What happens when you mix a Parisian street orphan, a hot-tempered Spanish forger, a beautiful American pickpocket, an unloved wife, and one priceless painting?
The charming Eduardo de Valfierno makes a very respectable living in Argentina fleecing the nouveau rich-they pay him to steal valuable pieces of art, and Valfierno sells them flawless forgeries instead. But, when Eduardo meets the beautiful Mrs. Hart on his latest con, he takes a risk that forces him back to the city he loved and left behind-Paris. There he assembles his team of con artists for their final and most ambitious theft, one that will enable them to leave the game forever: The Mona Lisa.
But, when a member of the team turns up missing, and Mr. Hart shows up in Paris, Valfierno and his crew must stay one step ahead of a relentless police inspector, endure a devastating flood, and conquer their own doubts to keep the priceless painting in play-and survive.
Based on the actual theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, and published on the 100th anniversary of the crime, Stealing Mona Lisa is a sophisticated, engaging caper, complete with a richly imagined group of con artists and a historical mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
"An intriguing and captivating story about a great scam with a twist in the world of con artists, art forgery and mystery."
Frank W. Abagnale, New York Times bestselling author of Catch Me If You Can
"Historical fans will welcome professional musician Morton's first novel … Morton smoothly blends fact and fiction while evocatively exploring the era's seamy underbelly."
Publisher's Weekly
"An evocative and engaging reworking of the famous Valfierno myth and the theft of the world's most famous painting. Morton writes beautifully and transports us to an Art Deco world of intriguing criminals."
Noah Charney, author of The Art Thief and Stealing the Mystic Lamb
