A fast-paced, visually engaging presentation that takes audiences inside the most daring and shocking art thefts ever committed. Featured heists include:
- Mona Lisa theft from the Louvre
- The Scream robbery
- The Green Vault jewelry heist
- A Hollywood-worthy theft from Paraguay’s National Fine Arts Museum
Inspired while writing Isabella’s Painting, Butler researched real-world art thefts after interviewing a former FBI agent who investigated the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft. Butler discovered that real art heists are rarely sophisticated Hollywood-style operations. Instead, most rely on:
- Poor security
- Timing and opportunity
- Brute force or bold execution
- Human error and distraction
This engaging presentation blends true crime, history, and storytelling into a compelling experience for museum, corporate, literary, and academic audiences.
Why This Talk Fascinates Audiences
- Combines true crime + history + art
- Appeals to both general and high-end audiences
- Delivered with cinematic storytelling and vivid detail
- Customizable for different audiences (corporate, academic, cultural)
Booking Information
For availability and speaking fees please complete the form HERE.
About the Author
Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series, praised by Publishers Weekly as “intelligent escapism.” Drawing on her real-life experience working on Capitol Hill and with a medical association in Washington, D.C., Butler infuses her fast-paced mystery-action novels with authenticity and intrigue.
In addition to her contemporary thrillers, Butler writes the Ariadne Winter historical mysteries and award-winning historical spy fiction. Her novel The Brass Compass has earned numerous accolades, including the IndieReader Discovery Award, and a Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal for Historical Fiction. The sequel, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel, was inspired by true events and went on to win the prestigious Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.
Program Details
- Length: 45–50 minute presentation + audience Q&A
- Format: PowerPoint presentation
- A/V Needs: Projector and microphone (for larger rooms)
- Materials: Presenter can provide presentation via USB drive