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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAn Edgar Award Nominee for Best First NovelLonglisted for the Center for Fiction's First Novel PrizeNamed a New York Times Best Crime Novel of 2022Named A Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by *Marie Claire* *Washington Post* *Vulture* *NBC News* *Buzzfeed* *Veranda* *PopSugar* *Paste* *The Millions* *Bustle* *Crimereads* Goodreads* *Bookbub* *Boston.com*and more!"The thefts are engaging and surprising, and the narrative brims with international intrigue. Li, however, has delivered more than a straight thriller here, especially in the parts that depict the despair Will and his pals feel at being displaced, overlooked, underestimated, and discriminated against. This is as much a novel as a reckoning."—New York Times Book ReviewOcean's Eleven meets The Farewell in Portrait of a Thief, a lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums; about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identityHistory is told by the conquerors. Across the Western world, museums display the spoils of war, of conquest, of colonialism: priceless pieces of art looted from other countries, kept even now. Will Chen plans to steal them back. A senior at Harvard, Will fits comfortably in his carefully curated roles: a perfect student, an art history major and sometimes artist, the eldest son who has always been his parents' American Dream. But when a mysterious Chinese benefactor reaches out with an impossible—and illegal—job offer, Will finds himself something else as well: the leader of a heist to steal back five priceless Chinese sculptures, looted from Beijing centuries ago. His crew is every heist archetype one can imagine—or at least, the closest he can get. A con artist: Irene Chen, a public policy major at Duke who can talk her way out of anything. A thief: Daniel Liang, a premed student with steady hands just as capable of lockpicking as suturing. A getaway driver: Lily Wu, an engineering major who races cars in her free time. A hacker: Alex Huang, an MIT dropout turned Silicon Valley software engineer. Each member of his crew has their own complicated relationship with China and the identity they've cultivated as Chinese Americans, but when Will asks, none of them can turn him down. Because if they succeed? They earn fifty million dollars—and a chance to make history. But if they fail, it will mean not just the loss of everything they've dreamed for themselves but yet another thwarted attempt to take back what colonialism has stolen. Equal parts beautiful, thoughtful, and thrilling, Portrait of a Thief is a cultural heist and an examination of Chinese American identity, as well as a necessary critique of the lingering effects of colonialism.

Details e-book Portrait of a Thief

🗸 Author(s): Grace D. Li
🗸 Title: Portrait of a Thief: A Novel
🗸 Rating : 3.8 from 5 stars (1525 reviews)
🗸 Languange: English
🗸 Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
🗸 Supported Devices: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle

Readers' opinions about Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li

Jenise Hope
This gripping thriller takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through the dark alleys of a crime-ridden city, where the protagonists must unravel a complex web of deceit to solve a murder. The plot twists are relentless, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final revelation. With its well-developed characters and gritty atmosphere, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre.

Audi Thornton
This gripping true crime narrative offers a chilling glimpse into the minds of some of history's most notorious criminals. From cold-blooded killers to master con artists, each chapter delves into the twisted motives and methods of these infamous individuals. With its riveting storytelling and meticulous research, this book is a must-read for armchair detectives and true crime enthusiasts alike.

Harlee Charles
This captivating science fiction novel transports readers to a distant future where humanity has colonized the stars and forged new alliances among the cosmos. Against the backdrop of interstellar conflict, the story follows a group of intrepid explorers as they journey to the far reaches of space in search of a lost civilization. With its gripping plot twists and richly imagined world-building, this book is a thrilling adventure that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.