Readers' Favorite announces the review of the Fiction - Thriller - General book "The Lost Painting" by C.J. Toca, currently available at .

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"Reviewed By Alissa Deann for Readers' Favorite

The Lost Painting by C.J. Toca is a well-written thriller that follows Stefania DiMaggio, a brave journalist who gets involved in a dangerous situation after receiving a package from a friend named Thomas. Magdu Amor, a popular Bollywood actress, is missing, and Thomas fears he will be a suspect due to his relationship with her and his back-channel work. He asks Stefania to help him get any of her belongings from a cottage he used for a secret affair with Magdu. Stefania agrees to help and finds Magdu's belongings, including expensive jewelry, multiple passports, casino chips worth millions, and a bar of Nazi gold. This simple favor leads her into a global conspiracy involving a Calabrian mob family, Russian spies, and dangerous assassins. Stefania decides to disguise herself as Magdu as she continues her investigation and gathers more information.

I loved how the author blended the suspense, romance, and action. Stefania's personality really stood out; she is very clever, and the way she uses her journalist skills to discover clues is stunning. At first, I thought it would be more of a mystery, but I was surprisingly impressed when the plot moved on to bigger global conspiracies, with history and political drama. It was nice seeing how Stefania dealt with her complex feelings for both Thomas and Cono; it added a more human touch to the story. The details about the Nazi gold, money laundering, and casino operations were engaging and made the book grounded and well-researched. There were a lot of plot twists, betrayals, and tension, which made it fun and exciting. I really enjoyed The Lost Painting by C.J. Toca, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers that cover themes of loyalty, justice, deceit, and fate."

You can learn more about C.J. Toca and "The Lost Painting" at where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

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