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The Art of Occupation
'Fantastic! A must read for fans of Philip Kerr'
STEVE CAVANAGH
'An excellent historical series'
VASEEM KHAN
THE BRAND NEW NOVEL IN THE AWARD-WINNING OCCUPATION SERIES, FEATURING DETECTIVE EDDIE GIRAL
*****
PRAISE FOR CHRIS LLOYD'S OCCUPATION
'Ranks alongside Alan Furst and Philip Kerr ... Powerful stuff'
SUNDAY TIMES
'A thoughtful, haunting thriller'
MICK HERRON
'Such a powerful and morally nuanced crime novel. Both a gripping murder mystery and a vivid recreation of Paris under German Occupation'
ANDREW TAYLOR
'It's up there with luminaries such as Philip Kerr, Sebastian Faulks and Manda Scott - in fact, it's probably better than all of those'
DAVID YOUNG
'A haunting and eye-opening portrayal of life under occupation'
ADELE PARKS
'Lloyd does a masterly job of conjuring a hungry, defeated Paris. Eddie is a convincing protagonist; a flawed man trying his best to be a good one'
THE TIMES
STEVE CAVANAGH
'An excellent historical series'
VASEEM KHAN
THE BRAND NEW NOVEL IN THE AWARD-WINNING OCCUPATION SERIES, FEATURING DETECTIVE EDDIE GIRAL
*****
PRAISE FOR CHRIS LLOYD'S OCCUPATION
'Ranks alongside Alan Furst and Philip Kerr ... Powerful stuff'
SUNDAY TIMES
'A thoughtful, haunting thriller'
MICK HERRON
'Such a powerful and morally nuanced crime novel. Both a gripping murder mystery and a vivid recreation of Paris under German Occupation'
ANDREW TAYLOR
'It's up there with luminaries such as Philip Kerr, Sebastian Faulks and Manda Scott - in fact, it's probably better than all of those'
DAVID YOUNG
'A haunting and eye-opening portrayal of life under occupation'
ADELE PARKS
'Lloyd does a masterly job of conjuring a hungry, defeated Paris. Eddie is a convincing protagonist; a flawed man trying his best to be a good one'
THE TIMES
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 14, 2026
This story is all about stolen art works, superficially simple, but more complex once you scratch the surface. What emerges is a series of deals being brokered and an attempted sting operation, but a high stakes one where errors could be fatal. As ever Eddie has a balancing act ahead, trying to keep conflicting sides satisfied and stay alive.
Eddie is such a world-weary soul, a real hardboiled hero, albeit one who has realised it’s not a good idea to wisecrack the Germans to their faces, so most of his pithy observations remain thoughts. Eddie is given much more depth than many of this type of character; he has personal issues, a suicidal streak and a cocaine addiction have been conquered for now, though he is keeping going by taking tiny slivers of Pervitin. He also faces several battles to keep his headstrong son, on-off lover the Senegalese jazz singer Dominique and her Jewish neighbours safe. It’s a brilliant portrayal of a good man trying to do right in an impossible situation, one constantly facing choices, making compromises at personal cost and sometimes working with the Germans.
A strong character like Eddie needs a robust setting and here the author excels as clearly much thought and research have gone into recreating occupied Paris, and it shows. The Parisians are second class citizens suffering the privations of strict rationing whilst the German forces seem to get what they want. The sheer scale of the looting is mind boggling, here just a fraction is revealed. Then there are the petty mind battles with the Germans manipulating Eddie holding meetings in public, to make him appear a collaborator. The locals respond with their jokes and slights at the occupier’s expense that they cannot understand. Small victories that keep up morale matter.
The authentic feel is enhanced by the incorporation of real-life heroine Rose Valland into the story, as the art curator who aids Eddie, and who did so much to ensure the return of artworks after the war. Like Eddie she could speak German but kept this a secret and thereby was able to record where stolen art was destined.
The story moves along brisky considering the amount of action squeezed in. There is some violence, but not as much as might be expected, instead the writing captures a near constant sense of underlying menace. The author manages to make the confrontational scenes with the Germans pressurised and nerve jangling, where the wrong answer could mean a bullet in the head. Thereby this gripping tale keeps the reader constantly on edge.
A magnificent wartime Noir, dark, compelling and intelligently written. Historical wartime fiction at its finest.
Eddie is such a world-weary soul, a real hardboiled hero, albeit one who has realised it’s not a good idea to wisecrack the Germans to their faces, so most of his pithy observations remain thoughts. Eddie is given much more depth than many of this type of character; he has personal issues, a suicidal streak and a cocaine addiction have been conquered for now, though he is keeping going by taking tiny slivers of Pervitin. He also faces several battles to keep his headstrong son, on-off lover the Senegalese jazz singer Dominique and her Jewish neighbours safe. It’s a brilliant portrayal of a good man trying to do right in an impossible situation, one constantly facing choices, making compromises at personal cost and sometimes working with the Germans.
A strong character like Eddie needs a robust setting and here the author excels as clearly much thought and research have gone into recreating occupied Paris, and it shows. The Parisians are second class citizens suffering the privations of strict rationing whilst the German forces seem to get what they want. The sheer scale of the looting is mind boggling, here just a fraction is revealed. Then there are the petty mind battles with the Germans manipulating Eddie holding meetings in public, to make him appear a collaborator. The locals respond with their jokes and slights at the occupier’s expense that they cannot understand. Small victories that keep up morale matter.
The authentic feel is enhanced by the incorporation of real-life heroine Rose Valland into the story, as the art curator who aids Eddie, and who did so much to ensure the return of artworks after the war. Like Eddie she could speak German but kept this a secret and thereby was able to record where stolen art was destined.
The story moves along brisky considering the amount of action squeezed in. There is some violence, but not as much as might be expected, instead the writing captures a near constant sense of underlying menace. The author manages to make the confrontational scenes with the Germans pressurised and nerve jangling, where the wrong answer could mean a bullet in the head. Thereby this gripping tale keeps the reader constantly on edge.
A magnificent wartime Noir, dark, compelling and intelligently written. Historical wartime fiction at its finest.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eddie Giral is back with a vengeance.
"The Art of Occupation" opens some months after the events of the previous book. Detective Eddie Giral is still walking a fine line between doing his job and working alongside the Nazi occupiers. Paris is suffering under the occupation, and its citizens are growing restless. When Eddie witnesses the death an art dealer, and is assigned the case, he immediately finds himself caught up in a world of greed, deceit, and violence.
Quickly, Eddie begins to uncover clues to the widespread theft by key Nazis, of works of art and books, under the guise of being requisitioned for safety. In particular, he follows a trail to a collection owned by a wealthy Jewish family and to Paris's Jeu de Paume, where looted masterpieces are stored - and where curator Rose Valland clearly has something to hide. He soon realises the scope and depth of the problem.
Fans of the series so far will be glad to know that Eddie is back with Dax, Boniface, and of course, Hochstetter. Eddie's ongoing fight to balance his relationships, what information to share and what not to share, and the battle with his conscience is central. Not knowing who he can trust is a problem shared by most Parisiennes. As always, Paris under occupation is the backdrop to the story, and it and its citizens are perfectly captured. Those who chose to comply, those who chose to fight, silently, and those caught in the middle are all there, including some real-life characters. Eddie is once again forced to make choices that will haunt him and his growth as a character is a joy to watch.
Again, actual events such as the silent protests of 1941 are nicely woven into the story. The immense scope of the looting carried out by high-ranking Nazis is laid bare, as is the infighting between the various factions within the occupying forces. It all makes for a gripping read.
Highly recommended.
"The Art of Occupation" opens some months after the events of the previous book. Detective Eddie Giral is still walking a fine line between doing his job and working alongside the Nazi occupiers. Paris is suffering under the occupation, and its citizens are growing restless. When Eddie witnesses the death an art dealer, and is assigned the case, he immediately finds himself caught up in a world of greed, deceit, and violence.
Quickly, Eddie begins to uncover clues to the widespread theft by key Nazis, of works of art and books, under the guise of being requisitioned for safety. In particular, he follows a trail to a collection owned by a wealthy Jewish family and to Paris's Jeu de Paume, where looted masterpieces are stored - and where curator Rose Valland clearly has something to hide. He soon realises the scope and depth of the problem.
Fans of the series so far will be glad to know that Eddie is back with Dax, Boniface, and of course, Hochstetter. Eddie's ongoing fight to balance his relationships, what information to share and what not to share, and the battle with his conscience is central. Not knowing who he can trust is a problem shared by most Parisiennes. As always, Paris under occupation is the backdrop to the story, and it and its citizens are perfectly captured. Those who chose to comply, those who chose to fight, silently, and those caught in the middle are all there, including some real-life characters. Eddie is once again forced to make choices that will haunt him and his growth as a character is a joy to watch.
Again, actual events such as the silent protests of 1941 are nicely woven into the story. The immense scope of the looting carried out by high-ranking Nazis is laid bare, as is the infighting between the various factions within the occupying forces. It all makes for a gripping read.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the fourth in this series and easily the best. Eddie Giral is ploughing his lonely furrow as a Paris detective trying to keep his job and at the same time hinder the German occupiers at every opportunity.
This he succeeds in doing but not without many narrow scrapes. His colleagues Dax and Boniface, and naturally, his German shadow Hochstetter dog his every footstep as he seeks in vain for his lost son and desperately misses his girlfriend who he left for her own good given the German's reaction to her race and skin colour.
The plot is complex and involves the looting of valuable paintings and books from their rightful Jewish owners and the internecine squabbling amongst all the competing German factions to get their hands on them, with the biggest thief Goering himself.
There are murders a-plenty and the reader is never quite sure who is really who and on whose side they really are on.
What makes this series extra special is the descriptions of wartime Paris ad what life was really like under occupation. Little moments of resistance are beautifully described particularly the the Germans do not grasp what is really happening.
Giral is as outspoken as ever - shades of Bernie Gunther of course - but he is a survivor and and like this series he goes from strength to strength.
This he succeeds in doing but not without many narrow scrapes. His colleagues Dax and Boniface, and naturally, his German shadow Hochstetter dog his every footstep as he seeks in vain for his lost son and desperately misses his girlfriend who he left for her own good given the German's reaction to her race and skin colour.
The plot is complex and involves the looting of valuable paintings and books from their rightful Jewish owners and the internecine squabbling amongst all the competing German factions to get their hands on them, with the biggest thief Goering himself.
There are murders a-plenty and the reader is never quite sure who is really who and on whose side they really are on.
What makes this series extra special is the descriptions of wartime Paris ad what life was really like under occupation. Little moments of resistance are beautifully described particularly the the Germans do not grasp what is really happening.
Giral is as outspoken as ever - shades of Bernie Gunther of course - but he is a survivor and and like this series he goes from strength to strength.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved it as much as the other books in the series! The plot based on real events and people (theft of pieces of art) is indeed compelling with quite a bit of action as well as a lot of tension. Set in Paris WWII, the investigation is not only suspenseful in itself. Indeed, because of the Gestapo and other criminals wanting a part of the valuables, the chase of the murderer is made more fearful than the murderer themselves. You don't know whom to trust.
I loved reading about Paris in its dark days and you get a real feel of the city thanks to the atmospheric touch of the novel. Paris is definitely a part of the novel!
I particularly enjoyed Eddie's character: his sarcastic tone when talking to the Germans, his thought provoking integrity and his flaws... Those qualities make him a very realistic character, one I can relate to. The author has succeeded in creating an entertaining , chilling and clever thriller. I highly recommend this book as well as the previous ones in the series.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
I loved reading about Paris in its dark days and you get a real feel of the city thanks to the atmospheric touch of the novel. Paris is definitely a part of the novel!
I particularly enjoyed Eddie's character: his sarcastic tone when talking to the Germans, his thought provoking integrity and his flaws... Those qualities make him a very realistic character, one I can relate to. The author has succeeded in creating an entertaining , chilling and clever thriller. I highly recommend this book as well as the previous ones in the series.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
June 5, 2026
'A masterpiece of crime-writing'
We are back with Eddie Giral – a man trying to enforce justice in the cruelty and corruption of German-occupied Paris. In this novel, Eddie investigates the murder of a corrupt art dealer and is forced into a murky underworld in which thieving, lying, concealment, cheating and greed rule. Not knowing who he can trust or even who is who, Eddie has to combine guile and guesswork until he uncovers the twists and deceptions behind the deaths. But success brings the worst of dilemmas.
The brilliance of this series is in no small part due to the research behind it. Every step with Eddie is a walk through real history. The dismal despair of occupied Paris is palpable and the behaviours of Parisians doing anything they can to survive are brilliantly drawn. Characters are richly portrayed to the point you feel you are there with them. I’m sure I could smell Hochstetter’s cigarette’s and taste the bitterness of false coffee. But this is not a novel to bring you down. The pace is fast, and the story unfolds and twists in every chapter – and then there are the laugh-out-loud lines of Eddie’s sardonic wit.
We are back with Eddie Giral – a man trying to enforce justice in the cruelty and corruption of German-occupied Paris. In this novel, Eddie investigates the murder of a corrupt art dealer and is forced into a murky underworld in which thieving, lying, concealment, cheating and greed rule. Not knowing who he can trust or even who is who, Eddie has to combine guile and guesswork until he uncovers the twists and deceptions behind the deaths. But success brings the worst of dilemmas.
The brilliance of this series is in no small part due to the research behind it. Every step with Eddie is a walk through real history. The dismal despair of occupied Paris is palpable and the behaviours of Parisians doing anything they can to survive are brilliantly drawn. Characters are richly portrayed to the point you feel you are there with them. I’m sure I could smell Hochstetter’s cigarette’s and taste the bitterness of false coffee. But this is not a novel to bring you down. The pace is fast, and the story unfolds and twists in every chapter – and then there are the laugh-out-loud lines of Eddie’s sardonic wit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The fourth book in this excellent historical series set in occupied Paris in 1941. Detective Eddie Giral has a hit and run incident to deal with. His investigation takes him into the murky area of requisitioned art works. Struggling to carry out his job to the best of his ability, Eddie must also try to balance the competing demands of the occupiers who try to control his actions. Chris Lloyd writes an entertaining and well researched story. He vividly brings to life, through the character of Eddie, the moral and ethical dilemmas facing the residents of Paris under the occupation.
Highly recommended.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Highly recommended.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews