The InstigatorThe 2027 Salem Reads book selection is The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel, a riveting portrait of the most prolific art thief of all time, who filled his attic bedroom in his mother’s home with objects stolen in more than 200 wild heists.
Readers can explore the book’s themes through community events and activities in February. The signature highlight will be a free, public talk and book signing by author Michael Finkel, 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 23 at the Salem Convention Center. Registration opens on January 19, 2027.
For younger readers, the recommended book suggestion this year is The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of the Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Brett Helquist, exploring the daring 1918 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. This book is also part of the 2026-2027 Oregon Battle of the Books for grades 6-8.
Salem Reads is a community-wide reading project funded by the Salem Public Library Foundation. Learn more about how to support this and other vital library projects at splfoundation.org
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