The Rescue Artist

A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece

By: Edward Dolnick

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

In the predawn hours of a gloomy February day in 1994, two thieves entered the National Gallery in Oslo and made off with one of the world's most famous paintings, Edvard Munch's Scream. It was a brazen crime committed while the whole world was watching the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Baffled and humiliated, the Norwegian police turned to the one man they believed could help: a half English, half American undercover cop named Charley Hill, the world's greatest art detective.

The Rescue Artist is a rollicking narrative that carries listeners deep inside the art underworld—and introduces them to a large and colorful cast of titled aristocrats, intrepid investigators, and thick-necked thugs. But most compelling of all is Charley Hill himself, a complicated mix of brilliance, foolhardiness, and charm whose hunt for a purloined treasure would either cap an illustrious career or be the fiasco that would haunt him forever.

The Hunt for a Stolen Masterpiece

This was a fun and entertaining story of how an art detective found a missing masterpiece. Though a bit dated, there is now a division devoted to art theft in the bureau, though it came much later than our hero’s retirement. There is some good background about paintings and the artist. Putting together the team and how it played out was interesting as well. The state of museums and private collections was surprising. A very enjoyable listen.

So much more than I expected...

Fast moving memoir with gripping action, an education in the world of art, and a wonderful series of whodunnits. I took off work because I couldn't stop reading this!

Truly a Classic story, great book

Truly a Classic story, of art crime, the author does a great job with giving details and background of how art crime works and
this is a great book

Riveting

Good story, great pace. Enough detail and history so the listener can understand the context, while the human element keeps you hooked.

I like the style of story telling

I found subject and details fascinating. Really enjoyed it. I found the sums of money involved and art work thefts unbelievable.