Chasing Mona Lisa: A Novel [Paperback]

Tricia Goyer (Author), Mike Yorkey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2012

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"A riveting, well-researched tale that kept me glued to the pages. Absolutely my favorite kind of story: rich in period detail, fast-paced, and loaded with twists. A winner!"--Christopher Reich, New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Vengeance and Rules of Betrayal


One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock.

August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all--the Mona Lisa--as a postwar bargaining chip.

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.


"A ticket to a world of mystery, heroism, and adventure. You'll find yourself sinking into a story that leaves you longing for just one more page."--Cara Putman, award-winning author of Stars in the Night and Ohio Brides

"Intriguing and well-written . . . Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey had me at hello!"--Lynn Vincent, New York Times bestselling writer of Heaven Is for Real and Same Kind of Different as Me


Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

About the Author

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Original edition (January 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800720466
• ISBN-13: 978-0800720469
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.

In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched www.NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An edgy and action packed novel January 30, 2012

By Judy Fedele

Format:Paperback

Paris, France. The city of love is the not-so serene center of this story set during WW2 in occupied France. With romance blooming in the midst of death and destruction, serendipitous safe-cracking, barbarism and betrayal, and the grand theft of the most famous painting in the world - this and more makes for an edgy, action packed novel.

Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey's styles weave together seamlessly in this tale populated by pairs: Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler from the Swiss OSS, museum curator Colette Perriard and French resistance hero Bernard Rousseau, German thieves, Schaffner and Kaufman, and Nazi Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and his lackey, Colonel Heller. All these and a host of extras make up a cast of characters in a tension-filled arena whose action travels from the heart of war-torn Paris to crumbling Germany and through mountainous Switzerland.

In this war-time setting, you're as likely to see lovers sipping coffee at sidewalk cafes as resistance members throwing Molotov cocktails in the streets. And the action scenes are satisfyingly singular: a train stopped by a headstrong bicyclist, hostages bound to tanks, and even car vs. plane in a wild crash test race. Goyer and Yorkey bring mystery and mayhem to the art world - not your typical staid museum experience, but instead a hectic hunt to recover the most famous painting in the world, the priceless Mona Lisa.

So between the liberation of Paris, the race to recover and return La Joconde to the Louvre, the pitched battle between Fascism and Communism for the heart of the French ... all in all, Chasing Mona Lisa is a novel that keeps the reader intrigued and interested all the way to the finish line, and wanting more.

Chasing Mona Lisa: A Novel

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable story during an era I love to read about. January 31, 2012

By Michelle Sutton

Format:Kindle Edition

This was another good book by a tight writing team. I have to say I liked it even more than The Swiss Courier. The story was smoother, I think, even though it was co-written. A few times I had to set the book down because life gets in the way of my reading pleasure at times, but when I picked it up again it wasn't hard to get back into the zone of the story. Some parts were more compelling than others, but overall it was a good read. It felt more historical than suspenseful, but I prefer it that way. The faith element wasn't very strong, but that didn't seem like it would blend as well into the storyline. It would have stuck out more so the fact that it was subtle was good.

A couple of times I was afraid for the characters, like when they were in the sewers and when the Nazi thugs caught up to them. I loved the tension between Collette and Bernard and the underlying conspiracy due to the struggle for communist government after the Nazis left Paris and the French got a taste of victory. I also loved the affection expressed between Gabi and Eric. Those two make a great couple. The twist at the end was pretty unexpected, but I liked it and it fit the story. Again, this was an enjoyable story with a satisfying ending. If you like WWII era novels set in Europe, you'll enjoy this one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Relentlessly Ticking Clock February 14, 2012

By L. Wagner

Format:Paperback

It's August, 1944. France is on the verge of liberation. Allied forces are advancing, while the Third Reich flees. Though Germany is retreating, Reichsmarchall Hermann Goring wants to steal the most precious painting of France-the Mono Lisa-a symbol of their freedom. The race is on between the Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler against Colonel Heller's henchman.

It was while Gabi and Eric were still fighting off stragglers from the Third Reich in France, alongside Bernard Rousseau of the Communist-run Resistance Group, that they were all informed by Allen Dulles of the OSS of the attempted heist of the Mona Lisa. Working through Collette, a curator of the Louvre of France, they hatched out a plan to retrieve and protect the Mona Lisa. Woven through these plans were the behind-the-scenes suspicions of Collette's innocence or guilt in collaborating with the Germans.

Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey give us a hit-and-run twist of plots from the very first page to the end. The evil of the Third Reich and their underhanded methods of torture are exposed. Man's inhumanity of unbelievable proportion. It's real and it's horrific. Your heart breaks over threats to even young children. You feel the fear of the characters as they go through the fearsome episodes. You find yourself holding your breath during the scenes of severity and tough demands in the Swiss Chateau.

Throughout the story Gabi and Eric prayed and put their trust in the Lord to get them through the dangerous circumstances and to save the precious Mona Lisa for France. Their heroism and loyalty went above and beyond their roles.

For a historical, fast-paced adventure, with a little romance thrown in, this is a book you will not want to miss. There are so many individual stories that have been told and still need to be told. But Chasing Mona Lisa triumphs the liberation of France and the hopeful claim of the Mona Lisa. It's another part of WWII history that I found very interesting.

This book was provided by Donna Hausler, Publicity Assistant, Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Chasing Mona Lisa is available January, 2012, at your favorite bookseller, from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.