The Last Mona Lisa

Luke is obsessed with the history of the Mona Lisa, mostly because it intertwines with his own family history. His great-grandfather was arrested for stealing the painting, and Luke has been compiling facts about the case for years. He gets a communication from someone in Italy who says that his great-grandfather’s journal has surfaced, and was left to a library there with other papers. Luke wastes no time in flying to Italy to read the journal, and maybe, at long last, to discover an important secret about the painting. The story vacillates from past to present many times. At times, the author, in trying to build suspense, plays “the pronoun game,” and readers won’t know who some of the new characters are for many chapters. show more Still, it quite an exciting book, combining known history with what may have happened. The author does a good job of developing his characters, both past and present ones, and placing them in an intricate plot. This suspenseful novel will keep you turning pages until the very end. Luke does meet a woman, (after all, he is in Italy!), an American who is reading in the same research library as he is, but the author does not turn this into a romance, for which I am grateful, although he leaves his readers with a hint of love in the air. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! A dramatic tale inspired by the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa, this novel kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't tend to like historical fiction OR thrillers; neither have I ever been much of an art connoisseur, yet I found myself getting more and more drawn into this tale. The characters are sympathetic and always interesting, and the compelling tale unfolds beautifully and naturally. Many stories nowadays take place in two time frames, and this book is no exception, but I think it works better in this story than it does in many others because the two timelines support each other so well. I am also impressed by the level of detail put into this book; the author has clearly done his research, and it show more shows. There is a despicable villain, but the more brutal elements happen away from the story's action. There is a romance, but it has more of a secondary role in the story and doesn't draw focus. There is drama and sacrifice and hope. Wonderful! show less

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am a huge fan of historical fiction for the sheer fact that they lead me to true events that I haven’t heard of before which peaks my curiosity to read a fiction about it but also to research and discover the facts. I also, enjoy these books when I do know the true back story because it makes the novel more relatable for me.
In the case of the Last Mona Lisa I might be embarrassed to say I had no idea that the Mona Lisa had ever been stolen! It was so fun to get some real facts on the background of the theft while also joining along in the mystery behind the man who stole it. I was lucky enough to be reading this during the week the History channel show more ran their podcast on this very event! It was super fun to cross reference the historical facts from the podcast and the books.
This may sound sexist but this was pretty high emotion and drama which I’m not sure I’m used to from a male author. Jonathan Santlofer really did an excellent job painting the character of Luke Perrone. His bad boy background, his draw to his great grandfather’s criminal activity leading to a light art interest, his alcoholic past, and his macho man struggles.
This book makes you want to go to Italy and Paris to see all the pieces of art mentioned and not mentioned. I know I had to stop reading to google artwork multiple times.
As I write this review I’m tempted to give it 4 stars because there wasn’t much I didn’t like about the book but I have a set way of ranking books and this falls in the category of good, would recommend to a friend, but will never reread and probably just forget about. show less

Art crimes are an intriguing branch of the international crime tree, and in The Last Mona Lisa Jonathan Santlofer ably fulfills their potential. He begins with a real crime that took place in 1911, when a man named Vincent Peruggia was fired from his job at the Louvre, then hid in the museum overnight and stole the Mona Lisa. The destitute but patriotic Peruggia wanted to return the painting to his native Italy, and doubtless make a little money too. The painting resurfaced two years later in Florence whereupon the Italian police arrested him.
Santlofer’s novel features an American named Luke Perrone, fictional great-grandson of Peruggia. Since childhood, Luke has researched his notorious ancestor and the rumors he kept a diary during show more his months in prison. Luke is a frustrated painter and college history of art professor, and an upcoming school break gives him a chance to follow up a new lead. Apparently, his great-grandfather’s journal was donated to Florence’s Laurentian Library among the papers of a recently deceased art scholar.
Other people are just as interested in the diary as Luke is. Another library patron, the luscious Alexandra Greene, is just too friendly, except when she’s not. Interpol analyst John Washington Smith suspects the painting in the Louvre may not be authentic. During the Mona Lisa’s two-year disappearance, several copies were made and sold as originals. Perhaps the one hanging in the Louvre is one of these. Smith knows about Luke’s new lead and the trip to Florence, and if it pans out, it could revive his sagging career. A stop-at-nothing collector is also keenly interested and believes Luke can tell him whether “his” Mona Lisa, hidden in a vault, is the real thing.
Maybe I read too many thrillers, but I thought Luke was a bit slow to realize he’s experiencing too many coincidences and too many people dying around him. Chapters about Luke and Smith in the present day are interspersed with Vincenzo’s story, as told in his diary. These atmospheric historical chapters give resonance to Luke’s quest. show less

Florence, Paris, Da Vinci, and a good mystery. Some of my favorite things. What more could I ask for?
Santlofer has penned a good book here. Relying on historical facts, with a good amount of imagination thrown in, the book is a good read. Action packed, full of twists and turns.
To the reviewers who are complaining about this book being a rip-off of Dan Brown, get over yourselves! Brown wrote some good books in this genre, but he wasn't the first, and won't be the last. There's more than enough subject matter out there to continue in this mold, and Santlofer does a great job at it.
The one thing that I wish had been different, and stops me from awarding a five star review, was the author's tendency to write many, many really short show more chapters, and start a new one without identifying who he was talking about. Sometimes the main character, many times one of the many other characters, it took a bit to figure out who was talking. It made it confusing, at least to me.
All in all, a really good book. I look forward to reading more from this author. show less

“The Last Mona Lisa” is based on the life of Vincent Peruggia who stole Leonardo’s Mona Lisa from The Louvre on August 21, 1911. I know the story; I have read numerous accounts, and I have watched documentary reenactments. I even have socks adorned with that famous face. What more could this book add to the legacy? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot. What if The Mona Lisa which has been in The Louvre all these years is a fake? How can one be sure?

The story unfolds in a first person narrative by Luke Perrone, an artist and a teacher of art history. He is captivated by the most famous woman in the world: Lisa del Giocondo, the beautiful Mona Lisa, a four-hundred-year-old beauty who was abducted and returned more than once including show more one time by Perrone’s great-grandfather, Vincent Peruggia.

The chapters alternate back and forth in time between the present and 1911. The narrative is full of feelings, expectations, goals, and motivations. The journey is told through journals written by Peruggia, historic academic research, Perrone’s personal investigations, and INTERPOL inquiries. The Mona Lisa’s adventures throughout the ages are documented including the many forgeries of her, some exposed and some hidden even from the most diligent examiners.

“The Last Mona Lisa” is compelling, unpredictable, and absorbing, page after page as truth melts into fiction and returns to reality. The story is preposterous and yet so believable. Which is Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, and which ones are fakes? I received a review copy of “The Last Mona Lisa” from Jonathan Santlofer and Sourcebooks. The author himself makes replications of famous paintings for private collectors (that can always be identified as replications), and he has reproduced The Mona Lisa many times. show less

Is the Mona Lisa a fake? Vincent Peruggia stole the painting in 1911. Was it ever properly replaced? Luke Perrone is determined to find out exactly what has happened. His research has triggered a warning at Interpol. Luke has managed to integrate himself into the world of art forgery and theft.

The history that runs throughout this novel is superb! It is very well researched and put together. The only reason for the 4 stars…and this is only my opinion…I did not feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to be. But, the art history and the way the author portrayed Florence and Paris, just took my breath away!

Need a good historical mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.