The lost Van Gogh A novel

Writer and artist Santlofer assembled a trio of unlikely art sleuths in The Last Mona Lisa (2021), and now, much to their surprise, they're thrown together once again. Art historian Alexis Verde (also known as Alexandra Green) acquires a painting that she and her honey, artist and art history teacher Luke Perrone, discover is concealing what just might be a long-lost self-portrait by Van Gogh. Tully, a down-and-out PI, has been hired to secure this work, which is promptly stolen from Alexis when she attempts to have it appraised. Luke reconnects with former INTERPOL analyst John Washington Smith for help, but, like many others, he's not who he claims to be. As the action shifts to Amsterdam, the levels of deceit and danger escalate precipitously. Amidst the chaos and terror, Santlofer offers sympathetic glimpses into Van Gogh's life and puzzling death and the French Resistance's valiant efforts to save Paris' treasures as the Nazis systematically looted art belonging to Jewish collectors, stolen works still found in world-class museums. Illustrated with Santlofer's drawings, this is a wholly engrossing, historically illuminating, and thought-provoking art thriller.

In Santlofer's scattershot sequel to 2021's The Last Mona Lisa, artist Luke Perrone and his girlfriend, Alexis Verde, discover what may be a missing self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh hidden beneath a mundane painting Alexis bought at a New York City estate sale. The couple arranges to have the piece appraised, but Alexis is attacked and robbed on her way to meet the auditor. She and Luke reconnect with retired INTERPOL officer John Washington Smith to track the painting down. Santlofer alternates between Luke's first-person narration and third-person sections from the perspectives of other characters, including Alexis and Smith, each of whom harbors secrets that complicate matters. Interspersed throughout are flashbacks to WWII-era France, when Resistance fighters attempted to smuggle valuable works of art out of occupied Paris. The relationship between Luke, who's the great-grandson of a man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis, daughter of a famous art thief, is rich and fascinating--the novel soars when they're at the center. Unfortunately, the proceedings are too often bogged down by a surplus of subplots, secondary characters, and implausible contrivances. Art lovers and history buffs may find things to admire here, but it's a mostly muddled affair. Agent: Jane von Mehren, Aevitas Creative. (Jan.)