Scan barcode
A review by catladyreba
The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser
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.