The Storm over Paris

by William Ian Grubman

Overview

Fans of Daniel Silva will enjoy Grubman's The Storm over Paris

It's 1942 in Nazi-occupied Paris. Mori Rothstein, an art dealer and expert in master paintings from Rococo to Realism, has been sought after by every major museum in the world. Also seeking his expertise is Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering.

As his friends and fellow Jews disappear one by one, Mori struggles to protect himself and his family by cooperating with the Germans to catalogue stolen paintings for the Fuhrer's museum. Mori is neither a prisoner nor a free man as he forges a questionable relationship with one of the most notorious Nazis in Europe—his fidelity and morals tested daily. His once-charmed life transforms into a web of intrigue, kidnapping, and murder, against the backdrop of the world's most treasured art.

How does he get himself and his family out the other side of the war, while also attempting to rescue some of the greatest paintings of all time?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781732610002
Publisher:	Dupapier Press
Publication date:	11/05/2018
Pages:	330
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

William Ian Grubman is a businessman, philanthropist, artist, author, art collector, and performing artist from Los Angeles, California. In every sense of the word, he is a renaissance man.

What People are Saying About This

Starred Review - Blue Ink Review

"Grubman wades into a well-trod genre, delivering a fine novel that will appeal to anyone engaged by this tragic past."

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/26/2018
Set mainly in Paris in 1942, Grubman’s impressive debut stars Mori Rothstein, an art dealer with an international reputation for detecting frauds, who finds himself in an awkward position when Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering demands that he help realize Hitler’s dream of establishing an art museum with only the very best paintings and sculptures on display. Toward that end, Mori is to evaluate the artwork the Nazis have stolen from its Jewish owners to assess which pieces merit inclusion in the Fuehrer’s showcase. Outraged by the shameless thefts and the grim fate of their rightful owners, Mori devises a risky plan to replace the most valuable paintings with forgeries prepared by his gifted son, Émile. Goering’s reliance on Mori arouses envy on the part of a German army officer who’s something of an art expert, making Mori’s venture even riskier. Grubman is adept at crafting nail-biting scenes of suspense, building up to a tantalizingly inconclusive ending. Readers will eagerly await the sequel. (BookLife)

Publishers Weekly

"This gripping tale never moves its lens from individuals. . . The Storm over Paris is a taut historical thriller brimming with heart and darkness."

John M. Murray - Foreword

"I recommend The Storm Over Paris to those who love World War II thrillers and to those who love fiction centered on art. This was a wonderful example of both these types of books."

Shomeret: The Masked Reviewer

A Jewish family’s courageous defiance of the Nazis in German-occupied Paris sets the stage for a tale of intrigue and danger in Grubman’s debut novel.

In 1942, Mori Rothstein is a successful French art dealer whose clients include some of the wealthiest families in the City of Light. His expertise in the works of the masters has gained him a loyal following and has given him the means to provide for his family. Things change suddenly, however, when Hermann Goering—the head of the Nazi Gestapo and one of the most feared men alive—seeks out Mori’s knowledge. Adolf Hitler is eager to open a museum in Austria that will feature the most renowned works of classical art, and Goering makes it clear that Mori has no choice but to cooperate with him on the project. Mori must help to identify the most prized paintings for Hitler’s museum or be deported. This is easier said than done, however, as German soldiers have already amassed a vast quantity of stolen art, and more arrives every day. After Mori begins to recognize artworks that he sold to others long ago, he devises a daring plan with the help of his son, Émile, to smuggle the precious paintings out of the Nazis’ clutches. But after a high-ranking German officer is killed, the Rothsteins find themselves on the run. The descriptions of life in Paris under Nazi rule are evocative and frightening: “As they headed toward the Tuileries, Émile wondered why that soldier kept following the two of them.” Grubman’s portrayals of his characters are complex and realistic; Mori’s wife, Ruth, for example, ends up playing a critical and satisfying role in the family’s fate. The dialogue feels intimate and conversational, as if one is privy to secret conversations. In one particularly suspenseful scene, Mori attempts to fool Goering with a forgery of a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. As the Nazi takes his time inspecting the sketch, readers will hold their breath: “Mori felt his throat constrict. He’s taking too long, he thought.”

A dark, gripping historical thriller.

Kirkus Reviews