The Picasso Heist - by James Patterson & Howard Roughan

Great twists and turns. Could not put it down.

I really love it when a book fools me from beginning to end and such is the case of this new novel by Patterson and Roughan. My head was spinning with all of the twists and surprises. I expected an art heist. What I did not expect was all of the people who were actually involved and the fact that Halston, the thief who plans and executes the heist, is so devious that she has a plan B, C and D that were off the wall bizarre and entertaining. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Enzio Bergamo, an eccentric billionaire and art collector and Halston along with the staff at Echelon, the auction house where she works. It seemed that once I thought I had figured out something and was guessing about what would happen next, the trail I was following went cold and the story went in a completely new direction. This is a book that compelled me to keep reading and intrigued me with all of the red herrings that were placed so well. This may well be one of my favorite books by this author and it is certainly the one that fooled me the best and kept me captivated and thinking. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

If you are looking for a thrilling experience, this is it -- a wild ride. The short chapters end with a tease that makes it hard to break away. The story is cleverly written and has a way of keeping you engaged. For those who crave crime mysteries, this is one that is easy to keep track of the characters; some who are ruthless and corrupt. Yet, there were heartwarming parts thrown into the plot as well. It’s pure fun.