faults, it probably deserves five stars.

I do have to admit, art theft is a special interest of mine. This book does a great job for those already interested in this subject and those new to the topic. I loved that this was part pictures part writing and I think it balances both aspects well. There were a lot of pieces of art and thefts that were completely new to me, which I enjoyed learning about. I highly recommend this book to any history nerd, art enthusiast, or anyone interested in crime.

As an Art History student this book was an amazing read. I love anything to do with obscure art facts and knowing more about art related crimes or history.

Such an interesting read that covers some of the most famous cases of art theft and some gems that you've never heard of. I particularly liked how this book didn't just go into detail case by case but also shed a lot of light on the complexities that come with art heists. Notably, it was really interesting to read how difficult it can be to catch art theft, especially when there have been security loopholes that thieves have taken advantage of. Moreover, there is a lot of mystery that shadows finding art thieves, especially as it is not usually a crime committed by a lone thief.

I also found it interesting how many art works are still to be recovered vs those that were eventually discovered. It raises important questions about the accountability and how politics can influence who's hands art ends up.

I would've loved a bit of variation in structure as some points felt quite slow especially when a case wasn't as interesting as some of the others or the art stolen wasn't something I found interesting but a great deep dive into art theft nevertheless!

I have always wondered why art was stolen, and I feel as though Susie Hodge does a fantastic job at answering this question. Even though the book is non-fiction, it is engaging and allows the reader to easily access a world that not many get to enjoy in real life.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ivy Press, and Susie Hodge for the ARC! All opinions and words are my own.

It has always been a fascination to me: the pieces of art lost to time by foreign hands. Where are they now? A basement, an attic, growing dust in some warehouse somewhere? The extensive details plus photos in this book truly quenched my thirst for the subject. My favorite, of this bunch, being "Vase with Flowers" by Van Gogh. Something truly sad about such a bright picture being stolen. I can only hope that in my lifetime it returns back into the careful hands of conservations.

A very interesting book! The artwork covered was all amazing! And it's disappointing that those discussed in the first part of the book were never recovered, because those artworks are all a piece of the artists' souls now lost forever. What gets me is how bold these thieves were, and how in some, the lack of security all but begged for the thefts to occur. This was a very different way of learning about art, but intriguing all the same. Susie Hodge succeeds at informing and entertaining with this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for access to this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Art heist brings us a detailed investigation into stolen art, both still missing and also retrieved. Susie Hodge is and engaging and interesting investigator. Art is not something I have a huge amount of knowledge on and hodge kept me interested throughout. Filled with an array of pictures to bring the to life and many other information boxes, giving details on particular artists and art movements, this is an overall engaging and gripping book about the criminality surrounding the art world. She brings us much known art thefts such as the Mona Lisa and ones much less known but equally as important, the repeated theft of Chinese art work from many places around the world.
I will certainly be recommending this book to anyone interested in crime, art, or someone who just wants an enjoyable no enticing read.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this short novella

I have always loved art and going to museums so when I saw this book on NetGalley I was instantly interested in reading about art that's been stolen throughout history, and the information I read was fascinating to me & it's left me wanting to find other books 📚 with information on more art throughout the ages.

So for anyone who loves history and art then this short novella may cure an itch.

This short, interesting book is divided into two parts: Art that was stolen and never recovered, and art that was found. Most of the Art Heists described here took place in the 20th Century, although the Altarpiece of Ghent, as one example, had several misadventures leading back to the 16th century.

The author’s purpose in this book is to examine why art thefts take place. What is the motivation? Certainly art is very valuable, but the difficulties in removing, transporting, and trading it are immense. But, as author Hodge explains, there are many reasons art is stolen. The most fascinating, in my opinion, is the millions of dollars worth of art stolen from German (and later German-occupied) museums, libraries and private collections because Hitler wanted to take revenge on the professors who had denied his admission to art school in Berlin.

Art thieves are rarely art lovers. But Hodge analyzes each example to help us understand what treasures they took (or attempted to take) from the world. This is an easily digested examination of some fascinating history, understandable even by those who know little about art. Many thanks to Quarto and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review, and continuing thanks to Quarto for continuing to publish beautifully rendered and thoughtful books about art.

After trouble with downloading, I skipped through it and to be completely honest it’s not what I thought it would be and it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I think if you’re really into art you would enjoy it but if you’re not, like me, you’ll probably will be disappointed a bit.

‘Art Heist’ by Susie Hodge is a comprehensive guide to artworks that have been stolen over the decades, providing intriguing insights into the world of art theft.

Accuracy: ★★★☆☆

The accuracy of the book is somewhat uncertain for those not deeply versed in the history of art theft. My personal studies in art history have focused more on the Classical World, so verifying the specifics of each theft is challenging.

Perspective: ★★★☆☆

The perspective is a bit misleading. The book is marketed as focusing on artworks that have never been recovered, yet the entire second part of the book discusses artworks that were indeed recovered. This discrepancy can be confusing for readers expecting a specific focus.

Relevance: ★★★★☆

As interest in art history rises, this book has become quite relevant. The focus on heists taps into a societal fascination with crime and mystery, making it an appealing read for many.

Engagement: ★★★★☆

The book is engaging, with captivating stories of famous art heists that draw readers in. The detailed accounts of the thefts and the fate of the artworks keep the reader interested throughout.

Readability: ★★★★☆

The readability is quite good, with clear and concise writing that makes complex stories accessible. The book is well-structured, which helps in maintaining the reader's attention.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆

The book is enjoyable, especially for those interested in art history and crime. The blend of art and mystery provides a unique and entertaining reading experience.


‘Art Heist’ by Susie Hodge offers a fascinating look into the world of stolen art. While the perspective might be somewhat misleading, the book is engaging, readable, and relevant. It provides an enjoyable experience for readers interested in the intersection of art history and crime.

A short but fun read about art heists and the works of art that have been lost to time (and a few that have been successfully recovered). The book covers heists that are well known and those that are less so, and it's fascinating to see what works of art became targets over the years and for what reasons.

What a great idea for a book! I found myself totally gripped by the stories of 50 works of art--by Michangelo, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and others--that were stolen and never found again. Perfect for lovers of true crime, art, and history.

An informative book about art heists is the loss of great works of art. Some were taken during or destroyed during war. Others were planned thefts. I’ve been to the Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and seen where they leave empty frames for the works that were stolen from them. You can’t help mourn the loss of works that should really belong to the world. I’ve been to other museums included in this book and seen famous art that has been returned like Mona Lisa and The Scream. The text is straightforward. Explaining what is known of the heists and if perpetrators were caught, and if works were recovered. I love visiting art museums which make this book more interesting to me.

Art Heist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See beautifully combines my love of true crime and art. This book would make a fantastic coffee table addition due to its stunning pictures of the featured paintings. It provides a concise synopsis of each theft, as well as interesting details about some of the artists, museums, and paintings involved.

Although, it reads somewhat like a textbook, the writing is straight to the point without being overly wordy. The straightforward approach makes it easy to dive into the intriguing stories behind each art heist. Overall, it’s a captivating and visually appealing book that art and true crime enthusiasts will appreciate.

Thank you to the publisher Quarto Publishing Group / Ivy Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley

I didn't love the layout, it felt like a school book which sort of took away my enjoyment. It also felt a little disorganized/disjointed and didn't flow very well on the page. However it was very informative and I enjoyed learning about pieces of art I hadn't heard of before