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The Stolen [Paperback] T. S. Learner
Zurich, 1983. A roma gypsy lies dead in front of a smart watchmaker's window. His sacrifice will lead to the discovery of a remarkable treasure, kept hidden by the nazis for decades. But this mysterious artefact is much more than it seems - and its power will not be contained. Widowed physicist matthias von holindt has been lost in his own world for far too long. But when his estranged father is implicated in the murder, matthias is forced on a desperate hunt for the truth. Fighting against a secret, sinister cabal, he must race to save the artefact from their evil grasp. But the quest will have profound and devastating consequences for matthias himself - and threaten those he loves the most. Heart-stopping adventure, rich history and a deep, hidden mystery - the stolen is a compelling and hugely satisfying thriller from the bestselling author of sphinx.
512 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 25, 2014
The Stolen a brilliant Thriller.
The Stolen by T.S Learner has written a pulsating fast moving yet complex thriller that shines a light in to some parts of European history others would rather forget and uses this as the background to the story. As a reader and a historian it is not often one can flick to the back and find the bibliography as well as who aided in her research in to the writing of this top class thriller. I could easily use all the old clichés in this review and they would all be applicable this is a thrilling page turner!
The book opens in a forest in Ukraine in 1943 when an SS Officer is leading his unit towards a gypsy camp who had to things on his mind, one to eradicate the Untermensch and finding the gypsy gold and in particular a holy relic. SS officer Ulrich Vosshoffner happily murders the gypsies sparing a beautiful girl whom he will rape and her brother manage to survive the war and Buchenwald camp.
What happened would come back to haunt Zurich thirty nine years later when one of those survivors is murdered outside an expensive watch company by an assassin. From here on in we discover the lengths that people will cover things up at the expense of the truth especially when it comes to Switzerland and the famed Nazi gold and finances in their cantons before and during the war. The lengths of those who prospered will go to keep their secrets and who would believe a gypsy?
At the centre of this world is Mathias von Holindt, physicist and widower with a teenage daughter the scion of the famous von Holindt Watch Company and quarrelling son of the owner Christophe. It is the murder of the gypsy that draws Mathias and his daughter in to a very dangerous world and where people he knows and trust will be killed trying to protect the war secrets of eminent Swiss families.
While Mathias is fighting the secret Swiss cabal he finds his real roots and it is those roots that will eventually be his salvation. It will be the gypsies that for once come out as the heroes supporting and aiding Mathias in his search for the truth and giving justice to the gypsy holocaust. It is through his search for the truth her learns more about the shady activities of the Nazis and the Swiss, the rich history of the gypsies and the sacrifices they made.
This is a brilliant thriller that takes you head long in to areas of history that are not well known by many it shines a light in to the darkness. This book is brilliantly researched and that knowledge comes to the fore while reading. This is an exciting fast paced thriller that takes the reader by the throat and you read in the hope that Mathias will survive against the odds. Throughout The Stolen you feel that you just want to carry on reading and have no regrets and there are no regrets whatsoever I just want to read more of what Learner has to offer.
The Stolen by T.S Learner has written a pulsating fast moving yet complex thriller that shines a light in to some parts of European history others would rather forget and uses this as the background to the story. As a reader and a historian it is not often one can flick to the back and find the bibliography as well as who aided in her research in to the writing of this top class thriller. I could easily use all the old clichés in this review and they would all be applicable this is a thrilling page turner!
The book opens in a forest in Ukraine in 1943 when an SS Officer is leading his unit towards a gypsy camp who had to things on his mind, one to eradicate the Untermensch and finding the gypsy gold and in particular a holy relic. SS officer Ulrich Vosshoffner happily murders the gypsies sparing a beautiful girl whom he will rape and her brother manage to survive the war and Buchenwald camp.
What happened would come back to haunt Zurich thirty nine years later when one of those survivors is murdered outside an expensive watch company by an assassin. From here on in we discover the lengths that people will cover things up at the expense of the truth especially when it comes to Switzerland and the famed Nazi gold and finances in their cantons before and during the war. The lengths of those who prospered will go to keep their secrets and who would believe a gypsy?
At the centre of this world is Mathias von Holindt, physicist and widower with a teenage daughter the scion of the famous von Holindt Watch Company and quarrelling son of the owner Christophe. It is the murder of the gypsy that draws Mathias and his daughter in to a very dangerous world and where people he knows and trust will be killed trying to protect the war secrets of eminent Swiss families.
While Mathias is fighting the secret Swiss cabal he finds his real roots and it is those roots that will eventually be his salvation. It will be the gypsies that for once come out as the heroes supporting and aiding Mathias in his search for the truth and giving justice to the gypsy holocaust. It is through his search for the truth her learns more about the shady activities of the Nazis and the Swiss, the rich history of the gypsies and the sacrifices they made.
This is a brilliant thriller that takes you head long in to areas of history that are not well known by many it shines a light in to the darkness. This book is brilliantly researched and that knowledge comes to the fore while reading. This is an exciting fast paced thriller that takes the reader by the throat and you read in the hope that Mathias will survive against the odds. Throughout The Stolen you feel that you just want to carry on reading and have no regrets and there are no regrets whatsoever I just want to read more of what Learner has to offer.
May 4, 2026
2.5 stars
October 22, 2020
dnf page 120
August 17, 2014
Story was slow and confusing to begin with, I probably would have given up but I refuse to leave a book unread. Speed picked up in the second half, thankfully. Storyline was ok, could have easily forgone the first half and cut to the second, with a bit more around the statuette's orgin and history. Overall ok.
June 9, 2016
A grieving man discovers some dark secrets about his family.
The first half of this book was outstanding - real gripping and well written, but then the side plot (on materials) took over and the plot seemed to drift / turn into dodgy science.
Real rating 3.5
The first half of this book was outstanding - real gripping and well written, but then the side plot (on materials) took over and the plot seemed to drift / turn into dodgy science.
Real rating 3.5
August 1, 2014
another great book by t s learner
May 18, 2014
Really enjoyed learning about Roma in this artefact thriller
May 28, 2015
Interesting and well-written! I had not come across the story of gypsies in Nazi Germany before.
September 21, 2015
A good premise but I found the writing a bit clunky and didn't really get into the characters or story.
August 7, 2014
the first 80 pages were quite confusing, but once you get into it you can't put it down
June 7, 2021
Learner described her philosophy about writing saying she wants to not only entertain but to inform. What she'd done here is to inform the reader of the plight of Roma (gyspies) under the Nazis and how industrialists in Switzerland cooperated in these efforts. Well worth the time to read.
Read
April 6, 2014Not for me. It was very easy to put down and increasingly difficult to pick up. This is the second Learner novel I've not been able to finish so I think I'll leave them be from now on.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews