False Impression
Written by Jeffrey Archer
Narrated by Anton Lesser
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
A thrilling novel of suspense from the international bestselling author of The Clifton Chronicles, Jeffery Archer's False Impression.
Why was an elegant lady brutally murdered the night before 9/11?
Why was a successful New York banker not surprised to receive a woman's left ear in the morning mail?
Why did a top Manhattan lawyer work only for one client, but never charge a fee?
Why did a young woman with a bright career steal a priceless Van Gogh painting?
All these questions and more are answered in Jeffrey Archer's novel, False Impression, but not before a breathtaking journey of twists and turns that will take readers from New York to London to Bucharest and on to Tokyo, and finally a sleepy English village, where the mystery of Van Gogh's last painting will finally be resolved.
Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, Kane and Abel and Cat O’ Nine Tales, is one of the world’s favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in 97 countries and in more than 37 languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries). Jeffrey is also an art collector and amateur auctioneer, and has raised more than £50m for different charities over the years. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer, and they have two sons, two granddaughters and two grandsons.
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Reviews for False Impression
363 ratings20 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the first book by Jeffrey Archer I've read and I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed that the main character was an art expert who used to work for Sotheby's and there are plenty of references to artists and artworks throughout the book. If you didn't know your art or Impressionists then I could understand why some readers could feel like Archer is name dropping, but I really enjoyed this angle on the art world.The incorporation of the events of September 11 were also very interesting and I enjoyed how Archer used this as part of the story but it didn't dominate the plot. The unfolding of events from the point of view of the main character were captivating and I think he achieved a perfect balance here.I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action/crime novels and I'd certainly keep my eye open for another book by Jeffrey Archer in the future.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Good book but there were problems with the audio. It occasionally skips even when it has been downloaded.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A murder mystery involving Van Gogh’s final painting, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, plays out around the horror of September 11th as a gymnast-turned hit-woman and a murderous financier face an intrepid heroine in a swiftly-moving, twisty plot that draws in readers and offers a few unexpected reveals in a largely predictable tale. Details about art treasures add depth to the plot and, at the same time, informs and enlightens readers who may not be conversant with the business of art while weaving the harrowing events of September 11th into the story adds a visceral punch to the narrative.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was an enjoyable thriller, taking us on a tour across Europe and will be perfect for anyone interested in Van Gough or painters. It is also set against the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks. Jeffrey Archer does know how to tell a good story and the tension was kept up from beginning to end. Although to be fair preferred others of his more.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I love [[Jeffrey Archer]]'s books, also his fiction books have some historical background and he is a master to embed it into a story. In this case the historical background is 9/11 and its aftermath. The places in this plot are NY, England and Japan. Two picture gatherers are hunting the same Van Gogh self-portrait. One of them is an admirer with good intention and the other one is an evil one who not only will keep this drawing away from the public but also likes to destroy the previous owner's reputation and life. In the middle of those two a female broker tries to protect the owner's life and the self-portrait.It's very fast-paced and gripping and it takes a lot of turns and twists which make the story so interesting. It kept me guessing until the very end.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This review pertains to the abridged audio book version of "False Impression." Perhaps would have been better to read in its original version, so I've given the book two stars in benefit of doubt. I didn't find this book to be either suspenseful or thrilling, and a thriller should be both. It was populated by single-dimension characters who act in predictable generic ways. Spoiler: the denouement is marked by noticing the earring that the villain is wearing in a photograph taken while shaking hands with President George W. Bush at Ground Zero. Really.The reader makes an attempt to give the characters different voices. Unfortunately, the accents are so phony that one is reminded of Bela Lugosi and Hyacinth Bucket, to one's distraction.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book was my introduction to Jeffrey Archer’s work, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised!I am generally not a fan of books about art, but in this case the painting itself is not quite as important as its journey is. I also was concerned that the 9/11 backdrop was going to be gimmicky, but instead it is used to create an interesting set of problems for the book’s characters. The reality of not knowing if someone is alive or dead, the travel difficulties, the loss of assets and records, the lack of communication – they all provided fantastic obstacles for the characters to work around. It made the maneuvering that much more interesting.That being said, the book’s not perfect. Anna’s frantic flight to Canada has several problems, not the least of which is a very unlikely encounter with a couple of long-haul truckers. But, as far as a lightweight thriller goes, it kept my attention enough for me to enjoy it and enough for me to plan to read some of Archer’s earlier novels.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A coincidence that this is the second author named Jeffrey. Of course, this Jeffrey is a better writer than the first Jeffrey (Eugenides). I first read Jeffrey Archer when reading Kane and Abel, and thoroughly enjoyed that novel. I haven't read anything since Kane and Abel, an outlook that needs to be corrected. False Impression starts with that awful event of 9/11, and quickly runs to England and Romania and Japan. The main emphasis of the story is the art world, especially priceless paintings. This story centers on Van Gogh's Self Portrait. The reading is fast paced and brings many interesting scenarios to the table.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I was a bit disappointed with this book. It is beautifully written, but the plot is meagre and the characters too simple to my liking.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Illogical and contrived. Never finished it. Having read other of the tales, I was greatly disappointed.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5False Impression is a fast suspense romp through the big ticket art/auction world with four countries as the back drop. A Romanian gymnast as assassin, the English aristocracy falling on hard times, a bumbling FBI agent, and a New York banker with a dark past as the bad guy, – what’s not to like? Tad formulaic, but overall a nice piece of storytelling. Recommended for all Archer fans and anyone looking for a quick beach read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Lively multinational thriller wrapped around the events of 9/11 from the perspective of the workers in the Twin Towers. There is litrtle here that is memorable but it makes a fast-moving page-turner during the act of reading. I read it ata single sitting because I wanted to see where it went.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A smart and intriging murder mystery by Archer! The book takes place at the time of 9/11 and surrounds the rare and expensive painting of Van Gogh's Self Portrait (the one after he cut off his own ear). It takes place in NY, Bucharest, and Japan and involves double dealings, hired asassins, and tailing people form continent to continent. As someone who has taken graduate art history courses I enjoyed this book but one does not have to be an art expert (and I am far from one) to enjoy this book. He makes several smart jokes and references which break the mold of typical muder mysteries. You may know 'who dun it' but why and how it will turn out is the key. I liked it and would recommend it to people who like suspense and murder mysteries!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A fast-paced page turner.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very intense at the begining and interesting thoughout with a twisted ending.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent book. Really enjoyed all the twists and turns of the story. The female lead is strong and she ends up being a lot smarter than anyone realized. This would be a great beginning to a series!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tone of writing: Action-packed, anxious, palpableCharacters: Ready to sacrifice everything for a causePlot twists: Criminals are prone to double-crossing. Also, one sudden uncharacteristic stroke of luck.Pace: Suspenseful 3-way chase criss-crossing the globe.Values: High culture, refinement, knowledgeSexuality: Coy flirtation as an indicator of true love.Background research: Art connoisseurship, banking law, 9/11 terrorist attack, international flightTargeted audience: EveryoneObjectionable to any groups: Communist Romanians, Capitalist RussiansFlaws: Partially obstructed character point-of-view -- we share Anna's hopes and fears but we are not privy to her cunning plan to save the British estate.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another favorite book by Jeffrey Archer!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Begins on 9/10/01 in new york city. Art expert working for private scumbag banker being investigated by FBI. convoluted plan by heroine to save herself and a (not so)rich english lady's art collection. Good read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Art theft, insurance fraud, murder, FBI, art appraiser, English nobility and hired assassin all start a chain of events beginning with north tower of the World Trade Center collapse. Excellent engrossing story.