When given the chance to reclaim art that was stolen from your country long ago, would you? Will Chen is faced with this question when he witnesses a dramatic break-in at the Sackler museum. He then receives a mysterious invitation that could cost him and his friends everything, but could also bring untold riches. Portrait of a Thief is an action-packed and delightful adventure. I absolutely love heist books, but what I especially enjoyed was how Grace D. Li invites readers to face the reality of stolen art, diaspora, and the power of art. 

All great heists need a crew and Will is no different. His crew consists of his sister, childhood friend, ex-girlfriend, and his sister’s roommate. Despite only being college students, they are college students who have worked incredibly hard to get into top universities and are more than up to the challenge. One of my favorite parts of the book was how Li writes beautiful sensory descriptions, particularly relating to light. I loved when she described how the characters were drenched in red sunlight, creating a striking visual picture and bringing in symbolism. 

Amidst the excitement of the heist, Li manages to weave in open and raw accounts of what it means to be part of a diaspora. All of the crew members have different ties to China and examine what it means to them and their families. In addition, I appreciated Li’s examination of higher education institutions and the anxiety college students feel to perform/meet expectations to honor their families. As the heists continue and the stakes rise, everyone on the crew must decide how much of their future they are willing to risk.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves heist books, wanted more from Ocean’s Eleven, and loves an unlikely crew working together to do the impossible. Portrait of a Thief is available now. Thank you so much to Grace D. Li, Tiny Reparations Books, Penguin Group Dutton, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.