Reviews of books in the “Esther Brookstone Art Detective” series…
[Note from Steve: This series overlaps a bit the timeline of the “Detectives Chen & Castilblanco” series, a branch on a tree if you will. It was motivated by my desire to pay homage to la grande dame Agatha Christie and her two famous sleuths, Miss Marple (Esther’s role) and Hercule Poirot (Esther’s paramour Bastiann van Coevorden’s) now together. Of course, Esther and Bastiann are very much twenty-first century sleuths, so there are thrills and suspense as well as mystery. By the way, some of the following reviews never appeared on Amazon! And, fair warning: Some reviews contain spoilers (why do reviewers do that?).]
Rembrandt’s Angel (Esther Brookstone #1)
“Rembrandt’s Angel is a complex thriller with several plots intertwined throughout the story. It is recommended for serious mystery fans who are looking for not only a challenging read, but also one that allows readers to become an armchair adventurist and detective, along with Brookstone and van Coevorden, spanning many different parts of the globe.”—Lynette Latzko, Feathered Quill Book Reviews
“A deftly crafted and consistently riveting read from beginning to end, Rembrandt’s Angel showcases author Steven Moore’s genuine flair for originality and his impressive mastery of the Mystery/Suspense genre. While unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that Rembrandt’s Angel is also available in digital book format.”–Midwest Book Review
“If you lean toward mysteries that entertain as well as intrigue, this title is for you. In what I think is author Steven Moore’s first major move away from sci fi [not true], he successfully couples history’s fascination with the still-missing masterful artworks that disappeared under the Third Reich with a pair of intercontinental sleuths who are more than a match for the cast of neo-Nazis they choose to tangle with. I say choose because sixty-something Esther Brookstone of Scotland Yard and her somewhat younger partner and paramour Bastiann van Coevorden (Interpol) are clearly in command as they pursue a missing Rembrandt canvas across borders, from London to Stuttgart and Oslo to Peru.
As the story unfolds, the pair maintain a delightful banter centered as much around their sex life as their pursuit of artworks and the crooks who would trade them for enough cash to finance a new and even more nefarious Nazi regime. Read it to find out which side triumphs and how they do it. Then join me in hoping there are more stories ahead starring this clever pair.”—Amazon Customer
“There are so many elements that set this book apart from the typical Dan Brownesque mystery/thriller. First of all, it is set in the near future, 2020s. At first I thought it was a typo and then realized it was deliberate. There are vague references to certain political and economic reforms in Europe, but the overall ambiance is not post-apocalyptic. The most unique feature about this novel is the female protagonist, Esther.
If you are tired of female leads who look like sexy French art students or Playboy bunnies, Esther Brookstone is delightfully refreshing, as she defies cliches. A sixty-something going on thirty-five; a three-time widow (rather suspicious), and still open to new romantic adventures; and childless, feminine yet able to hold her ground in a male-dominated profession, she is like a female version of James Bond. I am so grateful that Esther does not have a chip on her shoulder and doesn’t engage in long tirades about how hard it is to be an older female. Thank you, author, for sparing me the feminist rant.
Esther has a Peter-Pannish quality to her. Now, what makes this novel challenging is the location- hopping. Just wanted to throw it out there. The author does his readers a service by listing all the characters in the introduction. But if you are reading a Kindle version, it will be hard to keep going back and checking who is who. So I recommend reading this book when you are able to focus on it, not when you have three other novels in progress.”—Kindle Customer
“Rembrandt’s Angel follows the adventures of two investigators as they try to recover a painting stolen by Hitler. The trail leads to encounters with neo-Nazis, South American drug dealers, and ISIS. These exploits may not be realistic, but the trip is enjoyable, spiced with humorous dialogue and entanglements.
I recommend this book, it was one of the best efforts from the author.”—Debra Miller, in her Amazon review
Son of Thunder (Esther Brookstone #2)
“Son of Thunder is the second novel in the ‘Esther Brookstone Art Detective’ series by Steven M. Moore. Esther has now officially left Scotland Yard, and she is ready to pursue things that she always wanted to do but never had the time. Now that she has time, she is going to search for St. John the Divine’s tomb by using the directions Sandro Botticelli left centuries ago. There is nothing that will stop her from finding it, not even an imminent danger that her Interpol Agent boyfriend is trying to protect her from. Even though Bastiann has his own troubles to focus on, keeping Esther safe is his first priority. What are these two going to do? Can Esther find the tomb in time? Can Bastiann keep her safe while she is miles away?
This is an exceptionally well-crafted and well-researched novel. Even though I haven’t read the previous novel in the series, I had no trouble becoming invested in the story and getting involved in the protagonists’ lives. I enjoyed the connection between Esther and Bastiann and how they seemed to balance each other out. While Esther is a firecracker, Bastiann is the calm soul that brings her back to earth while helping her fly. I also enjoyed how Esther seemed to bring a lot to the story. From her quirky personality to her great sense of humor, she made things work while having a grand time. The development of the story was great, the plot was incredibly rich, and the characters were super-entertaining. It is a great story and I cannot wait for more.” —Rabia Tanveer, in her Readers’ Favorite review
“Practiced mystery author Steven M. Moore creates three tales in one, from different historical plateaus, blending elements of a modern thriller with myth and fact from two earlier centuries in his newest offering, Son of Thunder.
The stories open as painter Sandro Botticelli presents to his patron Lorenzo de Medici his latest creation – untitled – depicting the New Testament’s Zebedee and his two sons, James and John, the latter definitely resembling the artist. When Lorenzo spurns the unusual painting, Bishop Leo steps in and makes Botticelli an offer he can’t refuse. Once he has possession of Botticelli’s creation, Leo hides it away in an armoire along with some cryptic notes regarding the true burial site of John, whom Jesus named a “son of thunder.”
Next we find John, in the first century; he’s fleeing the violence of the Romans against Christians by traveling furtively through Europe, calling on Mary the mother of Jesus, who is on her death bed, and Mary, known as the Magdalene, who, like John, is boldly attempting to preserve relics of their Master’s life and teaching.
Skipping to the twenty-first century we meet Esther Brookstone, a retired operative from Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiques Division, and her male companion, Bastiann van Coevorden, an Interpol agent. The two have just spent some quality time together in her newly renovated castle and both are, secretly, considering the possibility of marriage. Through her contacts in the art world, Esther authenticates the Botticelli painting once hidden away by Bishop Leo, and discovers his arcane notes concerning the grave of St. John. These will lead her, Bastiann, and a varied cast of characters – with a wide, sometimes nefarious mix of motives and methods – on an international chase to a faraway place where [the] sacred bones are buried.
Moore has written about Esther and Bastiann previously; the interest about and between the two is deepened in this latest exploration of their vibrant partnership. Though Esther seems at times the more assertive of the two and quite capable of taking care of herself, she needs someone like Bastiann — a plodder, an observer, and a good man to have on one’s side when the chips are down. Moore offers an abundance of stirring intrigue related to the current political climate, against a background of historical speculation. Terrorism and its foes play a role, and a weirdly motivated descendant of one of the ancients joins in the fray. Moore has included an afterword he calls “Notes, Disclaimers and Acknowledgements” that sheds light on the lure for him of this multilayered, twisting tale.
Quill says: Moore’s deft interweaving of history, religion, fable and fact makes for a fascinating read, highly recommended for readers who favor a thriller that makes them think beyond the page.”—Barbara Bamberger Scott, in her Feathered Quill review
“Great book…the first few pages kept me reading. This is an awesome book with a well developed storyline and great characters. Action packed and so compelling. I highly recommend this book.”—Dr. Patricia Eroh, in her Amazon review.
“Thriller through space and time…This is the first book that I have read by this author. I thought it was intriguing how he started the book. He sets it up like the person writing it (in 2025) is a scribe who is writing down the real-life tales of a woman who got into some intriguing adventures as an art detective. This is followed by a couple of different sections, like a cast of characters and an explanation of the agencies that are like the FBI and CIA in Great Britain and France. I actually thought all of this front material helped to prime the pump and got you curious about what exactly this book would be about.
I was surprised that it actually started in Renaissance Italy. The book not only takes us around the globe but also back and forth in time. What a fascinating concept! The book is mostly fast paced, though it does have times of relative stillness. I found it to be a thoroughly engaging read, written in a detailed style that is not overly much so (as can happen sometimes, unfortunately). I thought the pacing was spot on and the characters well-formed for a thriller. If you like globe-trotting thrillers that are steeped in history, you may very well enjoy this book.”—Jamie Bee, in her Amazon review.
“This is the second book in this series but is easily read as a stand-alone. Esther Brookstone is amazing! She’s a retired Scotland Yard detective, and the current owner of an art gallery in London. In addition, she owns a dilapidated castle in Scotland that she’s rebuilding. Her significant other, Bastiann, is Interpol. Between them, they have amazing skills and bring both insight and perspective to the challenges in front of them. The story weaves between present day, the time of Christ, and the Italian Renaissance’s artist, Sandro Botticelli. Esther believes she’s uncovered clues to the tomb of St. John the Divine, thanks to Botticelli’s work. The story also includes Esther’s personal history, particularly during the Cold War. The storylines are well written and each character is easily recognizable. It’s a fascinating trio of travel stories that weave together into a cohesive whole. The resolution is clear and satisfying.”—A Cozy Cup of Murder. in her Amazon review.
“Son of Thunder is a follow-up of sorts to Rembrandt’s Angel, but it stands alone. It seems quite different from what I’ve read by Steven M. Moore before (and I’ve read most of his works), but in a very good way. Three stories are being told simultaneously, the timelines separated by centuries. Each was exciting and rewarding in its own way. The modern tale is a detective story, perhaps in the vein of Dan Brown, but even more it reminded me of Eric Mayer and Mary Reed’s ‘John the Lord Chamberlain’ stories (set in the Roman Empire of Justinian). I love those stories, and I loved this one also. It may be the best work I’ve read by Mr. Moore. I couldn’t put it down after a while. I just wanted to know what happened in 1st century AD, 15th century AD and 21st century AD. The religious elements were worked into the plot seamlessly, and the art history gave it a framework to make the whole novel work. If you like historical mysteries with a touch of Dan Brown-type speculation, this is the book for you.”—S.D. Beallis, in his Amazon review
“This is a mystery, but read a little more like a thriller to me. It reminded me of a Dan Brown book I read some time ago, and more recently, Salem’s Cipher by Jess Lourey. If you’re interested in Renaissance and biblical times (after the death of Christ), you’ll definitely enjoy this. The story was good, although I wish I’d had a better understanding of the history back then. Most of the story is written in modern times, but dips back into the historical part here and there with another story along with a lot of historical information.”—Linda Thorne, in her Amazon review
“Son of Thunder by Steven M. Moore is a fiction book that gives readers a combination of historical fiction and present-day mystery mixed together. The author takes readers back into Biblical times after the death of Christ as his disciples continue to work to spread the Word. This story continues with characters who have already been established in the previous book and moves forward with a new mystery that becomes suspenseful and brings an element of danger to the forefront.
Son of Thunder is the first book that I have read by Steven M. Moore. The beginning of this book is what truly captivated me at first. It was unexpected as I honestly just thought that the author would simply use other aspects to reflect back to this time period and not actually write something that ties it to the present. I think that for me, the flashbacks into a time were kept me engaged the most throughout the book. I must say that I truly appreciate the author clearly marking each chapter with the time period and location. This helped me to stay grounded in whatever era the author was writing in and stay focused on the appropriate characters.
In my opinion, once things shift to present-day the story slows down and this causes me to lose some interest in the story. I know that the author has to build-up to the discovery of parchment first mentioned in the beginning, but I felt that some of the mundane took away from the overall storyline because it didn’t really contribute as a whole. There was one scene early on that I had to go back and reread because it brought in a character who wasn’t supposed to be there. Esther had just dropped off her lover at the airport, but then the author came back and had him make an appearance at the castle while she is talking to a man who is there under the pretense of ‘making a movie.’ I found that part confusing as Esther’s lover was supposed to be gone. [It’s called a flashback.]
Now, once the discovery is made, the story does gain some traction, but then there is created an ebb and flow. I’d be hooked and then I’d lose interest and then I’d be hooked again and then the story would slow down. I wanted a nice steady pace to keep me completely engaged so that I’d not want to put the book down or just be unable to do so. On a level, I think my biggest issue was that this is the second book and that the author doesn’t really do much character building because everything is already established. For me, I just felt that there was something missing to bring it all together.
If someone were to ask me, can this book be read as a stand-alone, I’d say yes and no. Yes, because it is a new mystery with new dangers, but then no, because the character[s’] relationships have already been established and that aspect is missing in this book. The mystery, suspense, and danger may be enough for some, but I think I was searching for more….
This story has a lot going on once it really gets going. For readers who enjoy historical mixed with present-day mystery, this book will be a good choice for them”.—Seraphia, in her Amazon review
“In Steven Moore’s Son of Thunder, the sequel to his equally enjoyable, Rembrandt’s Angel, we are not only treated to another dangerous and engaging adventure for his unwitting (but up to the task) protagonist Esther Brookstone, and her partner in trouble and love, Interpol agent, Bastiann Van Coevorden, but a ping-ponging time machine journey from the first and second centuries, to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, to present times. This is no easy task but the author handles it beautifully.
Moore’s obvious research into his historical premises is to be commended, as well as his vast knowledge of art and art history. But I believe that his biggest challenge, met with great success in my opinion, was the unique, dialogue driven journey deep into the thoughts, actions, and times, of Saint John the Apostle and Mary Magdalene, the first female apostle. I want to emphasize here that one doesn’t have to consider him or herself a religious individual to still get involved in the storyline from this period of history. There is a reason for this that is quite pertinent to the story’s modern times, and gives the Brookstone/Bastiann escapade needed depth and understanding.
Son of Thunder is a combination mystery, history lesson, and reader guesswork that is a perfect follow-up to Rembrandt’s Angel for both the education and entertainment value that Moore provides so well. I recommend both books to anyone who appreciates an author who respects his readership’s intelligence as Steven Moore does.”—K. Steinbaum, in his Amazon review
“Esther Brookstone continues her adventures, now retired from MI6 [and Scotland Yard], but still active in sleuthing. This time, she is on the trail of a legend uncovered by a clue in a found painting. Her investigation takes her to Turkey, and she meets several characters on her way.
I really like this series, as it contains humor as well as history and is framed well in the storylines.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes detective stories.”—Debra Miller, in her Amazon review
“She is soon knee deep in trouble when she finds a parchment. He will come to her rescue yet again. She is not the only one wanting to know what happened. Can they stay ahead of them? Can he keep her safe? See how they get on.”—Tanyawriter, in her Amazon review
“This was an amazingly good book. It kept me on the edge of my seat with all the mystery and suspense. This book was a perfect pairing with my morning coffee.”—Rebecca, in her Amazon review
Death on the Danube (Esther Brookstone #3)
“Death on the Danube is the third book in the Esther Brookstone Art Detective Series by Steven M. Moore, and it is a wonderful blend of mystery and murder; a story that will be loved by fans of sleuth novels…. Steven M. Moore is a master storyteller who creates characters with depth and thrusts them into complex situations. I loved the way the relationship between Esther and Bastiann is written, the great pacing, and the wonderful writing.”—Gobi Jane, in her Readers’ Favorite review.
“This is the third book of the Esther Brookstone series, and while all have been good, I think I enjoyed this the most of all three. It was a wonderfully executed British-style mystery, to be sure, but it was also sort of a travelogue, bringing me along for the tour on the Danube and exposing me to places in Europe with which I am unfamiliar. I love the characters and whenever Esther and Bastianne get together for an adventure, I’m going to have a good time.
This book is as well written and entertaining as everything else that Moore has written, which is to say, it is of high quality all around. Highly recommend this, and also the rest of Moore’s catalog (especially his science fiction).”—S.D. Beallis, in his Amazon review
“This is the second book I’ve read written by Steven Moore; he has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of his books. The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.”—Jeanne Richardson, in her Amazon review
“Esther and Bastiann take a honeymoon cruise on the Danube and of course nothing goes as planned when a murder interrupts their cruise.
I enjoyed the book and all of the books in this series. I recommend it for murder mystery fans, especially, but it also contains some fun facts.”—Debra Miller, in her Amazon review
“They were on their honeymoon when a man is killed. He was a single on a cruise with couples. Why was he there alone? Who is he? Who would have killed him? Will they be able to find out? See how they get on.”—Tanyawriter, in her Amazon review
“Death on the Danube is Steven Moore’s third story featuring Esther Brookstone, an art appraiser/detective and her new husband, Bastiann van Coevorden, an agent of Interpol. Just as the couple is setting off on a wonderful Danube River cruise, a man is murdered on board their cruise ship. What is his connection to Esther? You’ll have to read it to find out! Great plot, well-drawn characters and a convincing ending.
Full disclosure: I was a beta-reader and first-run copy editor on this novel. It is always a delight to me when I read through the book again after publication and enjoy it even more than when I worked on it.”—Carol Shetler, in her Amazon review
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Comments are always welcome.
The “Esther Brookstone Art Detective” series. In a way, these three novels (soon to be four) are a nostalgic bow to my years as a young reader. The novels also pay homage to la grande dame of mystery, Agatha Christie, and her two famous sleuths, Miss Marple (Esther’s role) and Hercule Poirot (Esther’s paramour Bastiann van Coevorden’s role). I often wondered those many years ago why Christie never allowed her two sleuths to solve a crime together. Of course, Esther and Bastiann are very much twenty-first century characters, so I have added a lot of thrills and suspense to the mystery. Available wherever quality ebooks are sold. Print versions can be ordered for you by your favorite bookstore, or they can be found on Amazon.
Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!
