Pictures at an Exhibition

Set in a Paris darkened by World War II Sara Houghtelings sweeping and sensuous debut novel tells the story of a sons quest to recover his familys lost masterpieces looted by the Nazis during the occupation.Born to an art dealer and his pianist wife Max Berenzon is forbidden from entering the family business for reasons he cannot understand. He reluctantly attends medical school reserving his true passion for his fathers beautiful and brilliant gallery assistant Rose Clment. When Paris falls to the Nazis the Berenzons survive in hiding. They return in 1944 to find that their priceless collection has vanished. Madly driven to recover his fathers paintings Max navigates a torn city of corrupt art dealers black marketers Rsistants and collaborators. His quest will reveal the tragic disappearance of his closest friend the heroism of his lost love and the truth behind a devastating family secret.Written with tense drama and a historians eye for detail Houghtelings novel draws on the real-life stories of Frances preeminent art-dealing familes and the forgotten biography of the only French woman to work as a double agent inside the Nazis looted art stronghold.