Loot

By Aaron Elkins

Book Overview

April 1945: In the last convulsive days of World War II a convoy of Nazi trucks loaded with Europe's greatest art treasures winds its way through the Alps toward a cavernous Austrian salt mine. With the Allies closing in and chaos erupting, a single truck silently disappears into a mountain snowstorm with its cargo of stolen masterpieces. Fifty years later, in a seedy Boston pawnshop, one of the truck's paintings surfaces at last, pawned for $100 by a smalltime Russian thug. The next day, the shop owner, Simeon Pawlovsky, himself a Nazi death camp survivor, is dead, the life brutally beaten out of him. The painting is gone. And the chase begins. Ex-curator Benjamin Revere, haunted by his failure to save his elderly friend Simeon, is determined to track down the killer by following the missing painting's trail. But the twisting path is a bewildering and dangerous one that winds through Europe's major cities...and back five decades to a time when Hitler's hated minions looted at will. Soon Ben finds himself caught up in the tangled roots of a conspiracy of greed, lies, hatred, and blood-and imperiled by the half-century-old enigma of the vanished truck and its priceless legacy.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380731622
• ISBN13: 9780380731626
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

art historian at his best

My wife and I have read most of Aaron Elkins works, but he in general would not be included on our "favorite mystery writer" list. This book, however, is awesome. Loot combines just the right amount of romance, action, odd characters, and plot twists. Additionally, the factual art history that Elkins weaves into the story is tasty icing on the cake.

International Art Espionage

Aaron Elkins has broadened his horizons and introduced another character, Ben Revere, into the literary fray.Ben is a professor of art with no ambition in life, that is until his friend Simeon the pawnbroker receives a Velazquez painting and is then murdered for it.Thus begins the search for a horde of master paintings taken by the Germans during World War II. Ben travels throughout Austria, Hungary and Russia to come up with clues as why his friend was murdered and to the whereabouts of the "lost shipment" of 106 paintings that this Velazquez was a part of. Along the way Ben comes up against the Russian and Austrian mafia and things really start heating up.This is an exciting thriller that I know you will enjoy.

Art Masterpieces, lost and found

If you like the Chris Norgren mysteries, you will like Ben Revere, who, while searching for lost art and a murderer, will find more of his own soul. If you are interested in the "lost" art in Europe during WWII, you will love being brought along through the search. Aaron Elkins writes "real." And I couldn't put the book down.

New art sleuth on the scene

The newest offering by Aaron Elkins includes a new character: Ben Revere from Boston, a trained art historian who uncovers complex plots and murders in the art world. As an art historian, I found this character to be far more believable and enjoyable than Elkins' Norgren mysteries. Loot, although a bit rambling from time to time, is a fascinating story and interesting mystery. I found it difficult to put down. I anxiously await the next Ben Revere mystery!

The best of all Mr. Elkin's books

I have enjoyed and read all of Mr. Elkins books. At first I was a little apprehensive about buying Loot since it contained a different character. Luckily I did buy the book and I have to say I think it is his best work. I loved the book. Personally, I think the book was well laid out and interesting. Mr. Elkins took a fasinating piece of history and made a wonderful story from it. It made me feel as if I were with Ben on his search for the "Lost Truck". A definite read for anyone that enjoys a good mystery.