Stealing Mona Lisa : a mystery /
Material type: TextPublication details: New York : Minotaur Books, 2011.Edition: 1st edDescription: 340 p. cmISBN:- 9780312621711
- 031262171X
- 813/.6 22
- PS3613.O77863 S74 2011
- FIC022060 | FIC050000
Item type | Current library | Home library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Loan | Hayden Library Adult Fiction | Hayden Library | Book | MORTON (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 50610017314407 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
A Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2011 Fiction and a Library Journal Best Mystery of 2011
What happens when you mix a Parisian street orphan, a hot-tempered Spanish forger, a beautiful American pickpocket, an unloved wife, and one priceless painting?
The charming Eduardo de Valfierno makes a very respectable living in Argentina fleecing the nouveau rich--they pay him to steal valuable pieces of art, and Valfierno sells them flawless forgeries instead. But when Eduardo meets the beautiful Mrs. Hart on his latest con, he takes a risk that forces him back to the city he loved and left behind--Paris. There he assembles his team of con artists for their final and most ambitious theft, one that will enable them to leave the game forever: TheMona Lisa.
But when a member of the team turns up missing, and Mr. Hart shows up in Paris, Valfierno and his crew must stay one step ahead of a relentless police inspector, endure a devastating flood, and conquer their own doubts to keep the priceless painting in play--and survive.
Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, and published on the 100th anniversary of the crime, Stealing Mona Lisa is a sophisticated, engaging caper, complete with a richly imagined group of con artists and a historical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Stealing Mona Lisa is a Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011 Mysteries title.
One of Library Journal 's Best Mystery Books of 2011
"The charming Eduardo de Valfierno makes a very respectable living in Argentina fleecing the nouveau rich--they pay him to steal valuable pieces of art, and Valfierno sells them flawless forgeries instead. But when Eduardo meets the beautiful Mrs. Hart on his latest con, he takes a risk that forces him back to the city he loved and left behind--Paris. There he assembles his team of con artists for their final and most ambitious theft, one that will enable them to leave the game forever: The Mona Lisa. But when a member of the team turns up missing, and Mr. Hart shows up in Paris, Valfierno and his crew must stay one step ahead of a relentless police inspector, endure a devastating flood, and conquer their own doubts to keep the priceless painting in play--and survive. Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, and published on the 100th anniversary of the crime, Stealing Mona Lisa is a sophisticated, engaging caper, complete with a richly imagined group of con artists and a historical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end"-- Provided by publisher.
Excerpt provided by Syndetics
Reviews provided by Syndetics
Library Journal Review
Head for 1911 Paris and enjoy an intricately plotted art heist that goes awry. With period details and scads of cast members, the caper unfolds at a dizzying pace. This debut's sparkling dialog and excellent sense of place make it a genuine standout with tremendous crossover appeal. (LJ 7/11) (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Publishers Weekly Review
Historical fans will welcome professional musician Morton's first novel, set in the early 20th century. Eduardo de Valfierno, the epitome of the suave criminal, has assembled a motley crew of thieves, grifters, and opportunists who sell priceless paintings to wealthy collectors. Though the greedy investors receive expert forgeries, Valfierno is adept at making them believe they possess actual masterpieces. The stakes rise when Valfierno and his colleagues-joined by American pickpocket extraordinaire Julia Conway, disgruntled Louvre employee Vicenzo Perugia, and struggling artist Jose Diego Santiago de la Santisima-plot to steal the Mona Lisa, known as La Joconde in France. The audacious plan, however, is undone by human nature as love, lust, jealousy, greed, and murderous revenge come into play, along with excessive rains and the worst flooding in contemporary Paris history. Morton smoothly blends fact and fiction while evocatively exploring the era's seamy underbelly. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.Booklist Review
On his death bed in Paris in 1925, Marquis Eduardo do Valfierno tells the story of his schemes to provide wealthy men with immeasurably valuable but necessarily private art collections by stealing masterpieces from museums and leaving expert copies in their places. In fact, the actual paintings remain in the museums while the marquis sells copies to his clients. But when Valfierno and his cronies target the Mona Lisa, his client, American Joshua Hart, one of the richest men in the world, demands proof of the theft through worldwide news coverage, and a more ambitious and potentially more lucrative plan is required. Complications arise when young Mrs. Hart leaves her husband, a conspirator goes missing, and heavy rains flood Paris. Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, Morton's first novel is a canny heist story with fine characterizations and skillful plotting, and it isn't hurt one bit by all the shimmering Parisian ambience. This entertaining caper may leave readers wondering about the authenticity of the art on museum walls.--Leber, Michel. Copyright 2010 BooklistKirkus Book Review
A world-class art thief snatches a world-famous masterpiece from under the noses of its guardians in 1911 Paris.Parisian art students believe thatLa Jocondebelongs up on the wall in the Salon Carr of the Louvre. Vincenzo Perugia believes thatLa Giacondabelongs in Italy where it was painted. But although he was born a marquis, Eduardo de Valfierno is a democrat at heart and believes that everyoneparticularly every rich Americandeserves his own Mona Lisa. So he recruits Perugia, along with skilled pickpocket Julia Conway and a grown-up street urchin named mile, to swipe the Leonardo masterpiece. Once the papers report it missing, he can sell half-a-dozen forged versions to wealthy industrialists whose mansions line the banks of the Hudson River. He takes a detour, though, to Rhode Island, because he can't resist peddling one of his bogus Monas to Joshua Hart. Ever since meeting the crass industrialist in Buenos Aires, where he sold him a copy ofLa Ninfa Soprendida,Valfierno has been entranced by Hart's beautiful wife Ellen. Armed with an authentic-looking da Vinci supplied by a talented painter named Diego, Eduardo sells Hart something a little less than he bargains for. But in return, Eduardo gets a little more than he bargains for, ending up back in Paris to face a series of disasters, both natural and manmade.LikeLa Joconde, Carson's debut novel is set in an elegant framea newspaper reporter wrests the amazing story from a dying Valfiernothat still isn't as finely crafted as what lies inside.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.Author notes provided by Syndetics
CARSON MORTON was born in London, England and moved with his family to the United States when he was eleven. He worked as a professional musician for many years, making an album for United Artists Records with his group Razmataz, and playing with the likes of John Sebastian, Billy Preston, and many others. He is a screenwriter and published playwright, and has worked in television as a consultant and composer. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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