Amazing Art Mysteries: On the Trail of Notorious Fakers, Forgers, Thieves, and Smugglers

From stolen masterpieces to clever forgeries, readers help solve the mysteries of astonishing real-life art heists and hoaxes using science, history, and puzzles.

Art, mystery, and forensic science collide as readers go undercover to reveal the true stories behind history’s most daring heists, clever fakes, and unbelievable cover-ups. How did cat hair help catch a cunning forger? How did New Year’s fireworks help thieves pull off the perfect crime? And how do art detectives and curators across the globe nab the crooks, bust the fakes, and bring stolen treasure home? Readers dive into real science and use deductive reasoning to solve a slew of art crimes, learning to spot fakes and crack the clues. This highly readable deep dive is rich with engaging sidebars and a wealth of specific terms, as well as colorful illustrations and art images. DIY activities and challenges range from color matching and fingerprinting to creating a history-preserving time capsule. Back matter includes a glossary, About the Artists, and a selected bibliography.