“It takes a thief to catch a thief,” as the saying goes. And so my brain gave birth to Max St. Denis, raised on the Rothschild estate at Ferrière, who steals back a favorite picture from the Nazi regime that defeated, occupied and plundered France at the outset of World War II.

Max, convicted as a car thief, fights against the German invasion, then steals from the many thieves looting the artwork of France. Finally, he steals the Jews of Paris from deportation and death at the hands of Vichy and Nazi enemies.

Welcome to the world of the thieves of Paris—not only the fictional Max St. Denis, but also Nazi looters, Vichy would-be looters, East European Zionist activists, German diplomats, hangers-on, forgers and collaborators.