If I had been forced to write this review halfway through, I might have settled at three stars-but as the story went on it somehow got less interesting even as the intrigue grew… I believe this was partially or maybe in large part due to be apathy I started to feel towards Claire as the story would towards a somewhat predicable conclusion.

The parts I liked best were the technical descriptions of painting & forging. I liked least... The romantic interest story and interpersonal relationships. Apathy towards the main character isn't an emotion I generally look for in a reading experience.

And maybe this had something to do with the narration on the audiobook version, but I found much of the story to be on the slightly pretentious side. (Think stereotypical "snooty art critic" vibe.)

So while maybe the story is aiming for a cross between the Da Vinci Code and the documentary quality of Tim's Vermeer... It doesn't really achieve either in the end.