Chasing Vincent

by Douglas Scott Ross

It is 2002 and America is reeling from September 11 terrorist attacks.

Julie Tolle has graduated medical school just days after her father’s mysterious death, and on a trip to the Swiss Alps to scatter his ashes, she uncovers a shocking secret. An unknown Van Gogh masterpiece, hidden from the world by a powerful, wealthy family, is staring directly at her.

Stunned by the portrait’s amazing resemblance to her, she is set on a perilous journey to discover the painting’s origins.

Where did it come from?

Why does the young woman in the painting look exactly like me?

Answers to those questions unravel an incredible story of her family’s tragic disappearance in the Holocaust, with dangerous ongoing repercussions. When she lays claim to the priceless “Master’s Masterpiece”, people helping her
start dying. And the man who says she loves her maybe the culprit.

Face to face with the same murderous evil that destroyed her family, will Julie be next to die?

And will the glory of Vincent Van Gogh’s beautiful genius ever shine again?

Genres: Fiction

ebook

About the author

Writing thrilllers that dive into hidden history, Douglas Scott Ross will launch you into the past. Not to idyllic times and places but fling you into dangerous worlds with flawed heroes and authentic villains. Trained as a physician and a climber of crags and mountains, he probes museums great and small and loses himself in the earth's wildest places.

Take a deep breath, wipe your brow, feel your heart race and... turn the page.

WATCH OUT! The edge of your chair is a precipice. Don't slip. Don't fall...

Reviews

[Lauren]

I’ve always been obsessed with anything to do with Vincent Van Gogh, especially if it’s woven into fiction or some sort. His life and works have always just drawn me in.

This book was absolutely fascinating to me from beginning to end. Multiple timelines, which I absolutely love. I loved watching the journey progress as it parallels the past and seeing everything come to fruition.

This is a heavy book at times, part of it involving Nazi Germany. The storyline was beautiful though and I thoroughly enjoyed the book overall. Can’t wait to read anything else by this author in the future!

[Mostly Murders]

"A story of beautiful genius, a family's love, a remarkable woman, and your father's amazing journey. A story of the darkness cast upon them and the theft of all they hold dear. A story of deceit and murder."

Have you ever wondered what paintings would say if they could talk? If so, Chasing Vincent is one for you. Spanning multiple timelines from a war-torn Europe in 1942 to a modern age US in 2003, and told from multiple points of view, an unknown Vincent van Gogh painting is one of the voices you will encounter in this novel, which is an expansive tale of art, Vincent van Gogh, the atrocities of the Holocaust, the legal complications of restitution of stolen art, and a young woman whose family history transcends generations.

When Julie Tolle's father suddenly dies, she decides to take his ashes with her to Europe to scatter them on Lagginhorn mountain in Switzerland, a place of significance in her family history. What she didn't expect was that her journey there ends up mirroring her Jewish family's plight sixty years earlier when they were fleeing the Nazis. She also didn't expect to find a beautiful painting of a young woman who looks just like her, in the home of a rich Swiss banking family, to have to fight for her life, or to end up in a complicated legal battle back in the US.

Chasing Vincent is not a simple book. With its multiple timelines and POVs, and several different characters all in one way or another involved in Julie's family history, this one requires a reader who isn't easily intimidated when faced with a complicated, complex story that requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief and juggles many different intellectual, artistic and political themes, mixed with action, romance and historical fiction.

Many thanks to @bookstainfluencers for this ebook.

[Zaire Bergeron]

Thank you to the author and @bookstainfluencers on Instagram for gifting this e-book in exchange for my honest review!

ARC Review

Tropes & Themes:
🎨 Historical Fiction
🖼️ Stolen Art
🔎 Murder Mystery
🤫 Family Secrets
😮‍💨 Light Thriller
🕵🏽 Suspense

Rating: 3.5/4 stars

This was such an interesting read, especially if you enjoy stories centered around art, history, and the idea that not everything is what it seems. I'll be honest—the beginning was a little slow for me. I appreciated the backstory because it laid a solid foundation, but I think a few of the earlier scenes could've been trimmed down without taking away from the overall story. Once it picked up, though, I found myself much more invested.

One thing I absolutely loved was the perspective from the painting. I've never read a story that did that before, and it made the book feel really unique. It added an extra layer that kept pulling me back in. I also appreciated how the historical details were woven into the story. They never felt overwhelming or like I was sitting through a history lesson—they just naturally belonged there. The descriptions of the artwork and the different locations were beautiful. Everything was written in a way that made it easy to picture each scene, which is something I always appreciate in books like this. The multiple POVs also flowed really well, and I never felt lost jumping from one character to another.

I do wish we'd gotten a little more of Balzec because I found that character really interesting. I also would've loved more time in the protagonist's head. I kept wanting to dig deeper into his motivations and really understand what was driving him.

One of my favorite details had to be the forgery itself. The fact that a fake painting could pass so convincingly as the original was fascinating, and the pollen detail? That was such a clever twist. It's one of those little details that makes you stop and think, who even comes up with something like that?

The second half definitely moved much faster. It felt a little rushed in places, but it also pulled everything together nicely. By the end, I was genuinely curious if there might be room for a novella or sequel because I'd definitely come back to this world. Also...can we talk about the cover for a second? I really liked it. It fits the story well and would absolutely catch my eye on a shelf.

Overall, this was a creative, atmospheric story with a fresh take on historical fiction, art, and suspense. If you're someone who enjoys layered mysteries, stolen art, multiple perspectives, and books that blend history with intrigue, I think this one is worth checking out!

[Leah]

Chasing Vincent has a very interesting premise involving Nazi stolen art, and a woman’s search for her history. To me, there were three parts or point of views used to narrate the story. The part with her father as a child during WWII is the least investigated, but it helps provide background. I do wish this part would have been expanded on a little more. Then there is the present which is narrated by the woman. I had a hard time with this part and with Julie. I just didn’t like her. At times she acted like a teenager and makes some weird choices. The third portion is narrated by the painting itself. This part I really enjoyed. Hearing the story of the painting through history from its point of view was like seeing behind the curtains.

The story centers around a Van Gogh painting that was stolen by the Nazi’s during WWII. Believed to have been lost to history, Julie takes her father’s ashes to spread over the Alps. Along the way she meets a billionaire and she starts spending time with him. During one of her visits to his home, she happens upon the painting and the woman in the picture looks exactly like her. She tries to learn the history of the painting and her father’s experiences during the war. There are also secret Swiss bank accounts, and men chasing her.

This story had a lot of potential. I did not like Julie at all. I don’t think the author developed her character consistently throughout the book. I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the teenager-ish decisions she made. Ultimately, the story ends without resolving what actually happened to the painting, whether the brother’s were working together, and whether the entire thing with Julie was a setup, and what eventually happened to Julie. I also struggled with the fact that she and her father were so close but he never shared any of his research with her, but left all this information for her to continue the search after his death. That didn’t seem to fit with their relationship.

That you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. The views and opinions are all my own.

[Simone (mysterypageturners) Ketchum]

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖

Thank you to author @douglasscottross and @bookstainfluencers for the gifted copy!

📚Book: Chasing Vincent
✍🏻Author: Douglas Scott Ross
🌀Genre: Historical Thriller
📃Pages: 313


It is 2002 and America is reeling from September 11 terrorist attacks. Julie Tolle has graduated medical school just days after her father's mysterious death.
On a trip to the Swiss Alps to scatter his ashes, she uncovers a shocking secret. An unknown Van Gogh masterpiece hidden by a powerful family is staring directly at her. Where did it come from? Why does the woman look exactly like me? The answers unravel an incredible story of her family's tragic disappearance in the Holocaust with dangerous repercussions. When she lays claim to the “Master's Masterpiece", people helping her start dying. Face to face with the same murderous evil that destroyed her family who will be the next to die? And will Vincent Van Gogh's beautiful genius ever shine again?


💜What I Loved:
🔥Slow Building suspense
👀 Multiple POV’s
⏰ Multiple timelines
🖼️ Unique POV
🕎 History

💔What Didn’t Work For Me:
🐢 Slowness


📖 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

👩🏼‍⚖️Final Word:

This was a great read! It is a very unique book that includes history, timelines from past and present and the most unique part…. a painting that has a POV!!??!! For me, it was a slow burn. There is a lot of history of the past that focuses on the Holocaust and can be graphic at times. The ending leaves us to wonder if there is more to come. If you’re looking for a mystery that is full of history, this book is for you!

[Agnese V]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and I really wanted to like it based on the cover and the art references to painters like Vincent van Gogh. The story is narrated from different points of view and in the third person. Writing from the perspective of the stolen painting ("Moi") was highly original and the most interesting part of the book.

However, the writing style struggles to flow in the first part and the final few chapters. It reads like fragmented movie frames stitched together. The timeline is sometimes confusing (Chapter 9 jumps into the past while simultaneously trying to include Julie's narration from the future). Immersion in these clunky sections is frequently broken by forced trivia and specific real-world brand drops (Chiquita, Casio, Evian, Perrier). Julie’s logic is occasionally bizarre, such as Julie trying to calculate Swiss francs by comparing them to Mexican pesos or her shower monologue ("I don't care what European women do. They can braid it for all I care"). I may have not got the irony.

Fortunately, the middle of the book, after a temporal shift, flows much better, and the story actually functions as a cohesive thriller.

[Dr Rashmi Karaniya(PT)]

Chasing Vincent moves in 2 timelines simultaneously One where Julie’s father dies and she has to move on and take his ashes to Alps in Swiss so she can lay him there in peace where he always wanted and another Where Her Father is small boy 10 years old a Jew in Germany where Hitler is taken over and killling Jews left and right and looting everything they have .
The book moves where Julie’s adventure begins and her Purse is stolen by Vincent in Paris and she’s chasing him and the Painting a masterpiece from Vincent Van Gogh that is gifted from Vincent to her grandfather talks and says pov which makes book interesting.
The other end life of Jacob Tulle is unfolding as he’s escaping Nazis to save his life and there are secrets kept in safe that keeps unfolding as the story goes, dark secrets, surprising things I could never guess and injustice that was done on Jews by Nazis that made me angry.
As some part of book goes and each character gets acquainted it becomes unputdownable book that kept me on edge for things to reveal.

[Balletic Booklover]

Have you ever wondered what great works of art would say if they could talk? This novel has one of the most unique openings I’ve ever read, from the perspective of an anthropomorphic painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Part historical fiction, part experimental storytelling and part thriller, the story then shifts between multiple viewpoints and timelines, occasionally returning to the painting itself. Medical school graduate Julie Tolle is on a journey to scatter her father’s ashes in the Swiss Alps when she unexpectedly finds herself drawn into her long-lost family history, attempting to locate a painting stolen during the atrocities of the Holocaust. Moving back in time, the reader learns how this portrait came to be, where it went amidst and after the war, and why people are willing to stop at nothing to keep it from being claimed by its rightful owners. In this fragmented, sweeping story that spans decades and continents, art is the star.

Thanks to author Douglas Scott Ross and @bookstaininfluencers for my DRC.

[Sona]

I went into Chasing Vincent expecting an art mystery, but I found so much more. The story combines a hidden Van Gogh masterpiece, family secrets, and the lasting impact of the Holocaust into a suspenseful journey across Europe.

What I enjoyed most was how the mystery slowly unfolded through Julie’s search for her family’s past. The historical elements added emotional depth, and the European setting made every chapter feel cinematic.

The idea of giving the painting its own voice was definitely unique. While it didn’t always work for me, it made the story stand out from other historical thrillers. I also wished some of the supporting characters had been developed further, as a few important moments felt rushed.

Overall, this was an engaging read with plenty of twists, emotional moments, and fascinating art history. If you enjoy historical mysteries with family secrets and a touch of suspense, I’d recommend giving this one a try.

[Sarah Pitcher-hoffman]

I really wanted to like this book based on the cover, and that it is about Van Gogh, which is usually an interesting subject, but I not only didn't really like it, I couldn't even finish it. It started at the beginning when the story is being told through the pov of the painting; I just could not get into this fantasy - it did not work for me. But I persevered and got to the part where it is told by people, though it did return to the painting. I had hopes that the part about people would be better, but I still did not like it. I found it disjointed and, frankly, boring. There are many good books about WWII out there, and I don't see this as one. I am sorry to say it was a DNF for me. I do want to thank NetGalley and Douglas Ross for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I am sure many out there will love this perspective and enjoy this novel, but it wasn't for me.

[Kowsalya Selvaraj]

I wasn't sure what to expect from Chasing Vincent, but it turned out to be a really engaging read. The story blends mystery, history, art, and family secrets in a way that kept me interested throughout. Julie's journey, which begins with fulfilling her late father's final wish, soon turns into a mystery full of unexpected discoveries. One of my favorite parts was reading from the painting's point of view it was such a unique and memorable touch.


The story took a little time to build, but once it did, I couldn't stop reading. I enjoyed how the past and present came together, and the mix of art, history, and mystery made the book stand out. If you enjoy mysteries with a unique concept and plenty of secrets to uncover, Chasing Vincent is definitely worth picking up.

[Gordon Johnston]

An interesting, and unusual, tale of a young woman's journey into her family history. A young American doctor takes her father's ashes to be scattered in the Alps and finds herself investigating her own Jewish heritage in the time around the second world war. She finds a family link to a long missing Von Gogh painting - but where is the masterpiece?

Chasing Vincent isn't a thriller, more a journey into history that appears over time. There are plenty of real life characters, as well as a few fictional ones, to attract the interest. But the sections written from the point of view of the painting itself are rather odd.

[Rod Johnson]

I loved Douglas Scott Ross’ Chasing Vicent! The clever beginning with perceptions from a mysterious masterpiece painting grabs your attention. Then the characters are richly introduced as they are interwoven into a fast-moving plot that alternates between the 1940’s and the 2000’s. There are many surprises and questions along the way that keep you turning the pages, and the suspenseful ending leaves you eager to read the sequel to see if the heroine prevails. The vivid details and well-paced storyline make it hard to believe that this is the author’s first novel, and I hope that he writes many more.

[Cozy Crystal Chapters]

Arc Review!

Thank you to the author and @bookstainfluencers on Instagram for providing an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

If you love a thriller that combines art world intrigue with deep historical roots, Chasing Vincent by Douglas Scott Ross is such a good read!

While it starts off a bit slow as the world and backstory are established, stick with it! Once the mystery takes off, it picks up speed and becomes really hard to put down.

Part art heist, part suspense thriller, and part historical mystery, add this one to your TBR if you enjoy unravelling family secrets and hidden history!

[Sericha]

As someone who loves Van Gogh, I was instantly hooked. The mix of history, family secrets, and suspense kept me fully invested. Julie’s journey—from grief to uncovering hidden truths—was emotional and easy to connect with.

I loved the multiple timelines and POVs, especially the unique perspective that made this story stand out. The Holocaust storyline was heavy but meaningful, adding real depth.

It’s a slow burn, but the payoff is worth it. Twists kept coming, and I couldn’t stop reading by the end.

If you like historical mysteries with heart, this is definitely worth it.

[Elsie]

A lost Van Gogh masterpiece, family secrets & a mystery that stretches across decades? Yeah, this one had me INVESTED. 👀

I went into Chasing Vincent expecting a simple historical thriller, but the mix of art, history, mystery or multiple timelines made it so much more. It starts a little slow, but once the clues begin connecting, I couldn't stop turning the pages. The painting's POV was such a unique touch and honestly one of my favorite parts!

If you enjoy mysteries packed with history, hidden secrets, & slow-building suspense, this one might be for you. 📚

[Diya & Piya]

⭐ Review: 3.8/4

Chasing Vincent by Douglas Scott Ross is a beautifully written story. The beginning felt a bit lengthy, and I occasionally found myself getting bored, but after a few chapters, the story became much more interesting. I usually don't enjoy long descriptions, but in this story, they were written very well. The multiple POVs and different character perspectives added depth and made the narrative more engaging.

Overall, it's a good read for anyone who enjoys mystery, historical fiction, and family secrets.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the author and @bookstainfluencers for this gifted e-book in exchange for an honest review!

This isn’t my typical thriller, but I absolutely love a WWII/Holocaust story. It’s such a horrific time in our history, but it always captures my interest, and this book was no exception. What really stood out about this book was how the author wove in Vincent Van Gogh and Nazi looting, and also gave the painting its own POV. I was completely engrossed in this story! If you have any interest in historical fiction, you should really check this one out.

[Howard Tsang]

This author developed a main character that captivated my attention. It was a classic good guy, bad guy thriller until…… you were wondering, who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. The ending left you craving for more and although we were left with an ending where you felt safety for the main character, you really wonder what’s going to happen in the sequel novel to come, will justice truly come? Can’t wait for it to hit the store.

[Nathaniel Mellor]

I was an early beta reader for this book and watched as it shifted and grew, stage by stage, into a gripping tale of history, multiple timelines, and intrigue.

From a chance meeting in Switzerland to nail-biting conclusion in New York, this book brings you across the world—and across time—to deliver a fantastic blend of humanity, loss, and family history.

I highly suggest reading it!

[Tashika]

Chasing Vincent was such an engaging blend of mystery, history, and art.

I loved how the story slowly unfolded through multiple timelines, with every chapter revealing another piece of the puzzle. The connection between the hidden Van Gogh masterpiece, family secrets, and historical events kept me completely invested. It never felt rushed, and the suspense stayed consistent throughout.

[Laura Ross]

Perfect the reader who enjoys going on an adventurous ride through the past and present! Journey through exciting European destinations to see if Julie can unlock the secrets of her family and stolen art. A truly fun read!

[ReadingRiott]

👍

[Anupa]

I would like to thank @bookstainfluencers for the arc in exchange of an honest review. What I loved most was how the story blended art, history, mystery, and family secrets without feeling overwhelming. The multiple timelines kept revealing little pieces of the puzzle, and I genuinely looked forward to every chapter. I also wasn't expecting such a unique narrative style—it made the book stand out even more.

The Holocaust portions were heartbreaking and added so much depth to the story. It isn't a light read, but it's definitely a meaningful one. The suspense builds slowly, yet every reveal feels worth the wait.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with an emotional touch, I'd definitely recommend this one. It was different from anything I've read recently.