The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft

Ulrich Boser's "The Gardner Heist" is an entertaining look at the devastating theft of priceless art work from one of the most beautiful and interesting museums in the world. What really grabbed me about the book was how Boser was able to tell a story so convincing when so many facts are still - possibly forever - unanswered. It is not that Boser is throwing darts at a wall or embellishing facts to create a possible truth, his perspective makes so much sense. He is open to all possibilities and allowed his own investigation to take him all over the world, chasing leads, interviewing witnesses, dealing with lawyers of convicted felons, artists, art dealers, and in some cases art thieves, to fill in as much as the story as possible.In addition to interesting interviews with shady characters who may or may not know more of the stolen art's whereabouts than the "good guys", Boser laces in interesting back stories and art theft history to help the reader understand this world.Several times I thought to myself, I'm surprised this man did not get himself killed. Congrats to Ulrich on a courageous investigation and excellent book.I'm lucky enough to live in the Boston area and I will be going back to the Gardner very soon...I'll stare at the empty frames with a more thorough understanding of what happened that night. And more than ever, I'll remember that although it's the empty frames that hit me like a ton of bricks every time, I need to cherish the paintings that remain as much as the ones I've never been able to see.

I found the book fascinating because this is a true mystery that has yet to be solved. I also think it's a bit scary because although I have read other books on other heists, this book makes it clear that paintings taken from museums go through so many hands and through such machinations, damage and travel that even if they are found, there is a good chance they will be damaged beyond repair.It was surprising to me that so many underworld figures seem to be involved in this particular crime, and I have no reason to believe it is any different for other art crimes.It's surprising and sad that 20 years on, there is still no real clue as to where these paintings are. I hope this book pushes museums to get out of the mindset that art heists cannot happen to them, and to make security a top priority. Although none of us want to enter a fortress when we go to a museum, that may be the only way to ensure that masterpieces will still be there for future generations.

'In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, two men dressed as' Boston police officers walked into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. They walked out 81 minutes later with what is valued in 2009 as $500 million in stolen art work.Thirteen pieces were taken - The Concert, one of only 34 pieces by Vermeer; The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt's only seascape; paintings and sketches by Rembrandt, Degas, Manet and Flinck as well as a Napoleonic flag finial and a Chinese gu vessel/vase.A fascinating tale of the author's personal obsession in investigating and tracking down the thousands of leads that have relayed to police and private investigators. Boser even spent some time talking and working with Harold Smith, a renowned investigator and detective specializing in fine-art and jewelry theft and who represented many insurance companies over his lifetime. In time, the author - who sponsored a website as well as a toll free phone number - was plunged into the murky depths of the underworld where distinctive stolen artwork becomes a 'black-market' bond between gangsters and terrorist organizations or ransomed to insurance adjusters for millions.The author does give numerous examples of multiple robberies - mostly from art museums or private homes over the years. For far too long, museums seemed to lag behind most other organizations where security was concerned especially since the cost of trained and bonded security guards was an expense that consumed a large portion of the annual budget. Even now, with secured, hidden security control rooms, bonded guards, cameras inside and outside premises, thefts are still happening.And artwork is still being recovered - sometimes decades after originally stolen.The reader is torn between this thrilling look into art theft investigation and the frustration for the many dead ends that the author hits as he travels between America and Europe (several leads put the artwork in the hands of the Sinn Fein). Ambiguity and rumors abound. Lawyers for criminal clients feel out law enforcement for possible deals. Suspects have died over the decades and maybe the true locations of the artwork died with them.As of 2017, none of the pieces have been recovered. Although the statue of limitations for the theft ran out in 1995, it was extended in 1994 to twenty years. The Crime Act of 1994 also made it so that anyone in possession of a stolen work - even decades after the original robbery - could be prosecuted for receiving/handling of stolen property.If you visit the Gardner Museum today, empty frames hang on the wall reminding visitors of the losses and the hope that one day, they will return to their home.**This review is identical to the one posted on GoodReads.com**

When you read this book about art theft you also want to see if you can solve it as well. Very intriguing.

Whether you have had the opportunity to visit the Gardner Museum in Boston or not this book is a fascinating account of the art heist that never recovered the art. Having visited the museum it is a great companion to understanding the events of that fateful night and revealing the little deals that never could quite capture the thieves and put the artwork back on the wall. This book will delight art enthusiasts as much as it saddens the reader to realize the travesty of events.

aussi intéressant qu'agréable à lire, ce livre nous fait connaître une grande dame mécène et ouvre la porte sur un monde mercantile sans doute peu connu, ce qui permet à l'auteur de soulever la question de la vraie valeur des oeuvres d'art.

This book was a complete disappointment - almost nothing about this heist, not even interviews with the guards on duty, but instead a long, dull ramble about many other art thieves who may or may not have been involved.