
BOOKS
A hidden attic.
A stolen legacy.
A cursed painter trapped for three centuries.
In 1950s Amsterdam, Katja van Dam uncovers a hidden room in her family home, sealed for centuries and filled with breathtaking 17th-century paintings. But the true mystery lies not just in the artwork, but in the discovery of its creator: Pieter van Dijk, a gifted painter cursed by black magic and imprisoned for three hundred years by a jealous rival.
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As Katja investigates her father’s wartime secrets and Pieter’s tragic past, her journey becomes intertwined with that of Sophie Verhoeven, Pieter’s 17th-century muse who risked everything to expose his betrayer.
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Though separated by centuries, Katja and Sophie’s actions ripple through time, each unknowingly helping the other unravel the curse that binds Pieter.
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But time is running out. To reclaim Pieter’s stolen legacy, both women must risk their own safety or let his story and his art remain lost forever.
ABOUT
Kurt Larsen, a retired executive, kicks off his "third act" as a novelist. A pro animator and music composer, he spins suspensful stories shaped by years of art and sound.​
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With his wife, he launched "beCurious", a kids' YouTube channel mixing fun and purpose.
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Married with two kids, he lives in Reno, NV, raising his family while finishing his debut novel: "The Lost Paintings of Pieter van Dijk."