This book starts just as Paris is about to be liberated from the Germans but it does set up a bit of the back history of the resistance movements going on during the occupation. The Free French following de Gaulle and the various communist groups all worked to rid the country of the Nazis and each expected their party to rule after their goal was achieved. History has shown how it all played out and this book uses the conflict between the two groups to good use.


The Mona Lisa is one of France's greatest treasures. The fear of losing it is the premise of the book. My problem is that although she is considered a masterpiece and a major work of art she never impressed me and all the fawning done over what is a very small, dark painting didn't ring true to me. I have seen the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and I was disappointed at best. I can understand the popular feeling of losing a treasure but not all of the individuals in the book exclaiming over this painting.


That being said......I did enjoy the overall story. It moved along quite nicely and the characters were well rounded. I found myself rooting for the main romance between Gabi and Eric - they worked well together both as spies and as boyfriend/girlfriend. It was fascinating to learn about the various efforts to keep the Mona Lisa hidden and far away from Nazi hands. The epilogue did seem a bit of a non sequitur with nothing in the beginning of the book to precede it.