Review of Love and Murder
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Constance9
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- Latest Review: Love and Murder by Irv Arenberg
Review of Love and Murder
[Following is a volunteer review of "Love and Murder" by Irv Arenberg.]
What if Vincent van Gogh did not commit suicide as legend has it but was murdered? This is the premise of Love and Murder, a non-fiction book that recounts the last seventy days of the world-renowned Dutch painter’s life. Love and Murder is the second installment in the Killing Vincent Trilogy, a book series that stems from the Killing Vincent project carried out by the author Dr. Irv Arenberg. Briefly, the project aims to prove with ample forensic evidence that van Gogh’s death was a horrible case of homicide, possibly linked to his love life, because it was virtually impossible for van Gogh to self-inflict his mortal wound. Love and Murder centers on the how, why, and where van Gogh was murdered and most importantly, by whom. The book also sheds light on the fact that the painter’s tragic death was ultimately disguised as a suicide in the midst of one of the greatest heists of modern times.
Being an avid fan of van Gogh’s paintings myself and holding from a young age a strange fascination for this iconic historical figure (the myth of the mad genius who cut his own ear borders on the incomprehensible, particularly to a young teenager), I was especially intrigued by the premise of this book. I had certainly not expected the author to paint such a realistic and detailed yet human and touching portrayal of the man behind the world-renowned masterpieces. It felt as if I was personally learning so much about van Gogh as a human being, which made me understand his feelings and worldview better.
So, not only does the author a magnificent job at making the readers understand van Gogh’s strange character, but Dr. Irv Arenberg suggests interesting theories about the painter’s mysterious death. At first, I must admit that I was a bit skeptical because the suicide theory is a narrative so ingrained in our society that it even seems ridiculous to challenge it. However, so many questions remain unanswered: there were no suicide note, crime scene, weapon, autopsy, and witnesses to the act. Didn’t we come to the suicide conclusion a bit too hastily?
Throughout the book, the author tries to solve this 133-year-old legendary cold case by re-examining all possible evidence, following every lead, and piecing together the final seventy days of van Gogh’s life. Moreover, the author draws on his medical expertise to provide invaluable insights into van Gogh’s medical condition and health problems.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Van Gogh’s tragic death has been the center of multiple theories for decades, and attempting to resolve this real-life famous murder mystery while being presented with all the evidence, the potential suspects and their motives, the witnesses’ accounts, etc., made it entertaining to read. Besides, the author wrote in a very accessible and engaging way and provided an informative, well-researched, and immensely detailed account of van Gogh’s last days. The editing of the book was well done and professional. However, that being said, the book felt a bit too long and repetitive at times (knowing that it is part of a three-book series!). I think that if it were 100 pages less, it would have been perfect. In the end, it is definitely a must-read for people who, like me, are curious about the tragic demise of the world-famous painter’s life, which remains one of the biggest mysteries in the art world.
******
Love and Murder
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
What if Vincent van Gogh did not commit suicide as legend has it but was murdered? This is the premise of Love and Murder, a non-fiction book that recounts the last seventy days of the world-renowned Dutch painter’s life. Love and Murder is the second installment in the Killing Vincent Trilogy, a book series that stems from the Killing Vincent project carried out by the author Dr. Irv Arenberg. Briefly, the project aims to prove with ample forensic evidence that van Gogh’s death was a horrible case of homicide, possibly linked to his love life, because it was virtually impossible for van Gogh to self-inflict his mortal wound. Love and Murder centers on the how, why, and where van Gogh was murdered and most importantly, by whom. The book also sheds light on the fact that the painter’s tragic death was ultimately disguised as a suicide in the midst of one of the greatest heists of modern times.
Being an avid fan of van Gogh’s paintings myself and holding from a young age a strange fascination for this iconic historical figure (the myth of the mad genius who cut his own ear borders on the incomprehensible, particularly to a young teenager), I was especially intrigued by the premise of this book. I had certainly not expected the author to paint such a realistic and detailed yet human and touching portrayal of the man behind the world-renowned masterpieces. It felt as if I was personally learning so much about van Gogh as a human being, which made me understand his feelings and worldview better.
So, not only does the author a magnificent job at making the readers understand van Gogh’s strange character, but Dr. Irv Arenberg suggests interesting theories about the painter’s mysterious death. At first, I must admit that I was a bit skeptical because the suicide theory is a narrative so ingrained in our society that it even seems ridiculous to challenge it. However, so many questions remain unanswered: there were no suicide note, crime scene, weapon, autopsy, and witnesses to the act. Didn’t we come to the suicide conclusion a bit too hastily?
Throughout the book, the author tries to solve this 133-year-old legendary cold case by re-examining all possible evidence, following every lead, and piecing together the final seventy days of van Gogh’s life. Moreover, the author draws on his medical expertise to provide invaluable insights into van Gogh’s medical condition and health problems.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Van Gogh’s tragic death has been the center of multiple theories for decades, and attempting to resolve this real-life famous murder mystery while being presented with all the evidence, the potential suspects and their motives, the witnesses’ accounts, etc., made it entertaining to read. Besides, the author wrote in a very accessible and engaging way and provided an informative, well-researched, and immensely detailed account of van Gogh’s last days. The editing of the book was well done and professional. However, that being said, the book felt a bit too long and repetitive at times (knowing that it is part of a three-book series!). I think that if it were 100 pages less, it would have been perfect. In the end, it is definitely a must-read for people who, like me, are curious about the tragic demise of the world-famous painter’s life, which remains one of the biggest mysteries in the art world.
******
Love and Murder
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Love and Murder by Irv Arenberg
