The Last Mona Lisa

With the true account of Vincenzo Perrugia’s 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa as its framework, Santlofer’s story follows the thief’s fictional great-grandson on a quest to learn whether the painting now in the Louvre is the original or a brilliant fake.

I’m a fan of all the author’s art-world mysteries, but this one is especially engrossing for its international settings, engaging characters, deftly plotted intrigue, and clever dénouement. As an artist himself, Santlofer weaves in technical details that make the forgery scheme all the more plausible.

The key word here is "unstoppable." That applies to the action in this fast-paced novel as well as to the turning of the pages. It's all a matter of momentum, some would say, but when it comes down to it, it really is the talent, know-how, and expertise of the author. 

Jonathan Santlofer is really good at writing mysteries, and he is obviously also well-traveled; he knows Paris, Florence, and Rome. In addition, he's an artist. It's all about the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, the forgeries that appeared in its wake, and the present-day underbelly… show more.

Not only was this book about the theft of the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world, in 1911 a great read, but I connected with the book because the author is a writer and an artist.

As an artist, he has been replicating famous paintings for private collectors for more than two decades so he knows his subject.