Just read "the Art Forger" by B.A. Shapiro. What a terrific book!

[CTyankee]

If you are a fan of art forger/heist books you will love this one! It is a present day "update" on the Gardner Museum theft of 1990 and recreates a fanciful "relationship" between Edgar Degas and Isabella Steward Gardner. Set in today's Boston, the heroine (writing in the first person present tense) is a struggling artist who gets an "opportunity" to "set right" the theft of a Degas from the Museum ( in a certain way). If you love a story that involves a lot of art, with twists and turns along the way, artfully done, you will like this book A LOT! I loved it and recommend it to art lovers and those who just good fiction thrillers.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Oh no! My list of books to read is getting long!

I have added this one too. I just hope it isn't another 500 page mammoth book----it seems that is all I have been reading lately.

[CTyankee]

2. No, it's 355 pp. And the author really moves the plot along (she is a professor of creative

writing at Northeastern University in Boston). The use of first person present tense adds a certain amount of drama to each twist and turn, so it really hooks you.

[Olive Birch]

3. Old thread but great book!

I'm always late to the party - I had to search the book to see if anyone had posted about it. I usually give the books I have finished to my daughter, but I think I am going to just send her a copy from Amazon so I can keep this one to re-read at a later date. I think I picked this book up at a second hand store - what a find- not to mention that I am a huge Degas fan. Since this is an older thread, I am wondering if you have read anything similar or have other recommendations?

[CTyankee]

4. No, I haven't and I try to get my hands on other books like it...from the list of

new nonfiction in the NYT sunday book review section. If you could get that online they are pretty savvy. A great source...

[Enthusiast]

5. Thanks for calling our attention to this old thread.