The Lost Van Gogh is a perfect blend of historical and contemporary fiction - following a group of people all going ahead one another to secure the lost self portrait. Elements of love, hope, hopelessness, and betrayal all run throughout this book, with Santlofer exploring the injustices of the art heists during WW2 and the lengths people would go to in order to keep the art in safe hands.

Only flag is that this book has 1st, 2nd, AND 3rd person narratives and I have found that a little bit confusing at times but it hasn't taken away from it being a really well executed narrative

Rating it 3 stars as although I enjoyed it - it did get confusing at times and I found myself looking forward to it ending towards the end and having to really force my way through the several final chapters.

I also had no idea this was a sequel or part of an interconnected series - I don’t think it makes a difference to the experience though as I didn’t even notice until after seeing other reviews.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sharing this ARC with me.

It’s always a bonus for a reader to be introduced and educated in a world we may never meet. An air of privilege surrounds collectors of art masterworks and their desire to own a great masterpiece comes at any cost and via any means.
There's a rumor in the art world that there was a lost self portrait of VanGogh but it was never proven. A painting bought randomly was discovered to have been painted over and when looked at closely, may actually prove history correct.
The book gives us a history lesson. How during the Holocaust, homes were destroyed and looted by the German Army. Those in charge who recognized the value of these items hid what they could for themselves for after the war.
We see the dark side of selling art: backroom deals made by those anxious to own a piece of history with lots of money to make it happen.
It’s a fascinating story of a missing painting, proving provenance, and the intriguing art world.

For years, there have been whispers that, before his death, Van Gogh completed a final self-portrait. Curators and art historians have savored this rumor, hoping it could illuminate some of the troubled artist's many secrets, but even they have to concede that the missing painting is likely lost forever.

But when Luke Perrone, artist and great-grandson of the man who stole the Mona Lisa, and Alexis Verde, daughter of a notorious art thief, discover what may be the missing portrait, they are drawn into a most epic art puzzles. When only days later the painting disappears again, they are reunited with INTERPOL agent John Washington Smith in a dangerous and deadly search that will not only expose secrets of the artist's last days but draws them into one of history's darkest eras.

Beneath the paint and canvas, beneath the beauty and the legend, the artwork has become linked with something evil, something that continues to flourish on the dark web and on the shadiest corridors of the underground art world.

I am an avid fan of Vincent Van Gogh, and it is nice to see that he gets the recognition as a famed artist. The book was amazing from start to finish.

In short, this book is okay. I finished it in the beginning of January and can’t remember much about it, honestly, which pretty much lets you know how lackluster the story and reading experience was for me. But, read the synopsis, it might be for you.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy.

The Last Van Gogh is now available.

Great great story. Reminds me of the Dan Brown books in a way…chasing down history with action and adventure thrown in. Really enjoyed learning about an Gogh, one of my fave artists.

I wish I knew that there was a book one and these characters were introduced there. I felt like I jumped into a story and I don't know what these people do or who they are in relation to each other. All I know is there is a new Van Gogh and people are fighting to own it. Interpol is after it, auction house are after it, art thieves are after it, and these MCs are (rightfully) after it.

Luke and Alex might have found the one self-portrait whole world thought was long gone. Under their newly bought estate sale painting, there was a Van Gogh hiding. That was the deal you want to have when you try to decide if you should buy that painting or not. When Alex headed to an art dealer to authenticate the painting, some mugged her as if they knew she was going to show up there. After that, it was a mad zigzag between the US, the Netherlands and France.

I think I enjoyed the parts of the book from 1940s; how the painting was hidden under another, how it went from one hand to another. how it was smuggled out of Europe so it wouldn't end up in Hitler's personal "museum". I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to spend time trying to figure out character tree

#arthistory has been a passion for me since my first trip to the #museedorsay and #museedulouvre in college. #artcrime was introduced to me in my Masters program and was part of my thesis project. #thelostvangogh is an entertaining read that inspires the reader to believe that an art masterpiece might be hidden beneath the surface of your next antique store art purchase. I plan to read the author’s other art crime related books and hope they are also ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #my2023readingchallenge #bookstagram

I have to be honest, I was not a fan of this novel. While I found the plot thrilling and mysterious and could fully get behind the intrigue of stolen art, the sheer number of characters were too large to keep track of making reading a chore instead of a pleasure. Fair warning to future readers- read Jonathan Santlofer's The Last Mona Lisa first before taking on this novel. It was clear in the first few chapters that this is a sequel and these characters have back stories. Sadly Santlofer does not do a satisfactory job of explaining the backstory. He simply writes veiled memories and fleeting thoughts as told to us by the characters so that first time readers feel very lost.

As to be expected in an international, art heist thriller, motives get blurred and no one is to be fully trusted; but seriously it seemed like every character was playing both sides. Are they good or evil? You had to pay close attention to each interaction in order to keep everyone's purpose in check. Santlofer's writing the chapters in alternating character voices also does not help in keeping the major players straight. I found the whole book too confusing to enjoy and almost marked as a DNF 120 pages in.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this novel.

In one of the more complicated thriller novels, Jonathan Santlofer connects several historical figures and eras in this dramatic art heist mystery. Following Luke Perrone and Alexis Verde, the son and granddaughter of two celebrated art thieves, as they and Interpol agent John Washington Smith pursue the person who stole the last, lost Van Gogh painting, readers transverse the globe from New York to Amsterdam and France, among other places, as they attempt to outsmart the thief and return the painting. Fans of classic thriller and mystery novels will enjoy this clever heist, but readers must keep their wits about them with Santlofer’s many perspective shifts from chapter to chapter as well as the many names, places, and figures they must keep track of to catch the thief. Santlofer has clearly done his research, and he has incorporated some fascinating historical elements, figures, events, and details into this novel to add to the atmosphere and authenticity of it all. A book like this has some high stakes and complicated plot elements to handle, and Santlofer does so in a way that builds up the novel and its larger plot. This is a complicated but fascinating modern mystery historical fiction and thriller fans alike will enjoy.

A quick paced propulsive art heist novel - that just kept me reading with a very engaging structure of short chapters and varying points of view and timelines. The book is set in the current day NYC and Amsterdam, even Auvers-sur-Oise, with flashbacks to WWil-era Paris and Van Gogh's time Auvers-sur-Oise, I really loved the historical sections about the Parisian Resistance, forbidden art and the looting of art that accompanied the persecution of Jews. But learning and comparing my knowledge about the art world, stolen art, disowned art and all the gears in motion the pass ways between legal and illegal was fascinating - as were the visits to several Amsterdam museums that I have been to as well as the protagonists! I could vividly picture the scenes in my head. This book just kept moving and it was at times hard to keep all these different characters and the interests they represented straight but at the same time the quick movement of time, place and view also kept me glued to the book and reading so it's by no means a detriment. I learned a lot and was reminded of the spectacular French art crime tv series Art Du Crime (or Art Of Crime) and it's Van Gogh episode you can watch it on Amazon Prime MHz choice and it is definitely worth giving it a try - if Art history and a good crime story interests you, yet again kudos to @sararosett whose Mystery Books Podcast let me discover the series.
I didn't read the first book in this series but I will rectify this oversight and put The Last Mona Lisa on my TBR.

I unfortunately did not care for this book. From the very beginning it felt like I missed something & I struggled to catch up. There are also a lot of filler chapters that I feel were not needed.

The Lost Van Gogh | Jonathan Santlofer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to @netgalley, @bookmarked and @jonathansantlofer for a review copy in exchange for an honest review

A mesmerizing lesson in art history,
A reflective study on Van Gogh, his work and life,
An enchanting travelogue through the bylanes of New York City, Amsterdam, Auvers-sur-Oise and
An engaging journey through the annals of history and time;
The Lost Van Gogh, is also a thriller exploring the workings of art dealers and smugglers, the dark web and Interpol.

🎨🖌️🎨🖌️🎨🖌️
When artist Luke and his art scholar, girlfriend, Alex accidentally come across possibly an invaluable, lost self-portrait of Van Gogh, only for it to get stolen within 24 hours; a dangerously wild chase through countries and continents ensues, involving not only them and their appointed PI, but smugglers, Interpol, art fanatics, unscrupulous and unnamed art dealers from the dark web and of course, the Interpol.
🎨🖌️🎨🖌️🎨🖌️

While, as a compulsive reader of thrillers, I initially picked this up because of the genre but what got me hooked was the educative aspect of the book.

Did I just make it sound boring?
Well, the best part of it is that, it's so not!

While I had a very vague idea about the Nazi plunder of "degenerate" art, Santlofer, made reading about the history of it absolutely engaging and riveting.

Van Gogh's art is evocative, emotional and seemingly more accessible to the general population, if only because his art is laced with palpable feelings.
However, most of us, are not aware of the finer aspects of his pieces, the stories and anecdotes that make the art come to life. Santlofer adeptly gives us a glimpse into the life of this eccentric genius and does well to pique our interest.

His fiction bleeds seamlessly into reality and his poetic and vivid prose effortlessly transports us across space and time.

I did enjoy the thriller, but I wish we could read a piece from Santlofer purely on art, artists and their making.
Because history has never sounded this enthralling before!

I love the concept for this novel, but the execution didn’t live up to the concept. There were simply too many changes in literary point of view and the sheer number of characters had already posed a challenge even before the POV shifts start rolling. There’s just too much going on there to make for an enjoyable reading experience, even though the idea of the lost painting was promising.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

At its surface this novel is an art heist. True crime fans of stories such as the theft of the Isabella Gardner Museum, the hunt for the Amber room, and of course--Mona Lisa. Fans of epic novels such as The Da Vinci Code and art heist movies such as The Italian Job, will see cross over themes.
But it isn't just about Vincent's missing artwork. It is a wild ride of outsmarting the next guy as Jewish art lovers and curators get back their stolen artwork. The classics are to share, not to horde, and this novel makes excellent use of old artists and government officials they thought they could trust.

The $25 purchase of an old painting sparks a deadly intercontinental chase to steal back a priceless piece of Nazi-looted artwork in The Lost Van Gogh, Jonathan Santlofer's intriguing art-theft thriller.

Luke and his girlfriend, Alex, suspect the cracked old portrait she bought from an antiques shop covers up an original painting by Vincent Van Gogh. On her way to get the piece authenticated, someone knocks her down and steals the painting--yet nothing else. Luke turns to John Washington Smith, old friend and ex-Interpol agent turned private investigator, for help. Surprisingly, he quickly agrees to take on the case. Smith does a bit of legwork and tells Luke and Alex they need to rush to Amsterdam to stop the painting from being sold and disappearing into some wealthy dealer's art collection. Luke and Alex are excited about the trip, but then Smith abruptly drops the case and cautions the couple against pursuing the painting any further. The two ignore the warning. Suddenly they are being followed by shady characters and Alex's classmate, and they come face to face with Smith who, again, warns their lives will be in danger if they don't give up on retrieving the painting. European police, Interpol, and Nazi-connected villains lure the unwitting pair into a dark cat-and-mouse game of international espionage and stolen artwork before either can figure out whom they can trust in this breathless thriller.

Jonathan Santlofer (The Last Mona Lisa; The Widower's Notebook) blends fact and fiction so seamlessly that reality is forced to take a backseat to the breathless pacing of his plot. --Paul Dinh-McCrillis, freelance reviewer

The Lost Van Gogh was my first book by Jonathan Santlofer. Can’t wait to read The Last Mona Lisa and others. Very well researched and written story set in the art world. I loved the intrigue and mystery. Having just seen the Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise exhibit at the Musee D’Orsay in Paris (his last 74 paintings painted in 70 days and all his letters) made for an extremely well timed book.

Thanks NetGalley and Sourcebook Landmark for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Art history, rumors, and mystery. This is a heavier read but very appealing if you like Art history.
Reader should know it is part fallow up to The Lost Mona Lisa, where several of these characters first appear.

The novel is about the self portrait of Van Gogh on display at the funeral which vanishes. Many years later the portrait reappears in the United States, This is a story that looks art stolen art and how did Van Gogh actually die,

If you like stolen art and history mixed with suspense you will enjoy this novel.


Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-book edition in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost Van Gogh took Vincent’s story in a different direction, tying it in with Nazi looted/ degenerate art. The story alternates between past and present, unfolding the story of the lost Van Gogh painting 🖼️, unspooling its story. Once I was 20% in I was hooked This told of the rich history of the Germans stealing and looting artwork. I loved how the story felt fast paced and well researched. However I didn't love that their were so many characters, it was hard to get acquainted with any. I didn't feel for them which was an issue for me.
Overall this was a wonderfully interesting historical fiction book. I'd recommend that people read it for themselves.

I got about 35% into this book when I felt it wasn't doing much for me but that could be because I haven't read THE LAST MONA LISA. That book may better set up this one which is why I'm not connecting the dots properly between the characters.

This is a particularly informative story of the effort to repatriate art stolen from Jewish art patrons by the Nazis. The history of the efforts to keep art from the Nazis hands to begin with and then to provide restitution to the descendants of the artworks' original owners, as well as the history of Van Gogh's life and especially his death, serve as the background to this mystery. The book covers many time periods, moving back and forth between the final days of the Nazi regime, Van Gogh's final days, and the present when a painting that disappeared from his funeral may have been discovered. As the reader follows the path of the painting, much is learned about how paintings' provenances are determined, art restoration, the illegal trade of stolen art, and Van Gogh's life and death.

It all starts with a young art student, Alexis Verde, who buys a mundane painting from an antique barn. She brings it home to her boyfriend, Luke Perrone, an art professor, artist, and restorer. As they handle it, they notice the paint is peeling and something seems to be behind it. That something appears to be a Van Gogh painting. The next day, while attempting to bring the painting to an art auction house, she is attacked and the painting stolen. At this point, the action takes off at a fast clip, moving to Amsterdam and France, Van Gogh's territory, and involving art thieves, gallery owners, Interpol, and a great deal of deception and intrigue.

The plot moves so quickly that holes appear and the reader questions the likelihood of some of the actions. However, it is not so much the plot as the background history that captivates. Santlofer is an artist and art historian in his own right, and he is clearly very knowledgeable. Reading this novel, which incorporates so much art history, is a highly palatable means to learn about Nazi art theft and repatriation efforts as well as aspects of Van Gogh's final days. It explores an alternate theory of the artist's death to the generally accepted suicide.

Santlofer's previous book, THE LAST MONA LISA, involves the same characters, Luke and Alexis and, of course, art history. It suddenly becomes more tantalizing after having read THE LOST VAN GOGH and discovered a writer who can imbue a thriller with so much information without becoming didactic.