The Storm over Paris

Set mainly in Paris in 1942, Grubman’s impressive debut stars Mori Rothstein, an art dealer with an international reputation for detecting frauds, who finds himself in an awkward position when Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering demands that he help realize Hitler’s dream of establishing an art museum with only the very best paintings and sculptures on display. Toward that end, Mori is to evaluate the artwork the Nazis have stolen from its Jewish owners to assess which pieces merit inclusion in the Fuehrer’s showcase. Outraged by the shameless thefts and the grim fate of their rightful owners, Mori devises a risky plan to replace the most valuable paintings with forgeries prepared by his gifted son, Émile. Goering’s reliance on Mori arouses envy on the part of a German army officer who’s something of an art expert, making Mori’s venture even riskier. Grubman is adept at crafting nail-biting scenes of suspense, building up to a tantalizingly inconclusive ending. Readers will eagerly await the sequel. [em](BookLife) [/em]