False Impression

This book was my introduction to Jeffrey Archer’s work, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised!

I am generally not a fan of books about art, but in this case the painting itself is not quite as important as its journey is. I also was concerned that the 9/11 backdrop was going to be gimmicky, but instead it is used to create an interesting set of problems for the book’s characters. The reality of not knowing if someone is alive or dead, the travel difficulties, the loss of assets and records, the lack of communication – they all provided fantastic obstacles for the characters to work around. It made the maneuvering that much more interesting.

That being said, the book’s not perfect. Anna’s frantic show more flight to Canada has several problems, not the least of which is a very unlikely encounter with a couple of long-haul truckers. But, as far as a lightweight thriller goes, it kept my attention enough for me to enjoy it and enough for me to plan to read some of Archer’s earlier novels. show less

Anna Petrescu is the resident art expert for an unscrupulous bank which loans money at exorbitant interest rates in order to get their hands on various expensive artwork put up as collateral. She is also about to be fired for her recommendation that one of their clients sell her prized van Gogh to pay off her debt. Soon Anna finds herself involved in a string of murders, art thefts and double crosses as she attempts to sort out the mess - all with the FBI on her trail.

This is one of the few (the only?) novel I've read that is set during and amid the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th. And although I thought Archer's description of the attacks was largely well-done, that entire episode really didn't tie into the rest of the plot for me. For show more one, Anna, our main character, was actually IN the North Tower when it was hit. But over the next two weeks, she travels merrily throughout the world with nary a nervous or emotional breakdown in sight... I mean, WOW. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to shake off a near-death experience that rocked the entire globe so lightly.

Once I got through the Sept. 11th section, things settled down to be more along the lines of a typical thriller. Anna is being trailed by a Romanian gymnast turned assassin and the ever-suspicious FBI. She hops through various cities always toting the bright-red case housing her stolen van Gogh. She does a relatively decent job shaking her surveillance on occasion, but mostly she manages to evade both parties solely based on dumb luck. And she apparently has a ton of that... Unfortunately I didn't learn much here about art or art history, and I found the final showdown quite distasteful (couldn't she just have a knife held at her throat like a normal victim? *shudders*). There wasn't much new here, but it was a decent action thriller quite suitable as a fast-paced beach read (though I would avoid reading it on an airplane...). show less

I always enjoy Jeffrey Archer novels and this one was great. The central theme is art collections and their value and their history which is something that interests me.

This review pertains to the abridged audio book version of "False Impression." Perhaps would have been better to read in its original version, so I've given the book two stars in benefit of doubt. I didn't find this book to be either suspenseful or thrilling, and a thriller should be both. It was populated by single-dimension characters who act in predictable generic ways. Spoiler: the denouement is marked by noticing the earring that the villain is wearing in a photograph taken while shaking hands with President George W. Bush at Ground Zero. Really.

The reader makes an attempt to give the characters different voices. Unfortunately, the accents are so phony that one is reminded of Bela Lugosi and Hyacinth Bucket, to one's distraction.

A murder mystery involving Van Gogh’s final painting, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, plays out around the horror of September 11th as a gymnast-turned hit-woman and a murderous financier face an intrepid heroine in a swiftly-moving, twisty plot that draws in readers and offers a few unexpected reveals in a largely predictable tale.

Details about art treasures add depth to the plot and, at the same time, informs and enlightens readers who may not be conversant with the business of art while weaving the harrowing events of September 11th into the story adds a visceral punch to the narrative.

I love [[Jeffrey Archer]]'s books, also his fiction books have some historical background and he is a master to embed it into a story. In this case the historical background is 9/11 and its aftermath. The places in this plot are NY, England and Japan. Two picture gatherers are hunting the same Van Gogh self-portrait. One of them is an admirer with good intention and the other one is an evil one who not only will keep this drawing away from the public but also likes to destroy the previous owner's reputation and life. In the middle of those two a female broker tries to protect the owner's life and the self-portrait.
It's very fast-paced and gripping and it takes a lot of turns and twists which make the story so interesting. It kept me show more guessing until the very end. show less

This was an enjoyable thriller, taking us on a tour across Europe and will be perfect for anyone interested in Van Gough or painters. It is also set against the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks. Jeffrey Archer does know how to tell a good story and the tension was kept up from beginning to end. Although to be fair preferred others of his more.