The Crown Heist

Lost Art Mysteries #3

by Deron R. Hicks

In another "suspenseful mystery romp with art appreciation" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Art and Camille head to London to find her estranged father, and soon find themselves embroiled in a heist involving a long-dead monarch. Packed with fascinating facts about real places and pieces of art, this fast-paced thriller is perfect for fans of the Spy School and Mr. Limoncello's Library series and Dan Brown.

No matter how dangerous his adventures have been, Art has always been able to count on his best friend, Camille. Now that Camille is meeting her estranged father, Art wants to be there for her--which means going to London.



But Camille's history professor father, renowned for expertise in British legend, is missing. When they visit his apartment, Art and Camille find a long-missing object that suggests the professor could be in trouble and solving a mystery related to London's history. Follow Art and Camille as they visit the Tower of London, National Portrait Gallery, and ride the "tube" in hopes of uncovering the truth before it's too late.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Childrens, Fiction, Thriller, Travel

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

I live in Warm Springs, Georgia with my wife Angela, daughter Meg, and son Parker. I am a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, where I obtained a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting. Having obtained a degree in painting, I took the next logical step in life -- I went to Law school (more specifically, Mercer Law School, which I loved). After years in private practice, I had an idea for a mystery novel that I thought my children would enjoy (and that might teach them a little bit about Shakespeare). That idea turned into THE SECRETS OF SHAKESPEARE"S GRAVE. A second book followed shortly thereafter - TOWER OF THE FIVE ORDERS. And coming in 2017, a new mystery - THE VAN GOGH DECEPTION, published by HMH Books for Children.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first two books took place in Washington, D.C. and I enjoyed those but I was excited that this book was to take place to London. I loved it!

I liked that in this book it’s the girl who takes the lead in the detective work and she also takes many of the risks and is the one who puts herself in the most danger. There is a lot of danger and even violence in these books, especially considering that they are written for children.

The frequent time & day and place notations throughout the book(s) contribute a lot to building suspense and there is a lot of suspense. I appreciated that at one point deep into the book that I guessed very wrong about a character. I started wondering if Eunice was in on the theft plot and did not know her identity until the reveal.

This book doesn’t do a great job with backstory. There is nothing about how Art met Camille & her mother, for instance. I suppose that this book could be a standalone but readers would lose a lot that way. As I usually do, I strongly suggest reading the books in this series in order.

I think that the author is brave to use real museums, monuments, and other known attractions. Somehow it works. I wouldn’t think it could work but it does. The reader learns a lot about art and in this book a lot about history too. The QR codes in the e-book work and I enjoyed looking at the images as I was reading. Being able to see images of what is being described in the book is one of the best things about this series. Yes, the reader could look up the items as they read, but having them be so convenient is a huge plus. In this third book it’s not only artworks that are shown but also buildings and images connected with them and other objects.

Readers do have to suspend disbelief about a lot of plot details but the relationships ring true, and the books are tremendous fun. I always like the main characters and many of the new characters in each book.

I will say that I’m wondering how many more books there might be. The kids have now saved both their fathers. I suppose there is lots more that they can do and there are certainly a lot more settings where the stories could take place. Now that I think about it, I suppose there could be many more books in this series. Given what the author says in his Author’s Note I am assuming that there will be more books, likely in this series. In this note the author also says that many think of art as paintings in museums but he then mentions four other kinds of art that appeared in this book: architecture, stained glass, murals, and the floor of Westminster Abbey – the Cosmati pavement.

Highly recommended for boys & girls, ages 8-12 and all the way up for the older readers who enjoy children’s literature.

4-1/2 stars

[Tina Loves To Read]

This is a Middle Grade Mystery, and this is the third book in the Lost Art Mysteries series. I have to start off by saying I really wanted to love this book, but I just could not get into this book. I ended up DNFing this book at just over 50%. The writing style of this book was not for me. I did find the mystery parts good, but the characters did not pop for me. The characters being flat and the writing style of this book just made it a book not for me. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Clarion Books) or author (Deron R. Hicks) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Jette van den Dorpel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik hou van dit soort boeken , met allerlei kunst en musea tussendoor . Als je daar ook van houdt dan is dit een echte aanrader !

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in The Lost Art series. Isabella and Art are twelve years olds who stumble into mysteries involving art. In this adventure the two, along with Isabella's mom, head to London to meet her father. He has never been part of her life. Arriving there they find him missing and start to follow clues to find him. A clever part of the story is using QR codes in the book that take you to the actual websites of the places they go like, Windsor Castle, The National Gallery, Portrait Gallery, The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Anyone traveling in London will likely have hit most of these popular sites.

The mystery clues themselves are a little hard to follow but I did learn a few things that were new to me. (And I've been to every location mentioned.) There is some menacing directed towards the kids but it is age appropriate. I think this is for upper elementary school and middle school readers. Can easily be read as a stand alone. Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art and his best friend Camille travel to London to meet her long-lost father, but it turned into an adventure as a crown from a king has been stolen I liked the QR codes woven inside to help understand the locations but at times, it felt like a boring history lesson Art has clearly gotten into more trouble than Camille has, but in equal, have been grounded several times it was good and all and the QR codes are interesting but it was boring.

[Stephanie Danza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another perfect little book to pass along for my kids to read. Love the art history of course - it’s like a Dan Brown novel for kids. Yes please! Something to read while I wait for the new DB novel to come out this fall!

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Clarion Books for a digital ARC of this title to read.

I am using a new review format. You can find few more details about 5-4-3-2-1 here. The Crown Heist is the third book in the Lost Art series and can act as a stand-alone book without reading the first two. Camille and Art are together again, this time, in London after Camille's estranged father and reached out to Camille. When he is a no-show, both Camille and Art think something is wrong and discover a possible clue in her father's study. Now the two are racing around London, deciphering clues not only to find him but the reason behind his kidnapping, and do these clues lead to King Arthur's crown?

I liked the departure to another city known for its history and that the series is branching out. Crown Heist combines both mystery elements and adventure, plus readers will explore and learn about London. It is fast-paced and gritty in that the antagonists won't hesitate to use violence - which readers are looking for - particularly middle-grade readers. I like the bond between Arthur and Camille, reinforcing that friendships do not need to be of the same gender. Although part of a series, I like that you can read the book as a stand-alone or read as a series to see how their relationship continues to evolve. I think readers who enjoy James Ponti's City Spies series and Stuart Gibb's Charlie Thorne books would enjoy this series as well. The Crown Heist is another new favourite series, and I hope there will be other Art and Camille adventures.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group - HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'll just start with the fact that I did not expect to read something way different than I expected. The story got interesting in the fact that Camille found out that her father was an acclaimed history professor that has knowledge on many historic treasures resulting the fact of his "kidnapping." Now in correlation with the description, throughout this entire book, I could not help but think Davinci Code meets National Treasure. Camille and Art visit historic landmarks and uncover secrets hoping to find the truth about Camille's father and his connection with the whole heist. I can see there being a following of this series and there were a few cliffhangers in the story so I hope this will be an up and coming series for our young readers in our library community to enjoy!

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Mikayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024>> I still love this series, but in my opinion this was a bad ending. We switch from Art to focusing on Camille (a sad trade in), and the mystery was not very engaging. Facts were repeated so often, sometimes in the same paragraph, that it got downright frustrating. The ending was contrived to be much more intense then it needed to be (why didn't Camille just leave before they came) and I didn't feel like we got the resolution we deserved between her and her dad.
As always, Art was the best part of the book.


It was fun to have a book where Camille took the lead! I felt like the issues with her dad were glossed over just a bit, and wow was Art's injury poorly written.
This one felt the most far-fetched, but it was still a delightful read.

[Katie]

Another absolutely fantastic installment in this series.

Once again we follow Art and Camille on a chaotic and high stakes art mystery, but this one is a bit different from the other two; Camille is our main protagonist in this book instead of Art, which I loved as she deserves the spotlight for once, and it takes place abroad in London, England.

Camille, Art and Mary (Camille's mom) are going abroad so Camille can meet her father, who happens to be a world-renowned historian, but when they get there, he never shows up and Camille, wanting answers, with the help of Art does some sleuthing and discovers a bigger plot at play and they go on a scavenger hunt across London and race against the clock to solve the mystery before horrible things happen.

I always tell myself when I read HIcks' books that I'm going to pace myself and just read a little bit at a time, and I always fail. I always get sucked in and want to know what's going to happen. I'm a huge fan of art mysteries like this, so it's really not a surprise. Every single book in the series is better and better.

I just loved everything about this. From the mystery, to getting Camille's perspective and her chance to solve a mystery for once, to the relationships with everyone they encounter...it was all excellent. A few minor quibbles though. First, Art not knowing Latin was very surprising to me given how much he knows about art, art history and how much traveling he's done. I get that he's a kid, but really he's a genius, so that was a bit unbelievable to me. Also the only thing I would've liked more of an explanation for is more of Donovan's motive besides greed and why they were in such a rush to get the object. Also what happened to it at the end? The ending felt a little rushed/unfinished, but not too bad.

I really hope there are more books in the series, but in the meantime, I'll have to reread them.

TW/CW: Abandonment, grief, violence, injury/injury detail, death, stalking

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Crown Heist is the third Lost Art Mystery for middle grade readers by Deron Hicks. Released 16th Nov 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Clarion imprint, it's 303 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well told action-filled art and history mystery for middle grade readers. The story reminded me in some ways of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler with a dash of Archibald Finch and a pinch of Dan Brown's Langdon mysteries (although both the kids in The Crown Heist strike me as a lot more intelligent and well organized than Langdon ever did).

The previous books were set in Washington DC, and this installment sees them traveling to London and soon involved in a dangerous centuries old mystery. The story contains QR code links throughout which lead to museums and historical buildings throughout London with background historical information for keen readers. It's a cool feature.

Although the mystery is self contained in this volume, I recommend reading the series books in order to get the necessary backstory.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition and home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Libby Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A perfect read for tween/young teen readers who enjoy action and art.

In London, Camille will finally get to meet the father she has never known and her best friend Art is coming along as moral support. But when they get to London, Camille’s father isn’t there to meet them. Not only that, it appears he made a last minute decision to go out of town AND there is a mysterious, long-lost artifact in his home. Art and Camille begin following clues from the artifact in an attempt to find Camille’s father, but soon they realize they are also racing to save him.

The Crown Heist is a mystery, thriller, and art history lesson all rolled into one. The story and characters will keep young readers interested while teaching them about famous landmarks and architecture around London. An entertaining read with bonus QR codes that show pictures and give information about the landmarks the characters visit.

Recommended ages–11-14 years old

[Suzanne Maley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best of the Lost Art series. I love the descriptions of the buildings in London. You feel like you are there. I have been to London and remember the buildings I toured through the descriptions; the feel of being there.

[Biebjuf Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deze was nog beter dan zijn 2 voorgangers. Wat een spanning! Een Da Vinci Code voor kinderen. Erg leuk!

Deel 3 uit de serie, maar prima los te lezen.
Leeftijd 9,5+

[Tabby {Genie in a Novel} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've read every book in this series in under twelve hours (the first one was in one-sitting). Such a good series. Not sure if there will be more, but I'll be waiting for them if there are!

# # # # # # #

The third book of this series takes Art and Camille to London to meet Camille’s estranged father. Only, when they get there, he’s gone and the duo finds themselves wrapped up in another art mystery to save not only Camille’s father, but themselves. Just like the previous two books, the pacing is quick and makes you want to keep going… so much that I read this in one day.

As always, I love the friendship between Art and Camille. They’re so cute with how they look out for each other, not just physically when they’re in danger, but emotionally as well. Art especially in this book is concerned for Camille because it’s the first time she’s meeting her father, and since he never showed up to the airport, Art is afraid that she’ll be hurt. And, of course, when they realize that her father is being forced by a criminal to find a lost royal artifact, Art worries about Camille’s safety and how far she’ll go to help and protect her father.

What I like about this novel compared to the others is that one, it’s set in London, and two, Camille gets her chance to shine in solving the mystery. Typically, Art is the one who figures out the clues and solves the mystery that is going on since he’s well-versed in the world of art (I know the author did that on purpose). However, this time, Camille is determined to solve the mystery of the missing crown, partly because her father is involved, and also because she wants to prove to herself that she can.

Just like the other two books, Art and Camille find that they’re up against a criminal who will not hesitate to injure them (or worse) in order to get what they want. The stakes actually seemed a little higher in this one, because Camille’s father has Camille and her mother’s safety held over his head in order to find the missing crown. Again, this was quick-paced and I didn’t want to put the book down. I’m hoping there will be more to this series, as I’ve loved each one so far.

If you haven’t checked out the Lost Art Mysteries by Deron Hicks, I highly encourage you to do so.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camille is on her most nerve-wracking mission yet. She's off to London to meet her Dad in person. Art is coming along for moral support, with Camille's mom chaperoning and doing some business meetings while the kids spend time with Camille's dad. But when they arrive, Camille's dad is a no show. Is he just doing what he did when Camille was an unborn baby and ditching her and her mom, or is there something else going on? When Camille and Art visit her dad's house, they discover something shady and a clue to a treasure hunt. But what is the treasure at the end of this hunt, and is Camille's dad a willing or unwilling participant?

I like that this explores old architecture, stained glass, and other artful aspects of old buildings in London through the treasure hunt. Hicks manages to keep things very believable, as well as exciting and high stakes. This isn't my favorite adventure with Art and Camille, but it is a good one, and is sure to keep readers turning the pages. It would be very fun to read this right before visiting London, as most of the action happens in areas of famous buildings you can tour, and mentions artwork and details in the buildings you can actually see. Hand this to readers who enjoy treasure hunts and mysteries that are mostly solved by kids.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The bad guy in this is not nice, and he breaks one person's arm and seriously endangers 2 others. One person has a fall you assume led to fatality or at least serious injuries, but that isn't stated outright. Art and Camille keep secrets they should share with adults that gets them in trouble, but they do come clean eventually, bring in adult help before it is too late, and accept their appropriate punishments.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third in the series, Camille is flying to London, accompanied by Arthur, to meet her father face-to-face for the first time. While the focus is once again on an action-packed, art-based mystery, the family dynamics between Camille and her parents add depth to the story . I like that the adults in the series are loving and very involved with the kids, and yet are also real, fallible people. There is a cinematic quality to the action, showing the action from different viewpoints. Recommended for Middle Grade readers who like mysteries, action adventures, or armchair travel.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing installment in the series. The series is wonderful because it works great all together, but also each book could easily be a standalone. I love the friendship of Art and Camille and throughly enjoy reading their journey to a new exciting location. As always with the Lost Art Mysteries, it’s interactive which adds a new layer of fun and engagement with the book. I cannot recommend this book more for young readers, but even adults can be entertained by the stories involved.

[Marty Suter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Art Mysteries are so much fun and absolutely love the scan codes that link out directly to the art/architecture being referenced. Who doesn’t appreciate a bit of art history/education to go along with their mystery. Enjoyed the stories and characters as well. Highly recommended middle grade series!!!

[Klaudia Janek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This is book #3 in the Lost Art Mystery series. Readers will be transported to London after spending the previous two book in Washington DC - mostly at the Smithsonian. Art and Camille are still best friends solving mysteries and keeping up on the mundane task of school and homework. Camille has a change to meet her estranged father, but she has to travel to London in order to do that. Art has to support Camille, so he goes to London as well. When they get there, Camille’s father seems to be missing. He had been researching a British artifact and as he was getting closer to finding out some information, he went missing. Solving mysteries seem to follow Art and Camille. They start looking for clues at the Tower of London, the National Portrait Gallery and several other historical spots in hopes of finding Camille’s history professor father before it’s too late.
Straight Talk for Librarians: I read the previous two books and I loved them! I loved the change of location in this one. The mystery revolves around art history (and history). Art and Camille are chased by the bad guys - lots of action. They figure out the clues and find their way around London. I love the independence that these characters portray. This book has all the QR codes, like the previous books, so that you can scan them and see the works of art. That is my favorite part of this series! It’s such a great tie-in to art history and museums. It’s such a great fit for school libraries to put on their shelves. I think it will grab all sorts of middle-grade readers. Every reader will learn something new from it. I book talked this book at a recent workshop because I think it’s one of those missed pandemic-era published books that didn’t get the marketing and exposure they should have gotten. Buy the whole series and let your visual art and history teachers know about it. I think with a display or a bulletin board to draw attention to this series, they will have lots of checkouts. Adults who read middle-grade books will also love this series.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

By now 12-year-old Art is an old pro at spotting and stopping art heists, with two foiled thefts under his belt, so it's only fair his best friend, Camille, get a shot at doing the same. The problem is, his name's circulated among the nefarious who now seek to take advantage of his uncanny ability to track down lost and stolen artwork.

Enter Camille's father, Prof. Broderick Tinsley. She doesn't know him because he left her mom when she was a baby to seek fame and fortune, hunting down famous lost art treasures. But he contacts her and says he wants to meet her, even arranging to fly her to London. Camille brings Art along for emotional support.

But when she gets there, her father is a no-show. She tracks down her dad's flat and encounters one of her father's colleagues, Cos Masters, who leaves them alone in the house while she gets food for his parrot. The woman isn't overly concerned. Prof. Tinsley has disappeared on short notice like this before.

Camille however is convinced her father's in danger. And she finds incontrovertible proof in his study -- the same study he Zoom video conference called with her mother to set up this meeting. She spots immediately that something in the study is off. A puppet has been moved to cover…an hourglass.

One Art instantly recognizes as stolen from an exhibition a couple of years ago at a British art museum. Because his dad was working for it at the time.

There's more. The kids discover the hourglass contains a hidden message. In code.

I won't say any more, or I'll ruin it. Camille is brilliant in figuring out the clues first and rescuing her father as she and Art, again, foil a historic art theft! There's even a cameo with the Queen! Enjoy!

Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?

Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

[Michelle Smit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tijdens het lezen van dit boek kon ik alleen maar denken: het is net alsof ik ‘De Da Vinci code’ voor kinderen aan het lezen ben. Een groter compliment kan ik niet geven, want hoe vaak ik dat boek ook lees, je moet me op zo’n moment niet storen, omdat het me iedere keer weer volledig in zijn greep heeft, ook al weet ik precies hoe het boek gaat. Bij ‘De jacht op de kroon’ kon ik ook niet stoppen met lezen. Het boek was in één dag uit, terwijl ik eigenlijk helemaal niet zo veel tijd had op die dag, maar ik heb er gewoon tijd voor gemaakt (wat nu lichte stress geeft, maar sommige boeken hebben dat effect nou eenmaal 😆).

Na hun spannende avonturen in Washington denken Camille en Art rustig naar Londen te gaan om Camille’s vader te ontmoeten. Aangezien ze hem nog nooit in het echt heeft gezien is de ontmoeting wel spannend, maar verder is het vooral iets om naar uit te kijken. Maar bij aankomst in Londen blijkt haar vader te zijn verdwenen. Camille en Art komen erachter dat hij betrokken is bij een kunstroof en ze besluiten op onderzoek uit te gaan. Door middel van een raadsel worden ze door verschillende historische gebouwen in Londen geleid, maar helaas voor de twee tieners zijn zij niet de enige die achter de oplossing van het raadsel aanzitten…

Ik kan denk weinig toevoegen aan het compliment hierboven. Het derde boek van de kunstbende is wederom een geweldig avontuur, waarin culturele en geschiedkundige lessen zijn verweven. Het leest heel vlot en door de spanning wil je blijven lezen.

Wel heb ik één puntje van kritiek, en dat is de hoeveelheid typefouten in het boek. Ik ben denk ik zo’n 10x een spatiefout tegengekomen, waarbij vooral ‘openh aard’ populair bleek 😅 Het haalt geen ster van mijn recensie af, dus de maximale score blijft staan, maar door de frequentie irriteerde het me wel.

Hartelijk dank voor dit recensie-exemplaar @uitgeverijdefontein!

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is third book in this series by Deron Hicks but it works perfectly well as a stand alone. American teenagers, Camille and Art are visiting London so that Camille can meet her father, a famous historian, for the first time. However, he doesn’t turn up to the meeting place. Puzzled and hurt by this, Camille decides to visit his home to at least see where he lives. The two children are invited in by a colleague of Camille’s father and during their visit, they discover a historical artefact which Art realises is stolen. The centuries old hour glass starts them off on a trail to discover what has happened to Camille’s father and involves The Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey.
The action in the book is fast paced and the historical side is inserted into the story cleverly. The plot moves along well and you find yourself being drawn along by the story. The characters of Camille and Art are engaging especially in Camille’s determination to help a father who she has never met. I also loved the way the story was set in the different locations and it certainly made me want to revisit them.
Thank to Net Galley and Clarion Books for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Christopher Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Crown Heist is the third book in a middle grade mystery series that focuses on art history. The main characters, Art and Camille, are best friends who have had a lot of previous experience with art-related adventures. In this story, Camille is traveling to England to meet her estranged father for the first time. Art is going along to support his friend.


Before father and daughter meet, Camille’s dad is drawn into a desperate search for a historical artifact where failure is not an option. Art and Camille go looking for him, and inadvertently uncover clues that get them entangled in the hunt as well. Their quest leads them to various historical sites in London as they try to solve the clues and recover the artifact.

I gave The Crown Heist five stars on Goodreads. I recommend it for all young readers, and for older readers who enjoy children’s books. The subject matter is not “dumbed down” at all, which results in a book that can be enjoyed by adult readers and children alike. Our local library has the prior books in the series available, so I will be reading and reviewing those as well.

[Prince William Public Libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trip to London to reconnect with Camille's long-lost father turns into a quest for a treasure lost to history, an enigma with clues left in famous artworks centuries ago, and a villain who not only takes prisoners but also has no problem hurting people who get in his way.

It is always nonstop excitement with Art and Camille. On their trip to London to meet her estranged father, Camille's father suddenly disappears. They find clues at his house, which leads them on a whirlwind adventure to find a missing historical artifact lost since the time of King Henry IV. They soon discover that her father is on the same hunt, but not by choice. The stakes are life and death in this fast-paced hunt for lost history.

"The Crown Heist" was a great addition to the series. If you like this one, try the first two books in the series. They are excellent reads, too.

- Review by Rebecca, Nokesville Library Staff

Click here to find the book at Prince William Public Libraries.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to preface this review with I had previously never read any book from this series. That being said. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that reading the past books was not necessary. Art and Camille are swept up into a mystery when Camille goes to England to meet with her estranged dad for the first time. Upon reaching England she fines that her father is missing. Instead of believing that he would abandon her a second time, Camille looks for answers as to where he might have gone. A visit to her father's house and a mysterious riddle written inside of a hourglass send Art and Camille on a chase to find her father and help him find a long lost relic.

Overall this was a really good middle grade book. Perfect pacing and very easy to get sucked into. I am really excited to recommend this book to to any middle reader looking for a mystery or an adventure. I might even look into reading the other books in this series.

Thank you so much Clarion Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though The Crown Heist is the third book in Hicks’ series, it’s the first one I’ve read. Having started mid-series, I thought I might get lost, but Hicks offers enough background — without getting bogged down in it — that you end up with a sense of déjà vu. Everything feels a bit familiar, but you can’t quite place things.

It’s that sense of familiarity that helps you slide right into the story. Camille and Art are engaging characters that feel comfortable within their surroundings.

And boy are their surroundings cool.

The absolute stars of The Crown Heist are the art and architecture set against their historical backdrop. The settings are magnificent, and Hicks absolutely transports readers to a different place, and sometimes a different time.

Add in a mystery and a heist happening simultaneously and you’ve got the formula for an entertaining read. The Crown Heist is a fast-moving adventure that made me want to go back and read the first two books in the series. It should appeal to a wide array of readers.

[Amita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off a little slow, but it was absolutely worth it because this is the strongest in the series so far. For me, the first book had characterization issues and the second wasn't as intense/exciting. While this wasn't perfect, it was definitely miles better.

One of the biggest mistakes this series had been making in the past was treating Camille, one of the two main characters, like a side character, even though she's arguably the more interesting of the two. This book is sort of a counterbalance, giving her a chance to shine and take on a bigger role, and she kinda kills it ngl! Not only that, but the characterizations of both MCs get stronger in the process, and their friendship is much more apparent: I'm no longer told that they're friends but am shown that and it's a lot more convincing.

I definitely hope there will be more of this series, especially now that it's clear just how good it can be.

2022 popsugar reading challenge: Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (1) - London

[Daniele Kasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Lost Art Mystery series. Fortunately, this reads as a stand alone with a singular mystery plot and the other books do not need to be read to enjoy it. There may have been small nuances of the characters that may have been lost from not reading the other two but overall it isn't required.

The MC's, Art and Camille, travel to London in search for Camille's missing father. It doesn't take long for them to find themselves caught up in another mystery and a grand heist involving a member of the royal family. A member who has been dead for a while. Blending real places and real art work into an easy to read, action packed story.

The educational aspect of this was really enjoyable for me but it wasn't so over the top that it detracted from the thrill of the adventure for kids who aren't looking for a lesson but are looking for a fun story with a wild plot. This would also be perfect for kids learning about England, the history of London, art work, or about to travel to London.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love The Lost Art series! In this 3rd book of the series, Art and Isabella travel to London to meet Isabella's estranged father, who has suddenly reached out to her in the hopes of establishing a relationship. Isabella is devastated when her father is a no-show at the airport, but quickly realizes something is amiss. Art and Isabella chase clues that will not only lead them to Isabella's kidnapped father, but to King Arthur's crown.

Filled with action and non-stop adventure, this book is just as good as the previous two in the series and leaves me eagerly awaiting the next one. I love the QR codes that the reader can scan to see the works of art that Art and Isabella are seeing, in addition to the architecture and buildings featured in the story. I always learn a lot about history and art from these books and always close the last page wanting to visit the nearest art museum,. Excellent additions for an upper elementary/middle school library.