The Mystery of the Third Lucretia
Written by Susan Runholt
Narrated by Krista Sutton
4.5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
"Go a-way," the painter snarled when Kari tried to see what was on his canvas. She and Lucas were at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the guy's easel was set up in front of one of Rembrandt's famous Lucretia paintings. Something in this guy's voice gave Kari the creeps. She had no problem following his instruction; she never wanted to see him again.
But a year later, she did see him in London. Walking through the National Gallery, Kari heard a familiar snarl. It was the same guy, and he was copying from another Rembrandt. Was it was just a coincidence? If so, why was he in disguise?
Using the kind of ingenuity and determination that only two teenage girls could come up with, Kari and Lucas embark on an international adventure to figure out who this mystery man is and what he's up to. But neither is prepared for what they find. Suddenly what began as a madcap pursuit becomes deadly serious. Will they risk their lives in the name of art?
Susan Runholt
Susan Runholt is a music lover, a world traveler, and a resident of the metropolis of St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Reviews for The Mystery of the Third Lucretia
7 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5International intrigue, disguises, art museums, and a red light district, what do all of these have in common? They are all part of the mystery adventure for two 14-year-old girls, Kari Sundgen and Lucas Stickney.Kari and Lucas are best friends who are drawn together by their love of art. One afternoon, they are strolling through the Minneapolis Institute of Art when they notice a young man standing by an easel in the Rembrandt Room painting a copy of one of Rembrant's Lucretia paintings. Kari leans over to look at his work, but the man snarls, "Get Away!" Ok! No big deal. The man doesn't like to be bothered while he is painting.A year later, the girls travel to London with Kari's mother, a journalist for a famous magazine. Kari and Lucas decide to visit the National Gallery while they are there and who do they spot but the same guy copying a different painting of Lucretia by Rembrandt. This time the "Gallery Guy" is wearing a disguise. Strange! Again he is angered when someone tries to look over his shoulder.A short time later, the international press announces the discovery of a third painting of Lucretia by Rembrandt which has been authenticated by the resident expert of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Who is this expert, none other than the mysterious "Gallery Guy!"Intrigued by the thought of an art forgery, Kari and Lucas head over to Amsterdam determined to expose the scam. What begins as an intriguing quest turns into a frightfully dangerous persuit.I loved being plunged into the heart of the story with Kari's narration. I feel the frustration of the girls when they find that no one takes them seriously. Curiosity and excitement builds as Kari and and Lucas again encounter the mysterious "Gallery Guy." I hang onto every word keeping up with the fast pace of the persuit despite the mounting fear when it takes us to the dark and dangerous world of the red light district in Amsterdam. I love the challenge and I love the skillful way Susan Runholt leaves me with the desire to read more.I often check out books on audio cd's from my local library and found this story in the Young Adult section. Krista Sutton reads with excitement and energy which brings Kari's narration to life! It feels like Kari herself is right in the room sharing her story with me and I'm looking forward to reading / listening to the next mysterious adventure of Kari and Lucas. Whether you read the hard copy or listen to the audio book, you will not want to stop until the end!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5After reading a glowing review of The Mystery of the Third Lucretia, I knew I wanted to read it. When it came in for me at the library, I first read the author's biography, which begins "Susan Runholt shares a love of art, travel and feminism with her teenage heroines." I would add reading to the list, but I'm proud to share the other three with Ms. Runholt, Lucas and Kari.The Mystery of the Third Lucretia is the first (of many, I hope) Kari and Lucas mysteries. Kari and Lucas are best friends who live in St. Paul, Minnesota (a town I also happen to love). Kari's mom has one of the coolest jobs ever: she covers fashion and international culture for a teen magazine (if such a job exists, I would gladly apply for it.) Kari, who sees her father a few times a year, and Lucas, whose parents are eager to spend money for her to experience culture, often get to go along for the ride. The book takes place in St. Paul, London, Paris, and Amsterdam. The girls happen to find themselves trying to solve an international art mystery.I cannot say enough positive things about this novel. I wish it existed when I was younger, but I still loved it as an adult. I laughed out loud often, learned things (in a delightfully unpreachy way) and eagerly awaited the mystery being solved. Kari and Lucas are both real girls and inspiring to women (and men) of all ages. I am eagerly awaiting my turn to read the second Kari and Lucas mystery, Rescuing Seneca Crane, which came out in August 2009. I wish I knew more young women so I could give this book to them; I know it would have meant the world to me as a younger woman. Happy reading, feminists, art lovers and mystery fans of all ages!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Have you ever been to an art museum and seen aspiring artists trying to copy their favorite paintings? That’s exactly what best friends Kari and Lucas (she’s a girl, yes) witness on their trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts except this guy is really good at it. He’s suspicious too, shooing people away from his secluded spot in the corner where he paints. A year later when the girls visit an art museum in London, the same mysterious man is working on the same painting … but while wearing a disguise. What is he trying to hide? Though Kari and Lucas are both ready to start the adventure, they aren‘t completely sure of what to do. When things become life-threatening, neither of them know if it’s worth the trouble.The Mystery of the Third Lucretia was realistic while still being unbelievable. I felt my excitement rise with the characters’ as everything was starting to come together. There were times when I could just picture the girls and them saying “Omigosh, omigosh” as the mystery began to unfold. Though I didn’t realize it when reading, I learned a lot about art history and traveling. And it was amusing! In the beginning, the timeline was somewhat confusing so I can’t place all the Before events in order in my mind. That’s why I think this book would be great as a movie, so I can see all the scenes sorted out. The emotions the characters experience throughout the book is completely convincing and I applaud the author for her character-making skills. I look forward to the next books in this series!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Mystery of the Third Lucretia (Kari + Lucas Mystery) "This is the story of how two teenagers from Minnesota lived a tale of adventure involving a woman from ancient Rome, a seventeenth-century painter, forgery and murder, abduction and rescue, disguises and deductions, two continents, three museums, four countries, a criminal hideaway, and two nuns from Amsterdam's famous Quarter."-The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan RunholtI was intrigued by this book from the start. Books with museums, child detectives, art fraud and adventures have always come through for me, ever since I stumbled upon E.L. Konigsburg's The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.I don't want to reveal too much about this book and think that the passage above tells you everything that you need to know. If it intrigues you, then I recommend that you get yourself a copy of The Mystery of the Third Lucretia. I'll limit myself to two sentences. The writing, characters, and adventure will not disappoint. I promise. That's it.If you're not drawn to the book, then it's likely not a fit. No worries - there will be plenty of other books for you and plenty of readers for these Kari + Lucas mysteries. I hadn't mentioned that The Mystery of the Third Lucretia is the first in a series, but it is! I love series books because I can get invested in the characters knowing that even if the book ends the adventures don't. The second of the series came out on August 20, 2009. The third is still in the works.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I've been a voracious reader since I was a little girl. I never leave the house without a book & it's a great big crisis if I finish my book before I have to do something like ride BART. I like a lot of the same kinds of books now that I did when I was kid - fantasy, fairy tales, & mysteries.One of the hardest things when I was growing up was finding books with strong heroines. I can count the number of books that fit that bill for me on one hand: Harriet the Spy, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler, The Egypt Game, most anything by Judy Blume. It just seemed like girls never got to have big scary adventures that were also well-written & relevant. It sucked.I was really pleased to get a review copy of The Mystery of the Third Lucretia. This was a really fun read & it featured not one, not two, but three heroines (two teen-aged girls & their Mom). That it combines art history (reminding me of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler) & foreign travel & mysterious adventures & is very well-written made me very very happy.This is a really fun book & a great read for anyone! I pretty much loved it! Get it for the little girls & boys (11 & up) in your life - they'll love it, too & should have a shot at reading something other than Harry Potter!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was so fun to read, I just couldn't put it down. "Just one more PAGE," I kept saying to my husband. The Mystery of the Third Lucretia is the story of two fourteen year old girls who see a strange man copying a Rembrandt painting in the art museum near their home. Then they see the same man in London copying another of Rembrandt's works. The just know something fishy is going on and they make it their mission to uncover The Mystery of the Third Lucretia.Susan Runholt has done a superb job of mixing together travel, art history, culture and women's rights into a novel that I would be happy to read to any child for bed time. She includes a few risque topics like the dangerous part of Amsterdam, but she explains the thing that go on there in a way that informs and educates children with out giving them too much information. Also quietly tucked into the novel is a genius part about anger, "She calls anger a "covering emotion." She says that almost all the time when people get angry they think they're just mad, but mostly, with out knowing they're doing it, they're covering up another feeling, like fear or hurt or guilt or grief. "I applaud Runholt for such a dedicated use of tone and diction throughout the story. The voice of the narrator, fourteen year old Kari, sounds the way a fourteen year old should sound. There is a youth and a innocence to the way the story is told. It is also evident that Runholt is a big advocate for women and the power that they can have. The women of this novel are up front and center, each with their own strengths and weaknesses which help to strengthen the whole.I would recommend this book for any child or parent but especially little girls and women, since Girl Power is a central theme. I read another review that said this would be a great mother daughter book club choice, I fully agree!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Kari and her best friend Lucas take classes together at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s here that they run into the crabby “Gallery Guy.” Kari’s mom works for a magazine that requires international travel. Kari, Lucas, and Mom are overseas when they run into the “Gallery Guy” again only this time he looks different. Suspecting something strange is going on, the girls embark on an investigation that covers several European countries. What they discover is an art crime that could cost them their lives!This reminded me of a darker version of Blue Balliett’s books (Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game). Runholt’s book would be a next step for readers who have grown out of Balliett’s books. The Mystery of the third Lucretia was good, but not outstanding. If money is tight, I might pass on purchasing this book. If money is no object, or if it’s donated, by all means take it.