📖 Overview
Robert K. Wittman served as an FBI Special Agent for 20 years and founded the FBI's Art Crime Team in 2005. During his career, he recovered more than $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property, earning him the nickname "the most famous art detective in the world."
His investigative work included undercover operations that led to the recovery of historical artifacts and masterpieces, including Rembrandt's "Self Portrait" stolen from Sweden's National Museum and the original copy of North Carolina's Bill of Rights. Wittman's expertise in art, antiques, and cultural property made him a leading figure in the investigation of international art theft and fraud cases.
After retiring from the FBI in 2008, Wittman authored "Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures" (2010), which details his career and notable cases. He later co-authored other books including "The Devil's Diary: Alfred Rosenberg and the Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich" (2016).
Wittman currently operates Robert Wittman Inc., an international art security consulting firm, and continues to lecture on art crime and security. His work has been featured in various media outlets and documentaries focused on art theft and cultural property protection.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Wittman's first-hand accounts of art crime investigations and his ability to explain complex cases in an engaging way. Many reviews highlight the blend of art history and true crime elements in his books.
From reader reviews:
"Combines the thrill of heist stories with deep knowledge of the art world" - Amazon reviewer
"Like reading a real-life version of Thomas Crown Affair" - Goodreads user
"Clear writing style that makes art crime accessible" - LibraryThing review
Common criticisms mention:
- Technical details sometimes slow the narrative
- Less personal background than expected
- Some cases feel rushed or unfinished
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (12,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.4/5 (1,200+ reviews)
LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (900+ ratings)
"Priceless" receives stronger reviews than "The Devil's Diary," with readers noting the firsthand FBI experiences make for more compelling reading than the historical research in later works.
📚 Books by Robert K. Wittman
The Devil's Diary: Alfred Rosenberg and the Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich (2016)
Chronicles the search for and recovery of the private writings of Nazi ideologue Alfred Rosenberg, while detailing Rosenberg's role in the Third Reich.
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures (2010) Recounts Wittman's career as an FBI art crime investigator and his operations to recover stolen artwork and cultural artifacts.
Playing It My Way (2014) A collaborative autobiography of cricket player Sachin Tendulkar, co-written with Wittman, covering Tendulkar's life and cricket career.
The Hunt for Hitler's Diary (2022) Details the investigation into the forged Hitler diaries scandal of 1983 and the efforts to expose the truth behind their creation.
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures (2010) Recounts Wittman's career as an FBI art crime investigator and his operations to recover stolen artwork and cultural artifacts.
Playing It My Way (2014) A collaborative autobiography of cricket player Sachin Tendulkar, co-written with Wittman, covering Tendulkar's life and cricket career.
The Hunt for Hitler's Diary (2022) Details the investigation into the forged Hitler diaries scandal of 1983 and the efforts to expose the truth behind their creation.
👥 Similar authors
Peter Houlahan writes about high-stakes crime investigations and law enforcement operations from an insider perspective. His work "Norco '80" follows bank robbery investigations with similar detail and pacing to Wittman's art crime accounts.
Jason Kersten focuses on art forgery and underground criminal enterprises through deep investigative research. His book "The Art of Making Money" parallels Wittman's examination of specialized criminal operations and investigative techniques.
Joshua Davis reports on complex heists and investigations with emphasis on the procedural and technical elements. His narrative style in works like "Lightning in a Bottle" mirrors Wittman's methodical breakdown of criminal investigations.
David King explores historical art crimes and wartime looting with focus on investigation methods and recovery efforts. His work "The Trial of Adolf Hitler" examines art-related crimes during wartime periods similar to segments of Wittman's research.
Ulrich Boser writes about major art thefts and the investigation processes behind recovery attempts. His book "The Gardner Heist" follows similar themes to Wittman's work regarding stolen masterpieces and the FBI's art crime team.
Jason Kersten focuses on art forgery and underground criminal enterprises through deep investigative research. His book "The Art of Making Money" parallels Wittman's examination of specialized criminal operations and investigative techniques.
Joshua Davis reports on complex heists and investigations with emphasis on the procedural and technical elements. His narrative style in works like "Lightning in a Bottle" mirrors Wittman's methodical breakdown of criminal investigations.
David King explores historical art crimes and wartime looting with focus on investigation methods and recovery efforts. His work "The Trial of Adolf Hitler" examines art-related crimes during wartime periods similar to segments of Wittman's research.
Ulrich Boser writes about major art thefts and the investigation processes behind recovery attempts. His book "The Gardner Heist" follows similar themes to Wittman's work regarding stolen masterpieces and the FBI's art crime team.