It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands? With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.
This historical fiction book is full of suspense, intrigue, non stop action with the back drop being the end of World War II in Paris. The description of the war-ravaged city is vivid, bringing clear images into this readers mind. It gave me an opportunity to sit and think about what it must have been like to live in occupied Paris, with food rationings, fear of the Third Reich, and the people of Paris having their identity stripped away with such brutality.
Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler are Swiss agents sent to protect the Mona Lisa from high ranking Third Reich officers who want the irreplaceable French painting for themselves, all for greed and profit. Gabi and Eric are in love, treat each other with respect and look out for each other. They carry out their duty with integrity.
What I found confusing is the numerous characters in this novel. Some are fictional. Some, like Charles de Gaulle were real people who were involved one way or another with the war. It was difficult to keep track of everyone, who they were, what their involvement was etc. Character development was not as strong as I would have liked.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The history and the main characters of Gabi and Eric make this a good read.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
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