The Forgotten Painting

Jack Rogan Mysteries #0.5

by Gabriel Farago

***Gold Medal Winner at Readers' Favorite 2018 International Book Awards Contest in Fiction Short Story/Novella Category***
***Outstanding Novella 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards***

When celebrated author Jack Rogan stumbles upon a hidden diary, he can’t resist investigating. Honouring the last wish of a dying friend, he is irresistibly drawn into a web of intriguing clues, hinting at a long forgotten treasure.

Joining forces with Cecilia Crawford, a glamorous New York journalist, and Tristan, a remarkable boy with psychic powers, Jack soon finds himself on a precarious journey of discovery, exposing dark secrets from a distant, violent time, when life was cheap and cruelty ruled without mercy.

Will Rogan succeed? Can he find the forgotten treasure he has been searching for, or will it be lost forever, depriving the world of a masterpiece that belongs to all mankind

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Art, Mystery Thriller, Amazon, Historical Mystery

Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2016

About the author

Gabriel Farago is the USA TODAY Bestselling and Multi-Award-Winning Australian Author of the Jack Rogan Mysteries Series for the thinking reader and culturally curious.

As a lawyer with a passion for history and archaeology, Gabriel had to wait for many years before being able to pursue another passion—writing—in earnest. However, his love of books and storytelling started long before that.

Born in Budapest, Gabriel grew up in post-War Europe, and after fleeing Hungary with his parents during the Revolution in 56, he went to school in Austria before arriving in Australia as a teenager. This allowed him to become multi-lingual and feel ‘at home’ in different countries and diverse cultures. Shaped by a long legal career and experiences spanning several decades and continents, his is a mature voice that speaks in many tongues.

Gabriel holds degrees in literature and law, speaks several languages and takes research and authenticity very seriously. Inquisitive by nature, he studied Egyptology and learned to read the hieroglyphs. He travels extensively and visits all of the locations mentioned in his books.

‘I try to weave fact and fiction into a seamless storyline,’ he explains. ‘By blurring the boundaries between the two, the reader is never quite sure where one ends, and the other begins. This is of course quite deliberate as it creates the illusion of authenticity and reality in a work that is pure fiction. A successful work of fiction is a balancing act: reality must rub shoulders with imagination in a way that is both entertaining and plausible.’

Gabriel lives in the Blue Mountains in Australia just outside Sydney, surrounded by a World Heritage National Park.

If you like historical thrillers, excitement, mystery and suspense, if you enjoy exotic settings, colourful characters and fast-paced action, if you like to learn about interesting, well-researched subjects that tease your intellect and imagination, then once your step inside, Gabriel will show you his world; the world of the storyteller.

Shaped by a long legal career and experiences spanning several decades and continents, his is a mature voice that speaks in many tongues.

His first book – The Empress Holds the Key – will take you on an exciting quest for a holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history. You will be transported far back in time to the reign of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of ancient Egypt, and King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. You will discover a dark secret guarded by the Knights Templar and feared by the Vatican, a mystery that has haunted the Catholic Church for centuries, and can challenge the very foundations of Christianity.

His second book – The Disappearance of Anna Popov – will thrill you in a different way. You will enter the dangerous world of an outlaw bikie gang. You will travel to the remote dreamtime wilderness of outback Australia where the ruler is an evil master, outcasts are heroes, and cruelty and violence are admired and rewarded. You will meet Cassandra, an enigmatic psychic. Using her occult powers to avenge an old, deep wrong, she sets the scene for an epic showdown where the stakes are high and the loser faces death and oblivion.

His third book –The Hidden Genes of Professor K – a medical thriller, was released in July 2016. Cutting-edge medical research meets the ruthless, dangerous world of pharmaceutical empire billionaires, where unbridled ambition and greed threaten to destroy the dreams of a visionary scientist with the power to change the future of medicine, and the journey of man.

A writer like Gabriel, sees the world through a different lens. Using creativity and imagination, He endeavours to weave fact and fiction into seamless stories that have only one aim: to entertain you.

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It wasn't often that a newly discovered painting by one of the most sought after impressionists came on the market. And then, there was more; so much more"...

The Forgotten Painting by Gabriel Farago

3.5 Stars.

First things first. Why is this book labeled as a thriller? That is way off.

This book is not a thriller. It is an Historical Mystery about a painting. It is not a thriller/horror novel. It is about a Monet Painting that is being auctioned off. We, the readers, are taken back in time to WW2 where the story of the painting is told.

This was captivating in several ways. Yet towards the middle I had to skim a bit. This is not a very long book. It is not a short story but it is not full length either. It is a Novella.

I found the beginning to be good, the middle a little dull and as it crept toward the end, it suddenly got fascinating. I will use a spoiler to explain why that is.

SPOILERS:

I really was floored to find there were two paintings..suddenly all I could think about was which one is the real Monet. That was super interesting and reminded me of a book I read many years ago, "The Art Forger".

I did have a tough time with the middle because of the format. It kept going from the Art Auction back into the past and just when we think the story is winding down, there is another twist and we go back in time again. It was hard to hold my interest with that aspect.

I like that style of writing sometimes and actually just read another book this week that uses the same format but in that book, it made more sense. The constant going back and forth in this book was a bit jarring.

I hate the Nazis with a passion and frankly do not read many books dealing with this period in time. But this dealt more with the painting and how it came to be. There was a nice little side romance and all in all it was a good read but to call it a THRILLER? I mean.. that is doing the book a disservice as those who like Historical Fiction might pass it by and those who like thrillers maybe let down. I think of John Saul and Stephen King with that label. This is a Historical Novella about a Hauntingly beautiful painting.

As for the good..there is quite a bit..I do like the story of how this painting came to be and I loved the richly textured descriptions of the painting. The book is also touching and poignant and will appeal to art fans I have no doubt.

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm enchanted with this novella. The author's dominium of history is impressive and so wonderfully described, it makes it a very enjoyable read. The mystery of a painting, disappearing during WWII, a very painful point of history, the circumstances behind, the Terrible Nazis, atrocities committed... Jack Rogan is a great story teller, mesmerizing, it felt as if I was there at the auction! But, the merit goes to Gabriel Farago! A fascinating historical mystery! I'm totally captivated with the series! Am sure going to read it all!

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most riveting and gripping novella I have ever read! A stand-alone novella that also intrigues the reader from cover-to-cover, chapter-to-chapter, page-to-page. For me, an introduction to the Jack Rogan Mysteries. Highlights one of many atrocities by the Nazis during WWII in stealing valuable art from Jewish families as the story unfolds of the heartbreaking decision a father makes to try to save his family and the incredible path the painting had that the son learns many years after the war. I won't say why but it certainly only heightened my interest in the storyline since Monet is my favorite painter.

If you skipped the "Author's Note" at the beginning of the novella I'd encourage you to enjoy it or if you haven't read this novella yet, I'll encourage you not to miss it at the beginning of the novella. All readers owe a special thanks to the author's publicist. She asked for, "Something exciting, a page-turner to showcase your writing." In this reader's opinion, Gabriel Farago delivered!

[L.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was pretty good, but the constant references to the MC's other books (Jack Rogan here is an author) was distracting. The story of the painting only filled half of the pages of this book, the rest being excerpts of Farago's other works. I realise this was a story to attract new readers, but it was too short for me and hijacked by Rogan's own career.

[Bonnye Reed]

0.5 of the Jack Rogan mysteries
Author gift

[Manjri Gopalan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, especially the second half of the book. Enjoyed reading it.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging novella, The Forgotten Painting is a lead-in to the Jack Rogan series. Full of twists and turns, it is a splendid way to spend an hour. Great read.

[Brian O'Hare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few days ago, I found an unsolicited copy of The Forgotten Painting by Gabriel Farago in my email box. Normally I tend to ignore these approaches but I am a sucker for anything to do with Nazis and WW2, so I decided to read it.

This is a very interesting story inspired by the Nazis nasty penchant for stealing great works of art from cities all over Europe, especially during the occupation of France in the early 1940s. In this case, a Monet painting that was stolen during the war resurfaces for sale in modern times. The story goes back to the 1940s to reveal the painting’s provenance and recount its fascinating journey to the auction house. The tale may be true, or it may stem from the author’s imagination, but either way it is quite absorbing, with some fine twists. It’s a short book but I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone trying to fill in a couple of hours ... on an air flight, for example, or waiting in a doctor’s surgery somewhere. It is worth the read.

However, if you are a reader who tends to focus on a work’s style and literary elements, as well as story, you may be a bit less satisfied. The writing is competent, the narrative style is competent and the characterisation is ... well, competent. But the problem for me is that the work lacks the sparkle of originality. This is not a style I would easily recognise if I came across it again. While, as I say, the story is interesting, it is narrated generally at one remove from the events described, leaving the reader also at one remove from them. This inhibits empathy and makes it difficult to find excitement or any emotional involvement with the events and the characters.

Two other small points. I question the writer’s idiosyncratic use of the semi-colon. This useful little punctuation-mark is tricky and should only be used if the writer knows exactly what he is doing with it. I am also unsure of the wisdom of having a constant promoting of the writer’s other works by characters in the story. These little ‘commercial breaks’ pull the reader out of the story’s immediacy, and in this reader’s case, create more than a flicker of irritation.

I am prepared to admit, however, that these small defects may not affect other readers, and I repeat that anyone who takes up this book will not regret it. You will definitely enjoy it.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jack Rogan after discovering a diary detailing a hidden treasure follows the clue to the discovery of the forgotten painting.
Unfortunately the story or the style of writing didn't really catch my interest.

[Emily-Jane Orford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy, sorrow, suffering, tragedy, loss – the entire spectrum of human emotions can envelope a person for either good or evil. Nothing expresses the magnitude and infinitesimally emotional power of music and art than the story that surrounds the lives that both created them and those that nurtured and enjoyed them. Music and art are the very depths of the essence of being human. So, the story that follows music and art, creates a powerful life force of its own. A story wrought with the joy of giving, the agony of having the gift removed, the guilt that follows the one who took the gift and the violence that both frightened and expunged the beauty of life itself, making the beauty of the painting and the music dull in comparison.

We’re talking about a painting of a garden with a violinist playing off in the corner. The painting is by a famous Impressionist artist, Claude Monet. He painted the violinist into his garden scene and then gifted the painting to the violinist. A treasured gift that held prominence in the Jewish home for years after captured the eye of a Nazi soldier after the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The violinist and his family were sent to Auschwitz, the painting was hidden in the Imperial crypt of the Hapsburgs in Vienna and the Nazi thief lived the remainder of his days in fear of being brought to trial for his war crimes and with regret for what he had done. But there’s another twist to this story, a mystery about the painting itself. Is it the real Monet? Or is it a forgery?

Very seldom does a story capture my emotions as deeply as this one did. Like the 1998 movie, “The Red Violin”, Gabriel Farago’s “The Forgotten Painting: A Historical Mystery Novella” takes the reader on a journey led by a painting and the music it represented. This is a story about a painting, but it is so much more. It’s a narrative, complex and convoluted in its presentation, that traces a drama from the early 1920s, through the horrors of the Second World War and projecting a connection to a monastery in the outback of Australia and a young boy, Jack Rogan, a celebrated writer, a passionate storyteller, who will follow the clues that lead back to the hidden painting. Powerful writing. A mystery within a mystery.

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this to my Kindle Fire. I sounded interesting and it was. It is a novella: longer than a short story but shorter than a true novel.

A Monet painting is up for auction...one with an interesting back story. Prior to the auction, its history/provenance is revealed. The chapters bounce between the current and the past time periods, revealing the history of the painting, the people involved and the era all happened in.

Claude Monet paints a painting of a garden scene. As a tribute to his friend, the violinist Berenger Krakowski, Monet paints a person playing the violin into a corner of the painting. It becomes a treasure to the family. The title given the painting is "Little Sparrow in the Garden."

When the Warsaw Ghetto becomes a waiting ground for the Jews that the Nazi have given a death sentence to, Krakowski finds out that the Nazi are buying up, if not stealing, as much original art as possible and that there is a particular person who is willing to buy this particular painting. Krakowski hopes that by selling it he will save his family from being killed. He sells it, but it does not save his family. They are shipped off to Auschwitz. The painting is then secreted away by the buyer to help distance himself from this brutal time in history and his involvement.

When Jack Rogan comes upon a diary telling of this painting, and the request of a dying friend to find it, the story starts to come to light. Not only does he find out the full story behind the painting, he finds that there is deception also.

I enjoyed moving between current and past eras to learn of the history and what was happening to the work and the people. This is a taste of what Farago writes of and part of a series of Jack Rogan stories.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and 1 / 2 stars

This novella travels back and forth between time periods, but it only enhances the story.

Berenger Krakowski, a concert violinist, and his family lived in the Warsaw ghetto in 1943. When the Nazi’s came, they confiscated the painting called “Little Sparrow in the Garden” that was on the wall and sent the entire family to Auschwitz. The sole survivor of the family, the son, Benjamin, had the painting recovered by Jack Rogan, a famous author.

Jack Rogan recounts how he found the painting by following the directions written out by his deceased friend, Brother Francis. Jack spent three months at a mission run by Brother Francis when he was a teenager. Brother Francis made Jack his heir and the keeper of a legacy.

Jack follows the direction in the diary of Brother Francis and what follows is a journey through several cities on a treasure quest told in a brilliant literary style. This is not reading a book, it is being told a story. The reader can hear the words and almost see the speakers.

We are introduced to Tristan who is a psychic young man. He aids in locating the painting in a crypt. We also meet Isis who is a very wealthy woman.

When the found painting is called a forgery, Jack tells us the story of how the situation came about and how it was resolved,

This book is extremely well written and plotted. The fascinating provenance of the painting is very well illustrated. It is absolutely entrancing. I truly enjoyed the book and look very much forward to reading more of Gabriel Farago’s novels.

I want to thank Gabriel Farago for forwarding to me a copy of this little novella to read and enjoy.

[Jason Duby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forgotten Painting is a novella written by Gabriel Farago as a bit of introduction to his three longer works. It IS a complete, if shorter, work on its own that features many of the characters that can be encountered in his works. The idea, as revealed in the Author’s Notes, was to give people a taste of what his other works are like. However, it is an entertaining story on its own and should not be discounted.

I haven’t read any of Mr. Farago’s other works, but I found this story about the intrigues around the recovery of an unknown work by Monet had a similar feel to novels by Dan Brown. I found elements of adventure, history, suspense, intrigue and more. Even though this piece is a novella, there’s a lot that goes on and it does require a measure of focus reading through it. I could see some people seeing the story as rough in places, and perhaps a bit jumpy. But due to the constraints placed upon its creation, I can’t blame the author heavily.

Perhaps some other readers might find this work a little dry as well, though I thought it was written with craft and style. I will say that The Forgotten Painting succeeded in its goal of whetting my interest in the other related titles. I would also recommend this short piece for anyone looking for a taste of adventure in his or her reading.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Romance Authors That Rock. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

[Viva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead. I had high hopes of this book based on the blurbs and because it was a novella I thought it would be a quick and easy read. I dnf'd this at 50%.

The book deals with a Monet painting that was gifted personally to a gifted violinist pre-WW2. During WW2, he and his family were in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and sent to Auschwitz. The painting was stolen by the SS officer. Only the son survived the war.

Meanwhile a teen made friends with a monk in Australia after the war. When the monk died, it was revealed that the monk was a SS officer who made the teen his heir. A note left behind led to his diary hidden in Bavaria and that led to the hidden painting. The teen became a journalist who found the painting... ...and gave it back to the son who auctioned it off and gave the proceeds to a charitable cause.

From the blurbs, the book was supposed to be highly emotional and a big treasure quest. However the book was very choppy going back and forth in time and story without rhyme or reason. This killed any type of emotion and quest since you couldn't really follow it page by page. After a couple of long boring passages that didn't move the story along I dnf'd it. This would have made a much better book had the author done a better job of plotting the story.

It is very apparent that at least one of the Amazon 4-5 star reviewers did not read the book, lol.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

For readers who are unfamiliar with Gabriel Farago’s Jack Rogan series, The Forgotten Painting is a novella that not only introduces Jack, but also provides a satisfying mystery dating back to WWII.

The painting in question is one by Claude Monet featuring a violinist in a garden. The painting was given to the violinist but during the war it was confiscated before the family was transported to a camp. In the present Jack Rogan is in possession of a diary that leads to the present location of the painting. As the painting is placed for auction by Jack and the only surviving member o the violinist’s family, they reveal the history of the painting along with Jack’s diary, but a Swiss banker comes forward claiming to have the original painting.

Farago introduces characters who have played a part in his previous books and smoothly incorporates them into his mystery. There is also a glimpse into Jack’s past as his acquisition of the diary is explained. From art theft to historical background, this novella leaves you wanting more of Jack Rogan and his exploits.

I would like to thank Instafreebie and the author for providing a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Krakowski’s father received an original Money painting by the artist himself when he was young. As the war got closer and the Warsaw ghetto was being emptied a desperate father sells his precious painting in hopes it will scar his family before he can part with the painting he asks his friend to make a copy for him. Unbeknownst to him his friend gives the original back to Mr. Krakowski and puta the forgery in the original Monet frame. Jack Rogan is raised in the Australia’sn outback where he meets a father Gabriel who changes his life. When the father dies he asks Jack to complete a mission for him to set the past right. Years later he finds himself in Berlin and remembers his promise to the old priest. So starts his adventure which ends up leading him to a missing masterpiece! This was a short story but just as thrilling and well written as the other Jack Rogan books. I really enjoyed this book and this series! The author is nothing short of genius. I look forward to reading more of his work! I highly recommend this book!

[Fritzi Redgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of The Forgotten Painting by Gabriel Farago

This novella was written as a thank you to Farago's readers, but I do believe that it is so well done that non-followers should read it as well.

This story touches on the horrors of the Nazi regime and the confiscation of a painting that is of great importance to the Jewish owner. It is also a look at how through a competent and complete investigation we can be lead to a just ending.

We see again that our main character, Jack Rogan, writer, is a masterful investigator and that with his friends and confidants he can uncover facts long buried with little hope of their emergence.

Farago has the ability to set us at the time and place so well that, at times, we are reluctant to move on. Even though this is a novella that can be read in one or two sittings, it is not to be dismissed merely as a trivial contribution from Farago; it is far more than that. It is an eloquent look at how long ago crimes can affect us today.

I highly recommend this story.

Fritzi Redgrave

[Jolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed by profanity

I was very much enjoying this introduction to Mr. Farago's Jack Rogan series until I encountering profanities 7 chapters into the story. I admit that I am very fussy and any profanity kills a story for me. I stopped reading after the second occurrence in chapter 10. I leave this review for those, like me, who wish to avoid stories containing profanity.

A transgender rock star Isis appeared in this story before I stopped reading. Based on what was written about Isis in this story, it seems that Isis's transition from he to she is a significant event in one of the other Jack Rogan stories.

Language: some profanity
Sex: no sex scenes in first 10 chapters
Violence: concentration camp/WW2 atrocities and a murder referenced
Religion: none in first 10 chapters

[Catriona Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Well-Written Introduction to an Exciting Series

I enjoyed reading this story, which is set in modern times, but really begins in the past. Each part of the adventure transported me from my own confines to times and places that contrast greatly with each other.

Gabriel Farago is a skilled and seasoned author who is able to tell a good story with a light touch.

This mystery has elements of history, music, art, and even psychic phenomena, all subjects I love reading about. There are unforgettable characters, too.

It's a work for adults who want to reflect deeply, and doesn't rely on cheap movie tropes. Although I could easily imagine a Jack Rogan movie!

This is a novella, so my only complaint is that it was over so quickly. But, the author uses it as a compelling introduction to Jack Rogan and the rest, and has thoughtfully included excerpts of adventures yet to read.

[Isabella Le Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book immensely. Gabriel Farago is a great storyteller. I just could not put the book down after I started reading it.

The story is about a forgotten Monet painting "Little Sparrow in the Garden". It's an extraordinary story of the Krakowski family in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. How Berenger Krakowski a musician had a painting that was given to him by Monet himself and its history up until the auction of the painting and then the story that unfolded after the auction. The story is told by Jack Rogan a master storyteller.

Although it is fiction, the story was told so well that I actually had an urge to go and look up if such a painting did exist. Being an artist I knew that Monet died in December 1926 and thus could not have painted this, but the story was just that good.

This is a must-read book. It has intrigue excitement on every page.

[Andrea J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new audio version of The Forgotten Painting by Gabriel Farago is outstanding. Not only is it filled with the adventures and discoveries of Jack Rogan, but Gabriel does so much research on the history of what he is writing about that it all comes alive for you. His descriptions of the locations create wonderful visualizations for your imagination. And the narration by Julian Pulvermacher is excellent. What an amazing speaking voice he has, especially with all the different accents and voices he creates for the various characters.
Even though I had read the written version of this book, this audio version made the story so much more exciting. I couldn’t stop listening and completed the book in one sitting. Thank you Gabriel for this treat. Looking forward to more audio version of the Jack Rogan Mysteries. Check it out.

[Eric Cousineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel Farago’s latest installment in the Jack Rogan series is another definite homerun! As with his previous books this one is impeccably researched. A wonderfully crafted story with well developed and compelling characters, it has twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat right to the last page. It was so captivating and exciting that I simply couldn't put it down!

He offers exquisite multi-layered plots replete with accounts of actual historical events and personalities adroitly blended into his stories so seamlessly that it is hard to distinguish the fact from the fiction. It is hard to imagine the staggering amount of research that must be involved to weave such intricate and absorbing tales.

Thank you to the author who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Carol Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting novella, most of us know that the German Nazi's plundered and stole works of art, and what happened to the Jews, not only in Germany but also in Poland. This story is of a polish musician a violinist, and a painting that was given to him by Monet. That was not stolen at the time but purchased by using gold from the fillings of the Jews that went to the gas chambers, and then back to the present day the painting has materialized and is up for auction, no more of the story as it will spoil it for any other reader, but it was a short story not quite my genre as I go mainly for thrillers but it is a pre-introduction to more thrillers on the way. Interesting little read and of course a history lesson as well.

[Nancy Timmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a search to put on my new Kindle; a historical fiction and found "The Forgotten Painting" by Gabriel Farago. I'm glad I stumbled upon it because from page one it held my interest.

The novel jumps in time, but I believe the author does it well. The story starts out in the Warsaw Ghetto in a sad part of history, 1943. A Monèt painting is part of a mystery through times, but the character, Jack Rogan needs to find the answer to this mysterious painting. Where did it come from, how did it get there and who put it there?

I loved being introduced to the author by chance. Mr. Farago is an excellent writer, his research is commendable and I look forward to reading more of his books.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one delicious way of giving those Nazi bastards their comeuppance even if those who dealt the subtle blow (in this particular case, a Monet forgery) still got killed in the concentration camps ~ though David Herzl (the master forger) died during the ghetto riots in 1943. What is even more chillingly bizarre is the mode of payment from the buyer to Berenger Krakowski ~ two gold bars from the dental gold harvested from the dead Jews by the surviving Jews on the camps as one more enforced labor by the Nazis. This is truly a page~turner, one of the best fiction I have read from new authors this side of the 21st century.

[Barbara Papillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The glue that kept me intrigued

I was about to read the fourth story in the Jack Rogan series when I read in the authors note about the Book The Forgotten Painting and Novella that brings all of his characters together in a short story.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and of course intrigued by Gabriel Fargo’s wonderful way of weaving everyone’s lives together into another pager turner! I was hooked right from the first page! Thank you again for such Jack and all of his friends whom have made my days a lot more interesting. On to the fourth story Professor K: The final Quest!

[Mackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabriel Farago was upfront about his motivations for writing this novella: give a gift to his fans and entice new readers by introducing his main characters and hinting at their other adventures. I was a new reader and I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.

I thought the chapter transitions were a bit lacking "Let me tell you about it..." was employed twice to lead into flashback chapters. Some of the dialogue wasn't as realistic as I'd like, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable, intriguing tale. I want to know more about the characters and their exploits. Well done.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel Farago, Australian author of the Jack Rogan thrillers series for the thinking reader was asked by his publisher to write a novella about Rogan's backstory for current a new readers. It ties together so many elements of his following books and introduces a number of important characters. The story itself is very clever with the requisite twists and turn you'd expect. When you know the story, Fargo brings it yet another amazing twist. The Forgotten Painting, a story well worth reading!

[Ann Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it too much to ask that a book's story be represented correctly? I agree with other readers that this is not a thriller. If it's just a mystery, why isn't that enough? The description sounded intriguing, and it was free at the time of purchase, but I was disappointed. I have an interest in art and read what I can about the Nazi plunder of art works during World War II. There were a number of good moments, but overall I thought the story was thin, even being a novella, and not particularly original. Not thrilled.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful historical mystery based on a lost painting by a famous artist that shows up at an auction house. It is about a Monet Painting that is being auctioned off. The story takes place in WW2. This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author.