The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession

I just finished the book. I’m exhausted, but WOW! Such a great read! It moves along like a train slowly leaving its station, picking up speed as we pass milestones of museums and art theft scattered over the landscape. (To call this a cautionary tale falls short. That’s like saying jumping into the Grand Canyon from the rim is like tripping over a cobblestone. It’s bigger than that!) We pass 20-50 pages and the story picks up momentum. At around this point I suggest putting aviator goggles on, scarf tied down/hat pulled over the ears so one’s hair doesn’t whip-sap at your eyes. It’s zooming now, moving over ground quickly but thoroughly.

With 50 pages-out of 209-to go, the story accelerates at bullet-train speed. It’s stunning what transpires. Suddenly, or not so suddenly, we land at the end with a thud and a swift kick in the boot, jettisoned beyond the pages to admire the incredible craft of the author and what a great job he did driving his maniac story hell-bent while staying on the rails and depositing us safely at the end. For me, I was greatly impressed by the story much more so than that of the characters, and they were well drawn. (I’m still trying to figure out why Chip Kidd, the famous designer, put Albrecht Durer’s bat on the cover. They’re wonderful creatures but maligned by stereotyping. Maybe that’s the point? Loved the second half of the cover art with the sweet sleeping youth, ‘The Little Shepard’ by Francois Boucher. He could be a reflection of our youthful Art Thief, Stephane Breitwieser.)

In the riveting world of true crime literature, few tales are as spellbinding as "The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession". From the very first page, the reader is transported into a world of passion, intrigue, and high-stakes deception. This isn't just a book; it's an odyssey that delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the lengths people will go for love and obsession.

The narrative is as exquisitely crafted as the artworks it chronicles. The author masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, shedding light on the often shadowy underworld of art theft, where fortunes change hands in the blink of an eye and trust is as rare as a genuine Rembrandt. The characters are intricate and multi-dimensional, transcending the typical archetypes of criminals and victims. The interplay of their motivations – from love to greed, ambition to revenge – paints a vivid picture of humanity in all its flawed beauty.

The love story at the heart of this saga is as mesmerizing as any of the stolen masterpieces. It reminds us that beneath the veneer of crime lies a tale as old as time: the pursuit of connection and understanding. It's a poignant reminder that love, in all its forms, can drive us to extremes, both noble and nefarious.

The pacing is impeccable. Each chapter brings with it a new revelation, a twist, or a deeper insight, making it nigh impossible to put down. The balance between the meticulous details of the art world and the raw emotions of the characters is nothing short of masterful.

But beyond the captivating story and the poetic prose, "The Art Thief" also raises profound questions about the value we place on art and the lengths we'll go to possess it. Is it the monetary value that drives this obsession, or is it something deeper, more primal? The book challenges us to reflect on the role of art in our lives and the price we're willing to pay for beauty.

In conclusion, "The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession" is a tour de force, a masterpiece in its own right. It's a tale that lingers long after the final page, urging us to look beyond the surface and find the stories hidden in the shadows. An absolute must-read for anyone who loves art, mysteries, or the complexities of the human heart.

I purchased this book from Amazon based on their recommendation. The author wrote the book with narrative through out that explains what happened after arrests are made. I believe Mr. Finkel did an excellent job leading the reader into Breitwieser's gradual lust for stealing art. I really can't imagine how he ever thought this would end of well. Then again, I don't think he really cared. Personally, I believe he had a thirst for the excitement of stealing and since he loved/studied art why not. Breitwieser had worked for a short time as a security guard at a small museum and learned security or good security is not affordable for these size museums. He of course took full advantage of this knowledge.

After a bit, one theft became many and the reader may get a little fatigued reading about all of them. The detail is amazing on each theft. It seems Breitwieser has a fantastic memory with one description relayed by the author as him telling about each screw being removed to obtain a piece of art. So as I'm starting to think about skipping a few paragraphs, my attention is completely swept up by his capture. The story takes many an interesting twist and turn which had my full attention.

All in all a very entertaining book. Buy it!

Other reviewers who want to know more about things that aren't shown in the book are ignoring the author's assertions that no amount of research and questioning could induce the people involved to reveal these things. It's non-fiction, so if the people involved don't reveal their secrets, the author can't just make stuff up! The readers who didn't think these thieves did anything out of the ordinary seem to have missed the point that the number and frequency of the thefts were remarkable, and that their motivation was complex and not necessarily as the thieves described it. Here's why I gave only three stars. The story is really interesting, but the writing is just okay. Sometimes the author changes tense within a single paragraph that is only about one time frame; in a book where we're sometimes jumping between what happened long ago at the original theft and what the thieves or others later described, staying true to the tense that pertains to what the author is telling us would have made the writing clearer. The book is written by a journalist; it would probably adapt well to being fictionalized, but that's not what happened here. This is a good, solid non-fiction read.