When a gentleman shows up in the southern town of Golden, questions arise and rumors fly. Who is he? Why is he here? What does he want?

Curiously, he makes his way into a coffee shop, where he stumbles upon almost one hundred original works of art. He begins to track down the subject of each portrait, buy the work, and give it to him or her.

No one is quite sure what to think, but Theo’s generosity of spirit begins to win the hearts of Golden’s residents.

Eventually, the reader learns backstory that explains what Theo is up to. As a bonus, the author throws in a twist that you won’t see coming.

Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden is a beautifully written book that will warm your heart. It will be one of the best novels you read this year, if not the absolute best. Don’t miss it!

reviewed July 2025