The Swan Thieves

by Elizabeth Kostova

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

I read Kostova's first book, The Historian, and was thrilled to read her second novel, hoping for something just as engaging. The Swan Thieves is sadly disappointing. There is a lack of connection between the present timeline and the historical timeline in the novel. The writing seemed stilted causing the storyline to stop and start. As a result I was unable to connect with the plot, characters and themes.

Robert Oliver, who seems to be the main character, says almost nothing throughout the entire novel. The other character that is the focus of the novel, Beatrice, only makes an appearance in a handful of chapters and short letters scattered among the 550 or so pages. It's difficult to connect with characters who are driving the plot when they won't speak and make rare appearances.

In the end, the reveal of the mystery of why Oliver attacked the painting was excellent, however, I don't feel Kostova set the plot up to make the reveal as powerful as it could have been.