“The shocking theft of the Mona Lisa, in August 1911, appeared to have been solved 28 months later, when the painting was recovered. In an excerpt from their new book, the authors suggest that the audacious heist concealed a perfect—and far more lucrative—crime.”

Vanity Fair excerpts a new book alleging the truth may be stranger than fiction when it comes to high-profile theft.

Related: The shockingly tragic and unusual end of the stolen Rotterdam masterpieces.