I did not know that this was part of a series and maybe that impacted my enjoyment. I appreciated the short chapters which kept the story moving at a fast pace. There are a lot of characters and we never really get to know them well. Additionally, the constantly alternating points of view made it difficult to keep track of who’s who..

I did enjoy the historical aspect of the story. The author's research into those aspects, as well as his knowledge of art, are evident. It’s the spy/thriller part that didn’t work as well. As the story went on, it became less believable, especially as everyone descended upon Auvers-sur-Oise.

Overall, this book felt very disjointed, its potential better than its execution.

I had high expectations for this book, because I really liked this author's previous book, The Last Mona Lisa. Even though several of the characters are in both books, this can definitely be read as a standalone. I suspect that the mystery surrounding the loss and discovery and loss again of a famous painting is supposed to be exciting and suspenseful, but I didn't find it to be either of those things. The story also lacked good flow and the narrative felt very choppy.

In this story of corrupt art dealers and art thieves all of the characters are either lying, cheating, or stealing, and no one is trustworthy. I found there to be an overabundance of characters and with the introduction of each new one I began to lose more and more interest.

The historical aspects of the story were my favorite parts. The scenes from the 1940s, when the Germans were stealing important pieces of artwork from the families that were being sent to concentration camps, and how resistance fighters were smuggling art pieces out of the grasp of Hitler and Goring were very interesting. And, the tracking of how art works made it into museums in the U.S. was also fascinating.

There is a lot of good information in this novel, but I feel that the delivery fell short of the intended goal.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting novel about art, fraud, and one of the most famous artists in the world.
The author offers a fresh new slant to the well known story and speculation about Van Gogh’s demise.
I liked the short chapters because the narrative was fast.
I also liked the inclusion of Anne Frank.
Art stolen during WWII is still a huge topic of interest and speculation.

“… this painting, every stolen work of art represents a stolen life.”

When Luke, an artist, and his girlfriend Alexis, daughter of a notorious art thief, accidentally discover what may be a lost Van Gogh self-portrait, they find themselves entangled in the dark web of the underground art world. As their lives become endangered because of the various shady individuals lusting for the painting, they find help from INTERPOL agent John Smith.

This story is told in a dual timeline, switching from present time to the early 1940s during World War II. It also shifts perspectives - from first, second, to third person. I appreciate the research that has gone into this book. The author, being an artist himself, certainly knows what he’s talking about. But for me the book gets confusing with the multiple POVs and so many characters to keep track of. It was why I wasn’t into the story at first, until the latter part when the action picked up.

The book’s strength though is when it delves into the histories of Van Gogh, Anne Frank, of art works stolen from Jewish collectors during the Holocaust, of how resistance fighters tried to protect these paintings. I love learning about history and art. I wish though that the author chose one or two perspectives to make the book easier to digest given that it already has a lot going on, because the topics discussed in this book are really important and worth telling.

Thank you netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of The Lost Van Gogh. I really liked the story but the writing and the characters never engaged me. I don’t think I have enough love for art for this book to work for me, but if you love historical fiction and appreciate art, this book is perfect for you!

This was an entertaining international cat and mouse thriller set in the art world. This novel gives us a lost Van Gogh self portrait found in an antiques store by an art student. It doesn't take long for the story to take off with theft, secrets, spies and mysterious musuem curators/collectors. Along the way we find out a lot about Van Gogh and his latter part of life. I think the book touched on a much needed topic of art theft by the Nazis and the attempts to return it to it's owners. I thought weaving that into the story helped make it memorable. I must add that the sketches at the end of the book are a nice addition to the story. Thank you netgalley for an entertaining book. I would read another by this author!

"Art is to console those who are broken by life." (Vincent Van Gogh)

And who better to represent the broken than the artist himself, Vincent Van Gogh. It is said that he painted thousands of his works but sold only so few. The ups and downs of his existence are reflected in his art. It has been rumored that he created two self-portraits that were displayed in his memory upon his death. One of them is missing. And here is where our story begins.

Alexis Verde, an art student nearing her doctorate in Art History, came upon an oddly designed art piece painted solely in black and white. She purchased it and brought it home to her apartment. Upon examining it further, she realises that there's something beneath this painting. And what she finds is the electric current that fills this storyline to the end.

Luke Perrone is Alex' boyfriend. They've become more serious and committed. We met Luke in Jonathan Santlofer's previous novel, The Last Mona Lisa (2021). Do make an effort to pick this one up even though The Lost Van Gogh reads well as a standalone. Luke has worked as an art professor in the past and is currently preparing for an exhibit of his own work in New York City and possibly in Amsterdam. He is intrigued by what Alex may have found. But before Alex can have the painting examined by experts, it is grabbed out of her arms on the street. Someone is watching.

Alex and Luke contact John Washington Smith, a Black INTERPOL agent of the highest caliber. Smith became involved in their last quest involving the Mona Lisa. Smith agrees to doing some background checks on this possible Van Gogh link. They breathe a sigh of relief.....only too soon. Smith contacts them later and tells them to drop their inquiry into this painting. It's probably bogus. But Alex and Luke believe otherwise. Why would Smith spin on a dime?

We'll soon come to find out that there is a dark side to this investigation. Very dark. Faces reflecting professionalism may be false faces, indeed. Who can they trust? The numbers dwindle as these two suddenly realize that their own lives may be in danger.

Jonathan Santlofer presents a creative novel that takes us down deep, winding tunnels in the Art world. We'll visit looted art taken by the Nazis starting in 1937 called "degenerate art". These were works that did not support the German regime. Other masterpieces were conviscated by the Nazis with the destination for an Art museum designed by Hitler himself. Magnificent artwork was stolen especially from the Jews and their extended families who would never live to reclaim them. Many are actually hanging in renowned museums around the world without documented proof of their owners.

The Lost Van Gogh will take us from New York City to Amsterdam and even to Van Gogh's resting place in France. It's filled with intrigue and highly dangerous moments. Here's another precious gem just waiting for a knock on the door from Netflix. Be sure to check this one out.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and to the talented Jonathan Santlofer for the opportunity.

Art thief books seem to be gaining popularity, or maybe I am just drawn to them and have been reading more of them. This is a solid entry into that field. I enjoyed following along with Luke Perrone and Alexis Verde as they discovered what could possibly a lost Van Gogh in a painting behind a painting at an antique shop.

I loved the larger issues this book brought up, about who owns stolen art and a dive into the life of Van Gogh. Even though Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists, I didn’t know that much about his personal life so that was interesting to read about. I will say I did get a little lost with all the character names at the beginning, so I needed to write things down to keep them straight.

Overall this was a solid art thief story.

This book is a part of a series, and I have not read the first book, so this review might reflect that fact. I found the premise of the book to be particularly interesting, and the latter half of the book was fast-paced and kept my attention well. However, I found the first half of the book to be confusing and incredibly slow-paced. In my opinion, there were too many characters being thrown at me and because I hadn’t read the first book, I wasn’t familiar with any of them so I struggled to keep them all straight. The points of view used throughout the book was also confusing to me, keeping straight the first person parts with the third person parts — it took me out of the book as I tried to figure out who anyone was talking about.

I liked the historical aspects of this book, especially the author’s note at the end that goes into what was real and proven to be fact — I thought that was a nice touch. Overall, the potential of this book was better than the execution in my opinion.

I really enjoy reading historic novels and this one tells a lot about how art and jewelry were taken from Jewish people throughout Europe to meet with Hitler's personal desires of fortune and to build an art museum in his birth place. It also describes how inescrupulous art dealers kept on buying these art pieces in America and other countries after the war ended to obtain profit although they knew where the items came from. The Lost Van Gogh has a great storyline, it's well-written and grabbed my attention from the beginning!
I thank Mr. Santlofer, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is an interesting story, but the way that this book is written each chapter is from a different point of view and because we don’t have an indication of who’s point of view we are in it can be confusing to know what is going on. I made it to 30% and am putting it down because I am not able to keep up with what is going on.

I was fascinated by this story. Rich in historical detail, it kept me drawn to the pages. I highly recommend.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! If you’re an art or history enthusiast, you should give this novel a try. It was intriguing right from the start for me and had twists I didn’t anticipate.

My main reason for not rating this highly was the writing style. While it was well written, it just wasn’t a style that read easy for me. Took me almost halfway through the book to figure out the changing POV’s. I found myself skimming near the end, too, because there was sooo much information. Which, kudos to Santlofer, for the amount of work that had to have gone into writing this story, though.

This is not usually a book I would gravitate towards, but I liked it overall. Despite moments where it read like a history book, The Lost Van Gogh was a fun mystery.

Fast paced thriller centered round a VanGogh hidden under another painting. Interspersed within the plot are chapters outlining who did the hiding, and how the canvas left it's owners and arrived in a small upstate New York antique store. Note, this is the second novel in a series, it follows The Last Mona Lisa. Not having read that, this novel was fine as a stand alone, although I sense some of the character interactions might have made more sense if I'd started there.

The upcoming historical thriller The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Sandlofer is a standard thriller with certain important and timely themes that may make the reader interested in learning more about history and the arts.

The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer is a thriller with historical elements added in the mixture. A search for a lost Van Gogh self-portrait takes the main characters Alex and Luke to Amsterdam, Paris, and the underbelly of art theft. Alex and Luke are quite familiar with art, and when they know that what they have found is a gem, they want to do everything to keep it safe. Expected Publication of this book is January 2nd, 2024

This book is a part of a series, and I have not read the first book, so my review might reflect it. The premise of the book is excellent, and I really enjoyed the book in the later part. The historical background caught my eye as well. The author's notes at the end are quite fascinating.

However, I struggled with this book due to the immense number of characters. Since I have not read the first book of the series, maybe I struggled a bit more, but the way these characters interacted with each other was a bit disjointed. I didn't know quite a few times as to who the narrator of the chapter was. It was a bit difficult then to read the book, which took me more time to complete the book.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley, for this book.

Alexis purchases an abstract painting for twenty five dollars in up-state New York, only to discover, with her boyfriend Luke, that there is a painting underneath. As they delicately remove the painting on top, they reveal what looks like a Van Gogh, but not one that either of these art afficionados are familiar. With some research, the believe that they have discovered the artist's last self portrait, painted just before his death and stolen from his funeral. And thus our adventure begins.

Alexis and Luke's adventure takes them from New York to Amsterdam to a small village outside of Paris. During their travels, Alexis and Luke will be both hunted and hunters, as word of thier find spreads like wild fire through the underbelly of the black market art trade. They are not sure who to trust and everyone they meet seems to have alterior motives.

The novel starts at a quick pace with wonderful introductions to our main characters and quickly gets into the plot. However, the story seems to stall about a quarter of the way into the novel. As the pace picks up in the back half of the novel, the story becomes less believable. Overall, the novel has great protagonists and some adventurous moments but it's hard to overlook the mounting unbelievable coincidences and lulls in the book.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC

As the title reveals, the story of The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer revolves around an alleged painting by the Dutch master, Van Gogh, that is "discovered" in America hidden under another painting. I really liked the dual timelines following the life of the painting from its inception to the present interwoven with the current day mystery of "where is the painting"? The plot developments that took place in Amsterdam were especially interesting (though I wished I had a pronunciation guide for all of the Dutch names), and I bet the author enjoyed researching all of the international locations. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book for review.

The allure of art and celebrated artists never ceases to captivate me, which is why the story revolving around a lost Van Gogh painting immediately piqued my interest.

The narrative unravels at a moderately paced tempo, effectively sustaining my attention as the author deftly introduces the central characters. However, the action that transpires early on truly lures me into the unfolding plot. The narrative is set into two timelines, each equally intriguing - the historical journey of the lost Van Gogh painting and the contemporary mystery surrounding the same artwork.

Each character is imbued with their distinct motivations and veiled secrets. The novel serves as an intriguing exploration of the constant battle between moral integrity and personal ambition. This internal struggle is most apparent in Luke, one of the primary protagonists. As an art professor and striving artist, he is confronted with a moral dilemma - to choose between doing what is right or advancing his career. Alex, on the other hand, harbors her secret, one that resonates deeply with me concerning her strained relationship with her estranged father. Her audacious disregard for personal safety in her relentless pursuit of truth is what distinguishes her character. Smith, an Interpol agent, adds another layer to the story with his enigmatic persona.

At first glance, 'The Lost Van Gogh' revolves around a straightforward case of art theft. However, as the story progresses, it opens a Pandora's box, revealing the sinister trade of artworks pilfered during World War II. It also raises profound questions about the restitution of these stolen masterpieces to their rightful owners and the ethically questionable acquisition practices of major museums and auction houses.

This novel serves as an enlightening window into the less visible aspects of the art world, offering a perspective seldom available to the casual observer. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in this narrative, and I am eager to delve into the author's first book - 'The Last Mona Lisa'.

Thank you to Thoughts from a Page, Sourcebooks Landmark, #partner, for an advanced e-copy of The Lost Van Gogh in exchange for my honest review.

This book wasn’t even on my radar until Cindy from the Thoughts From a Page Podcast selected it for her Early Reads Patreon group to read. This is why I love participating in this early reads program as it exposes me to such great books!

I love reading books about the art world and this one was so fascinating. I ended up learning so much about Van Gogh that I did not know. This book, which I would classify as a historical mystery, focuses on the supported lost self-portrait of Van Gogh that went missing right around his death, but also delves into so much more. Moving back and forth from the present day to the past, it takes us on quite a journey into the art world bringing up issues of stolen art and forgeries.

I will say that there are a lot of characters in this book and it did take me a while to get them all straight. But, once I did, I quite enjoyed the story and loved that it was fast-paced and very engaging. The book takes some twists that I was not expecting and I quite enjoyed that – it certainly kept me on my toes, for sure!

I’m glad I gave this one a chance and I found out that this is a companion novel to Santlofer’s first book, The Last Mona Lisa, where a few of the characters are first introduced. I am definitely going to have to check that one out. I know nothing about that painting and can only imagine what I would learn from that book!