Rembrandt's Ghost

by: Paul Christopher

Published by: A Signet Book

Reviewed by Cheryl Hiltibran

Paul Christopher crafts a story that includes lots of thought and clever finagling to get all the pieces to line up, which will keep you intrigued to the very end. You will like this book if you like adventure stories that span the entire world in hopes of finding a hidden treasures-provided you are clever enough and lucky enough.

The adventure for its two main characters—Finn Ryan, a young archeologist, and Billy Pilgrim, a bonafide prince—leads them to unpredictable places and into unusual predicaments as they must piece together the puzzle that an uncle, who they did not know, leaves as their co-inheritance. Left with what seemingly appears to be three unrelated items—a Rembrandt forgery, a house in Amsterdam and a cargo ship off Borneo—their search for understanding begins in curiosity but heightens to one of necessity in order to stay alive.

As the reader, you are pulled along with them as they try to solve the mystery of how does each of these items relate to one another and to them. You are compelled to keep reading just as they are compelled to stay ahead of their unknown pursuers who obviously know more than they do. There must be a hidden treasure but the clues are obscure, scattered and moldering in years of dust. Is there a fortune to be found or is it just the lure of possible riches?

Readers who like the ocean and sailing will enjoy the descriptions of their high sea adventure. The story, like the ocean, rises and falls in tempo and suspense. It is only through the finesse and wits of both characters that they are able to stay ahead of their pursuers and figure out what their uncle wants them to discover.

In the end the author still leaves you a bit curious as to what you would do, had you been Finn or Billy.

Armchair Interviews says: Adventure, mystery and intrique all piled into one book.