WWII and the mid-seventeenth century are entwined in this fourth dual timeline novel about Nazi art theft, bravery, friendship, and romance.
April 1945. Art historian Soli Hansen and her friend Heddy arrive at an excavation site only to find Soli’s old archeology professor deeply engrossed in an extraordinary find in a marsh. The remains of a man have lain undisturbed for three centuries, but there’s more to this discovery…
As Soli tries to understand who the baroque man was and discovers what he carried in a sealed wooden tube, problems arise. A leak reveals the finds to the notorious Lieutenant Colonel Heinz Walter, and soon, both Nazi elite and the Gestapo are after the treasure.
When Heddy and the professor disappear along with the artwork, Soli and her resistance group must find them before it’s too late.
1641. In Amsterdam, French musketeer Claude Beaulieu has had his portrait done by his close friend and artist Rembrandt van Rijn. When a band of thieves steal the precious painting, Claude and his wife Annarosa Ruber pick up their swords and a few belongings and go after the culprits.
Set in Norway during the tumultuous last days of the second world war, as well as the peak of the glorious baroque art period, these two stories are a must for readers who love historical fiction with adventure, suspense, and true love that conquers all.
Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley, Kathleen McGurl, Rhys Bowen, and Katherine Neville.
Review
I was delighted to be offered an ARC of the final book in the Soli Hansen Mysteries. I was looking forward to be reunited with Soli, Heddy and the rest of the Resistance. Brushstrokes from the Past certainly did not disappoint. I found myself thrown straight back into the action as Soli once again finds herself trying to save another precious painting.
There were times when I caught myself holding my breath and fearing the worst, especially for one of the characters who gets herself into a very sticky and dangerous situation indeed! I also felt a sense of pride that the protagonists' never give up, that they battle on to the very end.
The historical detailing in this novel has been very well researched and I really did feel that I had stepped back in time.
This is historical fiction at its finest. It is a great series by a great author. I highly recommend reading not only this book but the rest of the series.
Where to Buy
This novel is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Heidi Eljarbo
Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near.
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
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The Whispering Bookworm
Thank you for hosting Heidi Eljarbo today, and for your lovely review of Brushstrokes from the Past. I'm glad you enjoyed the read. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for a wonderful review. I'm going to miss those characters, but I have some ideas...
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