5 stars / 5
Summary: Hidden Masterpiece (Soli Hansen Mysteries Book 3) by Heidi Eljarbo
In this riveting third book in the Soli Hansen Mysteries series, a woman’s courage to follow her conviction during a horrible war leads her to the portrait of a young Jewish heiress painted three centuries earlier.
Norway 1944. Art historian Soli Hansen has gone undercover to rescue masterpieces and keep them from falling into the hands of Nazi thieves. Working with a small resistance group led by her best friend Heddy, Soli will stop at nothing to thwart the efforts of the invaders of their scenic country. Trust and loyalty mean everything when working against a merciless enemy.
Riddles and clues lead the way to a mysterious work of art. It’s a race against time, but Soli and her network refuse to give up. However, when news arrives that her sweetheart Nikolai is missing in action, she strives to concentrate on the demanding quest.
From the streets of Oslo to the snow-covered mountains and medieval churches of Nume Valley, Soli takes risks larger than her courage, trying to preserve and hide precious art. But she must decide if it’s all worth losing the man she loves.
Antwerp 1639. Fabiola Ruber’s daughter, Annarosa, wants to honor her mother’s last wish and have her portrait done by a master artist who specializes in the art of chiaroscuro. Her uncle writes to an accomplished painter in Amsterdam and commissions him to paint his beloved niece.
Struggling with religious and social persecution, the Jewish Ruber family uproots once again and travels northward. On the way, they will sojourn in Amsterdam for Annarosa’s sitting in the master painter’s studio. But will they make it there? None of them can foresee the danger of such a journey.
Suspenseful action, riddles and mystery, enduring friendship, undying loyalty, and a tender love story come together in this dual timeline novel by bestselling author Heidi Eljarbo. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton, Rhys Bowen, and Kate Quinn (from Amazon)
Review:
Hidden Masterpiece is book 3 in the exciting Soli Hansen Mystery series by Heidi Eljarbo. The dual-time story is set in Oslo 1944 and Antwerp and Amsterdam 1639. In Oslo art historian Soli works tirelessly with local resistance to prevent valuable art from being stolen by the Nazis. She follows clues laid out by the Jewish owner to find the art pieces in his abandoned house.
In Antwerp we get to follow Jewish heiress Fabiola Ruber as she honors her mother’s last wish to have a portrait done by a master painter. The travel to Amsterdam proves to be dangerous, but Fabiola gets to use of her secretly aquired skill.
Main character is Solveig, Soli, Hansen is an art historian. She seems to find it hard to trust people but seems to become more confident when she is acknowledged by resistance as their art expert. I like her a lot and find her character has a complete set of vulnerabilities. She is my favorite.
Supporting character is Hedvig, Heddy, Vengen, local resistance leader is a courageous woman who seems to let nothing get in her way. She seems to have no problem taking on extremely risky operations but seems a bit lonely. She misses and worries about her boyfriend in Sweden, which makes her softer and more likeable.
What made this story stand out for me and my favorite part were the vivid descriptions of wartime Oslo. I could almost feel people’s fear and the lack of trust in friends and neighbors. The writing was excellent and I got a sense of how people interacted back then. How everyday lives changed in countless ways during the German occupation as people tried to adapt.
The mystery element of how Soli found the extremely well
hidden art pieces while avoiding the constant threat of being arrested by the
Nazis, I felt was an excellent dramatic element. I loved the thorough research
that must have gone into describing the meticulous planning of the resistance
work.
The romance element was a surprising, enjoyable gem which made me curious what happens with Soli and Nicolai’s relationship in book 4. I look forward to learning what priceless painting Soli will rescue next.
This story works perfectly as a standalone, but you would of course get a more complete picture by reading the whole series from the beginning, as I have.
Readers who enjoy the works of Kate Quinn and Lucinda Riley or fans of Heidi Eljarbo’s previous works will enjoy this. Thank you to the author #Heidi Eljarbo for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: Hidden Masterpiece is the exciting third installment in the Soli Hansen dual-time mysteries series where we follow art historian Soli as she works passionately to prevent Nazis stealing priceless art from deported Jews.
In Antwerp Jewish heiress Annarosa honors her mother’s last whish to have a master painter do a portrait of her. The whole family makes a dangerous travel to Amsterdam and Annarosa gets to use her secretly acquired skill.
Where to get your copy
Book Details
ASIN : B096S9ZH74
Publication date : September 28, 2021
Language : English
Author Bio
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren--so far--in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi's favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
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