I just love a good caper/con story, and this non-fiction book by the author of The Rescue Artist fit the bill. The book is fascinating. The plot is full of dramatic elements: a critically scorned Dutch painter and illustrator who dares to forge “undiscovered” Vermeers; an art-collecting rivalry between Hitler and Goering; a cranky, aging art critic who craves more glory before his death; wealthy Dutch art patrons vying to save Dutch cultural heritage by outspending each other; and a Jewish member of the Dutch resistance turned investigator of crimes of collaboration who flushes out the forger. These alone would make the story worth reading. What Dolnick adds to the already-potent mix is a thorough investigation into the psychology of the con. He examines why van Meergen, the forger, dared to pass off some truly awful paintings as masterpieces, and why the art world allowed him to be so successful at it. A chapter focusing on a modern British forger who has served jail time for forgeries he sold to support his family was particularly illuminating. Forgery, although not victimless, is intriguing and somehow non-threatening as a crime. When monsters like Goering and Hitler are the dupes, forgery seems almost like clever vengeance, and Dolnick grants sympathy and even a form of respect to the forger. This book is full of convincing details about forgery and the evidence of the art critics’ (unknowing) complicity. After reading it, I’m impressed by the ingenuity of forgers, rather skeptical of art experts, and satisfied with Dolnick’s balance of scholarship and storytelling. Another interesting thing: a trip to the art museum post-Forger’s Spell is a totally different experience. ~Tegan