The Lost Painting: A Stefania Dimaggio Novel by C.J. Toca (Book Review)

5/5 - (1 vote)

Title: The Lost Painting
Author: C.J. TOCA
Imprint: Saddle Ridge Publications LLC
Series: The Stefania Dimaggio Series
ISBN: 979-8986899695
eBook ISBN: 979-8349483790
Genre: Thriller, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Espionage
Availability: Paperback or eBook
Language: ‎ English
Paperback: ‎ 266 pages
Item Weight: 12.6 ounces
Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches

Review:

There are a lot of quotes when it comes to love, but my favorite has to be from the Disney version of Hercules. “People always do crazy things when they’re in love.” And unfortunately for our protagonist, Stefania Dimaggio, the man she loved did not attribute this to her.

In fact, her once beloved, Thomas Houghton, the Duke of Radcliffe, asked her to perform a crazy act of love by summoning her to help him find Magdu Amor, the famous Bollywood actress and mistress. But, despite what was once the stage play of their action-packed romance coming to a close, Stefania, once again, throws her life into peril to help Thomas, unaware that his missing love is only the start of the twisted tale that is the third entry of C.J. Toca’s Stefania Dimaggio Series, The Lost Painting.

There are a lot of wonderful things about this entry in the Stefania Dimaggio Series. The world-building remains a highlight in C.J. Toca’s works; the mystery regarding Magdu Amor, which later morphs into a larger mystery, is highly engaging. The action-packed scenes throughout are handled well, and the plot of the story itself is well-paced.

But the strongest aspect of CJ Toca’s story is the characterization and growth, for example

When we last left Stefania and Thomas, they had seemingly come together at the end of Secret Heir, but since that time, their whirlwind romance fizzled out once again, leaving the two separated. While readers may feel disappointed or frustrated that things did not fare well between Stefania and Thomas’s romantic relationship, I do enjoy that they remain friendly toward one another. It is quite rare to have former lovers remain close enough to call upon each other if the other is in danger, and even rarer for a former lover to go through such lengths to help the person who broke her heart.

Old friends such as Harry and SVR Director Svetlana Greschenko, along with new faces in Cono Duca, one of the heads of the Calabrian Mafia, and his sister, Elettra Duca, both of whom play a significant role in the novel, all of whom have their own distinct voice, are a credit to Toca’s strong writing, as it is highly difficult to keep characters, especially in an ongoing series, staying internally consistent while introducing new characters to keep track of.

The novel also adds interesting wrinkles and implications in the relationship dynamics between Stefania, Thomas, and Greschenko, which, along with the bittersweet yet satisfactory ending, leave room open for another entry in the series.

With the strong characters, the surprising twists, and a Poignant ending, The Lost Painting: A Stefania Dimaggio Novel is another top-notch entry for both romance and mystery lovers’ bookshelves, and it gains a capital recommendation from me. ★★★★★ – Elijah B. (Explore Authors Magazine)

Where to buy: eBook edition

Where to buy:

Review:

Where to buy: eBook edition

Where to buy:

Leave a Reply