Non-stop action of the best kind: My review of Chasing Mona Lisa

Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2012) 

Book Synopsis as provided by the publisher:

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock.

August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all—the Mona Lisa—as a postwar bargaining chip.

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

MY REVIEW

Both my wife and I absolultey loved The Swiss Courier, so I was totally excited to see the return of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler in Chasing Mona Lisa. If possible, I enjoyed it even more than the first book! Gabi and Eric are both admirable characters who shine with courage and bravey in the darkest of circumstances. Gabi especially will challenge stereotypes of what women are capable of, as she puts to use her safe-cracking skills, handles a weapon with expertise, and picks the lock of handcuffs. The setting of the story during the liberation of Paris was painted with perfect detail and seemed true to the time-period, capturing the tensions and the angst of the people amidst the joy of being freed from Nazi rule. I learned fastinating details about the Mona Lisa and the role it plays in the collective national pride of France, details I'd never considered before. The action starts with a bang and doesn't let up for the entire book, and I loved every minute of the story with it's exciting and tense scenes, its intrigue and drama, and the growing relationship of Gabi and Eric to add some love interest. 

I am positive that readers who enjoy a good thriller will devour this book, and I give it my highest recommendaiton of 5 out of 5 stars.

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