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Stealing The Scream
In 2004, masked thieves stole Edvard Munch's “The Scream” from an Oslo museum. Norwegian police recovered the painting two years later but never explained how or where they had found it. Stealing The Scream examines/re-imagines the event, offering a tantalizing account of what happened through fictional characters, Percival Davenport, an artist whose obsession with Munch leads him to steal “The Scream” and Leonard, a museum security guard and amateur sleuth, whose interest in Davenport’s art leads him and the police to the artist’s door, setting up a tense climax and a satisfying if unexpected ending to the story.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2019
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Theodore Carter
12 books26 followersTheodore Carter is the author of The Life Story of a Chilean Sea Blob and Other Matters of Importance (Queens Ferry Press, 2012), Frida Kahlo Sex Dreams and Other Unnerving Disruptions, and Stealing ‘The Scream’ (Run Amok Books, 2019).
His fiction runs the gamut from humor, to literary fiction, to horror. He’s appeared in several magazines and anthologies including The North American Review, Pank, Necessary Fiction, A capella Zoo, The Potomac Review, and Gargoyle.
His street art projects, which began as book promotion stunts, have garnered attention from several local news outlets including NBC4 Washington, Fox5 DC, and the Washington City Paper.
Carter lives just outside Washington, DC in Takoma Park, MD.
His fiction runs the gamut from humor, to literary fiction, to horror. He’s appeared in several magazines and anthologies including The North American Review, Pank, Necessary Fiction, A capella Zoo, The Potomac Review, and Gargoyle.
His street art projects, which began as book promotion stunts, have garnered attention from several local news outlets including NBC4 Washington, Fox5 DC, and the Washington City Paper.
Carter lives just outside Washington, DC in Takoma Park, MD.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 5, 2019
*4.5 star, but rounding up*
Percival Davenport was a successful CEO, but when he decides to retire, he soon realises how much of a struggle life can be when you don’t have anything to do with your time. Percival, who once did a minor art degree, finds his escape through art and painting.
This escape through art leads him to an unhealthy obsession, particularly with Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”. But will Percival’s obsession lead to his own self-destruction?
If you know me, or frequently read my blog, then you will know that I have a huge love of art, and anything art related. So when Stealing The Scream became available to request on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to give it a read.
Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” has been the target of multiple theft attempts in the past, and on more than one occasion, these attempts have actually been successful. Theodore Carter’s novel, Stealing The Scream, is based on the events of the 2004 theft, where masked gunmen entered the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, and stole 2 of the most valuable paintings in the museum: The Scream and Madonna. Little is known about the theft, and what happened to the paintings in the 2 years between them being taken and their recovery, but Carter’s novel gives an exciting fictional account of that time.
Stealing The Scream is packed full with historical accuracy, and it is obvious that the author did a lot of research on the not only the real life incident, but the painting itself, and many other works of art and galleries too. As an art enthusiast, I would have to say that this was probably one of my favourite things about the book.
All of the characters were very well developed, even the less important characters of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their personalities develop, and in some cases completely spiral and change, as the story progressed. I felt that this added more intensity and excitement to the story. Percival’s progression in particular was excellently written. It was both intriguing and heartbreaking to read, and Carter deserves a round of applause.
Stealing The Scream was a joy to read, and I struggled to put this book down, especially those last few intense chapters. It definitely lived up to my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Run Amok Books for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Percival Davenport was a successful CEO, but when he decides to retire, he soon realises how much of a struggle life can be when you don’t have anything to do with your time. Percival, who once did a minor art degree, finds his escape through art and painting.
This escape through art leads him to an unhealthy obsession, particularly with Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”. But will Percival’s obsession lead to his own self-destruction?
If you know me, or frequently read my blog, then you will know that I have a huge love of art, and anything art related. So when Stealing The Scream became available to request on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to give it a read.
Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” has been the target of multiple theft attempts in the past, and on more than one occasion, these attempts have actually been successful. Theodore Carter’s novel, Stealing The Scream, is based on the events of the 2004 theft, where masked gunmen entered the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, and stole 2 of the most valuable paintings in the museum: The Scream and Madonna. Little is known about the theft, and what happened to the paintings in the 2 years between them being taken and their recovery, but Carter’s novel gives an exciting fictional account of that time.
Stealing The Scream is packed full with historical accuracy, and it is obvious that the author did a lot of research on the not only the real life incident, but the painting itself, and many other works of art and galleries too. As an art enthusiast, I would have to say that this was probably one of my favourite things about the book.
All of the characters were very well developed, even the less important characters of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their personalities develop, and in some cases completely spiral and change, as the story progressed. I felt that this added more intensity and excitement to the story. Percival’s progression in particular was excellently written. It was both intriguing and heartbreaking to read, and Carter deserves a round of applause.
Stealing The Scream was a joy to read, and I struggled to put this book down, especially those last few intense chapters. It definitely lived up to my expectations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Run Amok Books for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2019
I received an ARC of this book through LibraryThing. Thank you!
What happens when a CEO who has spent his whole life focusing on mastering and conquering the business world finally retires? He throws himself fully into his new hobby! Percival finally decides to step down. With his marriage over, he has to find something to do with all the time now on his hands. His house manager, Lucinda, helps him rediscover an old interest in art. Percival devotes himself obsessively to learning all the Master's styles and perfecting his technique. But once the skills are mastered what is left to do? An artist must show his work! Percival, who never takes the most obvious route, finds a way to share his work with the word and discovers that he must keep pushing to new levels.
This was such a great read! I was gripped right from the beginning with the character introductions. The next chapter couldn't come quick enough, but was I was sad when the book ended. I would definitely recommend this book with 2 thumbs up
What happens when a CEO who has spent his whole life focusing on mastering and conquering the business world finally retires? He throws himself fully into his new hobby! Percival finally decides to step down. With his marriage over, he has to find something to do with all the time now on his hands. His house manager, Lucinda, helps him rediscover an old interest in art. Percival devotes himself obsessively to learning all the Master's styles and perfecting his technique. But once the skills are mastered what is left to do? An artist must show his work! Percival, who never takes the most obvious route, finds a way to share his work with the word and discovers that he must keep pushing to new levels.
This was such a great read! I was gripped right from the beginning with the character introductions. The next chapter couldn't come quick enough, but was I was sad when the book ended. I would definitely recommend this book with 2 thumbs up
July 11, 2019
Thanks so much to #netgalley and #runamokbooks for letting me read and review #stealingthescream by @theodorecarter2. This book kept me reading long past my bedtime and I couldn’t wait to finish to see what happened. About a grumpy old retired CEO that is beyond bored in his retirement and takes up painting as a hobby. Being that he has to excel at everything he does, painting is his new 9:00 to 5:00 job. He then gets a brilliant but kind of twisted idea to take his painting hobby to a new and dangerous level. I highly recommend this book! It was funny as well as thrilling!
December 27, 2020
Really fun book! I enjoyed the characters and felt genuinely invested in what happened to them. The storyline felt fresh and surprising. A fun and quick read!
October 24, 2019
I thank the publisher for providing me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
I had a ball reading this book. This is one of those books that are fun to read (even if you think you know where things are headed, you still want to read all the nitty-gritty details and end up discovering that things can go in unexpected directions), and are also great fun to tell others about. Because the plot of the book is both out-there and plausible at the same time, it’s impossible not to keep thinking about it, pondering over the details, and wondering how far things will go. And my bet is that anybody you tell about this book will also be left wondering and will want to know more.
The book’s description explains the main points of the plot in detail (too much detail for my liking, although luckily for me I didn’t remember the description when I got immersed in the book), so I won’t go over them again. This is a book suffused by art, painting in particular: love of art, the technique of painting, studying art, the obsession for art, collecting art, art museums and how they work, art as a business, but also and more importantly, the way art can communicate and affect people. The author, an artist in his own right, captures and transmits the way some art pieces can have an incredible effect on people, how we can feel moved, stirred, saddened, horrified, or utterly joyous by contemplating some artworks. The power of some images (or sounds, or movements…) is undeniable and, as the main protagonist of the story learns, does not reside on a perfect technique. Some paintings have a soul that reaches out, touches our hearts and, like here, even screams at us.
The story is narrated in the third person from the four main characters’ points of view. This does not cause confusion as each chapter is told from a single character’s perspective, and it is clearly signposted. Percival, the retired CEO who takes up painting, is the central character, the one whose actions set the story in motion, although he does that at the suggestion of Lucinda, whose role in the story seems to be that of observer/facilitator, but whose motives and actions are, perhaps, the most intriguing of the whole book. She was an actress and seems to have fallen into her role as a mixture of PA, housekeeper, and live-in help of Percival quite by accident. She has lost her self-confidence and is both restless but unable to act, having lost her sense of purpose. Percival is a quirky character, who seems to show traits of Asperger’s (he has difficulty dealing with people other than a few individuals who know him well, is obsessive and once he has focused on something, he finds it difficult to switch off, he is rigid and inflexible in his routines…), and has a peculiar, sometimes child-like, sense of humour. Towards the end of the book his mind goes into freefall, and he reminded me of the Howard Hughes’s character as portrayed in the film The Aviator, but here the focus is on painting and art. Red, the shadiest character, is perhaps the most easily recognisable and familiar of them all, but although not particularly likeable, his resourcefulness and the ease with which he accepts the most bizarre requests make him rise above the typical crooks of novels and films. My favourite character was Leonard, the museum security ward. Although he is not well-educated or sophisticated, he is an observer of people, loves art (for its own sake), and has a curious and clever mind. He is the amateur detective, the only one to make sense of what is going on and who pursues the answers, no matter how difficult it might be.
The author assembles a cast of characters that seem, at first, to be familiar types we’ve all read about or watched on movies, but we might not feel a particular connection to. (As I said, Leonard is perhaps the most “normal” of them all, and, at least for me, the easiest to empathise with). But as we read about them, we discover they all have something in common. They are lonely and disconnected from others. Percival and Lucinda live in the same house (although it is a huge mansion, the author manages to create a sense of claustrophobia and encroachment) but, as Lucinda eventually realises, they live in separate worlds. Red has chosen to live in the edges of society and doesn’t know how to relax or enjoy other people’s company, other than at a very basic/business-like level. And although Leonard has a regular job and some friends, he lives alone in his apartment, has been stuck in his job for years, and has no meaningful relationships to speak off. The “common” experience they go through teaches all of them something, not the same, but important lessons nonetheless.
The language is versatile, adapting well to each different character, with some very funny lines at times (Lucinda keeps collecting Percival’s pearls of wisdom, and some are laugh-out-loud funny), lyrical descriptions of paintings and experiences (some take on an almost hallucinatory quality), and accurate depictions of paranoid and disturbed mental states. The plot involves a variety of locations and settings, and some action scenes, without any real violence (although there is menace and veiled threats), and the narration moves at a good pace, with some reflective and contemplative moments, but never slowing down to a halt.
I also loved the end. As I have mentioned, all the characters learn something new about themselves, and the end of the central story (the robbery of The Scream) will bring a smile to readers’ faces. I hope somebody decides to make a movie out of it, because it would be a joy.
This is a book a bit difficult to categorise, as it has elements of the mystery novel (perhaps a cozy mystery with a difference), of the alternative historical fiction, even if it is real history (a reimagining of what might have truly happened when The Scream was stolen), of literary fiction, it’s also a study on obsession and art… I’d recommend it to people who love quirky stories with intriguing characters that do not fit into a given genre and are not followers of trends. If you love art, have a sense of humour, and are looking for something fresh and different, you must read this. I am very intrigued by the author’s biography and his other books, and I’ll be checking out the rest of his work.
I had a ball reading this book. This is one of those books that are fun to read (even if you think you know where things are headed, you still want to read all the nitty-gritty details and end up discovering that things can go in unexpected directions), and are also great fun to tell others about. Because the plot of the book is both out-there and plausible at the same time, it’s impossible not to keep thinking about it, pondering over the details, and wondering how far things will go. And my bet is that anybody you tell about this book will also be left wondering and will want to know more.
The book’s description explains the main points of the plot in detail (too much detail for my liking, although luckily for me I didn’t remember the description when I got immersed in the book), so I won’t go over them again. This is a book suffused by art, painting in particular: love of art, the technique of painting, studying art, the obsession for art, collecting art, art museums and how they work, art as a business, but also and more importantly, the way art can communicate and affect people. The author, an artist in his own right, captures and transmits the way some art pieces can have an incredible effect on people, how we can feel moved, stirred, saddened, horrified, or utterly joyous by contemplating some artworks. The power of some images (or sounds, or movements…) is undeniable and, as the main protagonist of the story learns, does not reside on a perfect technique. Some paintings have a soul that reaches out, touches our hearts and, like here, even screams at us.
The story is narrated in the third person from the four main characters’ points of view. This does not cause confusion as each chapter is told from a single character’s perspective, and it is clearly signposted. Percival, the retired CEO who takes up painting, is the central character, the one whose actions set the story in motion, although he does that at the suggestion of Lucinda, whose role in the story seems to be that of observer/facilitator, but whose motives and actions are, perhaps, the most intriguing of the whole book. She was an actress and seems to have fallen into her role as a mixture of PA, housekeeper, and live-in help of Percival quite by accident. She has lost her self-confidence and is both restless but unable to act, having lost her sense of purpose. Percival is a quirky character, who seems to show traits of Asperger’s (he has difficulty dealing with people other than a few individuals who know him well, is obsessive and once he has focused on something, he finds it difficult to switch off, he is rigid and inflexible in his routines…), and has a peculiar, sometimes child-like, sense of humour. Towards the end of the book his mind goes into freefall, and he reminded me of the Howard Hughes’s character as portrayed in the film The Aviator, but here the focus is on painting and art. Red, the shadiest character, is perhaps the most easily recognisable and familiar of them all, but although not particularly likeable, his resourcefulness and the ease with which he accepts the most bizarre requests make him rise above the typical crooks of novels and films. My favourite character was Leonard, the museum security ward. Although he is not well-educated or sophisticated, he is an observer of people, loves art (for its own sake), and has a curious and clever mind. He is the amateur detective, the only one to make sense of what is going on and who pursues the answers, no matter how difficult it might be.
The author assembles a cast of characters that seem, at first, to be familiar types we’ve all read about or watched on movies, but we might not feel a particular connection to. (As I said, Leonard is perhaps the most “normal” of them all, and, at least for me, the easiest to empathise with). But as we read about them, we discover they all have something in common. They are lonely and disconnected from others. Percival and Lucinda live in the same house (although it is a huge mansion, the author manages to create a sense of claustrophobia and encroachment) but, as Lucinda eventually realises, they live in separate worlds. Red has chosen to live in the edges of society and doesn’t know how to relax or enjoy other people’s company, other than at a very basic/business-like level. And although Leonard has a regular job and some friends, he lives alone in his apartment, has been stuck in his job for years, and has no meaningful relationships to speak off. The “common” experience they go through teaches all of them something, not the same, but important lessons nonetheless.
The language is versatile, adapting well to each different character, with some very funny lines at times (Lucinda keeps collecting Percival’s pearls of wisdom, and some are laugh-out-loud funny), lyrical descriptions of paintings and experiences (some take on an almost hallucinatory quality), and accurate depictions of paranoid and disturbed mental states. The plot involves a variety of locations and settings, and some action scenes, without any real violence (although there is menace and veiled threats), and the narration moves at a good pace, with some reflective and contemplative moments, but never slowing down to a halt.
I also loved the end. As I have mentioned, all the characters learn something new about themselves, and the end of the central story (the robbery of The Scream) will bring a smile to readers’ faces. I hope somebody decides to make a movie out of it, because it would be a joy.
This is a book a bit difficult to categorise, as it has elements of the mystery novel (perhaps a cozy mystery with a difference), of the alternative historical fiction, even if it is real history (a reimagining of what might have truly happened when The Scream was stolen), of literary fiction, it’s also a study on obsession and art… I’d recommend it to people who love quirky stories with intriguing characters that do not fit into a given genre and are not followers of trends. If you love art, have a sense of humour, and are looking for something fresh and different, you must read this. I am very intrigued by the author’s biography and his other books, and I’ll be checking out the rest of his work.
September 9, 2019
I received a copy of Stealing the Scream through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Stealing the Scream by Theodore Carter blends fact and fiction in this thrilling tale of the infamous art heist; the moment the Scream by Edvard Munch was stolen. And how it mysteriously appeared once again.
Have you ever wondered what happened, the night the Scream was stolen? Or the motivations behind our thieves? What about the reason for it returning? Well, clearly Theodore Carter has wondered. His novel fills in all of the blanks with his own theorized version of events – purely speculative, of course. But still, quite a lot of fun to read.
If you’re looking for a novel that blends art history and mystery into one dramatic tale, then be sure to check out Stealing the Scream.
“That would be something. Passers-by standing pensively in front of it contemplating his genius.”
Stealing the Scream was as fact-filled as it was whimsical. Theodore Carter merged the real-life facts of the crime and the history of the painting itself in with a whole new tale of a single man and his quest for inspiration.
Percival Davenport was a successful CEO, despite hating having to put up with people all day every day. So his sudden decision to retire was probably a bit of a shock. I imagine he thought retirement would magically make his world better – and his floundering post-retirement certainly indicates this much.
His character progression was fascinating to follow. From a stable, if irritated, CEO to a man completely lost in his obsession and quest for a spark in his life. That’s what ultimately lead him to the Scream and thus brought him into the big picture of this tale.
I was surprised by the character study done in this novel. I thought the biggest study in this novel would be that of the Scream, or at least focusing on the theft around it. But that wasn’t quite the case. Carter spent a lot of time building up to the infamous heist, taking his time to establish the setting and characters before we even hit that climactic moment.
It was an interesting choice, but it certainly livened up a tale that otherwise would have been missing so many details (we never did find out the whole story of the true heist, after all). This fleshed-out version of events may be highly dramatized, but it’s all in good fun. And since theorizing is about all we can do at this point, there’s no harm in it.
Stealing the Scream is perfect for any fan of art heists, mysteries, or a blend of the two. It’s full of enough real facts to add weight to the tale, yet whimsical and theoretical enough to avoid any true risk of becoming dull or dry. And of course, it’s utterly unique in the way it told its disturbing tale.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Stealing the Scream by Theodore Carter blends fact and fiction in this thrilling tale of the infamous art heist; the moment the Scream by Edvard Munch was stolen. And how it mysteriously appeared once again.
Have you ever wondered what happened, the night the Scream was stolen? Or the motivations behind our thieves? What about the reason for it returning? Well, clearly Theodore Carter has wondered. His novel fills in all of the blanks with his own theorized version of events – purely speculative, of course. But still, quite a lot of fun to read.
If you’re looking for a novel that blends art history and mystery into one dramatic tale, then be sure to check out Stealing the Scream.
“That would be something. Passers-by standing pensively in front of it contemplating his genius.”
Stealing the Scream was as fact-filled as it was whimsical. Theodore Carter merged the real-life facts of the crime and the history of the painting itself in with a whole new tale of a single man and his quest for inspiration.
Percival Davenport was a successful CEO, despite hating having to put up with people all day every day. So his sudden decision to retire was probably a bit of a shock. I imagine he thought retirement would magically make his world better – and his floundering post-retirement certainly indicates this much.
His character progression was fascinating to follow. From a stable, if irritated, CEO to a man completely lost in his obsession and quest for a spark in his life. That’s what ultimately lead him to the Scream and thus brought him into the big picture of this tale.
I was surprised by the character study done in this novel. I thought the biggest study in this novel would be that of the Scream, or at least focusing on the theft around it. But that wasn’t quite the case. Carter spent a lot of time building up to the infamous heist, taking his time to establish the setting and characters before we even hit that climactic moment.
It was an interesting choice, but it certainly livened up a tale that otherwise would have been missing so many details (we never did find out the whole story of the true heist, after all). This fleshed-out version of events may be highly dramatized, but it’s all in good fun. And since theorizing is about all we can do at this point, there’s no harm in it.
Stealing the Scream is perfect for any fan of art heists, mysteries, or a blend of the two. It’s full of enough real facts to add weight to the tale, yet whimsical and theoretical enough to avoid any true risk of becoming dull or dry. And of course, it’s utterly unique in the way it told its disturbing tale.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
August 31, 2019
A strange but intriguing book.
Percival Daveport was a successful CEO. However he struggle to fill his time when he took retirement. So what do you when you retire? You paint. Percival years ago did a minor art degree and began a fascination with the art.
Looking at his art, Percival wondered what if he could get his work into the big galleries. Calling on a thief called Red to help him do the job. Just how is Percival planning to get his painting into these popular, famous art galleries across the world.? Bored and rich Percival wanted to do the impossible!
As time goes on Percival develops an obsession with Munch's scream painting, so much that it brings him a lot of bad luck and craziness. Does Percival lose everything? Or does he get away with his well-planned plan?
His assistant Lucinda sticks with him through thick and thin, will she stay with him when she finds out all?
At first I thought what has this plot got to do with art and the Scream painting in Norway. I thought it was more of a detective/ mystery / thriller type novel. However as I read on I realised that the author was just setting up the scene and developing the characters. The more I read on, the more I understood.
The book took me by surprise as I certainly was not expecting the last part of the book!
Percival Daveport was a successful CEO. However he struggle to fill his time when he took retirement. So what do you when you retire? You paint. Percival years ago did a minor art degree and began a fascination with the art.
Looking at his art, Percival wondered what if he could get his work into the big galleries. Calling on a thief called Red to help him do the job. Just how is Percival planning to get his painting into these popular, famous art galleries across the world.? Bored and rich Percival wanted to do the impossible!
As time goes on Percival develops an obsession with Munch's scream painting, so much that it brings him a lot of bad luck and craziness. Does Percival lose everything? Or does he get away with his well-planned plan?
His assistant Lucinda sticks with him through thick and thin, will she stay with him when she finds out all?
At first I thought what has this plot got to do with art and the Scream painting in Norway. I thought it was more of a detective/ mystery / thriller type novel. However as I read on I realised that the author was just setting up the scene and developing the characters. The more I read on, the more I understood.
The book took me by surprise as I certainly was not expecting the last part of the book!
August 10, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable romp through the world of art - buying, selling, and (spoiler alert] making unofficial donations to the greatest galleries in the world. Loved the main character, who may have been Percival (retired company bigwig who takes up painting for a hobby), and may have been Lucinda (ex-Broadway actress now working as Percival's "house manager)... or even Red (industrial espionage expert, who finds himself working in a very different world indeed). Either way, all were well-rounded and very well developed.
My one qualm was the speed with which Percival went from an enthusiastic amateur to someone whose work could... okay, no more spoilers. Let's just say there's not many chess grand masters who have only just picked up their first pawn. Maybe more time elapses than the author lets on... or maybe it doesn't matter, because the idea of a total beginner achieving all he achieves is itself a great idea.
I received my copy of "Stealing the Scream" through Netgalley. Thanks to Run Amok Books for making it available
My one qualm was the speed with which Percival went from an enthusiastic amateur to someone whose work could... okay, no more spoilers. Let's just say there's not many chess grand masters who have only just picked up their first pawn. Maybe more time elapses than the author lets on... or maybe it doesn't matter, because the idea of a total beginner achieving all he achieves is itself a great idea.
I received my copy of "Stealing the Scream" through Netgalley. Thanks to Run Amok Books for making it available
June 29, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you enjoyed "The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" you will love this. I know I did!
The characters were well developed and it was interesting to see more of their personalities revealed as their situations became more unusual. Despite the absurd twists and turns in the plot, the author made me feel like they were perfectly normal events. This added to the humorous nature of the story.
It's difficult to write much more without spoiling the plot. Unfortunately you'll just have to take my word for it: This is a great book and you must read it.
If you enjoyed "The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" you will love this. I know I did!
The characters were well developed and it was interesting to see more of their personalities revealed as their situations became more unusual. Despite the absurd twists and turns in the plot, the author made me feel like they were perfectly normal events. This added to the humorous nature of the story.
It's difficult to write much more without spoiling the plot. Unfortunately you'll just have to take my word for it: This is a great book and you must read it.
February 27, 2020
An insightful, speculative novel, told in crystal clear prose, Stealing The Scream envisions a scarily plausible scenario behind the 2004 art heist of Edvard Munch's masterpiece. Inventive, creative, and thoroughly enjoyable.
October 24, 2019
The author has used the theft of Edvard Munch’s iconic painting as the basis for his story. He has then created and wrapped a fictionalised story around it, and what a great story it is too!
Starting with the theft of the painting in 2004, the author than goes back in tie 2001. From then he gradually introduces the reader to Percival Deavenport, a soon to retire CEO who, with plenty of tie and money on his hands decides to return to his love of painting. This provides a link to the art world and also starts an intriguing storyline that then brings the reader up to events of theft and after.
I really liked the writing style ad he has a very easy to follow flow that I found quite addictive. I liked his approach to the theft and it felt very coy. By this I mean that he has taken several steps to distance his characters from the theft, it is not until later in the story he gradually tip-toes them closer. By this point a lot has already happened to Percival in his personal life and his changes are rather strange and it makes for an almost unsettling glimpse into his character.
Percival has a right-hand woman in the form of Lucinda and she is responsible for keeping an eye on him, this is far easier said than done. Also joining them are Will, Leonard and Red. These additional characters have very different roles and their role size varies. For me they were good stable characters who are able to keep Percival grounded, well they do until later in the book.
This story had quite a few surprises tucked within its pages. It is one of those stories that is almost quiet, it sits simmer gently and then it gradually starts brewing with intrigue and suspicion and the tempo and pacing is upped until the arrival at the surprising end section of the book.
This is a book that sounded intriguing and was one that I thought “Yeah! I might like this!”and I’m so glad I picked it because it very quickly became hard to put down and was such an unexpected and wonderful read.
Its a story that has crime and mystery and also leans towards the contemporary fiction style because of the dynamic that is involved with Percival. This gets a Definitely Recommended from me, thoroughly enjoyable and addictive reading.
Starting with the theft of the painting in 2004, the author than goes back in tie 2001. From then he gradually introduces the reader to Percival Deavenport, a soon to retire CEO who, with plenty of tie and money on his hands decides to return to his love of painting. This provides a link to the art world and also starts an intriguing storyline that then brings the reader up to events of theft and after.
I really liked the writing style ad he has a very easy to follow flow that I found quite addictive. I liked his approach to the theft and it felt very coy. By this I mean that he has taken several steps to distance his characters from the theft, it is not until later in the story he gradually tip-toes them closer. By this point a lot has already happened to Percival in his personal life and his changes are rather strange and it makes for an almost unsettling glimpse into his character.
Percival has a right-hand woman in the form of Lucinda and she is responsible for keeping an eye on him, this is far easier said than done. Also joining them are Will, Leonard and Red. These additional characters have very different roles and their role size varies. For me they were good stable characters who are able to keep Percival grounded, well they do until later in the book.
This story had quite a few surprises tucked within its pages. It is one of those stories that is almost quiet, it sits simmer gently and then it gradually starts brewing with intrigue and suspicion and the tempo and pacing is upped until the arrival at the surprising end section of the book.
This is a book that sounded intriguing and was one that I thought “Yeah! I might like this!”and I’m so glad I picked it because it very quickly became hard to put down and was such an unexpected and wonderful read.
Its a story that has crime and mystery and also leans towards the contemporary fiction style because of the dynamic that is involved with Percival. This gets a Definitely Recommended from me, thoroughly enjoyable and addictive reading.
August 11, 2019
When I first requested this book I thought it was a factual based book on Munch's painting "The Scream" and in reality it is a fiction based version but none the less it is a good read. Percival Davenport who becomes the former CEO of Diacom. The main character is someone who has always been one who is driven to accomplish task and who has had a daily full schedule who also happens to be well off to the point of having a live in assistant and a full time chef. Percival newly retired needs someway to occupy his times and the fact he received a minor art degree he decides to attempt to be a successful painter. This story weaves his progress of becoming a successful painter and his daily interactions with his assistant Lucinda. Eventually along the way without giving away to much of the story Percival finds some interesting ways to get his paintings shown. He also develops an obsession with the painting "The Scream".
I was concerned as I got close to the end of this book that I was going to be left hanging with unanswered questions but the author does a good job answering them. This book has a nice follow from start to finish and I would recommend this book even if you really do not have an interest in art.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
I was concerned as I got close to the end of this book that I was going to be left hanging with unanswered questions but the author does a good job answering them. This book has a nice follow from start to finish and I would recommend this book even if you really do not have an interest in art.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
August 16, 2019
I will say right off the bat that I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, and I am grateful to the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
This book was sort of intriguing, and there is a lot of kind of interesting art information in it. The plot itself sort of spirals out a little bit, and I think the main character was someone I wasn't sure what to do with--was I supposed to sympathize with Percival? Hate him? Understand he was complex? (I'm not sure, if the last option was the intention, that it was pulled off very well, but I don't have much patient for men being Like That, so ymmv.) In some ways, the more interesting part of the book happened before The Scream was involved at all, and the parts involving that painting were kind of a jarring shift from the tone of the rest of the book.
But I think if you enjoy crime stories, you may really like this--like I said, there's a lot of fun stuff going on here with art, which you may appreciate even more than I did if you know more things about art than I do. Parts of it were definitely intriguing, I just think it fell flat for me in the latter half.
This book was sort of intriguing, and there is a lot of kind of interesting art information in it. The plot itself sort of spirals out a little bit, and I think the main character was someone I wasn't sure what to do with--was I supposed to sympathize with Percival? Hate him? Understand he was complex? (I'm not sure, if the last option was the intention, that it was pulled off very well, but I don't have much patient for men being Like That, so ymmv.) In some ways, the more interesting part of the book happened before The Scream was involved at all, and the parts involving that painting were kind of a jarring shift from the tone of the rest of the book.
But I think if you enjoy crime stories, you may really like this--like I said, there's a lot of fun stuff going on here with art, which you may appreciate even more than I did if you know more things about art than I do. Parts of it were definitely intriguing, I just think it fell flat for me in the latter half.
July 9, 2019
CEO Percival Davenport decides to retire and finds himself wondering what to do with his life. He turns back to his art history days and dives into being an artist with both feet. His painting lessons improve his technique and before long he is painting like a professional. Percival holds a show but the critics call his work good but more the style of a copyist than and originalist. He decides to prove them wrong and hires someone to break into famous museums and hang his paintings in their galleries. He also begins his obsession with Edvard Munch's "The Scream". A funny, imaginative story of artists and their obsessions.
September 5, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available on September 15th.
This book had a fascinating premise. The Scream has actually been stolen not once, but twice. True story! Having an entirely fictitious narrative woven around the little that we know about the 2004 theft is an awesome idea.
Let me first talk about the positive aspects of this book. Percival Davenport was a fascinating character. Having retired, he goes through a period of time where he’s really sort of lost. He doesn’t know what to do with his time. Eventually, he starts painting and discovers that, not only does he enjoy it immensely, he’s really talented. His hobby soon becomes an unhealthy obsession, however, which is what made this character so interesting. Reading about his shift into the shell of a person he becomes was both riveting and heartbreaking.
There were a few supporting characters as well: Lucinda, the house-keeper; Leonard, the security guard with an eye for art; and Red, the thief that eventually slips into the narrative. While they all added to the story, the only other character that really stood out to me was Leonard. He was very kind and honest, and just stumbled into something he never would have expected.
Now, let me move on to the negative aspects of this book. The grammar and spelling are atrocious. I kept being pulled from the narrative because a glaring error would pop up and distract me. I’m not sure whether I should be quoting any of these errors in an ARC review: suffice to say, they were both obvious and numerous enough to pretty much ruin this book for me. I dearly hope they will be fixed by publication time. It looked like it hadn’t been touched by either editor or spellcheck.
If the book is polished and the many mistakes are dealt with, then this is a solid read. Otherwise, I suggest reading the history of the theft online.
This book had a fascinating premise. The Scream has actually been stolen not once, but twice. True story! Having an entirely fictitious narrative woven around the little that we know about the 2004 theft is an awesome idea.
Let me first talk about the positive aspects of this book. Percival Davenport was a fascinating character. Having retired, he goes through a period of time where he’s really sort of lost. He doesn’t know what to do with his time. Eventually, he starts painting and discovers that, not only does he enjoy it immensely, he’s really talented. His hobby soon becomes an unhealthy obsession, however, which is what made this character so interesting. Reading about his shift into the shell of a person he becomes was both riveting and heartbreaking.
There were a few supporting characters as well: Lucinda, the house-keeper; Leonard, the security guard with an eye for art; and Red, the thief that eventually slips into the narrative. While they all added to the story, the only other character that really stood out to me was Leonard. He was very kind and honest, and just stumbled into something he never would have expected.
Now, let me move on to the negative aspects of this book. The grammar and spelling are atrocious. I kept being pulled from the narrative because a glaring error would pop up and distract me. I’m not sure whether I should be quoting any of these errors in an ARC review: suffice to say, they were both obvious and numerous enough to pretty much ruin this book for me. I dearly hope they will be fixed by publication time. It looked like it hadn’t been touched by either editor or spellcheck.
If the book is polished and the many mistakes are dealt with, then this is a solid read. Otherwise, I suggest reading the history of the theft online.
August 28, 2019
This is an art-heist crime novel, a genre unto itself. It's not a thriller and not a mystery. It's not Howard's End, so the reader is not meant to feel great empathy or disdain for the characters; it's not supposed to inspire or disturb, or touch readers deep down in some inexplicable literary way. It is meant to detail--to demonstrate--in a plausible way how said heist was pulled off, despite and against seemingly insurmountable odds. This book does that. And it's amusing as hell, to boot. For this reader, Stealing The Scream is up there with the Thomas Crown Affair. And to be clear, the characters are not flat--quite simply, the art-heist crime genre is not character-driven, so the men and women who people its pages do not need the depth that one might find in a more "literary" work. Stealing The Scream is entertaining, fun, and refreshing, quite frankly, in that it doesn't take itself too seriously. To this reader's mind, it does exactly what it sets out to do--tell an intriguing story. Full marks and highly recommended.
July 9, 2019
Stealing The Scream has a good storyline and interesting characters. If they would fix the errors in this book before publishing then it would be a great book.
August 6, 2019
This was a pretty fun book, I love what if books or when an author imagines a unsolved mysteries solution. Overall I really enjoyed reading this one, it was fun and clever.
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