A SPECIAL EVENT

FOR ALL MYSTERY READERS!

Wednesday, July 15th at Noon

Finding Stolen Art : a presentation by

Jane K. Cleland

Do you love to snuggle up with a good mystery? Do you wonder where mystery writers get their inspiration? Come and have lunch with Jane K. Cleland, author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series and hear the story of a real-life thriller at the New Canaan Library on Wednesday, July 15 th at 12:00 noon in the Adrian Lamb Room as part of the Library’s Authors on Stage series of events which is co-sponsored by Elm Street Books of New Canaan.

Meet our detective: Maria Altmann. In a real-life David vs. Goliath tale, one woman, almost 90 years old and a more than 10,000 miles away, took on the Austrian government – and won. Her story has all of the elements of a thriller:

• Priceless treasures stolen by government-authorized thugs
• Records destroyed or hidden
• A mole inserted into a museum to find proof of the conspiracy
• Laws passed on an as-needed basis to thwart the filing of claims

This presentation examines the scope of the issue – the FBI and Interpol estimate that as much as 20 percent of all Western art was stolen by the Nazis, and as many as 100,000 objects are still missing – and how governments and institutions continue to throw up obstacles to repatriation. Ms. Altmann’s tale is a sit-on-the-edge-of-your seat thriller - reader’s will be inspired as they hear how she overcame every obstacle put in her way and ultimately succeeded in her one-woman effort to recover her family’s art.

Jane K. Cleland is the author of the multiple-award nominated and Independent Mystery Booksellers Association best-selling Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series, often called an Antiques Roadshow for mystery fans. Jane chairs the Wolfe Pack’s literary awards and is on the Board of the Mystery Writers of America/NY Chapter. Her newest novel, Killer Keepsakes has been nominated for an Anthony Award.and is the fourth in the series.

All Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is recommended by callilng (203) 594-5003, e-mailing clahey@newcanaanlibrary.org, or by clicking on the program registration link on the library website at www.newcanaanlibrary.org. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

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For additional information or to arrange an interview with our author, please contact:

Jane Cleland, (212) 949-0867

jane@janecleland.com website: www.janecleland.net