Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures by Robert Wittman
I was attracted to this book after reading The Art Thief by Michael Finkel last year and what do you know, it will fit the same nonfiction category this year as well- True Crime. The Art Thief introduced me to a level of art thievery I was unaware existed. The sheer volume of crimes dealing with masterpieces and historical artifacts is astounding.
Robert Wittman was a FBI detective working undercover tasked with recovering these treasures and arresting the criminals. It's dangerous work and he has so many good stories about his part in the recovery of Geronimo's headpiece, a Rembrandt painting, a suit of armor and so much more. He even arrested someone with the Antiques Roadshow! Lots of good stories. His book covers how the FBI worked in the 1990s and gave an interesting snapshot of that time period.
I'll say the narrative is a bit dated calling some of the female undercovers babes and the cavalier posturing. Still, for an undercover to pull off a false identity and mingle with felons easily takes some stones.
I liked The Art Thief by Finkel more than this one but that was a completely different point of view. 3.25 stars
Linking up with Shelleyrae at Book'd Out for the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge. Category: True Crime
Next up is a monthly update, a review of Whistler by Ann Patchett (amazing book) and another nonfiction titled Believe by Jeremy Egner.
Whoa I gather he would have many stories of these criminals. Interesting. And the criminals in the Art Thief were nuts. How they kept a whole attic worth of stolen art was mind-boggling. I hope some of them had more remorse than these thieves. It's good that this book is from the opposite angle. It must be very hard to get art back though.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I definitely like The Art Thief more but yeah, different perspective. Plus the Finkel book was well laid out by a journalist while this is a cop's memoir kinda thing. There were some good stories in it but it's a bit dated in language.
DeleteWorking on a post today with Whistler and Believe.
That's too bad about the posturing but this sounds so fascinating! The Art Thief was a crazy story and I really enjoyed it and I love true crime when it's covering either historical crimes or art thefts. I'll have to see if my library has this one.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, it was cool to read about the other side of the art thievery. Maybe I can find one that's more recently published or not so macho. Overall a good book but I did like the Finkel book more. That would make a great movie!
DeleteI like the sound of this story, but I imagine I would like The Art Thief even more since you did. There was a bit of art thievery in My Friends, the book club read I just finished.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I need to check out My Friends then. Did you enjoy it? I will check your blog and Goodreads for your thoughts.
DeleteI ended up really disliking The Art Thief, mainly because I loathed the thieves, but art heists and their recovery is definitely an interest of mine. This does sound dated by very interesting. Going undercover always makes for a good story, and this one is nonfiction...even better.
ReplyDeleteJane, I liked the Art Thief yet near the end was hating on the mother and her son. What a crazy story and I think he must be mentally ill and can't stop stealing. Even items that are not art related. Why didn't Anne-Catherine didn't leave him when she gave the ultimatum!!
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