S.J. Parris
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Murder on the Eiffel Tower: Summary and book reviews of Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner, plus links to an excerpt from Murder on the Eiffel Tower and a biography of Claude Izner.
Murder on the Eiffel Tower A Mystery
by
Claude Izner
Hardcover: Sep 2008,
304 pages.
Paperback: Sep 2009,
304 pages.
The brand-new, shiny Eiffel Tower is the pride and glory of the 1889 World Exposition. But one sunny afternoon, as visitors are crowding the viewing platforms, a woman collapses and dies on this great Paris landmark. Can a bee sting really be the cause of death? Or is there a more sinister explanation? Enter young bookseller Victor Legris. Present on the tower at the time of the incident, and appalled by the media coverage of the occurence, 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 and he suspects an ever-changing list of possible perpetrators. Could mysterious Kenji Mori, his surrogate father and business partner at the bookstore Legris operates, be involved in the crime? Why are beautiful Russian illustrator Tasha and her colleagues at the newly launched sensationalist newspaper Passepartout always up-to-date in their reporting? And what will Legris do when the deaths begin to multiply and he is caught in a race against time?
Murder on the Eiffel Tower is painstakingly researched, an effortless evocation of the glorious City of Light, and an exciting opening to a promising series of eight books featuring Victor Legris.
Book Reviews
BookBrowse - Beth Hemke Shapiro Murder on the Eiffel Tower soars with its historical treatment of Paris which readers will remember long after they finish the book. Author Claude Izner is the pseudonym of two sisters, Liliane Korb and Laurence Lefevre, who sell second-hand books on the Seine's banks and boast of expertise on 19th century Paris. Their experience and knowledge shine brightly in this first of a series featuring amateur detective Victor Legris. Full Review (members only, 856 words).
Publishers Weekly
The taut pacing and vivid period detail will have readers eagerly turning the pages.
Library Journal
[T[his debut of a very Gallic series will appeal to Francophiles and fans of historicals.
Kirkus Reviews
[T]he energetic curiosity of the hero dovetails nicely with readers' interest in a fascinating era. The colorful supporting cast lays a solid foundation for Victor's further exploits.
Financial Times (UK)
[A] clock-beating thriller . . . entertaining views of nineteenth-century Paris.
The Independent (UK)
Isabel Reid's seamless translation captures the novel's many period charms.
Le Monde (France)
A charming journey through the life and intellectual times of an era.
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