Theft Of the Master [Hardcover]

Edwin Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Theft of the Master aims to appeal to the reader seeking more from a novel than a good read. This is an intricate web of a story speckled with an assortment of finely described characters spanning different historical periods and continents. The story moves along at a terrific rate and entices the reader to discover how the circle will be completed. This is the story of an ancient religious icon pilfered at the end of WWII and its consequences for a family and a nation. Theft of the Master has all the ingredients of a top class thriller!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The author a first time novelist, trained in statistics. A long-standing fascination with language and literature led him to experiment with a few short stories, some of which were published. He specializes in contemporary crime fiction with strong emphasis on detailed research and depth of historical background in his characters and events.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 294 pages
• Publisher: Garev Publishing International (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970755856
• ISBN-13: 978-0970755858
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,402,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite a Ride, February 12, 2008

By 

Sam Sattler (Spring, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theft Of the Master (Hardcover)

Hitler's well-documented determination to loot Europe of its most priceless art has sparked the imaginations of writers worldwide, resulting in many a thriller in book or movie format. Amazingly enough, some of the lost art objects still surface occasionally in places to which they were carried by those who in turn managed to loot Hitler's stolen collection near the end of World War II. Edwin Alexander's debut novel, Theft of the Master, in which just such a piece surfaces in 1992, is a worthy addition to the genre.

The piece in question, a 1493 wood carving depicting a seated Christ delivering the Sermon on the Mount, was only one of many priceless art objects smuggled into Paraguay by one of Hitler's despicable minions when those "officers" scattered around the world to hide in holes like the rats they were. But even rats live long enough to die of old age occasionally and, when this one did just that, the priceless art was suddenly up for grabs again.

Importantly, in this instance, the missing seated-Christ sculpture has as much historical significance to the country from which it was originally stolen, Estonia, as it has monetary value to those hoping to cash in on Hitler's failure to survive the war. Alexander begins his story with the creation of the seated-Christ and describes in detail the atrocities committed by Hitler's thugs when they took possession of it. Then it disappears for nearly half a century.

Theft of the Master at times reads like two separate books because much of the story takes place on the California coast near San Francisco and involves a wealthy British family suddenly in need of the services of a private detective. They find one in the person of Al Hersey, a lethal ex-Marine and self-employed private investigator who is willing to go wherever, and speak with whoever might have answers to the questions his clients are asking. Slowly but surely, as the persistent Mr. Hersey pursues his investigation through California, Estonia, Paraguay, Sweden, and New York, it becomes obvious that the answers about what happened to his clients in 1992 go back much farther than anyone suspected.

Edwin Alexander's complicated plot is filled with memorably unique characters that are, at times, more fun than the plot itself but, by the end of Al Hersey's around-the-world adventures, the reader realizes what a trip it was and how masterful a job Alexander has done in tying all the loose ends together. Al Hersey and his stay-at-home wife, upon whom he depends to handle all the logistics of his investigation, make quite a team and here's hoping that Theft of the Master is only the first of his adventures of which we will be reading.

This one is quite a ride, so pay attention.

Rated at: 4.0

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review, August 16, 2008

By 

Cheryl Koch (CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theft Of the Master (Hardcover)

Karl Heinz Fiedler is part of a secretive organization called The New Templars. The group is a privately funded organization dedicated to the preservation of the German cultural heritage. Karl goes to see a man named Herr Brandt, who at one point held a senior position in the SS Administration. The only problem is that there never was a Herr Brandt in the SS Administration. So the question is.... Who is Herr Brandt?

Well he must be someone important as Brandt passes on to Fiedler an inventory list that consists of photographs of valuable artifacts and a will that ensures that Brandt's whole collection goes to The New Templars. In the pile of stuff handed to Karl Fiedler is a typescript dated March 1944 and titled My Life by SS Gruppenfuhrer Richard J. Gluecks. Wrriten in the typescript is Mr. Gruppenfuhrer's account of how he helped dispose of Oswald Pohl's collection of artifacts.

When Al Hershey, private investigator was hired by Geoff Hughes to dig into the death of Megan Gilchrist his niece, he did not know what he was signing up for. As Hershey investigates the death of Megan he finds that she did not drown but was instead murdered. Megan was a sweet girl who did not hurt anyone so who and why was she murdered? These are the questions that Al Hershey has to answer. He will do so by travelling through three continents.




Theft of the Master was based on chronicled accounts of Hitler's orders to take and transport valuable pieces of art work to Germany. Theft of the Master takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride of intrigue, adventure and secrecy. I thought Theft of the Master was like Indiana Jones meets James Bond..... Explosive! From the moment you pick up this book you will find yourself not wanting to put this book down till the end. I really enjoyed the little tid bits of information that author, Edwin Alexander gave throughout the book. He would insert interesting information at the bottom of the pages when it applied. This was a great addition as this helped bring you into the plot line more. It made Theft of the Master like a history lesson but the kind you actually want to attend. This is my first Edwin Alexander novel but you can be sure that it won't be my last! So do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, May 14, 2008

By 

H. Grove "Errant Dreams Reviews" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theft Of the Master (Hardcover)

The beginning of Edwin Alexander's Theft of the Master is a bit odd. The author starts off with several 'background' sections that, for a while, lead me to believe that one or another person was a main character in the book, only to have them disappear entirely shortly thereafter. I found this a little jarring and unsettling. However, once the book settles into the investigation, following PI Al Hershey and his employers, everything hums along beautifully.

This is a tale of modern men, greed, theft, love, family, strategy, and manipulation. Edwin Alexander deftly brings Europe and her inhabitants and rituals alive, populating his pages with fascinating characters. Even those who only appear for a few pages leave an indelible impression on the reader's mind. Of particular note is Al's wife, Mrs. Hershey, who never actually appears on stage and yet manages to feel like a constant and whole presence through Al's fond thoughts of her.

The mystery itself is a carefully laid-out chess game, and even though it's quite easy to figure out the identity of a certain mystery man, following the mystery's puzzle pieces as they fit together is quite fascinating. The fact that the scene-setting is done so skillfully is the icing on the cake.

This is an absolutely fascinating novel, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.