When Beggars Die

by E.A. Allen

In this first novel of E.A. Allen's Montclaire Mysteries Series, murder mixes with international intrigue to make a deliciously evil soup. The year is 1903, and there's a murder at Le Chat Noir, a cabaret in Montmartre. No ordinary murder. Above Marie Collot's lifeless body stands no ordinary man - Edward VII, King of England. Called in as the French Republic's official investigator, Gerard de Montclaire navigates a complex web of greed, hatred, jealousy, and intrigue to find a ruthless master spy, who will stop at nothing to prevent an historic treaty between England and France. In the end, however, the key to the crime may be as simple as love gone awry.

Genres: Mystery

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2013

About the author

Dr. Edward A. Allen is a retired CIA Intelligence Officer. During Bush and Clinton Administrations, he served as the CIA’s Senior Analyst for European Security Affairs, and as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Europe. He has lectured widely on International Relations and has published more than a score of historical articles in scholarly journals—notably The Journal of British Studies and French Historical Studies. He now lives in his native Northwest Arkansas, where he raises cattle, promotes Historic Preservation, continues to lecture on International Relations, and teaches Modern European History and World Civilizations.

Reviews

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It actually took me a few tries to get into this story, but I'm glad I stuck it out.

The "feel" of the book is so authentic, I could swear this was written in the early 1900s. That's how talented this author is!

Loved the references to other literary detectives (i.e. Sherlock Holmes) and the in-depth descriptions that give the reader the feeling of being present, like a fly on the wall. Great stuff!

Of course, the tedious but necessary gathering of facts, piecing together the clues, the final denoument - all very reminiscent of other classic detective novels I've read and love!

Well done!

[O. P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, with twists and turns throughout and an exciting ending. I love France and Paris and this story features both, with a French detective who is a different sort of bird. The setup is interesting and has a great deal of history to it. I love to read historical mysteries in part because I like to learn a bit of history. This story teaches and entertains. It was the first of this series I read, and it made me want more.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this start to the Montclaire mystery series, set in Paris at the start of the 20th century. Montclaire, depressed after the death of his wife, is appointed a Royal Magistrate to investigate a charge of a call woman's murder against King Edward VII. Montclaire, accompanied by his loyal friend and old English school chum Francis FitzMaurice, is up against a wiley adversary, but holds his own. The plot is fast-paced and interesting, and the historical detail is impressive but not intrusive. I will definitely read another installment to see what this aristocratic Frenchman comes up against next!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of crime fiction, Le Chat Noir, and Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, which is why this book deserves four stars. Montclaire likes to see justice served a bit more than Dupin, which I like, but his role in the balance of justice is a bit shocking to me...in a good way.