This was an intriguing read, and clearly well-researched. I enjoyed the story, but also learned quite a bit I didn't know. I enjoyed the different mysteries and espionage surrounding Quinn as he tries to untangle the knot in the midst of war. There are high stakes on the line, much more than just a painting. O'Brien did a great job of bringing the 40s to life, and drawing the reader into the story. I do wish things had moved along a little more smoothly, there were some lulls in the story that I had to push through, but it was definitely worth it in the end!

I wanted to love it based on the description. It just fell a little flat for me. While I believe Efren O'Brien did extensive research on the subject, the editing was SUPER lazy. Several places where the word 'nazis' was used it had an apostrophe when it wasn't needed. Some of the descriptions seemed like an afterthought for the reader. It just didn't seem to have a good flow in some places. The premise was very promising, but it just didn't do it for me. I do appreciate the chance to read and review.

Set during WWII when Hitler and his men where claiming the wealth of Jews as their own.

Many paintings were burned but many were stolen and resold, the art dealer has no choice but to help of he risks his family, and his own life.

It is now Quinns mission to find the Five Dancing Women by Degas

Well written but it did take me a while to get into it.

this had what I wanted in a suspense novel, I loved the characters and was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, Books Go Social and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A well written mystery. Entertaining and engaging enough to keep you turning pages well after your bedtime.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

Searching For Edgar’s Five Dancers was one of my most anticipated reads on my TBR. I had such high expectations. I mean, it’s a historical/art fiction/thriller, all of my favourite things, how could I not love it? Well, honestly, I was so disappointed. It was probably my own fault, because my expectations were so high, I doubt it would have ever measured up to what I had imagined in my head.

The story got off to a strong start, and was actually extremely interesting to read. However, the pace began to slow down, and by the half way point, there wasn’t much action at all. I found myself getting bored, and I was struggling to pick the book up and continue reading, which is why I eventually DNF’ed it.

There are multiple points in the story where it makes absolutely no sense, and parts that have no explanation at all. For example, why would a former detective let someone get away with drugging him, especially when he knows the persons identity? Surely he would have done something about it! But, no, apparently not. The characters were plain, and unrealistic, and I had no feeling towards any of them at all, I just didn’t care about them.

On a positive note, I will say the Efren O’Brien clearly did his homework. The story (or what I read of it) is full of historical facts, and I actually learnt a few things from this book. The most interesting thing I learnt was about the Degenerate Art exhibition. I knew that the Nazi’s stole a huge amount of artwork during the war, however, I had no idea that they hosted an exhibition, which included paintings from extremely famous artists, and tried to use it to fund their regime. I found this so interesting (probably because I am an artist myself) that I actually went on to research the exhibition after reading about it.

Overall, I personally didn’t enjoy Searching For Edgar’s Five Dancers, and I gave it so many chances because I was desperate to love it, but it wasn’t for me. I DNF’ed it at around 55%.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I give Searching For Edgar’s Five Dancers a 1 star rating.

Who's who and what's what. Almost everyone in this novel has at least two names and various reasons for being in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the year 1941. Russians who say they are Dutch or Hungarian; German spies who have hidden reasons for having an art gallery; Nazis loyal to the homeland; secretive researchers in an area called "The Hill"; carrier pigeons; and two demoted Albuquerque policemen looking for an Edgar Degas painting considered by Hitler to be "Degenerate Art". Surrounded by J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, Cornelius Gurlitt, and Pearl Harbor.

Everyone is untangled , or dead, by the end. The story is concluded.

I read this EARC courtesy of Net Galley and Books Go Social. pub date 06/17/19

This was an interesting World War II story that takes place completely in America. The book weaves together spies from several countries, Jewish refugees, local police, and the Manhattan Project. Throw in avant-garde clubs, art galleries, a traveling show, private detectives and double-crosses and O'Brien paints a Santa Fe as the Casablanca of the Southwest.

Quinn Chase was a character about whom my feelings changed throughout the book. I began by feeling ambivalent about the policeman who drank his nights away, felt sorry for the guy who was injured on the job, hopeful for a man starting over, curious as I followed him around Santa Fe, and touched by his kind heart.

I didn't figure out the plot twist. It was a good story and kept my interest.

Searching for Edgar's Five Dancers is the first book I have read by Efren O'Brien. The historical story keeps you interested until the very end. Set in Santa Fe, New Mexico it is filled with an interesting plot of espionage.

Description: It’s Santa Fe, New Mexico in the early 1940’s - full of smuggled art, USSR spies, and FBI agents.
In the midst of it all is Quinn Chase, a former police detective turned Private Investigator trying to start a new career after being fired by the Albuquerque Police Department. Quinn seeks one painting above all others..."Five Dancing Women (ballerinas)" by nineteenth-century French Artist, Edgar Degas. At the same time, top secrets from Los Alamos are being secretly smuggled by Nazi spies out of Santa Fe and back to Germany. An American mole is being paid by and is assisting the Nazis. Quinn has his hands full as he tries to find the sought after artwork, determine who the mole is, and solve several murders that have taken place.

A well written novel that you will definitely enjoy reading as much as I did. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. I give this a 5 Star.

Santa Fe is an artist's community. It's an old town with lots of adobe buildings. It's also where this story is set.

Hitler's men are stripping Jews of their wealth. They call many of the paintings degenerate and burn them or send them to art dealers for resale. Many got hidden in mines. But there is an art dealer who is helping them in Santa Fe. He has no choice. They will kill his family members if he doesn't cooperate.

BooksGoSocial and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Quinn had been a cop in Albuquerque but was let go. Now he's a private eye with a partner. He's hired to find a painting: Five Dancing Women by Degas. As he attempts to find that, he finds that there are spies in town, trying to find out what's going on at Los Alamos. They are trying to harness nuclear power but no one knows how. Then Quinn finds out some cops are involved in the painting smuggling. It gets worse.

He's having dinner with a female spy when someone shoots through the restaurant window and kills her. There are two attempts to kill him. Will he break the case or will he get killed first?

This well written, reads fast, and you can't be sure of the outcome. It's an exciting read.

It's Santa Fe, New Mexico in the early 1940s. In the midst of art smuggling from Europe, USSR spies, and FBI agents, atomic secrets from Los Alamos are being smuggled by Nazi spies out of Santa Fe and back to Germany.
Private investigator Quinn Chase and his partner Ethan Clark are hired to look for "Five Dancing Women" by nineteenth-century French Artist Edgar Degas. At the same time, Quinn meets Marika Kraus, a cunning and charming German woman, who might have connections with the smuggled art ring. He also wonders if art gallery owner Joel Finebaum and his niece Katrina are involved in any way.
Quinn has his hands full as he tries to find the missing artwork and solve several recent murders. Will he succeed in his mission on time?
"Searching for Edgar's Five Dancers" is full of historical references to WW2, particularly to Degenerate Art confiscated by Nazis, and covers the entire war period. While the premise is interesting, the book needs a good editor. It flows poorly in places, and key events are left hanging or unexplained (for instance, Quinn gets glass in his eye but never sees a medic).
I would not recommend this book, but it might interest readers with a passion for art, WW2 or espionage.
Note: This book includes sexual content, mild cursing and murder violence.

I loved the intrigue and history of this one. It had wonderful plot and held my interest throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book i

A story based around a lot of facts concerning artwork deemed degenerate by the Nazis who nonetheless stole it, smuggled it to America, particularly New Mexico, and then sold it for their benefit - that that they didn't destroy outright as with books that is. Added to this deception there is the development of the Atomic Research site at Los Alamos and nefarious attempts at finding out what was being researched there. German spies, double agents, Government agents, Russian agents, treachery, bent policemen,honest policemen (no wonder Quinn consumes a large amount of booze) - all part of a day's work for our intrepid Quinn, ex detective now Private Investigator. He is tasked with finding one painting, one painting only but nothing is that simple or straightforward especially when two pretty girls are in the way as well. There is certainly a lot going on with a wide range of well-drawn characters. However, I found the writing clunky with little real flow hence detracting from the story. Whilst there was a 40s feel to the locations and ambience - think Chandler - I couldn't really empathise with any of the characters and felt it was an ok book but without sparkle. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

espionage, law-enforcement, art-theft, ww2, private-investigators, romance, historical-fiction

Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and art stolen by Nazis to be sold to support the Reich. Spies of all sorts, Feds and local law enforcement, and one alcoholic cop busted down to Private Investigator. The publisher's blurb is better than most. The general history is quite well done. It would make a good TV movie.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Books Go Social via NetGalley.