A transcendent story for fans of "The Lady in Gold."
Tasoula Hadjitofi was only a child when her homeland, Cyprus, was invaded. As bombs fell and soldiers marched through the streets, her mother stood guard, reminding her children to not be afraid — not of the bombs or anything else that may follow. They would always have their family and their faith. Soon thereafter, Tasoula found herself homeless and nation-less. A refugee.
Decades later, Tasoula is a successful entrepreneur and the Honorary Consul of Cyprus in The Netherlands. But family and faith have remained her touchstones — and she's never lost her longing for "home" or for the gorgeous Cypriot churches and their icons. One day, a dubious art dealer offers her a chance to buy stolen sacred artifacts looted from Cyprus during the war.
Icons hold a special place in the hearts of Orthodox Christians. They are not just masterpieces' they are artistic manifestations of faith and a gateway to the divine.
Outraged, Tasoula sets out on a quest to repatriate these artifacts. An immensely legally challenging and expensive undertaking, as provenance of icons are and other holy artifacts are easily manipulated by corrupt dealers and greedy auction houses. Taking on these "merchants of God" will test Tasoula's fortitude and threaten her safety, yet she feels this mission is her calling. In this book, she reveals her perilous road to “The Munich Case” — the largest art trafficking sting in European history since WWII — which is filled with mind games, subterfuge, global politics, and a shady figure named Van Rijn, whose motives are never entirely clear...
By turns heart-pounding and inspiring, THE ICON HUNTER is a powerful and gripping story that will resonate long after the final page.

Tasoula Hadjitofi was born in Famagusta, Cyprus. In 1974, she and her family were forced to flee their home due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the outbreak of war. Tasoula has served as the Honorary Consul of Cyprus in The Netherlands, and while holding this office she spent more than two decades recovering the stolen cultural and religious heritage of her homeland. Her efforts culminated in the 1997 “Munich Case,” one of the largest art trafficking sting operations in European history. Like a modern-day Antigone, she seeks to challenge the system and establishment, change laws and dispel stereotypes. Her goal is always to return home to the "Ghost City" of Famagusta. Tasoula is the founder of Walk Of Truth, a non-governmental organization whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage in conflict areas. She lives in the Netherlands with her family and hopes that Walk of Truth and this book will empower and connect every refugee around the world who wishes to use the lessons learned from Cyprus for their own country.