An Artful Assassin in Amsterdam

October 7, 2019
David Mitre, the narrator of Grant’s amusing sequel to 2018’s A Sudden Death in Cyprus, describes himself as “a (retired) thief and grifter, and currently an author. If that seems an unlikely collection of occupations, consider that a grifter is by definition a storyteller.” He’s in Amsterdam, “land of legal weed and tall, gorgeous women riding bikes,” to participate in a writers’ conference. However, someone is determined to kill him. Fortunately, FBI agent Delia Delacorte, who has used Mitre’s special skills before, is also looking for him and saves him from yet another attempt on his life. They make a deal: she’ll find out who’s after him and he’ll help her with a tricky potential art theft. A wealthy and powerful man, known as United States Person One, has hired a gang of professional thieves to steal a Vermeer, looted by the Nazis during WWII, from the Rijksmuseum. Delacorte is confident Mitre can figure out the thieves’ plan and stop it without them or USP One getting arrested. This is sheer high-speed fun. Readers will hope Mitre has a long career. Agent: Robert Kirby, United Agents.

November 15, 2019
David Mitre, narrator and star of this romp of a thriller, is the sort of raffish rapscallion we don't encounter much anymore. Jewel thief, grifter, fugitive, con artist?a Raffles for our age. Interestingly, Grant has chosen to tell his story in a similarly arch style: My peripheral vision collapsed into the tunnel view that precedes unconsciousness. Road-company Nabokov. One gets used to it quickly, though, as Mitre attempts to stop the theft of a priceless Vermeer from Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum. He's trying to do good and please FBI Special Agent Delia Delacorte, who's blackmailing him; but after getting beaten, roofied and stabbed, shot at and nearly drowned, he's reminded that virtue has its limitations and sets about stealing the painting himself. He does all this while confronting a Nazi burglar with a horrid accent who's after a gold bust of Hitler?a gift from Goering?and helping a friend find his missing daughter. And staying a step ahead of the police, who shoot first and ask questions never. A joy to keep up with.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)