A Long Time Coming

By: Aaron Elkins

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

It takes a real artist to solve a crime this big - in a brilliant, engrossing mystery by Edgar Award winner Aaron Elkins....

Art curator Val Caruso is not a happy camper. His promotion has just been nixed, his divorce has become final, and he’s dug himself into a nice little rut for his fortieth birthday. The uplift? A trip to Milan to help Holocaust survivor Sol Bezzecca recover a pair of cherished sketches by Renoir. They’d once been given to Sol’s family by the then-unknown artist, looted by the Italian Fascist militia, and now after decades in hiding have turned up for auction. It’s Val’s job to get them back.

Unfortunately, his Italian adventure takes a dangerous turn when he becomes trapped in an intricate web that reaches back to World War II - and is still very sticky with art thieves, forgers, and somebody who wants Val out of the picture permanently. When the lost Renoirs are stolen yet again, Val is more determined than ever to hunt them down. The reward for reuniting an old man with his rightful past? Priceless.

But doing it is going to be murder.

©2018 Aaron Elkins (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

A fun satisfying guessing game

This is an enjoyable read. If you like art history, you will like it. If you like Italy, you will like it. Elkins gives you just enough historical fiction without dwelling on too much detail. The storyline is good, but it is the involved "con" that makes it fun. You will possibly guess who is guilty, but watching them carry it off is worth the read. David Colacci is outstanding. This is well worth the time and minimal cost . Believe me and enjoy this one!

Charmed.

Art lovers will be entertained, as well as educated. The main character is the narrator and ruminator who speaks to the audience (breaks thro the 4th wall). It is slower paced than some mysteries but perfect for the character's disposition and events. Clearly he loves Italy and great painters (Renoir primarily here) I fiddled with my paints while listening. I hope the author will write another.

Memories

A Long Time Coming is a terrific story about the art world. Not the sort of art a middle class patron could afford. The really wonderful art of the masters. You may be surprised at what goes on in the high dollar art world. Aaron Elkins does a fantastic job of weaving the tale of the bad actors in the art world with a lonely old man whose memories of his childhood and one painting are worth more than all the money in the world.

Wonderful story

Well-written story with sooo much HEART. Intriguing mystery, EXCellent appealing “good guys,” and thoroughly foul “bad guys,” who happily do not prevail. Lots of interesting art history and Milan, Italy ambiance.

great story

this is a good book, i hope Elkins turns this into a seies and uses David Colacci as narrator, he is one of my favorite narrators. very well done.

Good art and history lesson...

...but a very weak mystery. It was so predictable that I actually knew who did it and why the minute the first crime was committed.

The good:
There is a lot of interesting bits about art, art history and Italian history.
The scene setting was well done for the most part.

The bad:
The mystery is really not good. It is slow and completely and utterly predictable
The side/supporting characters were not well drawn.

The meh:
The main character was not very engaging.
The narration seemed very slow to me.

I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them. Unfortunately, this one just fell very short.
I got it free from Amazon Unlimited, so at least I didn't waste a credit on it.

A suspenseful, wonderful trip into the art world.

To be fair, I love anything read by David Colacci. He does a fabulous job of keeping all of the characters very distinct and real. That said, I really enjoyed the suspense of the mystery. Someone out there probably figured it out in three seconds, but I did not. I had hunches, but they were quickly tossed out. An well written and thought out. An interesting and lovely read.

will the real sketches stand up

a good mystery involving art I truely enjoyed listening to. the reader did a fantastic job making the characters real. hopefully another series coming out soon.

Interesting journey into the art world

The story begins with an American art curator helping a Holocaust survivor retrieve two Renoir paintings stolen be Italian Facists during WW II. It evolves into a mystery with further theft of the paintings and murder. The story provides many interesting bits of art history and the underground art world.

Very well done

I’ve listened to books and podcasts a long time. This book is very well done. No annoying voices. Sounds quality was great and the story was entertaining.