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

A coffee-table style book packed full of images, it sure hits the mark with its subject matter. It feels a little disorganised, and I would've preferred a more uniform arrangement of text and images. Even the writing feels a little disorderly, but it doesn't distract from the overall experience. It does what it says on the tin and then some. I'll give props to the use of many images as well, which (thankfully) are numerous and peppered throughout.

Art Heist is a non-fiction book written very well. This book is about stolen artworks, and why and how they were stolen.
Where are they? Who might have stolen them?
You can both enjoy learning about these stolen artworks and have the chance to look at them, and also enjoy being a detective.

This title marries my interests in art and true crime. This book is loaded with short synopsis of the crimes along with images of the art, and other visuals such as police sketches, crime photos etc.

The book covers art throughout the globe and is written in a digestible way. From sculpture to painting, there are loads of crimes and art pieces to learn about in this unique non-fiction title.