Kostova, Elizabeth.The Swan Thieves.  New York : Hachette Audio, 2010.  ISBN: 9781600247453. Narrated by Treat Williams, Anne Heche,  Erin Cottrell, Sarah Zimmerman,  and John Lee.

To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook would be a huge understatement.  Its complexity, and often mysterious storyline and characters, gave the story a haunting quality.  For the first time in quite a while, I would have to state that I loved the audio version of The Swan Thieves far more than I would have enjoyed the printed text.  The narration was perfect, giving the depiction of pain, confusion, heartbreak, and love throughout each of the various characters’ experiences.

As for the story, it begins with Dr. Andrew Marlow, a psychologist and an occasional painter.  When he  receives a call from a fellow colleague asking for his help with a successful artist, Robert Oliver, after he tried to attack a painting in the National Gallery, Marlow becomes entangled in the silent and mysterious man’s past.   Robert refuses to talk to anyone, including Marlow; he merely sits in his room constantly re-reading antique letters and holding in some type of internal battle within himself.  When Marlow gets him art supplies in the hope that the artist might reveal something about himself, he is instead confronted with Oliver’s endless portraits of a beautiful and mysterious woman.

Marlow then sets out to confront the only people who may be able to give him some insight into the silent and anger artist.  He will find that only two people will be able to shed any light on the artist, Oliver’s ex-wife, Kate,  and someone by the name of Mary.

The Swan Thieves is a beautiful story that portrays love and heartbreak throughout two different spans of time.  Also, as I stated before, the narration for the audio book is perfect.  You can truly experience the wreckage Robert Oliver has left behind and the pain the artist feels because there will never be able to find resolve to attaining the one thing his heart most desires.

Elizabeth Kostovo is also known for penning the best-selling novel,  The Historian.

If you enjoy The Swan Thieves you may also like:

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

The Thirteeth Tale by Diana Setterfield

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay