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Written in the voice of Martin (Marty), this book explores the world of a company start-up and how Marty and his partner, Bo, chase money by meeting with venture capitalists to fund their business, Paladin. Things go significantly wrong with one meeting, resulting in mayhem—arson, art forgeries, theft, the Russian mob, kidnapping, broken relationships, marital issues, a strip club, police involvement, greed, and ongoing threats. Throughout the book, there are numerous twists and turns, and there is significant history regarding Russia and Germany, Hitler and WWII, the black market for art, and the search for Raphael’s missing painting, Portrait of a Young Man. And out of this chaos, what is this doing to the families of Bo and Marty, and what is happening to their business during this five-day span of chaos?
The author’s book is well written, with an intriguing storyline that is always engaging, although one needs a scorecard to keep track of the various players. The history adds a significant component to the novel, giving background to the missing painting, the forging of art, and the theft of art during WWII. By being told only through Marty’s eyes, it begs the question of how others see the storyline and whether they agree with the way things were handled throughout the trauma-filled time. And how do they all see their culpability for the horrors they were a part of? The ending is a surprise and wraps up this book with an excellent conclusion that befits the rest of the writing, for it is a delightful turn of events. Balter has written an exciting, page-turning thriller that is hard to put down.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
A 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist