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Victor Legris #2
Ruhe sanft mein Herz
Auf Verbrechersuche im historischen Paris.
Eine Mordserie im Paris des Jahres 1890 erschüttert den Buchhändler Victor Legris, denn mit einem der Opfer verband ihn ein amouröses Verhältnis. So wird er zum unfreiwilligen Ermittler bei der Aufklärung mehrerer Verbrechen und bringt sich dabei sehr bald selbst in Gefahr.
"Schwarzer Humor und hinterlistige Komik." Bücher
Eine Mordserie im Paris des Jahres 1890 erschüttert den Buchhändler Victor Legris, denn mit einem der Opfer verband ihn ein amouröses Verhältnis. So wird er zum unfreiwilligen Ermittler bei der Aufklärung mehrerer Verbrechen und bringt sich dabei sehr bald selbst in Gefahr.
"Schwarzer Humor und hinterlistige Komik." Bücher
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
29 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Claude Izner
64 books86 followersPseudonym of Liliane Korb (1940) and her sister Laurence Korb (1951) known as well as Laurence Lefèvre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
September 2, 2020
Aptly entitled a 'Mystery' because for me it still remains one. The setting is ideal, turn of the century Paris, but the storyline baffles me. I get the gist of it but the detail and who the heck is who and who did what escapes me completely. And who went missing and why? I don't know.
The idea of the sleuth, as it were, being a bookseller really appealed to me but this aspect of his character seems to get lost in the morass except for one or two occasions when it surfaces. And as for the other characters, they flit in and out of the story in such a fashion that it is difficult to keep track of them - perhaps it is their Frenchness!!
I was reading the book for three months, in between others, because I couldn't understand it properly, and I really tried. And I kept trying and eventually finished it, why I know not!
A further thought is that perhaps it lost something in the translation.
Finally, it is often said 'Don't judge a book by its cover' - well, this is a case in point for the artwork on the cover is very impressive.
The idea of the sleuth, as it were, being a bookseller really appealed to me but this aspect of his character seems to get lost in the morass except for one or two occasions when it surfaces. And as for the other characters, they flit in and out of the story in such a fashion that it is difficult to keep track of them - perhaps it is their Frenchness!!
I was reading the book for three months, in between others, because I couldn't understand it properly, and I really tried. And I kept trying and eventually finished it, why I know not!
A further thought is that perhaps it lost something in the translation.
Finally, it is often said 'Don't judge a book by its cover' - well, this is a case in point for the artwork on the cover is very impressive.
August 21, 2017
3.5
Molto carino, ma personalmente l'ho trovato meno coinvolgete rispetto al primo.
Rimango sempre felice, però, per la scelta degli argomenti trattati.
Interessante anche la postfazione.
Molto carino, ma personalmente l'ho trovato meno coinvolgete rispetto al primo.
Rimango sempre felice, però, per la scelta degli argomenti trattati.
Interessante anche la postfazione.
Currently reading
January 18, 2026CRITIQUE:
Unearthing the Tomb
A traveller to Paris must visit at least one of its two most famous cemeteries: Père Lachaise (44 hectares) and Montparnasse (19 hectares).
Even with a guidebook, it's difficult to get around and find the tombs you're expressly looking for.
Some tombs are easier to locate, because they are so distinctive: Oscar Wilde, and Abelard and Heloise (Père Lachaise). In contrast, I looked around Montparnasse for hours in search of the tomb of Dreyfus, and still can't recall whether I ever found it.
In Père Lachaise, Jim Morrison's tomb was harder to locate than I anticipated, but you inevitably find it, because you persist, and it's always surrounded by people, flowers and graffiti.
Even having found it, you can't guarantee you'll be able to find it again when next you visit the cemetery. Parts of it vanish from time to time. The original marker was stolen in 1973. In 1981, a new sculpture was installed to mark the tenth anniversary of Morrison's death. The marble bust was stolen in 1988. The bust was recovered by chance when the police were investigating another crime in May, 2025.
The tomb of Jim Morrison in Père Lachaise in June, 1985 [Laurent Maous/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images]
A Contemporary Disappearance (A Cemeterial Concoction)
Just as it seemed as if everything was intact again, Morrison's entire tomb disappeared on Sunday, November 29, 2025, a week before the anniversary of his birth on December 8, 1943.
Within days, the Trump Administration revealed on Truth Social that it had demanded that the tomb be removed and reinstated at the Hammer Museum at UCLA.
The Paris tomb was known to be one of the most visited tombs in the city, and President Trump wanted this honour to be relocated to Los Angeles, as part of a settlement with UCLA.
SOUNDTRACK:
Unearthing the Tomb
A traveller to Paris must visit at least one of its two most famous cemeteries: Père Lachaise (44 hectares) and Montparnasse (19 hectares).
Even with a guidebook, it's difficult to get around and find the tombs you're expressly looking for.
Some tombs are easier to locate, because they are so distinctive: Oscar Wilde, and Abelard and Heloise (Père Lachaise). In contrast, I looked around Montparnasse for hours in search of the tomb of Dreyfus, and still can't recall whether I ever found it.
In Père Lachaise, Jim Morrison's tomb was harder to locate than I anticipated, but you inevitably find it, because you persist, and it's always surrounded by people, flowers and graffiti.
Even having found it, you can't guarantee you'll be able to find it again when next you visit the cemetery. Parts of it vanish from time to time. The original marker was stolen in 1973. In 1981, a new sculpture was installed to mark the tenth anniversary of Morrison's death. The marble bust was stolen in 1988. The bust was recovered by chance when the police were investigating another crime in May, 2025.
The tomb of Jim Morrison in Père Lachaise in June, 1985 [Laurent Maous/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images]
A Contemporary Disappearance (A Cemeterial Concoction)
Just as it seemed as if everything was intact again, Morrison's entire tomb disappeared on Sunday, November 29, 2025, a week before the anniversary of his birth on December 8, 1943.
Within days, the Trump Administration revealed on Truth Social that it had demanded that the tomb be removed and reinstated at the Hammer Museum at UCLA.
The Paris tomb was known to be one of the most visited tombs in the city, and President Trump wanted this honour to be relocated to Los Angeles, as part of a settlement with UCLA.
SOUNDTRACK:
February 24, 2017
Carino, carino, carino.
Questa Parigi di fine secolo e l'atmosfera che vi si respira sono incantevoli. Il mondo degli artisti, dei collezionisti e dei librai è un'ambientazione deliziosa.
Romanzo elegante, nostalgico, ambientato in una città strabiliante, che si muove tra progresso e superstizione, che sente in sè aria di rinnovamento e di libertà, non senza sofferenza.
Buono anche lo spunto "giallo" a cui si affiancano il mistero del sovrannaturale, il gioco della magia e del trasformismo e tutto un mondo in continuo fermento.
Godibilissimo.
Molti i cenni storici, artistici e letterari che fanno apprezzare ancor di più il romanzo.
Buonissima la postfazione.
Questa Parigi di fine secolo e l'atmosfera che vi si respira sono incantevoli. Il mondo degli artisti, dei collezionisti e dei librai è un'ambientazione deliziosa.
Romanzo elegante, nostalgico, ambientato in una città strabiliante, che si muove tra progresso e superstizione, che sente in sè aria di rinnovamento e di libertà, non senza sofferenza.
Buono anche lo spunto "giallo" a cui si affiancano il mistero del sovrannaturale, il gioco della magia e del trasformismo e tutto un mondo in continuo fermento.
Godibilissimo.
Molti i cenni storici, artistici e letterari che fanno apprezzare ancor di più il romanzo.
Buonissima la postfazione.
February 16, 2022
Un giallo storico intrigante e ben curato nell'ambientazione, la narrazione è fluida e non annoia, mentre i rimandi a piè pagina danno informazioni interessanti sull'epoca. Sarà che adoro Parigi e la letteratura francese in generale, ma l'ho trovato molto gradevole, come il primo.
September 25, 2017
Sono rimasta veramente molto molto molto (l ho già detto molto?!😂) delusa da questo libro! La trama è carina ma sviluppata in maniera pessima: troppe divagazioni sulla storia e personaggi (a volte sconosciuti) della storia francese dell '800 che rende il tutto pesante, struttura del racconto senza senso con a volte divagazioni superflue che non servono a niente al fine del racconto! Se uno saltasse 100 pagine e riprendesse poi in mano il racconto non avrebbe perso niente e avrebbe continuato a capire benissimo il racconto. Bah!
March 25, 2019
I do regret selecting this hardback at my library. It was displayed in a grouping of books supposedly welcoming spring - as if that is ever coming about. Had my eye on a lovely little book featuring poetry about birds with lovely bird sketches. Then I saw Izner and recognized it from having read the first book by the two sisters some time ago. Oh well. I'll catch up with my birds next visit.
I wasn't overly enthusiastic about the first Victor Legris, bookseller who investigates murders. This is historical fiction and has some interesting threads related to the efforts to build a Panama Canal where by 1890 10,000 of the 21,000 Frenchmen who worked on the project died of yellow fever.
So...again we have many characters to track, different countries where deeds are enacted but coming to a head in Paris where a secret map to where emeralds can be mined is being sought and killed for.
This book did not make me feel like Spring! I can't blame the librarian who must have been thinking Paris in Springtime thoughts.
Published 2009 - This series consists of 5 or 6 books now. It's possible I will check out the next.
Edit: I see now the number of books has grown to 13 in the series but perhaps just half translated to English?
I wasn't overly enthusiastic about the first Victor Legris, bookseller who investigates murders. This is historical fiction and has some interesting threads related to the efforts to build a Panama Canal where by 1890 10,000 of the 21,000 Frenchmen who worked on the project died of yellow fever.
So...again we have many characters to track, different countries where deeds are enacted but coming to a head in Paris where a secret map to where emeralds can be mined is being sought and killed for.
This book did not make me feel like Spring! I can't blame the librarian who must have been thinking Paris in Springtime thoughts.
Published 2009 - This series consists of 5 or 6 books now. It's possible I will check out the next.
Edit: I see now the number of books has grown to 13 in the series but perhaps just half translated to English?
April 11, 2012
This is the second in a series of books featuring the crime-solving Parisian bookseller Victor Legris.
It is 1890, and Odette de Valois, ex-lover of Left Bank bookseller and amateur sleuth Victor Legris, has disappeared whilst visiting her husband's grave at Père-Lachaise cemetery. Her maid, Denise, fears the worst and, in a dreadful state and knowing not a soul in Paris who can help her aside from her mistress' ex-lover, enlists Victor's help. At first reluctant to become involved, believing that Odette has probably gone off to some romantic assignation with her current lover, Victor tries to reassure Denise and pays little attention to her claims. However, when Denise's body is pulled out of the Seine the bookseller becomes determined to discover the truth about Odette's disappearance and the young maid's death, this time with the help of his assistant, Joseph, and the hunt for the killer begins in earnest.
Once again the atmosphere of fin-de-siècle Paris is conjured up wonderfully. A little darker than the first book in the series, it is equally suspenseful, just as fast-paced, and no easier to put down than its predecessor. I did manage to uncover the identity of the killer before Monsieur Legris, during the final quarter of the book, though I couldn't for the life of me figure out the motive.
A well-researched, suspenseful and tightly plotted mystery, and an immensely enjoyable read that I just couldn't put down.
It is 1890, and Odette de Valois, ex-lover of Left Bank bookseller and amateur sleuth Victor Legris, has disappeared whilst visiting her husband's grave at Père-Lachaise cemetery. Her maid, Denise, fears the worst and, in a dreadful state and knowing not a soul in Paris who can help her aside from her mistress' ex-lover, enlists Victor's help. At first reluctant to become involved, believing that Odette has probably gone off to some romantic assignation with her current lover, Victor tries to reassure Denise and pays little attention to her claims. However, when Denise's body is pulled out of the Seine the bookseller becomes determined to discover the truth about Odette's disappearance and the young maid's death, this time with the help of his assistant, Joseph, and the hunt for the killer begins in earnest.
Once again the atmosphere of fin-de-siècle Paris is conjured up wonderfully. A little darker than the first book in the series, it is equally suspenseful, just as fast-paced, and no easier to put down than its predecessor. I did manage to uncover the identity of the killer before Monsieur Legris, during the final quarter of the book, though I couldn't for the life of me figure out the motive.
A well-researched, suspenseful and tightly plotted mystery, and an immensely enjoyable read that I just couldn't put down.
July 4, 2013
Reminder from: FrenchLiterature Yahoo! Group
This is the second book of a series of 8 books on Victor Legris murder investigations.
The first part of the book had many literary references, which made the reader to lose track on the murder investigation.
One this aspect is surpassed then the plot becomes quite interesting until its end.
In my opinion, some hints of Arsene Lupin style's can be felt in the main character.
And perhaps I would have enjoyed more this book if I had read the first book of this series.
Thanks Dagny for the invitation to join the French Literature Yahoo Group.
To those who love literary authors, you should visit Père Lachaise Cemetery where the remains of Jean de La Fontaine, Molière, Pierre Abélard and Héloïse d’Argenteuil among many others. Just take a look of this Gallery. I have spent several hours in order to visit the tombs of my preferred authors.
Miniature Portrait Plaque ~ Madonna in Blue ~ Hand Painted Porcelain Antique
This is the second book of a series of 8 books on Victor Legris murder investigations.
The first part of the book had many literary references, which made the reader to lose track on the murder investigation.
One this aspect is surpassed then the plot becomes quite interesting until its end.
In my opinion, some hints of Arsene Lupin style's can be felt in the main character.
And perhaps I would have enjoyed more this book if I had read the first book of this series.
Thanks Dagny for the invitation to join the French Literature Yahoo Group.
To those who love literary authors, you should visit Père Lachaise Cemetery where the remains of Jean de La Fontaine, Molière, Pierre Abélard and Héloïse d’Argenteuil among many others. Just take a look of this Gallery. I have spent several hours in order to visit the tombs of my preferred authors.
Miniature Portrait Plaque ~ Madonna in Blue ~ Hand Painted Porcelain Antique
November 18, 2019
This is a novel crammed full of atmosphere, the story of a disappearance in a cemetery in 1890s Paris, investigated by a Montmartre bookseller. The bodies soon pile up though, as a maid turns up drowned in the Seine, and a widow's corpse is found buried in an overgrown backyard. Period detail is the highlight though with the mystery element taking second place. There’s more grit to it that you might expect, which suits the backdrop of the tombs and labyrinths of the Père-Lachaise cemetery, and shady bars, trams and carriages of the Bois de Vincennes and the streets of Saint-Germain.
July 25, 2011
This book was somewhat enjoyable. The sisters writing under the pseudonym of Claude Izner do quite well with their writing style, but sometimes assume the reader knows more than about the story than has been told. Used bookseller Victor Legris gets drawn into the mysterious disappearance of his former flame and must traipse all over Paris seeking clues to her whereabouts. The characters have great potential and given further efforts, this writing duo is likely to churn out some good stuff. This one was likeable, but somewhat mediocre.
May 2, 2015
It started strong. unfortunately, the plot was contrived, and the pace started to drag about two thirds of the way through. It's a beach read, i.e. it's not unreadable, but it's nothing to write home about, either.
August 11, 2011
I'm generally in favor of period pieces, in particular mysteries. I love Paris. And so I believed when I picked this up that I'd delight in a story set in turn of the century Paris. I might have been wrong.
Victor Legris, a bookseller and part-time sleuth, is caught up the murder of his former lover when her maid comes to him in distress. She cannot find her mistress and believes she went missing in a cemetery, Pere-Lachaise, after trying to conjure up the ghost of her dead husband. Legris then chases down clues, looking for a mysterious spiritualist who may lead him to the murderer.
My dismay at the book didn't have anything to do with the particular time period. It's hard to pin down any one thing as the culprit. There were several things about the story that were troublesome. I hate to go so far as to say annoyed. Perhaps the word I'm looking for is irksome or maybe nettling. I'm not sure. I did finish the book, although I admit to skimming quite a bit. Here's why.
The authors, since Claude Izner is the nom-de-plum of sisters Lilian Korb and Laurence Korb, are apparently experts in the history of France at the turn of the century. And they aren't ashamed to let you know that they know their way around a map. Imagine reading several pages of "chase" scenes wherein you are given a detailed account of every single street in existence in Paris and every single landmark. And every single important historical figure (or even every single obscure historical figure) from the time that may or may not have lived on said streets. Just because Legris happened to be passing by their home or studio or wherever. It was boring and distracting. I felt like the authors really wanted to impress upon the reader their vast understanding of the time period. But they lost focus on the actual story while doing so. I get it. You know a lot (a lot, a lot) about Paris in 1890. But that isn't the meat of the tale, is it? At least it shouldn't be. Because if so, they wrote the wrong book.
Then there is the issue of "what the what" just happened. Perhaps part of that can be chalked up to my skimming. But certainly not all of it. A little example. One minute a character is in at his employee's place and the next, he is suddenly at home and about to be bludgeoned by a murderer with a cane. What? It's seriously that choppy. Nothing leading up to how or why he got to his home or how the murderer knew where he would be. It was so abrupt. I'm still shaking my head over it. There are several moments like this throughout the book. I seriously didn't get what was going on about fifty percent of the time. There was far too much randomness to get it.
On to the development of character and plot. The authors spent so much time on the details of the setting, as I mentioned, that they failed to really tighten up the mystery. It was just there. Nothing exciting or compelling. And it was loose, you know? Like details here and there about the mystery without any real meat. And the characters were meh...vanilla and bland. I admit the ending was a surprise, but that was because the authors did absolutely nothing with foreshadowing or character development, so when the murderer reveals him or herself, well, whatever. It was anticlimactic.
And finally, what's up, Scooby-Doo! ending? Seriously. Bad guy revealed. Bad guy explains why bad guy did it. And pretty much ends with, "And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!" Really? I admit that most commercial mystery/thriller novels end up all neat and tidy, wrapped up with a pretty little bow. But this was just silly.
So that's it. Can't really recommend this. Unless you are into being bored by your mysteries and thrillers.
Victor Legris, a bookseller and part-time sleuth, is caught up the murder of his former lover when her maid comes to him in distress. She cannot find her mistress and believes she went missing in a cemetery, Pere-Lachaise, after trying to conjure up the ghost of her dead husband. Legris then chases down clues, looking for a mysterious spiritualist who may lead him to the murderer.
My dismay at the book didn't have anything to do with the particular time period. It's hard to pin down any one thing as the culprit. There were several things about the story that were troublesome. I hate to go so far as to say annoyed. Perhaps the word I'm looking for is irksome or maybe nettling. I'm not sure. I did finish the book, although I admit to skimming quite a bit. Here's why.
The authors, since Claude Izner is the nom-de-plum of sisters Lilian Korb and Laurence Korb, are apparently experts in the history of France at the turn of the century. And they aren't ashamed to let you know that they know their way around a map. Imagine reading several pages of "chase" scenes wherein you are given a detailed account of every single street in existence in Paris and every single landmark. And every single important historical figure (or even every single obscure historical figure) from the time that may or may not have lived on said streets. Just because Legris happened to be passing by their home or studio or wherever. It was boring and distracting. I felt like the authors really wanted to impress upon the reader their vast understanding of the time period. But they lost focus on the actual story while doing so. I get it. You know a lot (a lot, a lot) about Paris in 1890. But that isn't the meat of the tale, is it? At least it shouldn't be. Because if so, they wrote the wrong book.
Then there is the issue of "what the what" just happened. Perhaps part of that can be chalked up to my skimming. But certainly not all of it. A little example. One minute a character is in at his employee's place and the next, he is suddenly at home and about to be bludgeoned by a murderer with a cane. What? It's seriously that choppy. Nothing leading up to how or why he got to his home or how the murderer knew where he would be. It was so abrupt. I'm still shaking my head over it. There are several moments like this throughout the book. I seriously didn't get what was going on about fifty percent of the time. There was far too much randomness to get it.
On to the development of character and plot. The authors spent so much time on the details of the setting, as I mentioned, that they failed to really tighten up the mystery. It was just there. Nothing exciting or compelling. And it was loose, you know? Like details here and there about the mystery without any real meat. And the characters were meh...vanilla and bland. I admit the ending was a surprise, but that was because the authors did absolutely nothing with foreshadowing or character development, so when the murderer reveals him or herself, well, whatever. It was anticlimactic.
And finally, what's up, Scooby-Doo! ending? Seriously. Bad guy revealed. Bad guy explains why bad guy did it. And pretty much ends with, "And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!" Really? I admit that most commercial mystery/thriller novels end up all neat and tidy, wrapped up with a pretty little bow. But this was just silly.
So that's it. Can't really recommend this. Unless you are into being bored by your mysteries and thrillers.
February 11, 2016
The second in this late 19th century French historical mystery was an easier and quick read than the first one. As one reviewer has indicated, it does get a bit confusing at first, but you have to keep in mind the prologue, which is set in South America and with that in the back of your mind, you know the two events are somehow corrected. However, the author (s) does introduce the real murderer rather late in the story. Still, I enjoyed the setting, Paris (what not to LOVE), the time period, the tossing around of meeting famous artists and writers of the day (oh to time travel to back then) and the characters are very interesting, from the bookseller/sleuth Victor, his murder mystery wannabe assistant Joseph, the old gravedigger at Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Victor's artist/girlfriend Tasha (who's spirited and an early feminist) and the mysterious Kenji, co-owner of the book shop.
December 12, 2011
I wanted French and I wanted light and this fills both. Charming detective who owns a bookstore in Paris. I am also reading La Seduction, a non-fiction book on the art of seduction. This is delightful. I recommend this if you wish to understand one important facet of the French.
I finished both and enjoyed each. La Seduction was beautifully done and gave me an insight into the French from an American perspective. Definitely a good choice. The Pere-Lachaise Mystery was fun but not as dear to my heart as Donna Leon.
I finished both and enjoyed each. La Seduction was beautifully done and gave me an insight into the French from an American perspective. Definitely a good choice. The Pere-Lachaise Mystery was fun but not as dear to my heart as Donna Leon.
February 25, 2012
Pretty dreadful. Uninteresting writing. The few historical tidbits were not enough to sustain this. Only made it half way through and then leafing through to the end, I still couldn't figure out what was going on. Who's dead, who killed them, who cares!
January 18, 2015
Bought it from a charity shop at the same time as I bought the other one so felt I really should read it. No longer have any inclination. Rather simplistic to say the least.
July 14, 2017
I had a hard time keeping up with this plot. It went round and round. In the end, it was confusing and baffling.
November 4, 2020
This is the second in the French historical mystery series featuring bookseller Victor Legris as an amateur detective. He is pulled into another investigation when Denise, the maid of his ex-lover, comes to him, frightened out of her wits and begging for help. Her mistress, Odette de Valois has disappeared from the Père-Lachaise cemetery. Denise had accompanied Madame de Valois to the tomb of her husband Armand de Valois. The widow had been instructed via a spiritualist's communication to bring certain items to tomb in order to allow her husband's spirit to rest. She instructs her maid to wait for her outside and Denise walks around for a bit. When she returns, there is no sign of her mistress except for a scarf. The gatekeeper insists that the two women must have missed each other and tells Denise to go on home where she's sure to find Madame.
But she doesn't. All alone in the house, she barricades herself in her room--which proves to be a wise move when someone comes into the house and tries to get in...unsuccessfully. As early as possible, she heads for the only person she knows in Paris, Odette's former lover Victor Legris. He doesn't think things are as serious as the maid would have him believe, but he does agree to investigate because he can see that she is truly terrified. When Denise winds up dead, he is sorry he didn't take her more seriously and he and his shop assistant begin investigating in earnest. They will find a trail of murder that leads all the back to the isthmus of Panama where a new canal is being dug.
Okay...can I just say that I hope Victor gets more interesting as an amateur detective in the next book because I have four more of this series sitting on my TBR shelves and up till now he's just not doing it for me. A bookseller amateur detective in turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th, that is) Paris sounded like a good idea at the time. But if you're going to write a whole series about a guy as an amateur detective, it would be nice if the reader really wanted to read about that guy doing the investigating. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I'm much more impressed with Joseph, the assistant. He's much more enthusiastic about mysteries and, again, if Victor would share all the information with him, I'm quite sure he could run rings around Victor as a sleuth. And Victor is quite frankly too hung up on his personal relationships. Last book's primary emotions was suspicion--suspecting both his latest love, beautiful artist Tasha, and his mentor in turn as the murderer. This time around he's focused on jealousy. He's jealous of the other artists and, really, anyone who gets a minute of Tasha's time.
As with the last book, the mystery itself is an interesting one and the characters involved are well-drawn. Père Moscou is a particularly interesting man with his intermittent bouts of believing he's still in Napoleon's army. He also helps keep the investigators on their toes (without really meaning to). The clues are a little less evident in retrospect, but there are still a number of good pointers for those who are alert. ★★★ all for plot--none for Victor.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
But she doesn't. All alone in the house, she barricades herself in her room--which proves to be a wise move when someone comes into the house and tries to get in...unsuccessfully. As early as possible, she heads for the only person she knows in Paris, Odette's former lover Victor Legris. He doesn't think things are as serious as the maid would have him believe, but he does agree to investigate because he can see that she is truly terrified. When Denise winds up dead, he is sorry he didn't take her more seriously and he and his shop assistant begin investigating in earnest. They will find a trail of murder that leads all the back to the isthmus of Panama where a new canal is being dug.
Okay...can I just say that I hope Victor gets more interesting as an amateur detective in the next book because I have four more of this series sitting on my TBR shelves and up till now he's just not doing it for me. A bookseller amateur detective in turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th, that is) Paris sounded like a good idea at the time. But if you're going to write a whole series about a guy as an amateur detective, it would be nice if the reader really wanted to read about that guy doing the investigating. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I'm much more impressed with Joseph, the assistant. He's much more enthusiastic about mysteries and, again, if Victor would share all the information with him, I'm quite sure he could run rings around Victor as a sleuth. And Victor is quite frankly too hung up on his personal relationships. Last book's primary emotions was suspicion--suspecting both his latest love, beautiful artist Tasha, and his mentor in turn as the murderer. This time around he's focused on jealousy. He's jealous of the other artists and, really, anyone who gets a minute of Tasha's time.
As with the last book, the mystery itself is an interesting one and the characters involved are well-drawn. Père Moscou is a particularly interesting man with his intermittent bouts of believing he's still in Napoleon's army. He also helps keep the investigators on their toes (without really meaning to). The clues are a little less evident in retrospect, but there are still a number of good pointers for those who are alert. ★★★ all for plot--none for Victor.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
December 17, 2022
Started well. Wonderful if you're interested in the nitty-gritty of 1890s Paris. As far as mysteries go, horrible. It ended about 3/4 of the way through and then it was just kind of explained. Poorly.
Meh.
Meh.
November 29, 2014
Review in portuguese by blog MON PETIT POISON
Sou apaixonada pela cidade, sempre tento dar uma chance quando algum livro fala algo sobre Paris, principalmente quando tem coisas a ver com a minha área – Arquitetura, por isso a premissa do livro me contagiou. Era uma boa pegada = Suspense + Paris + Inauguração da Torre Eiffel, um suspense leve numa cidade que curto e um dos panos de fundo seria a grande construção de metal que chocou uma época.
A ideia do livro é boa, mas ela se perdeu em muitos momentos, e isso acabou rendendo um cansaço na leitura e muita vontade de querer desistir ou ficar empacando a espera de algo melhor acontecer na história. O excesso de personagens e a falta de algo mais elaborado acabou detonando um livro que poderia ter sido muito mais.
Começando pelo ponto positivo, a idealização da época é o melhor, as roupas, meios de transportes, as habitações e como o povo pensava a respeito de muitas coisas foram bem retratados, então sempre que abria o livro era levada para essa ‘belle époque’. As autoras (sim, esse nome é um pseudônimo de duas irmãs que escreveram essa série juntas) realmente fizeram uma pesquisa detalhada, incluindo localizações e hábitos dos franceses.
Os personagens são em excesso e foram mal aproveitados. Temos Victor, nosso personagem principal e quem vira detetive porque seu funcionário gosta de atualizar sobre os ‘causos’ dos jornais. Além disso, ele começa um 'affair’ e parece que sua escolhida sempre está nos mesmos lugares e momentos dos mortos. Seria ela uma assassina?
Os outros personagens aparecem poucos, mas alguns são intrigantes e poderiam ter apimentado mais a história, uma grande parte é misteriosa e não sabemos se eles quem dizem ser, mas ficam muito de lado e acabaram sendo mal aproveitados.
O final do mistério foi uma grande balde de água fria, durante o livro a gente descobre junto com Victor como as pessoas morriam, mas não os porquês. Porém, no fim o assassino conta o motivo e realmente foi tão sem graça e praticamente não teve muita ligação com tudo que foi mostrado na história. Se ele não nos contasse a gente ia achar que o crime era sem motivo, só por matar. A ligação entre o que foi narrado na história e aversão do assassino ficou e muito a desejar.
A narrativa das autoras é muito ‘empacante’, não nos emociona e muitas vezes nos faz querer deixar o livro de lado. Acabamos seguindo em frente porque queremos saber o que de fato vai acontecer e como tudo vai se resolver, por isso é preciso paciência e perseverança para seguir em frente.
O livro é daquelas séries que não são séries, ou seja, o personagem principal – Victor é o mesmo de outros livros com novos mistérios nesse período. Não sei se irão chegar ao país, mas a série tem uns 10 livros lá fora e os franceses curtem bastante.
http://www.monpetitpoison.com/2014/11...
Sou apaixonada pela cidade, sempre tento dar uma chance quando algum livro fala algo sobre Paris, principalmente quando tem coisas a ver com a minha área – Arquitetura, por isso a premissa do livro me contagiou. Era uma boa pegada = Suspense + Paris + Inauguração da Torre Eiffel, um suspense leve numa cidade que curto e um dos panos de fundo seria a grande construção de metal que chocou uma época.
A ideia do livro é boa, mas ela se perdeu em muitos momentos, e isso acabou rendendo um cansaço na leitura e muita vontade de querer desistir ou ficar empacando a espera de algo melhor acontecer na história. O excesso de personagens e a falta de algo mais elaborado acabou detonando um livro que poderia ter sido muito mais.
Começando pelo ponto positivo, a idealização da época é o melhor, as roupas, meios de transportes, as habitações e como o povo pensava a respeito de muitas coisas foram bem retratados, então sempre que abria o livro era levada para essa ‘belle époque’. As autoras (sim, esse nome é um pseudônimo de duas irmãs que escreveram essa série juntas) realmente fizeram uma pesquisa detalhada, incluindo localizações e hábitos dos franceses.
Os personagens são em excesso e foram mal aproveitados. Temos Victor, nosso personagem principal e quem vira detetive porque seu funcionário gosta de atualizar sobre os ‘causos’ dos jornais. Além disso, ele começa um 'affair’ e parece que sua escolhida sempre está nos mesmos lugares e momentos dos mortos. Seria ela uma assassina?
Os outros personagens aparecem poucos, mas alguns são intrigantes e poderiam ter apimentado mais a história, uma grande parte é misteriosa e não sabemos se eles quem dizem ser, mas ficam muito de lado e acabaram sendo mal aproveitados.
O final do mistério foi uma grande balde de água fria, durante o livro a gente descobre junto com Victor como as pessoas morriam, mas não os porquês. Porém, no fim o assassino conta o motivo e realmente foi tão sem graça e praticamente não teve muita ligação com tudo que foi mostrado na história. Se ele não nos contasse a gente ia achar que o crime era sem motivo, só por matar. A ligação entre o que foi narrado na história e aversão do assassino ficou e muito a desejar.
A narrativa das autoras é muito ‘empacante’, não nos emociona e muitas vezes nos faz querer deixar o livro de lado. Acabamos seguindo em frente porque queremos saber o que de fato vai acontecer e como tudo vai se resolver, por isso é preciso paciência e perseverança para seguir em frente.
O livro é daquelas séries que não são séries, ou seja, o personagem principal – Victor é o mesmo de outros livros com novos mistérios nesse período. Não sei se irão chegar ao país, mas a série tem uns 10 livros lá fora e os franceses curtem bastante.
http://www.monpetitpoison.com/2014/11...
April 28, 2015
Irgendwo in Panama
Nachdem Odette de Valois´ Mann in Südamerika verstorben ist, trägt die junge Witwe Trauer. Zwar war sie nie ein Kind von Traurigkeit und ihre Affäre mit dem Buchhändler Victor Legris ist ebenso wenig lange vorüber wie die Weltausstellung in Paris, doch nun ist sie wie ausgewechselt. Sogar ein Medium bemüht sie, um in Kontakt mit dem Toten zu treten. Aus dem Totenreich heraus beordert ihr Mann sie zu seinem Grabmal, sie soll ihm ein Bild bringen, das er ihr aus Panama geschickt hat. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Hausmädchen nimmt sie eine Droschke und fährt zum Friedhof. Dort verschwindet Odette und ihre Hilfe Denise weiß sich keinen anderen Rat, als Victor aufzusuchen und ihn zu bitten, ihre Herrin zu finden.
In diesem zweiten Band der Reihe um den Pariser Buchhändler Victor Legris, der den Dingen gerne auf den Grund geht und sich nicht nur hinter seinen Büchern verschanzt, erleben wir ein Paris des Jahres 1890. Das Autorenduo, welches aus den Schwestern Liliane Korb und Laurence Lefèvre besteht, zeichnet ein lebendiges Bild eines Paris des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts. Ein Gemisch aus wohlsituierten aber auch vielen unter Armut leidenden Menschen wandelt über die Boulevards der Stadt. Victor und sein japanischer Ziehvater Kenji Mori führen ihre Buchhandlung gemeinsam mit ihrem Gehilfen Joseph. Eher ruhig könnte ihr Leben verlaufen, wären da nicht ihre Liebeleien mit verschiedenen Frauen und Victors unendliche Neugier, die ihn häufiger auf gefährliche Wege führt. Während seiner Ermittlungen um Odettes Verschwinden kann Kenji keine Hilfe sein, da dieser sich auf dem Weg nach England befindet. Und so muss Victor sich mitunter auf Joseph verlassen, der es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat, einen Roman zu schreiben, in der Art der Kriminalgeschichten, die gerade so in Mode kommen.
Die geschichtlich genaue und feine Zeichnung des Milieus macht den Charme der Erzählungen um Victor Legris aus. Das Erzähltempo ist dabei der Zeit, in der die Handlung angesiedelt ist, angepasst. Einige Dinge gehen einfach nicht so schnell wie heutzutage. Doch gerade das bringt die besonderen Eigenschaften des Buchhändlers Victor Legris hervor. Er muss sich auf sich selbst und seine Spürnase verlassen und so findet er immer wieder die kleinen aber wichtigen Hinweise. Hin und wieder vergisst er dabei seine eigentliche Arbeit und auch seine Liebe. Doch soeben schafft er es meist, seine Lieben nicht vor den Kopf zu stoßen und seinen Fall zu lösen.
Ein kurzweiliger ruhiger historischer Krimi, der jedem geschichtlich Interessierten eine lehrreiche und unterhaltsame Lektüre bieten dürfte.
3,5 Sterne
Nachdem Odette de Valois´ Mann in Südamerika verstorben ist, trägt die junge Witwe Trauer. Zwar war sie nie ein Kind von Traurigkeit und ihre Affäre mit dem Buchhändler Victor Legris ist ebenso wenig lange vorüber wie die Weltausstellung in Paris, doch nun ist sie wie ausgewechselt. Sogar ein Medium bemüht sie, um in Kontakt mit dem Toten zu treten. Aus dem Totenreich heraus beordert ihr Mann sie zu seinem Grabmal, sie soll ihm ein Bild bringen, das er ihr aus Panama geschickt hat. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Hausmädchen nimmt sie eine Droschke und fährt zum Friedhof. Dort verschwindet Odette und ihre Hilfe Denise weiß sich keinen anderen Rat, als Victor aufzusuchen und ihn zu bitten, ihre Herrin zu finden.
In diesem zweiten Band der Reihe um den Pariser Buchhändler Victor Legris, der den Dingen gerne auf den Grund geht und sich nicht nur hinter seinen Büchern verschanzt, erleben wir ein Paris des Jahres 1890. Das Autorenduo, welches aus den Schwestern Liliane Korb und Laurence Lefèvre besteht, zeichnet ein lebendiges Bild eines Paris des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts. Ein Gemisch aus wohlsituierten aber auch vielen unter Armut leidenden Menschen wandelt über die Boulevards der Stadt. Victor und sein japanischer Ziehvater Kenji Mori führen ihre Buchhandlung gemeinsam mit ihrem Gehilfen Joseph. Eher ruhig könnte ihr Leben verlaufen, wären da nicht ihre Liebeleien mit verschiedenen Frauen und Victors unendliche Neugier, die ihn häufiger auf gefährliche Wege führt. Während seiner Ermittlungen um Odettes Verschwinden kann Kenji keine Hilfe sein, da dieser sich auf dem Weg nach England befindet. Und so muss Victor sich mitunter auf Joseph verlassen, der es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat, einen Roman zu schreiben, in der Art der Kriminalgeschichten, die gerade so in Mode kommen.
Die geschichtlich genaue und feine Zeichnung des Milieus macht den Charme der Erzählungen um Victor Legris aus. Das Erzähltempo ist dabei der Zeit, in der die Handlung angesiedelt ist, angepasst. Einige Dinge gehen einfach nicht so schnell wie heutzutage. Doch gerade das bringt die besonderen Eigenschaften des Buchhändlers Victor Legris hervor. Er muss sich auf sich selbst und seine Spürnase verlassen und so findet er immer wieder die kleinen aber wichtigen Hinweise. Hin und wieder vergisst er dabei seine eigentliche Arbeit und auch seine Liebe. Doch soeben schafft er es meist, seine Lieben nicht vor den Kopf zu stoßen und seinen Fall zu lösen.
Ein kurzweiliger ruhiger historischer Krimi, der jedem geschichtlich Interessierten eine lehrreiche und unterhaltsame Lektüre bieten dürfte.
3,5 Sterne
June 19, 2012
When Odette de Valois disappears from her husbands' tomb at the Pere-Lachaise cemetary, her maid Denise turns to her former lover, bookseller Victor Legris for help. Victor thinks that Odette has just gone off with another lover but promises Denise he will see what he can find out. After visiting Odette's apartment and finding it ransacked, Victor tries to get more information from Denise, only to find that she too has disappeared. As odd events and disappearances continue to mount, Victor must actually take real action to find out what is behind the events.
Stumbling and bumbling through the City of Light at the end of the 19th century, this is a mystery without a clear purpose. The premise is fine, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The novel is littered with names - character that appear for no apparent reason, streets and places galore and historic factoids throughout, even to the point of requiring endnotes. Although the main mystery is eventually revealed at the end, numerous side plots are never explained.
I wasn't familiar with the time period going into the novel and did not get a sense of time and place at the end. Those who are familiar with the setting may enjoy the book more.
Stumbling and bumbling through the City of Light at the end of the 19th century, this is a mystery without a clear purpose. The premise is fine, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The novel is littered with names - character that appear for no apparent reason, streets and places galore and historic factoids throughout, even to the point of requiring endnotes. Although the main mystery is eventually revealed at the end, numerous side plots are never explained.
I wasn't familiar with the time period going into the novel and did not get a sense of time and place at the end. Those who are familiar with the setting may enjoy the book more.
July 7, 2017
Je me souviens avoir apprécié le premier volume malgré quelques défauts. Alors quand j'ai eu envie de me replonger dans le Paris de la fin de siècle je me suis naturellement tournée vers le deuxième. J'en ressort plutôt très mitigée. Je voulais être immergée dans l'époque, mais finalement en dehors des interminables descriptions de noms de rues, d’évènements historiques plus anciens y ayant eu lieu, je me suis retrouvée sur ma faim. L'écriture reste très en surface finalement, et la conduite de l'enquête est à pleurer quand on est habitué.e à lire du polar. Toutes les choses évidentes sont mal comprises, on a une résolution en catastrophe dont on ne sait pas vraiment comment elle arrive, et même si j'étais curieuse d'avoir le fin mot de l'histoire, la façon dont cela a été raconté ne m'a pas satisfaite.
J'ai aimé certaines choses comme les discussions sur l'art, la plongée dans le milieu artistique et la relation de Tasha et Victor, mais je reste vraiment désabusée par le reste. On m'a dit que les premiers volumes n'étaient pas vraiment les meilleurs et que je gagnerai vraiment à lire la suite, alors je note tout de même le volume suivant pour un jour pluvieux.
J'ai aimé certaines choses comme les discussions sur l'art, la plongée dans le milieu artistique et la relation de Tasha et Victor, mais je reste vraiment désabusée par le reste. On m'a dit que les premiers volumes n'étaient pas vraiment les meilleurs et que je gagnerai vraiment à lire la suite, alors je note tout de même le volume suivant pour un jour pluvieux.
September 16, 2012
I always love a mystery... That is why I am so often forgiving when parts of it remain tangled. The Pere Lachaise Mystery was a book that could have been more captivating if there were less characters. I often lost track of who the people were and found myself looking back a great deal. To be honest with you, I didn't even like the main characters at all. However, the plot and setting were interesting enough to keep my attention. Apparently this book is part of a series wherein bookseller Victor Legris becomes caught up in becoming a 19th century detective of sorts. In this case, a maid involves him in finding the whereabouts of his former lover. What ensues becomes a quite convoluted plot, but I suppose I am a sucker for those detective novels that require some suspension of disbelief. I think that is why I may have been a bit generous with the three star rating... Maybe two would suffice?? Anyway, a decent book, but I won't be running to read the next in the series any time soon.
January 24, 2016
The Pere Lachaise Mystery by Claude Izner - good
Now this was the book I wanted to read when I picked up the first three in the series. The first one I found disappointing. This one was much better and vindicated my original choice.
This is the second in a series of mystery (possibly 'cosy' genre) novels set in Fin de siècle Paris featuring Victor Legris, a bookseller, and his various family and friends. A much better mystery and possibly a better translation as it was less clunky than the first book.
Victor's ex-mistress has been widowed and then mysteriously disappears. Her maid runs to Victor for help and initially he ignores what she is saying, presuming that his ex-mistress is away on a tryst of some nature. Regardless he agrees to help the
girl, but when she too disappears he gets involved in the mystery.
Not great literature, but a pleasant enough read and much better than the first one. I have less qualms about reading the third (currently on mount TBR) at some point in the future.
Now this was the book I wanted to read when I picked up the first three in the series. The first one I found disappointing. This one was much better and vindicated my original choice.
This is the second in a series of mystery (possibly 'cosy' genre) novels set in Fin de siècle Paris featuring Victor Legris, a bookseller, and his various family and friends. A much better mystery and possibly a better translation as it was less clunky than the first book.
Victor's ex-mistress has been widowed and then mysteriously disappears. Her maid runs to Victor for help and initially he ignores what she is saying, presuming that his ex-mistress is away on a tryst of some nature. Regardless he agrees to help the
girl, but when she too disappears he gets involved in the mystery.
Not great literature, but a pleasant enough read and much better than the first one. I have less qualms about reading the third (currently on mount TBR) at some point in the future.
August 17, 2018
Picked this up on impulse from the local thrift store, and I'm afraid I simply could not finish. Despite some of the less than positive reviews on Goodreads, my fatal attraction to historical mysteries and bookstores led me to open the novel with a sense of cautious optimism. Not long after, my forehead hit the desk with a thunk because I got an eyeful this:
PROLOGUE
Cauca province, Columbia.
Book, you lost me at 'Columbia.' It's Colombia. Even more strangely, one of the translators for this novel apparently 'graduated from Goldsmith's College, London with First Class Honours in Spanish and Latin American Studies.'
I set the book aside, convinced myself I was being too didactic, and soldiered on about a third of the way through the book before putting it down for good. I can't fault the expertise of the writing team regarding Paris at the turn of the century, but the exhaustive historical detail and onslaught of literary references (which I normally enjoy) bogged down the tale. Hard to follow.
PROLOGUE
Cauca province, Columbia.
Book, you lost me at 'Columbia.' It's Colombia. Even more strangely, one of the translators for this novel apparently 'graduated from Goldsmith's College, London with First Class Honours in Spanish and Latin American Studies.'
I set the book aside, convinced myself I was being too didactic, and soldiered on about a third of the way through the book before putting it down for good. I can't fault the expertise of the writing team regarding Paris at the turn of the century, but the exhaustive historical detail and onslaught of literary references (which I normally enjoy) bogged down the tale. Hard to follow.
Read
May 2, 2011Sedotta dall'immagine in copertina e dall'ambientazione retrò mi sono fiondata su questo libro immaginando una qualche somiglianza, almeno per quanto riguarda l'atmosfera, con i racconti del maestro Poe. Ahimè, Victor Legris non è certamente Auguste Dupin e la Parigi delle sorelle Lilian Korb e Laurence Lefèvre ( Claude Izner è il loro nome de plume) non è quella de I delitti della Rue Morgue.
Victor Legris è un libraio che "respira più volentieri l'odore del sangue che quello della carta", e in effetti in libreria non ci rimane mai per più di due minuti di seguito, lasciando puntualmente da solo il suo collaboratore Joseph e suscitando in lui sentimenti tutt'altro che entusiastici: "Che impari a vivere! Basta andarsene a spasso come gli pare e piace, lascindo a me il negozio sul gobbo".
Continua su
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Victor Legris è un libraio che "respira più volentieri l'odore del sangue che quello della carta", e in effetti in libreria non ci rimane mai per più di due minuti di seguito, lasciando puntualmente da solo il suo collaboratore Joseph e suscitando in lui sentimenti tutt'altro che entusiastici: "Che impari a vivere! Basta andarsene a spasso come gli pare e piace, lascindo a me il negozio sul gobbo".
Continua su
http://ghettodeilettori.blogspot.com/...
March 1, 2013
I like the Claude Izner books because I recognize the places in them, from our visits to Paris, and they are quite relaxing to read ... but to me, who likes gruesome psychological thrillers, well, I think they are a bit slow ... I don't know. I can't say tha I don't like them, but they aren't REALLY my cup of tea.
This is the second book about Victor Legris, the bookshop owner who likes to solve crime mysteries. His girlfriend Tasja, his friend/mentor Kenji, the shop assistant Joseph are all there from the first book. And some new characters, of course.
Victor's ex lover goes missing at the Père-Lachaise cemetary (a pretty place that we've visited twice when in Paris :) ) and her maid comes to Victor for help. There is a murder, a mysterious painting, mediums who claim to communicate with the dead ... all set in Paris at the late 1800s.
(I read the Swedish translation, "Mysteriet på Pére-Lachaise", French original title: "La disparu du Pére-Lachaise)
This is the second book about Victor Legris, the bookshop owner who likes to solve crime mysteries. His girlfriend Tasja, his friend/mentor Kenji, the shop assistant Joseph are all there from the first book. And some new characters, of course.
Victor's ex lover goes missing at the Père-Lachaise cemetary (a pretty place that we've visited twice when in Paris :) ) and her maid comes to Victor for help. There is a murder, a mysterious painting, mediums who claim to communicate with the dead ... all set in Paris at the late 1800s.
(I read the Swedish translation, "Mysteriet på Pére-Lachaise", French original title: "La disparu du Pére-Lachaise)
August 13, 2013
A decent mystery, of the kind that gives several clues to the ultimate culprit(s) but without giving enough away for the reader to solve it all within the first half of the book.
It's reasonably translated from the French, for all I can tell, though a glossary of language rather than simply of references to historical people would be an improvement on this edition - little point in translating it into English if you don't also include translations of the phrases left in French. I knew what they were because I studied French at school and was good at it, but a lot of people would be stymied by the French phrases that turn up half a dozen times per chapter.
It's a good read, though. I probably wouldn't buy it in hardback, but it's something interesting to take on a train or plane journey, entertaining enough to keep you coming back to it even if you might not read it all in one sitting. A very ingenious choice of villain.
It's reasonably translated from the French, for all I can tell, though a glossary of language rather than simply of references to historical people would be an improvement on this edition - little point in translating it into English if you don't also include translations of the phrases left in French. I knew what they were because I studied French at school and was good at it, but a lot of people would be stymied by the French phrases that turn up half a dozen times per chapter.
It's a good read, though. I probably wouldn't buy it in hardback, but it's something interesting to take on a train or plane journey, entertaining enough to keep you coming back to it even if you might not read it all in one sitting. A very ingenious choice of villain.
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