內容簡介
《誰偷了維米爾》
美國愛倫坡文學獎最佳童書
三封神祕的信，開啟了一樁世紀奇案！
同校但彼此不認識的柯德和佩卓，在一趟美術館之旅中，發現他們對藝術、班導胡西老師，以及藍色巧克力有同樣的喜好。柯德喜歡玩數學拼圖五連塊，平常在一家舊書店打工。佩卓則在舊書店裡跟蹤胡西老師，發現一本討論神祕現象的舊書，而這本書的原主人是古怪的鄰居夏波太太。這些看似不相干的人與事物，卻在一樁新聞之後互相有了關聯——十七世紀畫家維梅爾的畫〈寫信的女人〉被偷了。
究竟維梅爾的畫裡藏有什麼玄機？竊賊寄給三名同黨的信，竟然出現在柯德和佩卓家附近？兩人在看過那本舊書之後，開始發現身邊一連串的巧合？他們要如何透過五連塊、密碼信、數字，甚至是夢境，去破解這樁連FBI都束手無策的奇案？
美國作家布露．巴利葉特初試啼聲之作，一出版就迭獲好評。本書情節曲折，層次豐富，故事主要講述一幅維梅爾的畫在運送途中被偷走了，柯德和佩卓這兩位小學生，因為畫被竊的地點就在住家附近、老師剛剛提過書信與藝術品、他們在舊書店發現的一本小書，以及周遭浮現的種種跡象，促使他們投入失竊畫的追查。和一般推理小說不同的是，這兩位主人翁有的不是放大鏡，而是男孩手中的五連塊（一種數學拼圖）、女孩手中的一本書（探討奇異現象與巧合），以及兩人豐富的聯想力，和獨立思考的判斷力。
這讓本書不僅僅只是一本講述名畫被竊的推理小說，其中還探討了藝術的本質（畢卡索說：「藝術是說真話的謊言。」）、維梅爾畫作的特質、個人面對藝術品時的態度、獨立思考的必要。出版人週刊認為，這是一本融合了拼圖和密碼、哲學與迷團的小說，我們則認為，《誰偷了維梅爾？》融偵探與藝術、推理與直覺、理性與感性於一爐，是本看時過癮，看完令人回味的小說。
This bewitching first novel is a puzzle, wrapped in a mystery, disguised as an adventure and delivered as a work of art. When a book of inexplicable occurences bring Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay together, strange things start to happen- seemingly unrelated events connect, an eccentric old woman seeks their company, and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the centre of an international art scandal. As Petra and Calder are drawn clue by clue into a mysterious labyrinth they must draw on their powers of intuition, their skills at problem solving, and their knowledge of Vermeer. Can they solve a crime that has left even the FBI baffled?
作者介紹
Blue Balliett is the author of several bestselling, acclaimed mystery novels, including Hold Fast, Chasing Vermeer (a Book Sense Book of the Year and an Edgar Award winner), The Wright 3, The Calder Game, and The Danger Box. She writes in the laundry room of her home in Chicago, Illinois, and you can find her online at blueballiettbooks.com.
Brett Helquist was born in Ganado, Arizona, and grew up in Orem, Utah. He entered Brigham Young University as an engineering major, but soon realized this was not the right choice for him. Having decided to take time off from college, he headed to Taiwan where he stumbled into a job illustrating English textbooks, which he enjoyed. There, a friend introduced him to an illustration student, also from Brigham Young University. This introduction inspired Brett to eventually switch majors. After spending a year in Taiwan, he went back to BYU and transferred to the illustration department. In 1993 he received a fine arts degree in illustration.
