Following Van Gogh

by Tea Gudek Snajdar, Rebecca Blunden (Editor), Cigdem Guven (Illustrator)

332 pages, Paperback

Published June 5, 2025

About the author

Tea Gudek Snajdar is an art historian, museum guide and writer, based in Haarlem, the Netherlands.
She is the founder of Culture Tourist, a travel blog focused on the art, history and culture of European destinations.
Working as a guest guide at the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, she dedicates her work to making art and museums more accessible and enjoyable.
“Following Van Gogh” is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a good summer read with vivid characters and settings, Vincent and Lizzy’s parallel journeys through Europe will keep you entertained - you might even find yourself wanting to follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps…

In Following Van Gogh, Tea Gudek has produced solid and satisfying genre fiction that is very high quality for a debut author. Nothing interrupted my reading, and the twin narrative reminded me a little of Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth novels, as well as Elizabeth Kostova’s, The Historian.

For painterly background settings, overlaid with crime and dysfunctional family themes, as well as fast-paced action and a couple of richly drawn villains, Following Van Gogh is the book to add to your summer holiday reading list/book stack…

Well done Tea! Can you write us another one?

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story had me not wanting to put down the book, so I read it in less than half a day! I loved the story, characters, and twists.

The mash up of Van Gogh's life and this story was really cool and unique. While there's a hint of romance, it's not a big part of the plot.

I'm not the biggest art or museum person, so I learned quite a lot about Van Gogh and the art world in general, but in an entertaining way,

[Marijan Snajdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller that educates as much as it excites, this is it. The book masterfully integrates Vincent van Gogh's life and work into an engaging, fast-paced narrative. It's a fantastic way for readers to learn a lot about art history, the intricate process of art creation, and the darker, often hidden aspects of the art world.

[Maaike Nota · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fast-paced, interesting and intriguing! I learned a lot of about Vincent van Gogh’s life and I was taken on an exciting adventure with Lizzy, trying to discover what was happening to stolen paintings. A fun journey through the Netherlands, Belgium and France! Mystery and action kept me turning pages, wanting to know what would happen next!

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I am sad I paid a total of 25 euros for a book consisting solely of cringy, unnatural dialogues.

[Hannah Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a page-turner, all the while learning about one of the most famous painters of all time? I was hooked from page one, thanks to the clever plotting and pace of Tea's story. I learned so much about the artist Van Gogh's life and travels as well as the world of painting; Tea incorporates both throughout this beautifully written crime novel. I highly recommend as a fun vacation read or gift to give to someone looking to learn more about Van Gogh whilst being highly entertained.