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The Ghent Altarpiece had been a joint project between brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck. Despite Hubert's untimely death in 1426, Jan continued the work on the masterpiece, and it was unveiled at Saint Bavo's Cathedral in 1432. In 1934, a brazen burglary occurred at the cathedral, and a thief absconded with a panel from the work.
Sophia Rossi, an art historian at the Smithsonian, has heard about "The Righteous Judges" panel since she was young. Her interest in the unaccounted-for piece is further sparked by the discovery of pages from a Nazi diary in a book that point to the possible whereabouts of the panel. Soon, Sophia is working in conjunction with the philanthropic W Foundation to locate the long-lost panel. The code-cracking of her new associates provides a possible lead: a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, who might be the key to unlocking the mystery. However, Sophia will need to be quick, as there are descendants of the Nazis who are seeking the panel as well.
This historical fiction novel possesses the all-consuming intrigue of a Dan Brown novel but with a little more edge. The story of a purloined art relic and the mystery surrounding it is a fascinating read from the outset. The enigmatic tone of the story is set from the beginning with the secretive actions of Jan Van Eyck, a painter who occasionally dabbled in espionage for the Duke of Burgundy. The author blends elements of reality (i.e., Nazi obsession with fine and rare works of art) with suspense and adventure in a narrative that features a charismatic protagonist in Sophia Rossi, who is intelligent, beautiful, and also a risk-taker. A globetrotting, high-stakes treasure hunt with more than a few nail-biting moments, this is a book that will capture the reader's imagination.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review