" As a university professor with many Chinese students desperate for Green cards to live in the U.S., I was looking forward to this book for some insight on their conflict in leaving their homeland. This was only modestly enlightening. I liked the book’s structure of successive narratives by the five main characters, but each should have been read by a different actor— this is the worst read audiobook I’ve experienced. The theft in service of art repatriation theme was interesting, but there was a missed opportunity at providing some art history —which by omission I assume the author didn’t have. The plot plodded and was riddled with omissions because I assume the author couldn’t conceive of a way to successfully steal from the British or Metropolitain Museums (yet the story assumed they did), especially when they would have been on alert. This was only one of many issues/disconnects. I did feel the angst of the characters torn between a promising life in America and familial and historical ties to China, but it was a shallow examination that omitted a discussion of any of China’s current challenges. They were yearning to be part of a 21st century Qing dynasty, not the modern communist China. Can’t recommend. "
— Steve , 4/15/2024