The Art Forger

By: B. A. Shapiro

Narrated by: Xe Sands

On March 18, 1990, thirteen works of art, today worth over $500 million, were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It remains the largest unsolved art heist in history, and Claire Roth, a struggling young artist, is about to discover that there's more to this crime than meets the eye.

Making a living reproducing famous artworks for a popular online retailer and desperate to improve her situation, Claire is lured into a Faustian bargain with Aiden Markel, a powerful gallery owner. She agrees to forge a painting - a Degas masterpiece stolen from the Gardner Museum - in exchange for a one-woman show in his renowned gallery. But when that very same long-missing Degas painting is delivered to Claire's studio, she begins to suspect that it may itself be a forgery.

Her desperate search for the truth leads Claire into a labyrinth of deceit where secrets hidden since the late 19th century may be the only evidence that can now save her life.

©2012 Barbara Shapiro (P)2012 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"A clever, twisty novel about art, authenticity, love, and betrayal. B. A. Shapiro knows about Degas, and she knows about art theft and forgery, and she also knows how to tell a gripping story." (Tom Perrotta)

Wiil buy the paperbook

I wanted to love this book - but I could not get past the narrator's voice.

Ethics and the Art World

This is a yummy read. It went all kinds e of unexpected places and reminds us that the art world is no better than the people in it. I had some problems with the heroine. She suffers seriously from a case of the emperor;s clothes. There are some true things you just can't say. But the bits about Degas are delicious, wicked and very fun.
I took one star off because I could see where the end was going , but it did manage to give it a good unexpected twist. It's a very good read.

Fabulous

Loved the book as well as the narration! Can't wait to begin The Muralist now.

Superb mystery keeps you listening

Loved this book. The story has so many twists and turns that I listened to it whenever I had a spare moment.

Painters would love this

Loved the peek into an artist's work and life. Great story! Great narration as well.