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sabaileyreads's review against another edition
3.0
Gave a good account of the robbery and the investigation, but it didn't need to take 272 pages to say that no one really has a clue what happened or where the paintings are.
knitdyeread's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting look at the author's quest to recover art stolen from the Gardner museum. The author tracks down numerous leads, including developing relationships with some truly frightening underworld figures.
oswindler's review against another edition
3.0
This book serves as a great overview of the Gardner Heist and the search for the lost art. The first half of this book was extremely hard to put down, but by the second half the writing felt repetitive and as if Boser was scraping for details to fill the book.
catladyreba's review against another edition
3.0
You know, this started out so strong for me, faltered in the middle, and then pretty must lost me at the end. I just realized that my feelings about this book follow the same arc as Boser's feelings about the case. Huh. Anyway, I get the allure, the fascination. I have been to The Gardner, and I too stood captivated in front of the empty frames (albeit not as captivated as Boser in the final chapter. Hello purple prose).
I don't know. At some point, the formulaic middle of the book, where we were introduced to a larger-than-life nefarious character with each chapter, and then moving on when the supposition didn't pan out was so monotonous. And despite the fascinating lives of these men; David Turner, Carmello Merlino, William Youngworth, and Myles Connor, just to name a few, they all blended together in a confusing stew of whodunit.
Things I found interesting/intriguing? I loved Harold Smith. I found the speculation about Bulger interesting, especially now that he has been apprehended, and given the FBI no answers about the heist. Bob Mueller? So interesting to see him mentioned as the head of the FBI who knowingly broke the law and colluded with Bulger, and to think of him now serving as special counsel on Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election. And of course, the unsolved mystery of who actually carried out the thefts at the Gardner Museum.
I don't know. At some point, the formulaic middle of the book, where we were introduced to a larger-than-life nefarious character with each chapter, and then moving on when the supposition didn't pan out was so monotonous. And despite the fascinating lives of these men; David Turner, Carmello Merlino, William Youngworth, and Myles Connor, just to name a few, they all blended together in a confusing stew of whodunit.
Things I found interesting/intriguing? I loved Harold Smith. I found the speculation about Bulger interesting, especially now that he has been apprehended, and given the FBI no answers about the heist. Bob Mueller? So interesting to see him mentioned as the head of the FBI who knowingly broke the law and colluded with Bulger, and to think of him now serving as special counsel on Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election. And of course, the unsolved mystery of who actually carried out the thefts at the Gardner Museum.
hisaacson's review against another edition
3.0
Full review at: http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2010/02/gardner-heist-by-ulrich-boser.html
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
4.0
A very compelling read for a non-fiction book and one where the ending is still known (or rather, unknown). The gimmick of titling the chapters after the works stolen was interesting, although I could never tell if it was supposed to tie in with the contents of the chapter or not. I do agree with the conclusion that Turner was involved in the heist, but beyond that I don't know what to think on this case. I hope that someday the art is found and that it has not been ruined beyond repair during its time in the hands of nefarious persons. And I now want to visit the museum even more than I did before I read the book.
kwugirl's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not a huge fan of writer inserting themselves into the narrative a ton and in general the writing isn't amazing, but it's an interesting story that I didn't know much about before and did the job of passing time on my flight back from Europe. Mostly it made me want to visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum the next time I'm in Boston, which sadly might not be for awhile though.
diannamorganti's review against another edition
I hardly ever give non-fiction a chance, but I enjoyed this one. I didn't finish simply because I have too much great fiction checked out.