The Last Van Gogh

Adam Barrows Mystery #1

by Will Ottinger

A struggling gallery owner and ex-KGB female assassin team up to chase a lost Van Gogh painting across the world.

Two old letters reveal the existence of an unknown Van Gogh painting. Only four individuals have ever seen the work, all now dead. One deceased man, an alcoholic thief, claimed to have smuggled the painting out of France at the beginning of World War Two. His two sons dedicate themselves to finding the Van Gogh, seeking personal redemption for their father and damaged childhoods.

Valued at $250 million, the painting attracts an unseen hired killer, three unscrupulous collectors, and the Russian mob. One brother undertakes the search for the painting, accompanied by a beautiful ex-KGB assassin as his bodyguard. Together, their quest takes them from New York to Los Angeles, from Paris to Amsterdam as murders pile up around them. Welcome to the high-end art world, secret deals, and billionaires willing to go to any length to get their hands on the last Van Gogh. 

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Thriller

286 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2019

About the author

An avid reader and lifelong collector of WWI historical paper and memorabilia. "A Season for Ravens was written as the result of a combined passion and 'must get this out of me' urge!

I am a native Southerner, living all over the Southeast during my childhood. Graduating from Emory University (Atlanta) with a degree in History, and Northwestern Graduate Trust School (Chicago), I worked in the high net worth financial industry, and have owned a sales training/consulting company for the past 20 years, speaking nationally and writing articles for several magazines.

I formerly wrote a book on one of my other interests, building and painting military miniatures. "Napoleonic Plastic Figure Modelling" was published by Windrow & Greene in Great Britain in 1997.

Currently, I'm working on my next novel set in Savannah, Georgia, in 1831.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Van Gogh by Will Ottinger is a well-written standalone novel that is a combination of historical fiction (late 19th century and 1930’s) and mystery/suspense in contemporary times.

The story takes us on a trip to Holland, Austria, France, Chicago, New York City and California. Of course the late 19th century part of the story deals with Van Gogh himself. In contemporary times, two old letters allude to the existence of an unknown Van Gogh painting; one that is much larger than his normal paintings and could be worth a fortune. The letters were from a con-man to his sons; one of which is an alcoholic and the other a struggling galley owner. Of course the alcoholic talks about the painting and several people are seeking the potential prize. Who can the brothers trust? Does the painting exist? If it once existed, was it successfully smuggled out of Europe and to the United States? With assassins, a former KGB agent, con-men and mafia types involved, who will even survive the search?

I originally thought this story was going to be a thriller. To me, it was more of a mystery and suspense story. However, that did not detract from a great concept with wonderful character development and plenty of plot twists and turns. The pace picked up speed as the book progressed building to a climax. During Van Gogh’s lifetime, he suffered from mental illness and was considered a failure as an artist by many. This comes through in the historical fiction part of the story as well as much more.

What more could a reader ask for? This was a mystery with a historical element that kept me turning the pages.

Many thanks to Black Rose Writing, Will Ottinger and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an adventure! An alcoholic, con artist father dies leaving an unfinished letter telling about a painting he smuggled out of France when World War II began. His alcoholic son finds the letter and realizes he could get money if he could get his hands on the painting. He involves his brother, the owner of a struggling art gallery. But, he also talks to some of the wrong people about the possibility of this paining. No one knows if the painting is real or if it is an invention of the con artist father. Word gets around and all of a sudden the Mafia, an ex-KGB agent, some unsavory art dealers and others are all after it - whether it exists or not.

The novel is set in both the United States and Europe. It is a very well-written and suspenseful mystery with lots of action. I truly enjoyed it. The characters were vividly drawn and the suspense built quickly.

Thanks to Will Ottinger and Black Rose Writing through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

GNAB . The Last Van Gogh is an exciting mystery. We follow three timelines - the late 1880's in Holland and France, the late 1930's again in Holland and France, and 2018 in Chicago, Holland, France, NYC and California. Our protagonists are brothers Wes and Adam Barrow, currently of Chicago but born and raised in California by a single parent art-loving alcoholic con-man named Robert Borrows.

The historical story lines are told from the perspective of Vincent Van Gogh though not in his voice. The modern story line is told by Adam. Adam excelled in school and had an opportunity for college. Wes stayed home and took care of his drinking, dying father, then married his sweetheart Barbara and after a couple of years living in the family home in California with ups and downs and binge drinking and constant deep depression, they move to Chicago to change the scene, and to be near Adam, as Wes usually tries harder when Adam is around.

Adam has a small art gallery on the verge of the 'bad' side of town but the biggest hurdle he must face is outliving his father's reputation. He has one excellent artist, Vasily Sorokin, and a couple more artists who sell occasionally. Even in Chicago Wes has an on-again, off-again problem with booze, but when Adam finds a need for him to work in the gallery while he is away, Wes dries out and does great. His wife Barbara and Adams assistant Sally help Wes, and they keep the Chicago gallery going while Adam and his Russian 'babysitter' Katia Veranova, go on an international trip funded by the Russian mob in Chicago headed by Viktor Krushenko and his main muscle, Arby (short for rebar and you don't want to know why) to begin searching for the history and location of the 'lost' Van Gogh that the Barrow boys father often bragged of while in his cups. While Adam doesn't believe it exists, Wes accidentally filled Viktor in on all the rumors and now he is their partner, like it or not. Viktor is the Uncle of Adam's best artist who is actually killed in front of The Adam Barrow Gallery as the brothers and Vasily close up shop after a very successful showing of Vasily's work. Wes takes a bullet in the leg. Adam's biggest problem is wondering if the Barrow brothers were the intended targets. To Wes the idea of a big influx of cash is a chance to start his life over again, and do better this time. Adam just wants to make a success of his gallery and find a girl and see Wes booze free and happy. But Viktor is not going to take no for an answer.

The bad guys are coming out of the woodwork, and almost impossible to keep up with. There are Russians and a Couple of Robert Barrow's former pardners in crime, there are privately hired by who-knows-who characters tracking Adam and Katia across Holland and France, there is another attempt on Wes's life, there are several billionaires all trying to out think each other, to be there when the boys actually find the missing 'girl', a six by ten foot, impossible to hide painting completed by Van Gogh in 1880's Holland and perhaps rescued on the verge of World War II to France and/or the U.S.

Both Wes and Adam eventually just want to live through the search.

I received a free electronic copy of the excellent novel from Netgalley, Will Ottinger, and Black Rose Writing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date March 7, 2019
Black Rose Writing

[Jacinda Literature Babe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Black Rose Writing and the author Mr. Will Ottinger for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Last Van Gogh".

A mystery wrapped up in a suspenseful thriller, that takes the reader to Amsterdam, France and New York on a high stakes hunt for a lost Van Gogh.

Flashbacks to 1887: We find Van Gogh in love with "The Woman", a painting he just created for a private commission, and his story of descent into the darkness of madness.

Move ahead to current times: A letter left behind for 2 brothers by their Art forging, reclusive and alcoholic father lead to the "around the world" search for this priceless work of Van Gogh art.

If this painting exists, and it's a big if, it is nothing that the artworld has ever seen from the paintbrush of the master of impressionism. Unfortunately, many people want it- which leads to the old adage, " I'd kill to own that"...

And so begins the "underworld" desire for funding (and killing) to own this masterpiece.

No price paid is too high for this priceless Van Gogh.

3 stars

[Ravenclaw251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little slow at the beginning, but worth the wait! The plot was fascinating and the characters interesting. I look forward to seeing more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

This is a very good novel with an interesting premise. A one-of-a-kind original Van Gogh is smuggled out of Paris at the height of the Nazi occupation by a good friend of the current owner.

The two sons of the just deceased elderly man who assisted in the “liberation” of the Van Gogh locate two letters written by their father. They go on an extensive search for the missing painting.

When knowledge of the painting becomes more or less public, the brothers' search soon attracts all kinds of ne'er-do-wells that follow the brothers and try to get to the painting first. They all want the prize that may well be worth an estimated 250 million dollars. They seek the painting all over the globe.

This is a very well written and plotted novel that starts out a little slowly, but builds over time. The story holds the reader's interest with action and if you like searches for “lost” treasures, this book is for you. I was disappointed that Mr. Ottinger made the one brother an alcoholic. I was put off by that as I was married to one of those. I liked the art gallery owner. He seemed vary long suffering, but somewhat intolerant, of his wayward brother. This is my first Will Ottinger book, and I immediately went to Amazon to look for others of his novels.

I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting tale of a lost Van Gogh and and an art dealer that finds himself in the middle of a mad dash of ruthless killers that are desperate to find this unprecedented treasure. At times the amount of bad guys that were racing the clock to get the painting seemed mind boggling. But I felt this was realistic when you consider if such a painting truly existed it's value would be astronomical.

Adam an art dealer that has a a small and struggling gallery along with Kat a former KGB agent are trying to find the painting that Adam's deceased father supposedly smuggled out of France during wartime. Juggling corrupt and ruthless Russians and professional assassins while attempting to locate this lost work of art had me glued to this book.

My favorite parts were the musings of Van Gogh during flashbacks that were carefully interspersed throughout the story line.. I felt they were so real the author might have found pages from a diary of Van Gogh's. The imagery of the painting and the famed artist's mental state was superb. I am not usually a fan of violence and you must be prepared as there are some brutal and sad scenes in this novel. The likelihood that evil would be attracted to the ultimate prize is believable. Does this painting truly exist? Pick up this book and prepare for a whirlwind of a ride.

[Danni (_forbookssake) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first came across The Last Van Gogh on NetGalley, I was instantly interested, and had to read it. Van Gogh is one of my biggest inspirations as an artist, and I tend to read any book that I find which relates to him in any way. This book is in the ‘Mystery & Thrillers’ section on NetGalley, and thriller is usually my go to genre. The Last Van Gogh combines two of my favourite things, how could I resist?

However, after reading a few chapters, I soon realised that this wasn’t going to be the exciting, mystery/thriller I had been so looking forward to getting in to. The Last Van Gogh is by no means a bad book, but it really didn’t live up to my expectations. But, I do think I built this up way too much in my head before I started reading, due to my huge passion for Van Gogh and his work, which may have been why I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had anticipated.

The whole story seemed a little uneventful. We followed the characters on their travels around Holland, France, and the US in search of the painting, but even though Adam was accompanied by an ex-assassin, and was being followed by a contracted killer, nothing major seemed to happen on these travels. It wasn’t boring to read, but I certainly wanted more action, and more excitement. The most thrilling parts in the story occurred while they were staying at home, and not out in search of the missing Van Gogh, which didn’t really make much sense to me. Surely it should have been the opposite way around? The story got a little more exciting towards the end, but by then it was a bit too late.

I will say that Will Ottinger clearly did his research on the artist. The chapters that were supposed to be from Van Gogh’s point of view were packed with historical accuracy, and it was interesting to read a fictional representation of how Van Gogh may have felt during those times in his life.

The characters were definitely a positive point for The Last Van Gogh. Ottinger did a great job of including a range of personalities, and portraying each one brilliantly in the process. There was definitely some serious stereotyping going on though… I won’t give examples, but if you do read the book, you will see exactly what I mean.

The thing I enjoyed the most about this story was trying to visualise this immense, unknown, Van Gogh masterpiece for myself, throughout the book. Much like the characters in the story, I couldn’t get the painting out of my head. I kept picturing the image, the colours, the brush strokes, and the sheer size of the piece, and imagining what it would be like to see this incredibly beautiful painting in real life.

I would like to say a big thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for sending me a copy. This book wasn’t terrible, but definitely could have been better. I give The Last Van Gogh a 3/5 rating.

[Alan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, you know what to expect with a book like this: a lost painting, clues left behind to its existence, lots of people chasing it, a family secret, a mis-matched pair join together to find it and fall in love…. OK, that’s what it is, and that’s how it should be judged. And I enjoyed it.

Adam Barrow owns an art gallery in Chicago, his brother Wes is a hopeless drunk, both of them living under the shadow of their late-father’s deceit and alcoholism. Their father had often spoken of a lost painting by van Gogh, a massive oil painting of a young girl in a field that he had acquired when it was smuggled into America to avoid to being looted by the Nazis. There are letters from a previous owner proving the painting exists, but that is all.

What then follows is a rollercoaster ride, a (in a good way) cliché-filled chase across the world, from Chicago to Amsterdam and Paris and New York to California. Adam is sent off on his hunt by getting tangled up with the Russian mob, and he is assigned a stunningly beautiful woman as his ‘protection’, Katia Veranova, an ex-KGB agent with some dark secrets of her own. There is a mysterious ‘benefactor’ who has hired an assassin to track the pair and, as the body count mounts up, the chase becomes a cat and mouse affair. Oh, and there is another assassin, sent by the KGB, to track down Katia and get rid of her. Are you keeping up?

This is very much a genre piece, and the author clearly knows the art world; whilst the premise is a little unbelievable, the pace is cracking and the pages turn themselves in the race towards the inevitable climax. Yes, some of the dialogue is a little obvious, and yes, it is very much in the Dan Brown strain of books, but there were enough little nods to its own artifice that made me feel that we were in the hands of someone who knew the limits of the form (there are references to James Bond, conspiracies, and at one point a Reservoir Dogs-style Mexican stand-off). It’s not literary fiction, so I judge this solely on its merit: did I enjoy it? Yes. Are the characters likeable enough to engage you? Yes, but in a two-dimensional way. Does the plot rattle along at a decent pace without flagging? Again, yes. Most people will enjoy the twists and turns along the way, and the ending avoids tripping into schmaltz, which is to its credit. Fasten your seatbelts, 4 stars!

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book.)

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Last Van Gogh’ by Will Ottinger proved an enjoyable read with engaging characters and an intriguing mystery at its heart. I am always drawn to novels that include art and art history. As the title indicates the novel is about a lost painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

In 1887 Van Gogh accepts a private commission in Holland for a painting of a young woman. On the eve of WWII its reclusive dying owner entrusts it to a French diplomat. He arranges for it to be sent to the USA in the care of Robert Barrow, a young American working for the American embassy in Paris. Barrow apparently completes this task and hides it from the world.

Fast forward to 2018 and Barrow has died and left two letters for his sons revealing the existence of the painting, which is unusual due to its large size and invaluable. The younger son, Adam, who owns a small struggling art gallery in Chicago, is sceptical but his brother, Wes, wants them to search for it. The situation is complicated by Barrow, Sr. having been known as a conman and purveyor of fake art.

Wes shows the letters to a local Russian gangster, who offers to bankroll the search for a percentage of the eventual sale. He is a scary man! Adam is left little choice but to comply. Also, another unknown party determined to own the painting has employed a hit man to follow Adam, obtain the painting, and eliminate ‘loose ends’. Eep!

So it’s a fast-paced adventure with plenty of allies and adversaries. Adam is accompanied by Katia Veranova, who serves as both a bodyguard and to report back to her boss on their progress. So they go off to Europe and later New York and California seeking to verify the painting’s existence and location. Their trip is full of luxurious hotel rooms, champagne, galas, and limousines. Along the way the bodies also begin to pile up.

There are some chapters interspersed written about Van Gogh, chronicling his final tormented years and the painting’s route to the USA.

Clearly from a small independent publisher this proved a fun read. Hopefully it will come to the attention of other readers who enjoy treasure hunt thrillers.

My thanks to Black Rose Writing for an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure to read.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well-written page-turner! This book is essentially a quest to find the last painting that van Gogh created and weaves in the story of how it became lost. Three distinct time periods are followed throughout the narrative, Van Gogh’s time, the 1930s before World War II, and present day (2018). The author does a fantastic job keeping these threads separate so they are not confusing. He does this both visually and using the writer's toolbox. Van Gogh’s scenes are written in italics and from an omniscient viewpoint (well done for once by a modern writer), the pre-World War II scenes are in alternating third-person viewpoints, and the modern-day sections are written in the first-person vantage point by one intimately involved in the quest.

The characters in all timelines are well drawn, and I appreciate that the bad guys are complex, not just two-dimensional villains. The pace is tight, making you not want to put the book down. I found myself wanting to get to the next sections in the three different threads. The mystery here is complex in its heart as is the quest to unravel it.

I enjoy mysteries that have a historical element like this one, and this is one of the better ones that I have read. If you enjoy mystery like that as well, you might enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life sized painting from the master Vincent Van Gogh painted while he was ill. A race to smuggle the painting out of Austria before the Nazis get her. A hundred years or so from when the painting was created two American brothers find out their dad willed the paying to them. The race was on to find the painting.

This is a storyline created to show events over time with many interesting characters involved. Not familiar with the art world a lot of the names of artist were unknown to me making it a bit of a hard read. The story itself is well developed and interesting. The value of human lives verses a masterpiece was explored. The intrinsic beauty of the art and life like quality stirred the men who saw the painting revealing just how much creativity and artistic genius can create emotions in us. The value of this painting was measured not only in money but in human life. The question remains for me is any object worth killing for? Overall, I found a lot of the topics I gleaned from this book to be intriguing and caused me to reflect on my own value system. For this reason I gave it a high rating.

[GinnyP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done - it checked the boxes I like: Van Gogh, foreign travel, Russian spies, a bit of romance, good writing. The book begins with the premise that a Van Gogh painting was saved from the Nazis and put into hiding. But where? And by whom? Was it really the drunken patriarch of the Barrow family who managed to keep this masterpiece hidden? And does it even exist? Brothers Adam, an aspiring art gallery owner, and Wes, an alcoholic wreck, get caught in a network of Russian gangsters, a wealthy Brit who relentlessly insists the painting must exist and become his, a former KGB agent who not only works for said gangsters but becomes Adam's love interest as they head to the Amsterdam, Paris, NYC, and back home to Chicago in this fast-paced novel. I enjoyed the descriptions of well-heeled society types in galleries and gatherings, the romance was just enough to not detract from the quest, and while i figured out who the bad-guy-in-the-background was, I still enjoyed the crossing paths and the way the ending came quickly together.
Thanks to LibraryThing and BlackRose Writing for the chance to read this and given my honest opinion.

[Karen Miles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you for Will Ottinger, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of "The Last Van Gogh" in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to read this book based on the summary provided. I am a huge fan of Van Gogh and was looking for an exciting fictional mystery regarding one of his paintings. However, this book fell short of my expectations. I read the first 25% of the book and gave up. For me, the writing, characters, and plot formation did not entice me to continue on further with the book.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vivid description of all the greed and the urge to make money out of Art. The protagonists are struggling with the shadow of their dead father, while anyone with money and power is ready to commit any crime to satisfy his greed. Will Ottinger is a fully acknowledged writer, and the thriller is very easy to read, with its own pace, and surprises. The world will stop around you when you'll start to read the last 30 minutes of the book, nothing else will matter ... I just hope for the research of more unknown masterpieces ...

[Sherri Geisler Locke]

This is a well written mystery book that will take you through time. it speaks from varying points of view including Van Goghs. There are good guys and bad guys, and almost every emotion there is. You will not want to put the book down as you try to discover if there really is another Van Gogh painting out there to be found.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meg Lelvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will please fans of art combined with the thriller mystery genre. And throw in the Russian mob and a love story in the mix, and you have a fast-paced, well-written story. The characters are interesting, and you either love them or hate them. Will the mystery of the long-lost Van Gogh be solved? Read and find out!

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was great the story was well written and the characters were interesting. Van Gogh was a painter an artist, there was one painting that not many people had seen it. You had thieves, Russian mobs and even Billionaire's.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't dream of finding something historical and valuable? An engaging story that's a page turner and keeps your attention. Action and adventure meet the characters around every corner. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a mystery fan but when you add some historical fiction - I am hooked. Incredibly well-written, fast-paced, with a compelling story that I just could not put down. Awesome is all I can say.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[T Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable story, with an interesting plot and good characters. There are, however, quite a few logical and factual errors.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery with an unlikely duo trying to track down a painting before some more unsavory characters can get their hands on it. There's plenty of tension and suspense woven into the plot, keeping it moving forward smoothly, but I wouldn't call this a thriller per se. That said, Ottinger did a great job creating believable characters and drawing the reader into the shady side of high-end art dealings. If you're looking for a mystery that will keep you up late reading, then you'll want to put this at the top of your TBR pile.

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, a great mystery!

The Last Van Gogh is based on the idea that there is a missing painting out there somewhere in the world. In comes a notorious con man who claims he smuggled it into the US from France at the outbreak of World War II. Move forward two years and letters are found that supposedly confirm the painting does exist.

Well crafted characters and an enjoyable storyline make this a must-read.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can never get enough Van Gogh, even if it’s fiction. An entertaining hard to put down book about a lost Van Gogh painting, replete with Russian mobsters, rich and shady art collectors, an aspiring young art gallery owner and a beautiful former Russian KGB operative.

[Anthony Philosophos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ottinger has written a hit! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and loved following the plots twists and turns. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed traveling with the book. Looking forward to next book by Ottinger.

[Lindasp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories about famous artists always catch my attention but throw in a mystery and danger, and I'm hooked!! This was a 'wild ride' with a minor art gallery owner in Chicago becoming involved with a Russian crime boss, unscrupulous art dealers with agendas and then throw in the KGB threat! WOW!

[Paul Woodhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written including historical facts (which I assume are accurate) with suspense until the end.

[M. Musgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, face passed plot with engaging characters and believable settings. If you enjoy mysteries, especially those set in the international art community, this book is for you.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Ottinger includes both history and mystery in a book that examines Van Gogh, a figure recently popularized by a few films and explored with an expert touch here. A recommended read for those familiar with the artist's work, as well as newbies.