LOOT
Morrow, 1999April 1945: In the last convulsive days of World War II a convoy of Nazi trucks loaded with Europe's greatest art treasures winds its way through the Alps toward a cavernous Austrian salt mine. With the Allies closing in and chaos erupting, a single truck silently disappears into a mountain snowstorm with its cargo of stolen masterpieces. Half a century later, in a seedy Boston pawnshop, ex-curator Ben Revere makes a stunning discovery among the piles of junk: a Velasquez portrait from the legendary lost truck. By the next day, the pawnshop owner, Ben's old friend Simeon Pawlowsky, himself a Nazi death camp survivor, is dead, the life brutally beaten out of him. The painting is gone. Ben, haunted by his failure to save his elderly friend, is determined to track down the killer by following the missing painting's trail. But the tangled history of the lost truck and its treasures takes him on a twisting, dangerous path that winds through Europe's grandest cities...Vienna, Budapest, St. Petersburg...and back five decades to a time when Hitler's hated minions looted at will. Soon Ben finds himself caught up in the tangled roots of a conspiracy of greed, lies, hatred, and vengeance--and imperiled by the half-century-old enigma of the vanished truck and its priceless legacy. WHERE TO BUY: BOOKSTORESTHE INDEPENDENT MYSTERY BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION These are the bookstores that keep the mystery alive and well. They know and love mysteries and thrillers as no one else does, and they deserve your support. Find your local independents here. WHERE TO BUY: ONLINEAmazon and Barnes & Noble |
"A tale of greed, deception,
and murder ...Elkins is a master.... In Ben Revere he has created a detective
with ample knowledge of his subject as well as a conscience that drives him
to an honest, satisfying conclusion." --The Dallas Morning News
"Enthralling...A fast-paced and tightly written thriller." --The Seattle Times
"This one is as good as it gets." --The New York Daily News
"Unbeatable...a fast-paced, terrific book...Elkins's story has it all." --The Kansas City Star
"Elkins uses his low-key narrative voice, personably erudite central characters, and historically intriguing plot to enthrall readers. Highly recommended." --Library Journal
"The compelling plot alone could carry the novel, but what makes Loot one of the most uniquely fascinating crime novels in recent months are the incredible history lessons Elkins imparts--not just about art but also about war, cities, and humanity. Not only does he know his stuff, but he conveys it in a lively, compelling style that would hook even the most reluctant reader. Manna for those who love art and just plain irresistible for anyone else." --Booklist (starred review)
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