Olympia
Three art thieves risk the biggest heist of their careers in the charming, exciting graphic novel Olympia.
Alex and Sam, absent their companion Carole, are planning to steal a valuable helmet from an army museum. They think Carole is dead, but when the two women take the stolen helmet to its prospective buyer, negotiations go awry; Carole reappears, pregnant, to help Alex and Sam escape. The women’s lives are threatened, and an offer is made: if they steal three priceless paintings, they will be free to live their lives again.
With Carole back on the team, Alex and Sam plan a grand heist of all three paintings at once. Through twists, turns, and quick thinking, they face off against a variety of threats before their final fate is revealed in a satisfying twist.
The heist elements of the book are enjoyable, with enough original ideas to surprise and delight. The characters stand out most, however. Alex is quirky and a bit flighty; Sam is capable and focused; and Carole is thoughtful and nurturing. The dynamic among those three, their minder Antonio, and other people they encounter is energetic, entertaining, and often quite funny.
Precision linework and coloring make every page a work of art, including the three-page gallery that ends the book, which features the threesome in framed paintings, meant to resemble a museum interior. This book is a sequel to The Grand Odalisque, which features the same trio of thieves, but Olympia doesn’t require familiarity with the first book; it stands on its own merits as a savvy, scintillating thriller.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
