Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures

This book is so much fun!

I managed to get an advance copy and I could hardly put it down. It's a really terrific tale about the FBI's only art crime agent - a sharp, funny, honest guy with a treasure trove of amazing, compelling stories. There also are some deeply personal and poignant sections that give Wittman real depth. It's a great read - and it would make a great movie!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't put it down.

A buddy of mine in the business let me read his copy after he was done. We both loved this book. It is my Father's Day present to friends who aren't necessarily big readers because I know it will captivate them. Maybe they'll buy me a beer or two for reminding them about the joy of reading a good book.

Priceless takes the reader deep in the underworld of art theft and illegal art sales, sharing true stories on FBI procedures, undercover operations, and the twisted minds of those who have stolen the art or artifacts. Some of the thieves are highfalutin, others, petty criminals. All know what they've done is wrong, but the temptation, the allure, of priceless, one-of-a-kind pieces is too great. So they steal them, cutting great works out of their frames, folding cherished, irreplaceable parchment, or canvas, even flags and war bonnets, then slipping away into the ether.

The ill-gotten booty goes underground for months, years, decades, and in one case, even a century, only to pop up again in an effort to cash in on the heist. And when they pop up, they meet Bob Wittman, the greatest art detective in the world.

A Rembrandt, a Picasso, one of the 14 original copies of the Bill of Rights, the actual flag carried by the first black troop in the Civil War...Bob Wittman goes undercover for the FBI in efforts to re-claim all of the above, and more. In bringing us along for this ride, the authors explain the value, history, and provenance (essentially, the chain of custody) behind each piece, providing a full, robust understanding of the history and value of each piece. Stuff I never even realized I held interest in.

Cool book. Highly recommended. Great summer read.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Great read!

Fantastic book! Excellent read for people interested in the inner workings of the FBI and criminal investigations, art and history, or just looking for some enjoyable summer reading. Wittman, the retired FBI agent, and Shiffman the investigative reporter who helped write the book, introduce the reader to the fascinating but true world of international art and antiquities theft. Although factual, the book is not weighed down with extensive details or trivial facts. As a piece of nonfiction it does however present a few important lessons for its readers: the FBI are burdened with internal politics and power struggles as with most bureaucratic organizations, art and antiquities should hold a more revered place in society and be better protected from thieves and unscrupulous dealers, and plans go astray both in life and criminal investigations no matter how hard we try. Get the book, you will enjoy it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Fascinating book, well documented, insightful and a fun, easy read.

This is a great book -- an insider's view to the fascinating and obscure world of art crime. Whitman walks the reader through a series of bigtime heists, including the Gardner theft in Boston, that he worked as the FBI's top art crime agent. It all unfolds like a good crime novel, full of bad guys who range from bumbling to sleazy to truly dangerous. We get to see how Whitman cultivates his undercover persona as a shady dealer in stolen art and antiquities. And he's refreshingly candid about the politics and bureaucratic hurdles inside the FBI that often hindered his work. The best part about this book is that you don't need to be an art expert to enjoy it -- the writing is engaging and accessible, a very quick and easy read. Whether your pasion is art, detective stories, or the inner workings of America's most famous crime-fighting agency, I recommend this book highly.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Art theft recovered, a soul defined

Robert Wittman's story reveals the true character of people who steel high priced art, they are greedy and not much else. The heart of this story really is about Wittman's soul, the loss of a colleague and doing a dangerous job by coming into contact with thugs who wouldn't think twice about murder in the name of money. It gives some insight into the workings of the FBI. There is no violence.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Interesting

An interesting look at the FBI and art crime. I found the book to be a good read but was a little taken that by the lack of details. About 50% of the way through the book I somewhat tired of it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Priceless Rockwell Recovery

Looking forward to the movie, Bob. As an art dealer, it was nice to work with you in recovering the Rockwell's and other stolen paintings. I enjoyed getting to know you a little more through the book. It was interesting to relive the adventures of the recoveries. With you being involved in so many more and living on the edge, it's a great read. I congratulate you on this book. George Turak, Turak Gallery

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Can't wait to see the movie! Wow! What a great read!

This story allows the reader to delve into the the secret world of art crime and the fascinating way in which FBI agent Robert Wittman goes undercover to recover much of the historic and iconic art and historic manuscripts stolen from museums and private collections around the world. I could not put this book down! Whether you enjoy a suspenseful thriller, a detective story, or a historic exploration of many of the great art heists of the 20th century, this book is a winner. If it is not turned into a blockbuster movie, I will be shocked! This book makes a great gift, because anyone who reads it will love it! It is very well researched and superbly well written! Not surprising, if you have followed Shiffman's investigative reporting for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

LOVED THIS BOOK!

i loved this book..couldn't put it down once i started it...great reading for the summer..on the beach, vacation..would make a great movie..make a great gift..

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wittman in Boise!

If you were intrigued by this book and would like to hear and meet Robert Wittman in person, he’ll be in Boise on January 19, 2012! Boise Art Museum is bringing the author to town as part of their 75th anniversary year. Information can be found on Boise Art Museum’s website and Facebook page.

Great look into the FBI from a very different perspective.

Easy writing style, fascinating stories across a number of decades, and frank discussion of life in the FBI trying to fight crimes that aren't associated with terrorism post-9/11.

Excellent

Loved this book. Liked the Philly connection. Opened my eyes to the dark side of the art world. Couldn't put it down.

Artful

Now that Whitey Bulger is in the slammer, it's troubling that the paintings stolen from Boston's Gardner Museum will likely remain unrecovered due to the FBI bureaucratic in-fighting Wittman describes. I liked this memoir a lot, partly because of and partly in spite of its Populist subtext. I also was interested that Wittman implicitly recognized a difference between the Indian artifacts case and his other work -- perhaps because he there came close to the legal definition of entrapment and in so doing, assumed a moral stance not too different from the people he pursued.

If you are not a big art fan, do not buy this book!!!

I am about 100 pages into this book and cannot read another page. There have been some interesting parts to the book, but overall, it has been incredibly boring. I keep hoping I'm going to get to the good part of the book, but I've given up. If you like art history and in depth details about paintings, then you may love this book. I was never a fan nor am I a fan of this book.

Interesting view inside the search for stolen priceless art

While this book was interesting and offered some incredible details from inside the FBI's search for stolen art, it was not the best book I had ever read. But I would recommend reading it for entertainment.

Interesting, but can loose interest

When I began reading this memoir, I thought it would be about Wittman's life and his overall accomplishments in the FBI. I was right. The plot, though a simple narration of court cases and the pressures he faced while he was undercover are interesting, it overall was lacking.
It starts and ends strong with Wittman recounting his last undercover job. He describes everything in such accurate detail that you feel like you're there. But as the story weaves in and out between his own personal life and his professional, I felt very much like the book was following procedure. Each chapter began with a name, date, and place, and each said pretty much the same thing-this was stolen here...and it's very important because....and I got it back by doing this...
Overall the book gets lost in it's own complicated web as the overall connecting theme is Whittman, and if you don't like him then you aren't going to like the book. But luckily he comes across as genuine and humble, making him all the more readable.
Readers beware, if your art history is not up to snuff or you can't tell a Vermeer from a Rockwell this is not the book for you. But if you have an appreciation for art then definitely try this book out.
Though a bit dull in the middle,Whittman and his co-author Shiffman, do a good job of noting how serious art crime is from the point of view from someone who saw it and lived it.

Enjoyed

I'm sorry there will not be FBI searching for more lost art

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