What do you think?
Rate this book
Inspector Lafarge #3
The Compromised Detective
It’s August 1944 and the people of France are celebrating liberation from Nazi occupation – but a nasty hangover remains.
French men and women faced a stark choice in those dark days: to resist or to collaborate. Some, like Chief Inspector Gaston Lafarge, tried to keep a foot in both camps.
Lafarge, as a significant cog in the Vichy regime which worked with its German masters, believed he could still go about his business of investigating ordinary crime while his bosses plotted crimes that would stain the history of the proud country for decades to come – and also plot their downfall.
After committing a series of murders Lafarge attempts to flee the country in search of a new life with his Argentine wife and two children, but his bid ends with the sinking of their ship.
He is rescued and returns alone to Paris where he is permitted to resume his police duties at a time when the Free French leader General de Gaulle is returning from exile in London to take control of the country.
But reluctantly backed by the Americans, who give in to Winston Churchill’s persuasive powers, de Gaulle faces a new enemy from within – a right-wing group of pro-monarchists led by one Colonel Antoine de Cambedessus who long to restore the monarchy in the shape of Henri d’Orleans, the Comte de Paris, and descended from Louis-Philippe King of France from 1830-48.
Incredibly, Lafarge takes de Cambedessus’ wife Berenice as his lover – so their paths are already on a collision course.
The latest in Pirate Irwin’s historical fiction series,The Compromised Detective, re-imagines the immediate post-Occupation days in France, a country whose collaboration with Nazi evil cost it its reputation for decades after they openly connived in rounding up the Jews, even children that the Nazis had not asked them to do, and perpetrating other heinous crimes against their own people.
Though fictional, the novel is based on real events and features real people – intellectuals, politicians, members of the Vichy regime – and examines the complex French situation which exposed the best and the worst of human nature of the citizens in an occupied country.
Praise for Pirate Irwin
“A brilliant detective story that captures the tensions of the era” – Tom Kasey
Pirate Irwin spent 20 years in France where he worked for leading press agency Agence France Presse (AFP), and became fascinated by a country still haunted by its past. His other books in this series are The Twisted Patriot and The Tortured Detective.
French men and women faced a stark choice in those dark days: to resist or to collaborate. Some, like Chief Inspector Gaston Lafarge, tried to keep a foot in both camps.
Lafarge, as a significant cog in the Vichy regime which worked with its German masters, believed he could still go about his business of investigating ordinary crime while his bosses plotted crimes that would stain the history of the proud country for decades to come – and also plot their downfall.
After committing a series of murders Lafarge attempts to flee the country in search of a new life with his Argentine wife and two children, but his bid ends with the sinking of their ship.
He is rescued and returns alone to Paris where he is permitted to resume his police duties at a time when the Free French leader General de Gaulle is returning from exile in London to take control of the country.
But reluctantly backed by the Americans, who give in to Winston Churchill’s persuasive powers, de Gaulle faces a new enemy from within – a right-wing group of pro-monarchists led by one Colonel Antoine de Cambedessus who long to restore the monarchy in the shape of Henri d’Orleans, the Comte de Paris, and descended from Louis-Philippe King of France from 1830-48.
Incredibly, Lafarge takes de Cambedessus’ wife Berenice as his lover – so their paths are already on a collision course.
The latest in Pirate Irwin’s historical fiction series,The Compromised Detective, re-imagines the immediate post-Occupation days in France, a country whose collaboration with Nazi evil cost it its reputation for decades after they openly connived in rounding up the Jews, even children that the Nazis had not asked them to do, and perpetrating other heinous crimes against their own people.
Though fictional, the novel is based on real events and features real people – intellectuals, politicians, members of the Vichy regime – and examines the complex French situation which exposed the best and the worst of human nature of the citizens in an occupied country.
Praise for Pirate Irwin
“A brilliant detective story that captures the tensions of the era” – Tom Kasey
Pirate Irwin spent 20 years in France where he worked for leading press agency Agence France Presse (AFP), and became fascinated by a country still haunted by its past. His other books in this series are The Twisted Patriot and The Tortured Detective.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
32 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Pirate Irwin
8 books43 followersOld Etonian once termed Damon Runyonesque because of articles on horse racing sent from Australia...always been fascinated by WWII and especially the complex French situation which exposed the best and the worst of human nature of the citizens in an occupied country. Research for books helped by living for 20 years in France where he worked for leading press agency Agence France Presse (AFP), a country that is still haunted by its past and for not having dealt with it properly because de Gaulle preferred to heal the wounds and create a myth of all round resistance save a few misguided bad eggs, a minority of whom paid the heaviest penalty.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 7, 2017
There's huge amounts to recommend this book . Pirate Irwin uses fiction to demonstrate a remarkable knowledge of Paris under Occupation, the mass of intricate and complex factions, endless shifting of allegiances,with so many people living in a complete amorality. And in August 1944, though Paris was liberated, the Germans were not defeated. The idea of some sort of cranky movement wanting a Bourbon Restoration wanting to seize power is intriguing. The links between the world of the Arts, the Paris Intelligentsia and Collaboration are alluded to. Jean Cocteau comes over as quite a dubious fellow and the quip about Sartre was the only time I chuckled when reading the novel. Above all Pirate Irwin's novels are a demanding read, Quite an array of characters and found that I had to re-read parts of the novel as literally lost the plot. I am looking forward to more of Pirate Irwin's work.
The downside : Well I would have given the novel five stars , but firstly got tired of the lack of heroism or at least heroic deeds. Everyone seemed to be drunk,self serving, loathsome and concealing their past. But also felt that the poor Inspector,however unpleasant a character, is made to suffer too much. His family have drowned, his sister takes drugs and sleeps with Nazis, ,but the 'Jude the Obscure' type tragic ending just got too far fetched.
The downside : Well I would have given the novel five stars , but firstly got tired of the lack of heroism or at least heroic deeds. Everyone seemed to be drunk,self serving, loathsome and concealing their past. But also felt that the poor Inspector,however unpleasant a character, is made to suffer too much. His family have drowned, his sister takes drugs and sleeps with Nazis, ,but the 'Jude the Obscure' type tragic ending just got too far fetched.
January 19, 2018
Having read The Tortured Detective I was looking forward to the next step for Lafarge. It didn't disappoint, yet could have been better. I really like Pirate's manner of setting the pace, it keeps the reader's interest going even when you're 30 pages done and need to sleep.
The theme, I felt, was a person's choice between what is for the greater good and an easier life. Again I found it easy to follow the murky, dark atmosphere having been last year in Paris, so that it was familiar. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to be challenged once they put down the book for the night.
The only drawback, which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, is that it could have been a little longer and maybe someone of the historical characters were presented a little less sympathetically than they might have been . I would have given 4.5 stars if it were possible, then again, I'm being a pedant. I'm looking forward to the next Pirate Irwin novel.
The theme, I felt, was a person's choice between what is for the greater good and an easier life. Again I found it easy to follow the murky, dark atmosphere having been last year in Paris, so that it was familiar. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to be challenged once they put down the book for the night.
The only drawback, which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, is that it could have been a little longer and maybe someone of the historical characters were presented a little less sympathetically than they might have been . I would have given 4.5 stars if it were possible, then again, I'm being a pedant. I'm looking forward to the next Pirate Irwin novel.
October 29, 2017
Paris intrigue post Vichy w murder
I really enjoyed the setting of this book because I knew little of the politics and loyalties. Highly recommend to readers of murder, mystery and Paris after Germans were run out. Some may have problems w characters’ names but I know French. An inside view of what life was like during the Vichy Gov and after effects of local people and multiple collaborators
I really enjoyed the setting of this book because I knew little of the politics and loyalties. Highly recommend to readers of murder, mystery and Paris after Germans were run out. Some may have problems w characters’ names but I know French. An inside view of what life was like during the Vichy Gov and after effects of local people and multiple collaborators
July 27, 2017
Trading places
Interesting the morale compass of this tale. The why governs the what's good/evil. Enjoyed the history lesson of Paris and players during the occupation.
Interesting the morale compass of this tale. The why governs the what's good/evil. Enjoyed the history lesson of Paris and players during the occupation.
November 18, 2017
Boring; not a thriller at all
July 17, 2019
A complex and. Intriguing character, Lafarge exemplified the French existence in occupied France
Excellent narrative,splendidly written. Pirate Irwin has written a riveting and suspenseful story which kept me page turning til the end. ✴✴✴✴
Excellent narrative,splendidly written. Pirate Irwin has written a riveting and suspenseful story which kept me page turning til the end. ✴✴✴✴
July 29, 2017
I'd read The Tortured Detective by Pirate Irwin, the first in his Inspector Lafarge series and really enjoyed it and so had no hesitation in getting this to read, when it was published. The Second World War is coming to an end and Paris has been liberated, which should be a time for celebration. Lafarge however, has little cause for celebration, his family did not survive the sinking of the ship they were travelling on to Argentina and Lafarge is still fearful that he will be revealed as a murderer. He also has to prove himself to the new regime and so when he is given the task of uncovering a plot by pro-monarchists to restore the monarchy, can hardly refuse. I won't give the plot away, but will say it was an excellent read. Pirate not only knows the period well, but has drawn some great characters. Definitely a five star read and as the book ends on a cliff hanger, I hope for further adventures of Lafarge to read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews