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    Murder on the Eiffel Tower: The First Victor Legris Mystery
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    Murder on the Eiffel Tower: The First Victor Legris Mystery
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    Murder on the Eiffel Tower: The First Victor Legris Mystery
    Ebook316 pages4 hours

    Murder on the Eiffel Tower: The First Victor Legris Mystery

    By Claude Izner

    3/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Described as 'cracking' by The Guardian, the first in the Victor Legris mysteries sees the young bookseller protagonist caught in a race against time to catch a murderer.

    'Witty and creepy' Independent on Sunday

    In 1889 at the brand new Eiffel Tower, a woman collapses and dies on this great Paris landmark. Can a bee-sting really be the cause? Or is there a more sinister explanation? Enter young bookseller Victor Legris, present on the Tower at the time, he is determined to find out what actually happened. In this dazzling evocation of late-nineteenth century Paris, we follow Victor as his investigation takes him all over the city. But what will he do when the deaths begin to multiply and he is caught in a race against time?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGallic Books
    Release dateAug 20, 2012
    ISBN9781906040642
    Unavailable
    Murder on the Eiffel Tower: The First Victor Legris Mystery
    Author

    Claude Izner

    CLAUDE IZNER is the pseudonym of two sisters, Liliane Korb and Laurence Lefevre. Both are second-hand booksellers on the banks of the Seine and experts on nineteenth-century Paris.

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    Reviews for Murder on the Eiffel Tower

    3/5

    168 ratings44 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This was a fun, enjoyable read. I had a some trouble understanding- or justifying some of the main character's actions- but overall, a this was a good mystery, and would make for a pleasant summer afternoon in the park or at the beach.
    • 1/5
      Normally, I like mysteries. This one, however, couldn't hold my interest at all. I couldn't even finish it. The characters didn't "come alive" for me and the plot was only minimally interesting.
    • 3/5
      Murder on the Eiffel Tower is a historical mystery set in Paris 1889 and is the first in a series featuring Parisian bookseller, Victor Legris. The Eiffel Tower has just opened during the World Exposition, and Legris finds himself in the midst of a series of mysterious deaths apparently caused by bee stings. The four victims do not appear to be connected and the deaths seem random, but Legris is intrigued by the oddness of the deaths and decides to investigate. As he looks more deeply into the matter, it becomes obvious that there is a serial killer on the loose and, unfortunately, Legris suspects his business partner and closest friend. The plot weaves in and out of the rather atmospheric setting as Legris pursues the murderer.The historical backdrop of the 1889 World Exposition and 19th century period detail were, to me, the star attractions of the book. I was particularly fascinated by descriptions of 19th century French architecture. Legris was annoyingly dense as he repeatedly missed obvious clues that would identify the serial killer, and the other characters were rather poorly developed and not terribly memorable. The book was translated from the French and the writing seemed stilted at times. Perhaps the translation had something to do with my lack of enthusiasm.Murder on the Eiffel Tower was, overall, a quick and enjoyable read that will appeal to those interested in the setting, but I did not find it compelling enough to pursue the series.
    • 1/5
      It is very rare that a historical novel or mystery doesn't capture enough of my attention to keep me reading, but this was such a book. I gave the book forty-five pages before I put it aside. I may try it again someday, but not any time soon.
    • 2/5
      The setting is the 1889 World Exposition in Paris. A series of deaths occurs in which the victims appear to have been stung by a bee. Did they really have that many killer bees or was it murder? Bookseller Victor Legris sets out to investigate. Legris is not a very likeable sleuth. He doesn't always finish what he sets out to do before going off on another tangent. Other characters seem to have a better handle on the situation than he does. He didn't even seem to have the motive determined (although others did). I was disappointed that a book with such a unique setting had such a weak sleuth. Although I'm sure the mystery suffered some in its translation from the French, it could not have suffered this much.
    • 3/5
      Well, anyone who can't wait to delve into a mystery and loves all things Parisian will salivate in anticipation of opening this book cover. I am one of those people. No one can pass this book by with the title being Murder on the Eiffel Tower, and the author being a pseudonym for two sisters who are second hand book sellers on the banks of the Seine (plus experts on 19th century Paris). There is nothing left to do but pour a glass of wine and begin to savor the tale. Victor Legris is the amateur sleuth and a bookseller. By happenstance he is presented with a set of coincidences and acquaintances that lure him to explore explanations for the deaths centered around the World Expo of 1889. However, I found Victor needed some flushing out. He and the other characters seemed a bit disjointed, just like their actions, with not much access to their psyches. As I read, I kept visualizing the scenes as being in a comic strip and their thoughts limited to what can be contained in a bubble over their heads. Interesting historical facts, book knowledge, Parisian references and wonderful character ideas were so evident but it all seemed to be tossed about - like too many ingredients in a salad and no handle on flavor.I will read the next in the series in anticipation of growing depth and cohesion because I love mysteries and Paris and the protagonist being a bookseller.
    • 4/5
      I'm definitely looking forward to more translations of "Claude Izner", given how much I enjoyed this.
    • 4/5
      This was a quite charming historical mystery novel. At times the prose was wandering, but always delivered delightful observations about Paris just prior to the turn of the century.
    • 3/5
      The Eiffel Tower has just opened and thousands of Parisians and other tourists are crowding the upper level to get a glimpse of Paris and sign "The Golden Book" to become a part of history. One visitor is Eugenie Patinot and her niece and two nephews. Eugenie is hot, tired, and agitated, but she feels she must earn her keep while living with her sister by taking care of the children for the day. While resting on a bench she suddenly feels a sting on her neck. She falls to the ground and, within minutes, she is dead.So begins 'Murder on the Eiffel Tower". The historical aspects of the novel ring true, however, as a 'whodunnit', it fails on a couple of levels. For instance, within the first 16 pages we are introduced to no less than 14 different characters, five of whom work at a newspaper whose editor is trying to entice Victor Legris into writing for them. That many characters is confusing, especially since they all return at different points in the book as suspects and/or witnesses. And if that wasn't enough, we are introduced to at least a dozen or so more who just manage to muddy up the story, provoke Victor's raging jealousy, and/or end up dead.Victor Legris, a bookseller and amateur writer and sleuth, begins to see a pattern in the "bee sting" deaths of Euguenie and others, but can't put all the pieces together. Perhaps he is too busy trying to figure out how to get Tasha, a member of the newspaper staff, into bed. He makes himself ill chasing down one "clue" after another, but none of them make sense. It's not until the middle of the book that we begin to discover what these clues are and who they pertain to, but by this time there is so much else going on that it may not matter. The motive for the murders is explained in a posthumous confession, but it seems to be mostly feeble and senseless. The characters are barely on the verge of being interesting themselves. What really shines here is the city of Paris itself. The "author" (really two sisters who own a bookshop and are 'experts' on 19th century Paris) do a wonderful job of describing the times and cityscape. The translator has also done a wonderful job because it is a very easy read and not the usual stilted language often found in translations. Too bad the crime, perpetrator, suspects, and sleuths don't rise to the same level.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed visiting turn-of-the-century Paris in Murder on the Eiffel Tower. I felt the motivation of the amateur sleuth was weak; I didn't understand why Victor Legris was so convinced that one of his friends had to be the killer. In the end I did feel the solution was logical, however. The setting and characters were interesting enough to make me want to check out the next book in the series, which I also enjoyed and I look forward to reading more.
    • 3/5
      This mystery would appeal to Francophiles and readers who enjoy detailed historical settings. The mystery was enjoyable, but not exceptional.
    • 3/5
      Its 1889, and people from all over the world have come to Paris for the Universal Exposition commemorating the centenary of the fall of the Bastille. One day, on top of the newly constructed Eiffel Tower, a woman dies, apparently of a bee sting. Later, an American naturalist dies, apparently of the same cause. There's no evidence to prove that these deaths are murder, but Victor Legris, a bookseller, sets out to solve the crime. The authors are two sisters who are booksellers in Paris, so the atmosphere they evoke in this mystery is pretty authentic, with close attention to details. I have a weakness for historical mysteries, so this book was right up my alley in that respect. However, I couldn't get past the characters themselves. They all seem so stereotypical: the unassuming detective with a mistress in the wings, the mysterious coworker, the red-haired femme fatale. There's not much here that's original. Victor was also really dense at times when it came to obvious clues. In order for me to want to continue reading a series, I have to want to continue reading about the characters. Murder on the Eiffel Tower did not leave me with that feeling, so it's doubtful that I'll read further books in this series.
    • 3/5
      I was first attracted to the lurid title 'Murder on the Eiffel Tower', ala Agatha Christy, and indeed, the book reads a little like her mysteries. I found that I had to go back and reread parts because I felt they contained clues and knew that I had to start reading more carefully. Sometimes they did and sometimes they didn't. It was a good mystery with a good cast of characters that I found interesting without feeling contrived. I did think the ending was a little weak however, since there were no clues in that direction. I did like the protagonist Victor very much and also found myself being seduced by Tasha! I think the character I liked the most was JoJo the shop clerk. I do hope, and think, that this will be a successful Mystery Series.I must say, that one reason that I liked the book is that one of my interests is World Fairs and Expositions. I have a number of books printed during the Pan-Pacific Expo in 1915 in San Francisco and a few on the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893. Of course, the fair in Chicago was going to show up the French, with the Ferris Wheel being the answer to the Eiffel Tower. I had read a little about the French Exposition and thought that Claude did an excellent job in describing the Fair and Paris of 1889. I felt them coming alive without being put through a history lesson. One of my great passions is the wonderful painting of Madame X by John Singer Sargent, and I can just picture Madame Gautreau as she visits the Exposition and ascends the Tower with her admirers in tow.Lastly I must comment on the author Monsieur Izner. I cracked up when I read on the back cover that Claude is really two sisters who own a bookstore in Paris. I had a mental picture of two little old ladies in the rear of a dusty bookstore inventing these characters over a cup of tea. I realize that this is probably far from the truth. I enjoyed their work and thought they did an excellent job portraying this period. I liked that they included artists, authors and other prominent people from the period. Also, I think kudos should go to Isabel Reid for an excellent translation. Well told for this American ear. Looking forward to the next installment of Victor Legris. I'm sure that Kenji and JoJo will be there, but what about Tasha...
    • 5/5
      *Parisian Puzzle*What a delightful romp through 19th century Paris! Murder on the Eiffel Tower is the first in a series that shows much promise for many enjoyable future reads. Although this is a debut in the USA, two other installments have already been published in France, waiting for translation. The setting is late 1800s Paris at the time of the Worlds' Exhibition which dazzles the local Parisians with it's many marvels and wonders from around the world. At the same time we have the unveiling of the famous Eiffel Tower, both events showcasing a variety of mysterious murders thought to be caused by bee stings. To unravel these cryptic and unusual deaths comes young Victor Legris, a local Antiquarian bookseller caught up in the melee and who soon suspects his own business partner may be the murderer. The novel offers great character development, good plots with twists and turns, great historical backdrop and plenty of action and intrique to keep the reader turning the pages. Not being able to put this wonderful book down, I found it a breath of fresh air and a pure delight to read. I eagerly await book two and three which I have already ordered UK copies of. I simply cant' wait another year or more for US translations to get here. Dont' miss this sparkling debut. It's fun, it's different and darn good simple old fashioned murder mystery.
    • 4/5
      It's really tough sometimes to read the opening novel of a proposed mystery series. What I've found is that in general, the first novels are not as well-honed or finely developed as the rest of the series. I think it's because the author is really just getting to know his or her characters, and I would also guess that after he/she receives feedback on the first endeavor, things start to tighten up. So having made this statement, I have to say that I think the series that begins with this book has some good potential. I liked the main character Victor; he's not really a professional sleuth but finds himself a bit over his head. He seemed like somewhat of a bumbler to me, and I think that this trait made him stick out as an unlikely hero. Set during the 1889 Universal Exposition, the Eiffel Tower is a new marvel that fascinates nearly everyone. The can venture up in an elevator, see a great view, and as a bonus, they get to be the first to sign their names in the visitors' book. On the day that Victor Legris, bookseller, decides to visit the new structure, he's there as a woman collapses and dies right in front of him. The death is attributed to "killer bees." The thing is, though, that these "killer bees" seem to be randomly picking targets as there are other deaths that follow the same pattern. Several clues lead Legris to believe that his long-time associate, Kenji Mori may be the culprit, or is it the object of his affection, Tasha? Legris begins his own investigation. Yes, there are problems with character depth and at places the book sort of just rambles, but I liked it, and I can envision reading the entire series. It's just fun, and I like period pieces, especially mysteries. I liked Victor and his sort of bumbling manner, and the Kenji character offsets him well. I especially liked Joseph, the bookshop assistant, who is a murder genius and always has his nose stuck in a murder mystery. He may have been my favorite character.So overall...I think the series will be a good one, and probably much tighter in plot and more developed character wise. I'd recommend it to people interested in historical mysteries and who want something new in a series.
    • 2/5
      The events of Murder on the Eiffel Tower take place during the Universal Exposition of 1889, for which the Eiffel Tower was constructed. Amidst the festivities, a woman dies, apparently from a bee sting. When further deaths from bee stings ensue, bookseller Victor Legris begins to wonder if in fact a murderer is at work.The book was difficult to follow. The "detective" was unable to hold a thought for more than a few seconds. As soon as an idea popped into his head, he immediately acted on it. Before he would fully carry out his idea, another one would occur to him. He would abandon his original idea and head off in another direction. I think there was an attempt to build suspense and a sense of impending danger, but I wasn't affected by it. I was too confused. Somehow Victor eventually managed to identify the culprit, but not the motive. I thought one of the other characters would have made a better detective. In fact, the other character apparently figured things out earlier than Victor did.I have a sense that the book was driven, not by the plot, but by the Exposition and the city of Paris of that era. If the same attention to detail had been given to the development of the mystery it would have been a much stronger book.
    • 3/5
      I'm always excited to start another good mystery series, but I have to admit that I'm a little picky. I don't like anything too dark or depressing, but I don't want it sticky sweet either. I like historical mysteries, but I still want good strong main characters. So I was pleased to get this book. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The story is set at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. A woman is stung by a bee and dies. But was it just a bee sting? An anonymous letter sent to the police says it was murder and Victor Legris, bookseller and aspiring journalist, sets off to discover the truth. Soon others die in the same way, and Victor is even more sure that someone is behind these deaths. But he becomes afraid that the killer is someone he loves.I did enjoy the book, but not as much as I wanted to. I think it comes down to two main objections. This book is painstakingly researched, and that becomes a problem. It's hard to argue with too much research, but the story becomes bogged down at times with too many details just when the plot needs to move quickly. My other complaint is about Victor, the main character. I never really connected to Victor. His jump to suspect people he cares about of committing murder just bothered me. I would be extremely reluctant to believe such a thing. It felt like Victor just said, there are 2 possibilities, my friend or the girl I love. Then he was indecisive and inconsistent. I just didn't care for him as a character or as a sleuth.If you like historical mysteries, you might give this one a try. The setting is a little different. I enjoyed reading about 19th century Paris, the art and the writing world. That part was fun. But it's a okay read and nothing more.
    • 4/5
      This book reminded me of a cocktail party where, on first entering, you don't know anyone. You are surrounded by a whirl of names and faces. But as you mingle, you start to remember just which name goes with which face, and you start to enjoy yourself. Murder on the Eiffel Tower is set in 1889 Paris. The entire city is drawn to the newly opened Eiffel Tower, which is visited by large crowds every day. Amid the excitement, citizens, police, and the press begin to realize that a serial killer is at work. A bookseller named Victor Legris discovers that several of his friends and acquaintances have been at the scenes of the crimes and is determined to solve the mystery. Claude Izner--a pseudonym for two book-selling sisters--gives an authentic portrayal of the hustle and bustle of late 19th-century Paris as well as its diversity, with such characters as a Japanese bookseller, Russian artist, and Serbian opera singer. It is clear that that the sisters have done their research. If anything, the book might offer too much detail. While engaging, cameos by the art dealer Tanguy and Toulouse-Lautrec also distract from the search for the murderer. But perhaps that is the authors' goal--to keep Victor (and the reader) guessing to the end.
    • 3/5
      Murder on the Eiffel Tower was written by 2 sisters who are second-hand booksellers in Paris & are experts on 19th century Paris. The story is set at the time of the opening of the Eiffel Tower, and all the exhibitions and fairs that accompanied it. The book feels like a nice recreation of late 19th century Paris.In the story there are several mysterious deaths. A young man who is a partner in a bookshop worries that his father-figure/business partner is involved, and then he worries that his new love interest is involved. The book follows his trail through the mystery of the murders.The book was translated and published in Fall 2008 by St. Martin's press. This review is written as part of LibraryThing's early reviewer program.The book is well-written and I think it is well-translated. The style is distinctive and elegant, and pleasant to read. Unfortunately, the story is not very good. The action didn't make sense, and I lost sympathy with the main character because he was such a dope. Both he & his father figure/business partner didn't seem to know each other or trust each other, even though they were supposed to be have a long-term close relationship. And when he started suspecting his new girlfriend it made even less sense. The end was unmotivated and illogical.
    • 2/5
      I was very excited to receive this book through the Early Reviewers program. Unfortunately, the book itself sorely failed to meet my expectations, and was hugely disappointing. I found the characters flat, and felt as though details of the period were merely thrown in as asides, rather than used to evoke a real sense of what late 19th century Paris was truly like. I did think that the dialogue captured whimsical/lyrical quality of the French language at times, but such occasions were fleeting. The writing overall was generally uninspiring and tended to feel very expositional, with little flair.I found the story itself to be quite boring, likely in large part due to the pacing of the narrative. The first murder occurs very early on in the story (within the first chapter), yet any investigation into it on Victor's part, has yet to occur by page 80, which is where I stopped reading after deciding I really didn't care how it all turned out. On the one hand, I felt the first murder occurs too swiftly and consequently feels trivial and random, but then any advances in that case slow to a non-existent pace. Furthermore, I just couldn't get interested in Victor as a character, as he felt unidimensional and hollow to me. The draw that he's a bookseller seems misleading, as it suggests that this crime might have some sort of literary parallel (which would attract a certain type of reader), but in fact I got the sense that his profession would have little bearing on the case.In the end, I felt this book was clearly a first effort, as it lacked the polish and understanding of a more experienced writer. It lacked luster and just wasn't very enjoyable. I don't feel any desire to read any further in this series, and suspect there must be better historical mysteries out there. Save your time and go find those!
    • 3/5
      What should have been an interesting historical mystery is unfortunately hampered by lack of depth in both plot and character. Story is promising and description is solid, although off-center at times.Basically, the main character makes seemingly bad decisions for completely unknown or at least inane reasons. Other characters are brought on as red herrings and let drop, including the few I would have cared about, and some are not well or fully developed. The bookstore clerk is one exception, who provided some needed comic relief. In the end, we find the criminal has an incredibly lame motive for action, which should have been a keystone of the plot.The time period is fascinating and the descriptions of the city and people are very compelling. The author obviously did the research but the writing was not pedagogical in tone.Perhaps in the next book in this series, the author will flesh out the characters and create a more appealing story.
    • 3/5
      I have to say that the concept of the book was a good one. This story had all of the makings for a good historical mystery except a mastery of the English language. There were so many times that the original French terms were retained that it completely distracted from the story. I would often find myself flipping back several pages to see who was talking and what they were talking about. It was a struggle to finish the book because I could never completely lose myself in the story. I found all of the historical details to be fascinating and was delighted by the way they were woven into the story. If read French and are looking for a good suspense novel with good character development and great historical detail then this book is for you - if not, I would not recommend it.
    • 1/5
      A very weak historical thriller set in the heady atmosphere of the Paris Exposition of 1889. The book has the stiff prose I associate with bad translation, but translation alone can't account for its clunky exposition, unrealistic dialog, shallow characterization, haphazard plotting, and pointless name-checking. The hero suspects his lover and business partner on less than no evidence, and never does come around to guessing the identity of the real killer until he reveals himself. In a way, that's not surprising, since the killer's motive is laughable, and the authors provide no substantive clues whatever.
    • 2/5
      Set in Paris during the 1889 World Exposition, this book tries hard to be a fascinating mystery. At times, it even succeeds. Overall, though, I found it less than compelling, and I finished it primarily because I felt duty bound to review it after receiving it as an Early Reviewer book. At times the narrative flowed very well and I was caught up in the events as they occurred, but then suddenly it would get derailed. I think the biggest problem I had with it was the multitude of narrative points of view; I believe it would have been a better story if it had been written through just one person's point of view, two at most. The writing was at its best when it was describing the Exposition and the new Eiffel Tower and therefore putting the mystery in the background. Perhaps it suffered by translation--it was originally written in French by a pair of sisters in 2003 and was translated into English in 2007. As a free book to review, it is acceptable; had I paid the recommmended price of $23.95, I would have been sadly disappointed.
    • 2/5
      Like several of the other reviewers, I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program. Typically I enjoy mysteries and look foward to debuts, especially if they are touted as "a thrilling first installment" in a series.Sadly, this book did not hold my interest and was extremely difficult to finish. Other reviewers have summarized the plot and the main character, Victor Legris. While the plot is intriguing the characters are not well-drawn and some of the dialogue is silly. (Note to authors: Enough with the exclamation points!!! every third sentence.)
    • 3/5
      This book started out well with enjoyable descriptions of the World Exposition that unveils the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It turns out that those descriptive passages are the best part of the novel. The mystery never really made sense to me and I found it hard to like the bookseller turned detective, Victor. Half the time, he becomes physically ill after suspecting both his partner and new-found love interest of a series of murders in the city. The point of view changes quite often, making both the characters and story hard to follow. My interest in Paris and historical settings are what made me continue to the end.
    • 4/5
      A quirky murder mystery in bohemian Paris. Victor Legris, bookseller by day, is a very amateur detective - the type that jumps to conclusions, and nearly gets himself killed - whose curiousity is piqued by a series of sudden deaths at the Paris Expo of 1889 (the opening of the tower). The murders start with the first chapter, and are as regularly paced as the clues (although I just sat back and enjoyed the story!) 'Claude Izner' is the pen name for two sisters, themselves booksellers on the banks of the River Seine, writing about late nineteenth century Paris, so the details are realistic and the setting evocative. The cast of characters is eclectic - Victor's Japanese business partner and father figure, and his very much put-upon shop assistant, form the 'family' of booksellers - but only roughly sketched; hopefully these will be 'fleshed out' beyond names and traits in the later sequels. And Tasha, Victor's love interest, is rather cliched - a red-headed Russian artist, savouring independence and personal freedom. Still, a very enjoyable mystery, with 'fin de siecle' Paris brought vividly to life (would have liked a map, though!)
    • 2/5
      I received this book through the Early Reviewers program. The plot sounded interesting, and f I told you the ending, it definitely would seem like a recipe for a great mystery. Unfortunately, for the most part, it just doesn't work. The characters weren't that interesting, and the story was at times hard to follow. It's possible something was lost in the translation, but I'm not sure.There were some bright spots in the book, such as the description of the World Exposition which was fascinating. There's promise in the series, and it's possible that future Victor Legris books could be worth a read.
    • 2/5
      Boy I wish I could read French - the original language this book was written in. I'd bet it was much better than the English translation.I was really looking forward to a mystery set in Paris in the late 19th century as I'm usually reading mysteries about England in the same era. Unfortunately I found everything about this book flat -- the story, the plot, and all of the characters. I had great difficulty finishing the book...oh who am I kidding... I couldn't get past page 200.
    • 3/5
      The book is set in Paris in 1889 which was the setting for the World Expo at which what was then the world's tallest structure, the Eiffel Tower, was officially opened. A woman collapses and dies on one of the Tower's platforms and the official story is that she died of a bee sting. Even when other people die, also purportedly of bee stings, the Police do not appear to be taking much interest in the deaths. However, Victor Legris, a local bookseller, becomes convinced the deaths are more than coincidences and commences an investigation of sorts.

      The historical part of this historical crime fiction is fascinating. The book manages to depict the time beautifully, giving a real sense of the place and the people and the truly wondrous thing that the Tower and the associated Expo must have been at the time. There are references to the art movements centred in Paris at the time and numerous other facts that we associate with the city and it all has a very realistic feel. There are a couple of instances where I thought modern day sensibilities had been unrealistically ascribed to 19th Century Parisians but overall I thoroughly enjoyed losing myself in this setting.

      Unfortunately the crime part of the book wasn't nearly as riveting. The amateur sleuth, Victor Legris, doesn't really detect anything. He leaps from one misplaced conclusion to another and the ultimate resolution to the mystery was achieved more in spite of his actions than because of them. Not that there were a heck of a lot of clues pointing in the direction of the villain (I had guessed the culprit but it was the same kind of guesswork that Victor engaged in and not based on a single fact provided in the book). It felt to me as if the various 'acts' of the plot were used more to depict some aspect of the city or the Expo that the author wanted to highlight than to advance the plot with the result that the plot was weaker than it should have been.

      The characterisations in the book varied in their success. I never 'bought' Legris because he was far too willing to believe his friends to be guilty of murder and thought nothing of spying on them or going through their possessions. In addition he's ridiculously melodramatic and not terribly bright and I really can't see that kind of protagonist sustaining a series. His love interest, Tasha the struggling Russian artist, started out strongly but towards the end I found her a bit insipid and inconsistent with her earlier self. However some of the minor characters, including Joseph the bookseller's assistant and mystery aficionado, were far more engaging and credible.

      Claude Izner is the pseudonym for two French sisters who are modern Parisian booksellers with particular expertise in this time period so the historical aspect of this book is first rate. The whodunnit side of the book is less well developed but it's a fun read in spite of that.