The Curse of Pietro Houdini

A Novel

By: Derek B. Miller

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

A vivid, thrilling, and moving World War II art-heist-adventure tale set in wartime Italy where enemies become heroes, allies become villains, and a child learns what it means to become an adult—that “has the ring of truth and the echo of myth…[deserving of] all the lucky readers who discover it” (The Wall Street Journal).

August, 1943. Fourteen-year-old Massimo is all alone. Newly orphaned and fleeing from Rome after surviving a bombing raid that killed his parents, Massimo is attacked by thugs and finds himself bloodied at the base of the Montecassino. It is there in the Benedictine abbey’s shadow that a charismatic and cryptic man calling himself Pietro Houdini, the self-proclaimed “Master Artist and confidante of the Vatican,” rescues Massimo and makes him an assistant in preserving the treasures that lay within the monastery walls.

But can Massimo believe what Pietro is saying, particularly when Massimo has secrets too? Who is this extraordinary man? When it becomes evident that Montecassino will soon become the front line in the war, Pietro Houdini and Massimo plan to smuggle three priceless Titian paintings to safety down the mountain. They are joined by a vivid cast of characters and together they will lie, cheat, steal, fight, kill, and sin their way through battlefields to survive, all while smuggling the Renaissance masterpieces and the bag full of ancient Greek gold they have rescued from the “safe keeping” of the Germans.

Heartfelt, powerfully engaging, and in the tradition of Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, this is a work of storytelling bravado: a thrilling action-packed art heist, an imaginative chronicle of forgotten history, and a poignant coming-of-age epic where a child navigates one of the most morally complex fronts of World War II and lives to tell the tale.

Critic reviews

"Gabra Zackman transports listeners to Italy amid the chaos of WWII. Massimo, a young teen scarred by both physical and emotional trauma, is taken under the wing of the enigmatic Pietro Houdini. Together, they find refuge in the Abbey of Montecassino, where they plan an audacious art heist with the help of a growing band of misfits. Zackman masterfully brings the protagonists to life, creating a selection of credible and likable characters. In particular, Zackman’s delivery highlights both Pietro's distinctiveness and Massimo's evolving nature as the story unfolds. Her confident pronunciation of Italian and German names, coupled with her impeccable timing, creates a thoroughly captivating listen."

Castro dei Volsci is my wife’s families’ heritage before the end of WWII.

Good story. But we never learned the girl’s real name. Did she live outside of Italy? I don’t recall that aspect being explained.

Full 5 Stars

Left a little speechless, having just finished this powerful story. So well written. Ben fatto!!

The story well told

Oh come on, You want a story that works well and has a touch of plausibility and history. This is a good one.

Thought provoking

While not a true story this book incorporates many true events that occurred in Italy while the world was at war ver. 2. This makes you think about all the horrors of war and its capricious nature along with the strength of the human spirit no matter its age.

A wonderful read

Just a beautifully written book with characters that stay in your heart. Wellworth the time. I loved it.