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Inspector Mazarelle Mystery #2
The Hanged Man's Tale
In the shadowy back alleys and opulent homes of Paris, hard-nosed police inspector Paul Mazarelle of The Paris Directive sets out on the trail of a serial killer.
A murdered man is discovered dangling inside the tunnels of a Paris canal--the only clue, the tarot card in his pockets: the Hanged Man. When an innocent suspect is railroaded into prison for the homicide, Mazarelle sets off on the hunt for the real killer.
For the charming, hot-tempered, impulsive Frenchman--now back from the provinces and leading his own homicide unit out of Paris's famed Quai des Orfevres--it's an investigation that takes him far from the comforts of Beaujolais and bouillabaisse, and plunges him into an underworld of ruthless white supremacists looking for scapegoats in Paris's growing immigrant community, corrupt cops eager to cover up a shady side business, and a conspiracy of secrets that threaten his own life.
Meanwhile, Claire Girard, an irresistible and ambitious journalist at a popular tabloid, is wrapped up in the same story. On the trail of the Tarot Card killer, Mazarelle finds himself blindsided by their growing attraction. And when his team's case collides with Girard's latest scoop, and the body count keeps rising, Mazarelle himself becomes a prime suspect who must clear his own name. Gerald Jay's latest Mazarelle adventure is a riveting, fast-paced thriller about a classic French detective making his way through the dangerous streets of a very modern world.
A murdered man is discovered dangling inside the tunnels of a Paris canal--the only clue, the tarot card in his pockets: the Hanged Man. When an innocent suspect is railroaded into prison for the homicide, Mazarelle sets off on the hunt for the real killer.
For the charming, hot-tempered, impulsive Frenchman--now back from the provinces and leading his own homicide unit out of Paris's famed Quai des Orfevres--it's an investigation that takes him far from the comforts of Beaujolais and bouillabaisse, and plunges him into an underworld of ruthless white supremacists looking for scapegoats in Paris's growing immigrant community, corrupt cops eager to cover up a shady side business, and a conspiracy of secrets that threaten his own life.
Meanwhile, Claire Girard, an irresistible and ambitious journalist at a popular tabloid, is wrapped up in the same story. On the trail of the Tarot Card killer, Mazarelle finds himself blindsided by their growing attraction. And when his team's case collides with Girard's latest scoop, and the body count keeps rising, Mazarelle himself becomes a prime suspect who must clear his own name. Gerald Jay's latest Mazarelle adventure is a riveting, fast-paced thriller about a classic French detective making his way through the dangerous streets of a very modern world.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
320 pages, Hardcover
Published December 7, 2021
6 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
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May 5, 2022
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Dangling from the steel beam, the dead body must have appeared as an eerie vision. Hanging upside down. The ankle swaying at the end of a rope.
Second in the Inspector Mazarelle Mystery series, The Hanged Man's Tale, has our Commandant Paul Mazarelle getting a promotion to join the Brigade Criminelle, which are the top 100 detectives in France. Along with his Lt. Jeannot and detail man Maurice, they are assigned to a murder case that had the body displayed hanging upside down in a tunnel and a hanged man tarot card in his jacket pocket. The victim turns out to be a former a police officer currently working as a PI. When everyone around Mazarelle wants the easy win with pinning the case on a Mafia Romani man, Mazarelle doesn't like how everything is adding up and soon begins to unravel a tangled web of far-right white supremacists, dirty cops, and newspapers paying for inside information to cases.
On the third floor the plaque on the wall announced La Brigade Criminelle with its thistle emblem and motto: “Qui s'y frotte s'y pique.” Meaning, as they say, “If you play with fire, you might get burned.”
I didn't read the first in the series but as this is more of a police procedural, focus more on the following and working the clues of the case, I didn't have a problem jumping in here. I did think the beginning felt jumbled with sentences trying to pack in numerous characters, setting the scene, and police organization names and structures. Around 30% the story evens out as the introductions are out of the way and we follow Mazarelle around. I felt like I did get to know Mazarelle, his wife dying of cancer, the numerous mentions of how big he is, and his general outlook on life, but, even as the lead, he's didn't become a character I necessarily grew to care about, the police procedural and solving the mystery are the stars of the story, so I can't say I'd be enticed to follow the character on another murder mystery.
Still, it was becoming clear---someone was messing with his investigation.
Definitely.
But who? And why?
When the story starts, it's from the pov of a character named Max, who has been radicalized and is setting up to assassinate the president of France, he fails when Mazarelle catches him and then dies when he tries to escape during transport after his arrest. The story then moves a few weeks into the future and the new murder case of the hanged man starts and you have to keep Max in the back of your mind until much later when his thread comes back into play. The threads I mentioned of far-right, dirty cops, and murder are credibly put together by Mazarelle and I liked how some of the connections were written out but I did think that the murderer/s was a bit sensational, mostly because the tone of story and Mazarelle's character was more grainy, low-key. The murderer/s story does give it a pop of lurid thriller but not sure it completely sat right in the overall tone of story. The guilty and innocent aren't obvious right away and side-characters come and go to muck about but Mazarelle shifts through it all, while surviving his own attempted murder. If you like police procedurals set in France, then the solving of a hanged man murder and all the tangled threads it brings together would be a good way to spend the afternoon.
Dangling from the steel beam, the dead body must have appeared as an eerie vision. Hanging upside down. The ankle swaying at the end of a rope.
Second in the Inspector Mazarelle Mystery series, The Hanged Man's Tale, has our Commandant Paul Mazarelle getting a promotion to join the Brigade Criminelle, which are the top 100 detectives in France. Along with his Lt. Jeannot and detail man Maurice, they are assigned to a murder case that had the body displayed hanging upside down in a tunnel and a hanged man tarot card in his jacket pocket. The victim turns out to be a former a police officer currently working as a PI. When everyone around Mazarelle wants the easy win with pinning the case on a Mafia Romani man, Mazarelle doesn't like how everything is adding up and soon begins to unravel a tangled web of far-right white supremacists, dirty cops, and newspapers paying for inside information to cases.
On the third floor the plaque on the wall announced La Brigade Criminelle with its thistle emblem and motto: “Qui s'y frotte s'y pique.” Meaning, as they say, “If you play with fire, you might get burned.”
I didn't read the first in the series but as this is more of a police procedural, focus more on the following and working the clues of the case, I didn't have a problem jumping in here. I did think the beginning felt jumbled with sentences trying to pack in numerous characters, setting the scene, and police organization names and structures. Around 30% the story evens out as the introductions are out of the way and we follow Mazarelle around. I felt like I did get to know Mazarelle, his wife dying of cancer, the numerous mentions of how big he is, and his general outlook on life, but, even as the lead, he's didn't become a character I necessarily grew to care about, the police procedural and solving the mystery are the stars of the story, so I can't say I'd be enticed to follow the character on another murder mystery.
Still, it was becoming clear---someone was messing with his investigation.
Definitely.
But who? And why?
When the story starts, it's from the pov of a character named Max, who has been radicalized and is setting up to assassinate the president of France, he fails when Mazarelle catches him and then dies when he tries to escape during transport after his arrest. The story then moves a few weeks into the future and the new murder case of the hanged man starts and you have to keep Max in the back of your mind until much later when his thread comes back into play. The threads I mentioned of far-right, dirty cops, and murder are credibly put together by Mazarelle and I liked how some of the connections were written out but I did think that the murderer/s was a bit sensational, mostly because the tone of story and Mazarelle's character was more grainy, low-key. The murderer/s story does give it a pop of lurid thriller but not sure it completely sat right in the overall tone of story. The guilty and innocent aren't obvious right away and side-characters come and go to muck about but Mazarelle shifts through it all, while surviving his own attempted murder. If you like police procedurals set in France, then the solving of a hanged man murder and all the tangled threads it brings together would be a good way to spend the afternoon.
November 30, 2021
November 26, 2021
Book Review
The Hanged Man’s Tale
Gerald Jay
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
An atmospheric police procedural that catapults into an action thriller as clues are chased down in the shadowy streets and haunts of Paris filled with dastardly villains and femme fatales.
President Chirac is standing in his open jeep, waving to the Bastille Parade crowd “like a frigin’ god in his gleaming chariot, smiling and waving to his adoring subjects.” A shot rings out, and before a second follows, Inspector Mazarelle pounces on the shooter and thwarts the assassination attempt. Mazarelle immediately notes the funny low-caliber rifle – all wrong for a serious assassin. The parade theme is a celebration of Franco-American friendship, following shortly after the destruction of the twin towers in New York. Commandant Paul Mazarelle is fresh from a well deserved promotion to the elite Brigade Criminelle – comprised of the one-hundred most celebrated detectives in Paris. Shortly after, a murdered man is discovered dangling by his ankles in a tunnel of a Paris canal. Mazarelle is immediately assigned the case.
His investigation reveals in the victim’s breast pocket, an identity card and a tarot card of the Hanged Man. The victim is Alain Berthaud, a private investigator, who is strung up with a wallet stuffed with cash – robbery was obviously not the motive. The investigation of his last moments of life lead to his police associates and his partner in the L’Agence AB, Luc Fournel, a previous lieutenant who took early retirement to join the more financially lucrative firm of Alain Berthaud. The night before, they were all gathered and having a drink with Guy Danglers, an active member of the police force. Danglers, after the encounter, meets his demise in his Mercedes, garroted from behind by an assailant waiting in the backseat.
Mazarelle’s investigation is a multifaceted dilemma. Is there a linkage to the recently botched assassination attempt by the growing white supremacist movement opposing the ever expanding immigrant community or the ongoing investigation into police corruption? (Those eager to cover up their lucrative side business of information peddling.)
Dropped into the middle of his investigation is the potential involvement of the gorgeous, ambitious and young editor of the flamboyant local Paris-Clash. The tabloid is known for breaking high profile, gossip-worthy stories involving highly placed politicians and celebrities. Unfortunately, Mazarelle allows himself to be infatuated with the femme fatale and allows her insinuation into his investigation. Her imminent death by strangulation in her city apartment, and discovered first by Mazarelle is certainly a major complication. All of the cases seem to collide with probable connections, and a string of clues for Mazarelle to follow.
Gerald Jay crafts a riveting, fast-paced complex atmospheric thriller, that features the deductive skills of the elite Parisian detective, Paul Mazarelle. Vivid and evocative descriptions of Paris locales are easily interwoven into the nuanced narrative. A multitude of clues, culprits and evidence amass as the inspector searches for truth and justice. Although this appears to be the second novel in the Mazarelle mysteries, it can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone. This gem is an obvious homage to the famous Inspector Jules Maigret series, penned by the marvelous Belgian writer, Georges Simenon. Both pipe-smoking investigators are similar in stature, demeanor and deductive abilities, and both operate from the elite Brigade Criminelle of Paris.
Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday / Talese books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
....published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine . com ....
Book Review
The Hanged Man’s Tale
Gerald Jay
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
An atmospheric police procedural that catapults into an action thriller as clues are chased down in the shadowy streets and haunts of Paris filled with dastardly villains and femme fatales.
President Chirac is standing in his open jeep, waving to the Bastille Parade crowd “like a frigin’ god in his gleaming chariot, smiling and waving to his adoring subjects.” A shot rings out, and before a second follows, Inspector Mazarelle pounces on the shooter and thwarts the assassination attempt. Mazarelle immediately notes the funny low-caliber rifle – all wrong for a serious assassin. The parade theme is a celebration of Franco-American friendship, following shortly after the destruction of the twin towers in New York. Commandant Paul Mazarelle is fresh from a well deserved promotion to the elite Brigade Criminelle – comprised of the one-hundred most celebrated detectives in Paris. Shortly after, a murdered man is discovered dangling by his ankles in a tunnel of a Paris canal. Mazarelle is immediately assigned the case.
His investigation reveals in the victim’s breast pocket, an identity card and a tarot card of the Hanged Man. The victim is Alain Berthaud, a private investigator, who is strung up with a wallet stuffed with cash – robbery was obviously not the motive. The investigation of his last moments of life lead to his police associates and his partner in the L’Agence AB, Luc Fournel, a previous lieutenant who took early retirement to join the more financially lucrative firm of Alain Berthaud. The night before, they were all gathered and having a drink with Guy Danglers, an active member of the police force. Danglers, after the encounter, meets his demise in his Mercedes, garroted from behind by an assailant waiting in the backseat.
Mazarelle’s investigation is a multifaceted dilemma. Is there a linkage to the recently botched assassination attempt by the growing white supremacist movement opposing the ever expanding immigrant community or the ongoing investigation into police corruption? (Those eager to cover up their lucrative side business of information peddling.)
Dropped into the middle of his investigation is the potential involvement of the gorgeous, ambitious and young editor of the flamboyant local Paris-Clash. The tabloid is known for breaking high profile, gossip-worthy stories involving highly placed politicians and celebrities. Unfortunately, Mazarelle allows himself to be infatuated with the femme fatale and allows her insinuation into his investigation. Her imminent death by strangulation in her city apartment, and discovered first by Mazarelle is certainly a major complication. All of the cases seem to collide with probable connections, and a string of clues for Mazarelle to follow.
Gerald Jay crafts a riveting, fast-paced complex atmospheric thriller, that features the deductive skills of the elite Parisian detective, Paul Mazarelle. Vivid and evocative descriptions of Paris locales are easily interwoven into the nuanced narrative. A multitude of clues, culprits and evidence amass as the inspector searches for truth and justice. Although this appears to be the second novel in the Mazarelle mysteries, it can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone. This gem is an obvious homage to the famous Inspector Jules Maigret series, penned by the marvelous Belgian writer, Georges Simenon. Both pipe-smoking investigators are similar in stature, demeanor and deductive abilities, and both operate from the elite Brigade Criminelle of Paris.
Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday / Talese books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
....published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine . com ....
November 19, 2021
In book #2 in the Inspector Paul Mazarelle series, he has been transferred back to Paris where he has been promoted to the position of commandant in the elite Brigade Criminelle--the top one hundred detectives in France. After his team helps stop an attack on the president, they are assigned a high profile case of murder. A man named Alain Berthaud, a private investigator, has been found hanging upside down under a bridge over the Seine. Mazarelle discovers a matching tarot card tucked in the victim's pocket. Is his killing a warning? Or is it the work of a twisted serial killer?
This is an enjoyable police procedural with lots of intriguing layers. The characters are interesting and quirky people; I cared enough about them to worry. But perhaps Paul is a bit too quick to fall in lust. Can he keep his wits about him?
One of the author's continuing themes is racism in France. Immigration has become a big problem for those who want to keep France pure. A detective of African descent has dealt with racism all his life and knows he is judged by his skin color. Mazarelle's boss jumps at the chance to pin the blame on a 'gypsy' for the crime so they can speedily close the case. But Mazarelle wants only the truth...
I received an arc of this suspense novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I am glad that the author has returned to writing this series.
This is an enjoyable police procedural with lots of intriguing layers. The characters are interesting and quirky people; I cared enough about them to worry. But perhaps Paul is a bit too quick to fall in lust. Can he keep his wits about him?
One of the author's continuing themes is racism in France. Immigration has become a big problem for those who want to keep France pure. A detective of African descent has dealt with racism all his life and knows he is judged by his skin color. Mazarelle's boss jumps at the chance to pin the blame on a 'gypsy' for the crime so they can speedily close the case. But Mazarelle wants only the truth...
I received an arc of this suspense novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I am glad that the author has returned to writing this series.
December 6, 2021
Overall I enjoyed this book and give it a 3.5 stars rounded up for star selection. I did not read the first book, but did not feel lost at any point because of that. I felt that the writing was good and the story flowed pretty well. I was intrigued when I read the description for this book and I did enjoy a book set in a different culture. I liked the main detective at the start, but I did lost respect during the book. Maybe there are some cultural differences, but I felt he crossed some progressional boundaries beyond what I was comfortable with. Other than that detour the mystery was interesting enough and I felt like the book addressed some significant issues which was also interesting. I liked the bits of French that was were tossed in. The other characters were good and interesting and this is a series I would read more of if the opportunity arose.
June 28, 2022
I have not read the first book in this series but I don't think I needed to in order to read this one. This is a police procedural set in Paris, and we seem to have a serial killer on our hands that is leaving the hanging man tarot card behind with their victims. Inspector Mazarelle is tasked with finding out who did it but he finds someone is hindering his investigation and then others close to him start turning up dead, complicating things further.
I enjoyed this one, especially the Paris setting and the humor that was injected in here throughout. It did seem a bit long at times and drug a bit for me in spots but overall this was well written and an entertaining mystery that kept my attention throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the digital copy to review.
I enjoyed this one, especially the Paris setting and the humor that was injected in here throughout. It did seem a bit long at times and drug a bit for me in spots but overall this was well written and an entertaining mystery that kept my attention throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the digital copy to review.
November 28, 2021
This is the second book involving Commandant Paul Mazarelle, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. A marked hero in his career, Mazarelle has moved on and has a new case to work with. A man was found murdered, hanging upside down under a bridge. In his pocket, The Hanged Man tarot card. And so, the hunt begins for a murderer hiding somewhere in the street of Paris.
I loved that this book, set in Paris, includes the language throughout mixed in like confetti with the English of the narration. The references to all the geographical locations really added to the feeling of being there. Personally, I have never been to Paris, but with the imagery and descriptions paired with my knowledge of the city, I was able to picture the setting and immerse myself in it.
Mazarelle and his partners, Maurice and Jeannot, are great complaints of each other. I really liked their character development throughout. They are not just like each other and bring their own biases, talents and faults to the table. This is a necessity when throughout the investigation nothing is as it seems.
Their boss, Coudert, doesn’t really care if an innocent person is convicted as long as the case gets wrapped up nicely, and, hey, this guy no one really likes looks like a great scapegoat. So, with the trial approaching, the case is on a time crunch. This added to the anxiousness that they face, especially when nothing is going in their favor. It also creates some suspicion on why is this petty criminal going to take the fall for a murder?
I appreciated the complexity of the case. The frequent directional changes as new evidence is discovered. The idea that there is way more to the story is to be expected in a book like this, but there were times where I was really surprised by what they were uncovering. Crime dramas would be slightly boring if everything was exactly as it seemed. But we go from a thinking that it’s a personal murder, to a neo-nazi hate crime, to dirty cops, to……. I’ll just leave it here.
As a new piece of evidence is uncovered, there are more questions than answers. Evidence begins to link other crimes to this murder and then of course, more murders are committed. The characters, good and bad, played masterfully off each other; all sides trying to one up the other. The peripheral characters that serve both sides are critical to the progression of the plot in this book, and I loved how it was done. With my own college degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, I loved the role that the magazine played. I won’t say anything more about it.
Clearly, I’m not going to spoil the ending, but I will say that just like the entire investigation leading up to it, there was no way this was going to be a conclusion with a pretty bow tied to it.
I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it if you are looking to escape to Paris for a little murder mystery. It wasn’t predictable, and it kept me guessing throughout.
I loved that this book, set in Paris, includes the language throughout mixed in like confetti with the English of the narration. The references to all the geographical locations really added to the feeling of being there. Personally, I have never been to Paris, but with the imagery and descriptions paired with my knowledge of the city, I was able to picture the setting and immerse myself in it.
Mazarelle and his partners, Maurice and Jeannot, are great complaints of each other. I really liked their character development throughout. They are not just like each other and bring their own biases, talents and faults to the table. This is a necessity when throughout the investigation nothing is as it seems.
Their boss, Coudert, doesn’t really care if an innocent person is convicted as long as the case gets wrapped up nicely, and, hey, this guy no one really likes looks like a great scapegoat. So, with the trial approaching, the case is on a time crunch. This added to the anxiousness that they face, especially when nothing is going in their favor. It also creates some suspicion on why is this petty criminal going to take the fall for a murder?
I appreciated the complexity of the case. The frequent directional changes as new evidence is discovered. The idea that there is way more to the story is to be expected in a book like this, but there were times where I was really surprised by what they were uncovering. Crime dramas would be slightly boring if everything was exactly as it seemed. But we go from a thinking that it’s a personal murder, to a neo-nazi hate crime, to dirty cops, to……. I’ll just leave it here.
As a new piece of evidence is uncovered, there are more questions than answers. Evidence begins to link other crimes to this murder and then of course, more murders are committed. The characters, good and bad, played masterfully off each other; all sides trying to one up the other. The peripheral characters that serve both sides are critical to the progression of the plot in this book, and I loved how it was done. With my own college degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, I loved the role that the magazine played. I won’t say anything more about it.
Clearly, I’m not going to spoil the ending, but I will say that just like the entire investigation leading up to it, there was no way this was going to be a conclusion with a pretty bow tied to it.
I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it if you are looking to escape to Paris for a little murder mystery. It wasn’t predictable, and it kept me guessing throughout.
December 4, 2021
Although I found myself more easily distracted while reading this second Mazarelle mystery than I was for the first (The Paris Directive), I still enjoyed it. Sometimes living in a country as big as the United States can give people a false sense of importance-- almost as if the rest of the world doesn't matter. Do you think the United States is the only country with right-wing extremists who hate immigrants? Think again. The Hanged Man's Tale, which takes place shortly after 9/11, makes it very clear that right-wing extremists and the plight of immigrants are problems around the world.
The two major "ingredients" of Mazarelle's team are Maurice Kalou, a Black man who is no stranger to bigotry and who has learned that doing everything by the book is the safest way to proceed, and young Jean Villepin, who's not only impulsive, but he also worships Mazarelle as only a young man who feels he's ten feet tall and bullet-proof can. Pit Mazarelle and these two against the crooked cops and right-wing extremists, and readers are treated to an often volatile mix.
Their investigation leads readers into the plight of the Roma (formerly known as gypsies) as well as into a camp for immigrants. Readers learn about ripoux (crooked cops) and les boeuf-carottes (what Americans refer to as Internal Affairs), and the fabled French Foreign Legion has a role in the proceedings, too.
As I said previously, I did find myself more easily distracted from the story in The Hanged Man's Tale, but the characters and the investigation are good, in particular the wily Mazarelle. I certainly wouldn't mind visiting him in Paris again. À bientôt, Paul!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
The two major "ingredients" of Mazarelle's team are Maurice Kalou, a Black man who is no stranger to bigotry and who has learned that doing everything by the book is the safest way to proceed, and young Jean Villepin, who's not only impulsive, but he also worships Mazarelle as only a young man who feels he's ten feet tall and bullet-proof can. Pit Mazarelle and these two against the crooked cops and right-wing extremists, and readers are treated to an often volatile mix.
Their investigation leads readers into the plight of the Roma (formerly known as gypsies) as well as into a camp for immigrants. Readers learn about ripoux (crooked cops) and les boeuf-carottes (what Americans refer to as Internal Affairs), and the fabled French Foreign Legion has a role in the proceedings, too.
As I said previously, I did find myself more easily distracted from the story in The Hanged Man's Tale, but the characters and the investigation are good, in particular the wily Mazarelle. I certainly wouldn't mind visiting him in Paris again. À bientôt, Paul!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
February 19, 2022
A gritty, thrilling mystery set in Paris with an intuitive, crusty, and colorful lead detective drew me in as soon as I heard about it. I confess that a book written by a family group to finish a story their deceased loved one had started did play a factor in heightening my curiosity to try this second standalone mystery in the Inspector Mazarelle series.
Mazarelle has been off doing provincial police work, but is brought back to Paris and given a prestigious promotion. He is settling in when a shootist at the Bastille Day parade giving honor to the heroes of 9/11 has him leaping to stop a presidential assassination. Not long after that case which had puzzling aspects that didn’t make sense even when the investigator in charge wrapped it up, he is put on a murder of a private detective who is left dangling upside down in a Paris canal. The murder is only the first and leads Mazarelle into the backstreets and glittering high life of Paris, immigrant situations and white supremists following the twisting trail to a serial killer and the solution of the case.
A Hangman’s Tale was attractive to me, as I said, for the Paris setting and the French detective and police work. I’ve never been to Paris, but I was excited to experience the modern city and their police work. The descriptions of places, people, conversations, and manners had me easily believing I was there.
The blurb stated it, but I guess I was star struck by the whole viva le Paris bit and missed that this was going to tackle social and cultural struggles that resonated hard as current issues twenty years later. Immigration struggles, white supremists, terrorists, corrupt cops, and more. On one level, I would rather have escaped into a book with anything, but those topics, but those very elements were what gave this case the grit, drive and reality.
Mazarelle is something of a rogue detective who isn’t afraid to think outside the box, question the status quo, and has a personality that gets him into trouble. He ends up quite the underdog, too, with a few who aren’t corrupt ready to stay true to their police badge and constantly at odds with his boss. He makes mistakes and has brilliant moments of intuition or plain good police work which gave him a layered persona I could root for.
Because of the terrorists, the conspiracy, the bad police, and surprise betrayals (though I could have kicked Mazarelle for letting himself get taken in when he got involved with a person of interest on the case), this felt closer to thriller than regular murder mystery. There’s something about a serial killer investigation that gets my heart pounding even harder especially the way that second murder took place. I had a few deductions, but for the most part, I was simply along for the ride and working hard to keep the crowd of players and all the bits and pieces sorted out.
I loved the storyline and Mazarelle, but yet I couldn’t settle down and stay in the story for any length of time. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or being lost in minutia at times, but then it would pick up my interest again and off we went.
All in all, this was a splendid armchair visit to Paris from sordid under city to the bright lights above. Mazarelle’s love of food had me salivating and his tenacity and impetuous work as a detective had me eager to see him land the perpetrators. It was intense at times and sometimes emotional. I would like to try another detecting story of Inspector Mazarelle and I think those who love the idea of a police procedural mystery set in Paris should give it a go.
I rec'd a print ARC from February Media to read in exchange for an honest review.
Mazarelle has been off doing provincial police work, but is brought back to Paris and given a prestigious promotion. He is settling in when a shootist at the Bastille Day parade giving honor to the heroes of 9/11 has him leaping to stop a presidential assassination. Not long after that case which had puzzling aspects that didn’t make sense even when the investigator in charge wrapped it up, he is put on a murder of a private detective who is left dangling upside down in a Paris canal. The murder is only the first and leads Mazarelle into the backstreets and glittering high life of Paris, immigrant situations and white supremists following the twisting trail to a serial killer and the solution of the case.
A Hangman’s Tale was attractive to me, as I said, for the Paris setting and the French detective and police work. I’ve never been to Paris, but I was excited to experience the modern city and their police work. The descriptions of places, people, conversations, and manners had me easily believing I was there.
The blurb stated it, but I guess I was star struck by the whole viva le Paris bit and missed that this was going to tackle social and cultural struggles that resonated hard as current issues twenty years later. Immigration struggles, white supremists, terrorists, corrupt cops, and more. On one level, I would rather have escaped into a book with anything, but those topics, but those very elements were what gave this case the grit, drive and reality.
Mazarelle is something of a rogue detective who isn’t afraid to think outside the box, question the status quo, and has a personality that gets him into trouble. He ends up quite the underdog, too, with a few who aren’t corrupt ready to stay true to their police badge and constantly at odds with his boss. He makes mistakes and has brilliant moments of intuition or plain good police work which gave him a layered persona I could root for.
Because of the terrorists, the conspiracy, the bad police, and surprise betrayals (though I could have kicked Mazarelle for letting himself get taken in when he got involved with a person of interest on the case), this felt closer to thriller than regular murder mystery. There’s something about a serial killer investigation that gets my heart pounding even harder especially the way that second murder took place. I had a few deductions, but for the most part, I was simply along for the ride and working hard to keep the crowd of players and all the bits and pieces sorted out.
I loved the storyline and Mazarelle, but yet I couldn’t settle down and stay in the story for any length of time. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or being lost in minutia at times, but then it would pick up my interest again and off we went.
All in all, this was a splendid armchair visit to Paris from sordid under city to the bright lights above. Mazarelle’s love of food had me salivating and his tenacity and impetuous work as a detective had me eager to see him land the perpetrators. It was intense at times and sometimes emotional. I would like to try another detecting story of Inspector Mazarelle and I think those who love the idea of a police procedural mystery set in Paris should give it a go.
I rec'd a print ARC from February Media to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2021
Review of Uncorrected eBook Proof
The murder of a man left hanging inside the tunnels of a canal in Paris puts police inspector Paul Mazarelle on the trail of a killer. There’s only one clue: the tarot card of the hanged man stuffed into the breast pocket of the dead man’s jacket. It doesn’t take long for a suspect to emerge, but he is an innocent man railroaded into prison in an attempt to end the investigation.
While Commandant Mazarelle investigates, journalist Claire Girard investigates the same story. Both are seeking the Tarot Card Killer. And, in the process of his investigation, the inspector discovers a ruthless syndicate of white supremacists and an unexpected cabal of corrupt police officers.
As the killer claims more victims, secrets and conspiracies threaten Commandant Mazarelle’s life. Will he find the Tarot Card Killer or will he fall victim as well?
Set in Paris in 2002, the occasionally gruesome narrative is both compelling and intriguing. The strong sense of place and the nuanced characters give depth to the telling of the tale.
As the mystery slowly unravels, readers will find themselves drawn into the story despite the nasty undercurrent of racism that is a bit off-putting but that plays an integral part in the telling of the tale.
The sometimes-gritty story takes several surprising turns, keeping readers guessing and the pages turning until the fast-paced denouement plays out to a satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books and NetGalley
#TheHangedMansTale #NetGalley
The murder of a man left hanging inside the tunnels of a canal in Paris puts police inspector Paul Mazarelle on the trail of a killer. There’s only one clue: the tarot card of the hanged man stuffed into the breast pocket of the dead man’s jacket. It doesn’t take long for a suspect to emerge, but he is an innocent man railroaded into prison in an attempt to end the investigation.
While Commandant Mazarelle investigates, journalist Claire Girard investigates the same story. Both are seeking the Tarot Card Killer. And, in the process of his investigation, the inspector discovers a ruthless syndicate of white supremacists and an unexpected cabal of corrupt police officers.
As the killer claims more victims, secrets and conspiracies threaten Commandant Mazarelle’s life. Will he find the Tarot Card Killer or will he fall victim as well?
Set in Paris in 2002, the occasionally gruesome narrative is both compelling and intriguing. The strong sense of place and the nuanced characters give depth to the telling of the tale.
As the mystery slowly unravels, readers will find themselves drawn into the story despite the nasty undercurrent of racism that is a bit off-putting but that plays an integral part in the telling of the tale.
The sometimes-gritty story takes several surprising turns, keeping readers guessing and the pages turning until the fast-paced denouement plays out to a satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Doubleday Books and NetGalley
#TheHangedMansTale #NetGalley
December 8, 2021
Intrigue and suspense in Paris, the city of light. The Hanged Man's Tale, Gerald Jay.
Set in 2002 in Paris, 'The Hanged Man's Tale' is written in the third person POV of Police Inspector Paul Mazarelle. His other French police officers are Captain Maurice Kalou of African descent in his homicide team, plainclothes Jeannot of the stringy blond hair, and young Lieutenant Jean Villepin. Journalist Maurice Claire Girard, editor-in-chief of Paris-Flash, is also investigating. An engaging cast of characters, they are investigating the homicide of Alain Berthaud, a private investigator.
A police procedural, 'The Hanged Man's Tale' is a delicious smorgasbord of crime, politics, the underworld, conspiracies, police corruption, racism, right-wing extremists and immigrant issues in Paris. It's not only the USA that faces racism or hate crimes. This is a fast-paced, gruesome crime novel with a point of difference in the type of crime and fortune telling used as a device. Mazarelle visits a Romani fortune-teller for her help to interpret the symbolism of the hanged man.
His investigation leads him into a Romani (gypsies) urban camp. '“La Petite Ceinture,” as it was called by the locals, stretched the size of five football fields, a quarter mile of danger and decay.' It also leads Mazarelle into "ripoux", 'crooked cops—the dangerous, twisted kind every real policeman hated'. Soon, staff from the French Internal Affairs also play a part, and even the French Foreign Legion show up.
Pretty soon after the grisly discovery of the body, the police charge a Romani with a history of petty crime, for the murder.' Babo Banderas, forty-two, is police fodder. Mazarelle's boss, Coudert, doesn't care a toss that an innocent person is convicted, so keen is he to wrap up the homicide. Sounds familiar.
However, new evidence comes to light, which throws light on other crimes that could be linked to this murder. Then the body count goes up. It's someone the reader knows!
Mazarelle, Maurice and Jeannot are entertaining characters, whose development keep the reader engaged. The plot is fast-paced and the milieu is complex, rooted as it is in recent history. The reader sees prejudice through Maurice's eyes. I really enjoyed the many moving parts, the depth, the fast pace, the unexpected twists and turns. I recommend this, my first Gerald Jay book, and will look out for his others. Thanks to Bookishfirst for the ARC of The Hanged Man's Tale.
This book review also appears in Amazon and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com.
Set in 2002 in Paris, 'The Hanged Man's Tale' is written in the third person POV of Police Inspector Paul Mazarelle. His other French police officers are Captain Maurice Kalou of African descent in his homicide team, plainclothes Jeannot of the stringy blond hair, and young Lieutenant Jean Villepin. Journalist Maurice Claire Girard, editor-in-chief of Paris-Flash, is also investigating. An engaging cast of characters, they are investigating the homicide of Alain Berthaud, a private investigator.
A police procedural, 'The Hanged Man's Tale' is a delicious smorgasbord of crime, politics, the underworld, conspiracies, police corruption, racism, right-wing extremists and immigrant issues in Paris. It's not only the USA that faces racism or hate crimes. This is a fast-paced, gruesome crime novel with a point of difference in the type of crime and fortune telling used as a device. Mazarelle visits a Romani fortune-teller for her help to interpret the symbolism of the hanged man.
His investigation leads him into a Romani (gypsies) urban camp. '“La Petite Ceinture,” as it was called by the locals, stretched the size of five football fields, a quarter mile of danger and decay.' It also leads Mazarelle into "ripoux", 'crooked cops—the dangerous, twisted kind every real policeman hated'. Soon, staff from the French Internal Affairs also play a part, and even the French Foreign Legion show up.
Pretty soon after the grisly discovery of the body, the police charge a Romani with a history of petty crime, for the murder.' Babo Banderas, forty-two, is police fodder. Mazarelle's boss, Coudert, doesn't care a toss that an innocent person is convicted, so keen is he to wrap up the homicide. Sounds familiar.
However, new evidence comes to light, which throws light on other crimes that could be linked to this murder. Then the body count goes up. It's someone the reader knows!
Mazarelle, Maurice and Jeannot are entertaining characters, whose development keep the reader engaged. The plot is fast-paced and the milieu is complex, rooted as it is in recent history. The reader sees prejudice through Maurice's eyes. I really enjoyed the many moving parts, the depth, the fast pace, the unexpected twists and turns. I recommend this, my first Gerald Jay book, and will look out for his others. Thanks to Bookishfirst for the ARC of The Hanged Man's Tale.
This book review also appears in Amazon and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com.
January 5, 2022
The Hanged Man's Tale is the second in a series about Police Inspector Paul Mazarelle. I was not familiar with the series, but I always jump at opportunities to read stories that take place in Paris. I'm happy to say that not reading the first book in the series in no way detracts from enjoying this second entry. I didn't feel like I was missing a lot of background, which is a testament to the author's abilities.
The Hanged Man's Tale is a police procedural that takes place shortly after 9/11 when Jacques Chirac is President of France. The story begins with an attempted assassination of Chirac, which is instantly solved by the lead character, Paul Mazarelle, as he catches the assassin in the act. Quickly thereafter, Mazarelle is assigned to a much more complicated case where a private investigator is discovered dead, hanging upside by his ankles in a tunnel of a Paris canal. All of his money is intact, so clearly was not the motive, but there is one odd clue left at the scene, a tarot card of The Hanged Man.
This is a complex mystery where the attempted assassination and the Hanged Man cases will eventually intertwine. It is also a dive into the racism that exists as much in France as it does here in the US. In investigating the murder, Mazarelle takes us into a world where the Roma (previously referred to as gypsies) are often the first group investigated when a crime takes place. I also learned a lot more about the French Foreign Legion in reading this novel, which I found very interesting.
I very much enjoyed the character of Mazarelle, as well as his two deputies, one of whom is of African descent and has very personally experienced extreme racism. Further, Paris is my favorite city on earth, so I loved the smattering of French slang and the familiar streets and districts where the book takes place. This is a mystery that will require your full attention in order to enjoy, but there is a payoff if you give it its due.
My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Hanged Man's Tale is a police procedural that takes place shortly after 9/11 when Jacques Chirac is President of France. The story begins with an attempted assassination of Chirac, which is instantly solved by the lead character, Paul Mazarelle, as he catches the assassin in the act. Quickly thereafter, Mazarelle is assigned to a much more complicated case where a private investigator is discovered dead, hanging upside by his ankles in a tunnel of a Paris canal. All of his money is intact, so clearly was not the motive, but there is one odd clue left at the scene, a tarot card of The Hanged Man.
This is a complex mystery where the attempted assassination and the Hanged Man cases will eventually intertwine. It is also a dive into the racism that exists as much in France as it does here in the US. In investigating the murder, Mazarelle takes us into a world where the Roma (previously referred to as gypsies) are often the first group investigated when a crime takes place. I also learned a lot more about the French Foreign Legion in reading this novel, which I found very interesting.
I very much enjoyed the character of Mazarelle, as well as his two deputies, one of whom is of African descent and has very personally experienced extreme racism. Further, Paris is my favorite city on earth, so I loved the smattering of French slang and the familiar streets and districts where the book takes place. This is a mystery that will require your full attention in order to enjoy, but there is a payoff if you give it its due.
My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2021
After reading a preview on Bookish First - I won a copy to review. Thanks to Bookish First. I was excited to get a copy of this book. When I received my copy (thanks to Bookish First), I read the first few pages again and was still anticipating a good read. Oh, boy - not what I expected. I was led down a lot of different avenues that seemed to go nowhere but the names and backgrounds of people continued to grow and confuse. The reason I was first intrigued was the main detective but he turned out to be someone I no longer respected. (Spoiler Alert Coming...) - he becomes close friends with one of the suspects. It is a dumb move, and when she is found dead, he is a suspect. The reason this frustrated me was that although this comes into play later it is just too obvious a move. She is a beauty with sex appeal who jumps into bed with everyone, and although the chief says he didn't sleep with her, they did spend the night together. Really? I thought he was smarter, and he does admit that he knows she is a liar and a manipulator, but he still gets close to her (no sex?? - not buying it), and when she is dead he mourns her and declares to himself that he loved her. Really? The police are corrupt, there are skinheads and other nasty groups who have their own agendas, and the confusion goes on and on. Here is the irony, I spent an entire evening reading this book as I thought that surely it had to get better (ignoring my own rules of 100 pages and then I am done.) I did not read the first book, and after reading the end of this book, there will most likely be a third installment. I would not recommend this book, and will not be reading the first or the second. (The other frustrating point - the use of french phrases thrown in that if I had more interest would send me running to a google translator. I either ignored it, or figured it out by context. Not for me!)
December 10, 2021
This is a French police procedural murder mystery. As that, it is very different from an English or American police procedural on that the legal system in France presumes an arrested person is guilty. And we can see that when our detective, Inspector Mazarelle, is told to find the evidence that proves a man arrested for a murder did the deed. The good Inspector wouldn't have arrested this man because he doesn't think the accused is guilty.
The book can get a touch confusing. We start out with an attempted assassination of the French President during a parade. This gunman is caught red-handed, so there is no question he's guilty. The Inspector, who is the one who caught the misguided gunman, can't help wondering why the would-be assassin used a 22 caliber rifle that was loaded with blanks. He never gets to ask those questions, because the gunman is himself killed on the way to jail. The event feels like an interesting way to introduce the Inspector, but it comes up much later in the book.
The major murder is spectacular. The victim, a private investigator, is left hanging upside down in a tunnel that is a big tourist draw so he'll be publicly found. Because he has a tarot card, the Hanged Man, on his body, certain elements of the police decide a gypsy man the victim was investigating killed him.
Inspector Mazarelle ignored his superiors when they push him to find evidence the gypsy is the killer. To prove that, he goes all over Paris and other parts of France. He gets suspended. He visits the home base of the French Foreign Legion. He gets chased by the bad guys. His loyal team members chase down little clues that lead all sorts of places.
This is the second book in a new series. I'm not so sure I will look for the first book, or read the next when it comes out. It just didn't keep my interest that much. It's a good mystery. There are lots of twists, plenty of strange people, many crimes along the way.
The book can get a touch confusing. We start out with an attempted assassination of the French President during a parade. This gunman is caught red-handed, so there is no question he's guilty. The Inspector, who is the one who caught the misguided gunman, can't help wondering why the would-be assassin used a 22 caliber rifle that was loaded with blanks. He never gets to ask those questions, because the gunman is himself killed on the way to jail. The event feels like an interesting way to introduce the Inspector, but it comes up much later in the book.
The major murder is spectacular. The victim, a private investigator, is left hanging upside down in a tunnel that is a big tourist draw so he'll be publicly found. Because he has a tarot card, the Hanged Man, on his body, certain elements of the police decide a gypsy man the victim was investigating killed him.
Inspector Mazarelle ignored his superiors when they push him to find evidence the gypsy is the killer. To prove that, he goes all over Paris and other parts of France. He gets suspended. He visits the home base of the French Foreign Legion. He gets chased by the bad guys. His loyal team members chase down little clues that lead all sorts of places.
This is the second book in a new series. I'm not so sure I will look for the first book, or read the next when it comes out. It just didn't keep my interest that much. It's a good mystery. There are lots of twists, plenty of strange people, many crimes along the way.
January 27, 2022
I would like to thank Bookish first for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is set in the early 2000's Paris. Immediately, the first character you meet is Max, who is a little deranged. He's happy to go and act like he was commiting an assassination.
Then, you meet the main character Mazarelle. He's a quick and clever man with the apparent strength of an ox. (Which is mentioned several times throughout the book about his physique.) I think he was an decent character, but I felt he fell a little flat with being relatable with the character. I'm not sure what there really was, but I couldn't quite connect with him.
The other character the author tried to connect you with is Claire Girard. Again, I couldn't connect with her. So when her impending death happened, I didn't feel a real shock or betrayal to the events. I think it's because she wasn't super relatable to me and there wasn't a connection.
Plus, Marazelle falling in love with Claire felt a little rushed because they had dinner once. Like you only knew her a few hours in the time she was alive and Marazelle was jealous of other men?! It confused me greatly. Like you weren't in a relationship with the woman and you weren't even that close. I mean I could see you feeling sad for her because she died but to say you knew her?! That's a little rough to say.
Honestly, the most unique character that set out was Maurice. He was the one that stepped up to being the most reliable and having the most of a connection with.
But, overall, it was a decent cop murder mystery. There needed to be a little more pizazz on some areas in the book because it felt like it had the same mood over the entirety of the book. There was enough climax and suspense to the story to really draw you in. I got a little bored with it several times. Improve on those things and the book would be better.
This is set in the early 2000's Paris. Immediately, the first character you meet is Max, who is a little deranged. He's happy to go and act like he was commiting an assassination.
Then, you meet the main character Mazarelle. He's a quick and clever man with the apparent strength of an ox. (Which is mentioned several times throughout the book about his physique.) I think he was an decent character, but I felt he fell a little flat with being relatable with the character. I'm not sure what there really was, but I couldn't quite connect with him.
The other character the author tried to connect you with is Claire Girard. Again, I couldn't connect with her. So when her impending death happened, I didn't feel a real shock or betrayal to the events. I think it's because she wasn't super relatable to me and there wasn't a connection.
Plus, Marazelle falling in love with Claire felt a little rushed because they had dinner once. Like you only knew her a few hours in the time she was alive and Marazelle was jealous of other men?! It confused me greatly. Like you weren't in a relationship with the woman and you weren't even that close. I mean I could see you feeling sad for her because she died but to say you knew her?! That's a little rough to say.
Honestly, the most unique character that set out was Maurice. He was the one that stepped up to being the most reliable and having the most of a connection with.
But, overall, it was a decent cop murder mystery. There needed to be a little more pizazz on some areas in the book because it felt like it had the same mood over the entirety of the book. There was enough climax and suspense to the story to really draw you in. I got a little bored with it several times. Improve on those things and the book would be better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2022
Paul Mazarelle is a detective who lives and works in Paris. He’s recently solved a major murder case, which allowed him to move into a new position in the police force just in time for a new murderer to step forward. In this case, a private investigator is found hanging upside down with a tarot card in his hand: ironically enough, the hanged man, considered to be a sign of warning but to whom? From the very beginning, Mazarelle runs into one problem after another with the mishandling of the crime scene, the disappearance of evidence, more murders, and an attempt on his life. Each mishap makes him more determined and more creative in solving the crime and bringing the guilty to justice.
Mazarelle is a big man, like Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike, and he has a large moustache, like Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. He enjoys his pipe and knows where to find the best dessert makers just as Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch loves jazz and knows all of best restaurants in L.A. Like all of them, Mazarelle is tenacious and quick-witted with a salty demeanor that rubs many folks the wrong way.
This book was loaned to me by a student who’d picked it up while on vacation. I was expecting a YA book, but it is not. In addition to being a murder mystery, it shows a very adult view of the immigration issue in France, racism, and the dark side of humanity complete with instruments of torture and death being utilized. It also gives the history of the French Foreign Legion, which was interesting as well as informative.
I found the story entertaining but found some of the conversations were awkward and lacked flow. I wonder if that had to do with having been translated from French or because the author is not an individual by a collaboration of four family members. 3.5
Mazarelle is a big man, like Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike, and he has a large moustache, like Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. He enjoys his pipe and knows where to find the best dessert makers just as Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch loves jazz and knows all of best restaurants in L.A. Like all of them, Mazarelle is tenacious and quick-witted with a salty demeanor that rubs many folks the wrong way.
This book was loaned to me by a student who’d picked it up while on vacation. I was expecting a YA book, but it is not. In addition to being a murder mystery, it shows a very adult view of the immigration issue in France, racism, and the dark side of humanity complete with instruments of torture and death being utilized. It also gives the history of the French Foreign Legion, which was interesting as well as informative.
I found the story entertaining but found some of the conversations were awkward and lacked flow. I wonder if that had to do with having been translated from French or because the author is not an individual by a collaboration of four family members. 3.5
December 23, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday books for the arc ebook of The Hanged Man’s Tale by Gerald Jay!
At the beginning of quarantine, I had to postpone a trip to France so, when I read the premise of this novel I thought: what a nice little escape to Paris!
Not one to shy away from a mystery, I dove right in. I was a bit slow at the beginning due to limited time to read, but once I gained my stride, it was very quick to get to the end.
This is the second book of a series of inspector Paul Mazarelle solving crimes, but my first to be read. Although I did not read the first book to be introduced to Mazarelle, I was not lost and everything still felt like a whole story. I will most likely look into other parts in the future.
Would you rather play it safe or get to the root of the evil? This seems to be the question at the heart of the investigation, but Mazarelle is one for justice and not letting any stone go unturned. He is a hardworking (perhaps obsessively so) police inspector, determined to let no one (and no injury) get in his way from coming to a conclusion. He is willing to play a little dirty to get information as well.
Until the big reveal, you are trying to connect all the dots to get this case closed up as the reader, only having as much insight into the mind of Mazarelle as you’re given. Around the case, you are fully immersed into the environment (whether the office or a dimly lit bar), scents (of his pipe tobacco or a cognac) and emotions (with slight facial expressions).
I enjoyed reading through this book while trying to see if I could solve the case before it came to its final conclusion, but does it? There’s a slight cliffhanger to see what kind of bow wraps up the present that Mazarelle has wrapped his findings up in. Until next time…
At the beginning of quarantine, I had to postpone a trip to France so, when I read the premise of this novel I thought: what a nice little escape to Paris!
Not one to shy away from a mystery, I dove right in. I was a bit slow at the beginning due to limited time to read, but once I gained my stride, it was very quick to get to the end.
This is the second book of a series of inspector Paul Mazarelle solving crimes, but my first to be read. Although I did not read the first book to be introduced to Mazarelle, I was not lost and everything still felt like a whole story. I will most likely look into other parts in the future.
Would you rather play it safe or get to the root of the evil? This seems to be the question at the heart of the investigation, but Mazarelle is one for justice and not letting any stone go unturned. He is a hardworking (perhaps obsessively so) police inspector, determined to let no one (and no injury) get in his way from coming to a conclusion. He is willing to play a little dirty to get information as well.
Until the big reveal, you are trying to connect all the dots to get this case closed up as the reader, only having as much insight into the mind of Mazarelle as you’re given. Around the case, you are fully immersed into the environment (whether the office or a dimly lit bar), scents (of his pipe tobacco or a cognac) and emotions (with slight facial expressions).
I enjoyed reading through this book while trying to see if I could solve the case before it came to its final conclusion, but does it? There’s a slight cliffhanger to see what kind of bow wraps up the present that Mazarelle has wrapped his findings up in. Until next time…
October 13, 2021
I gave up on mysteries a long time ago. It was hard enough winding through a novel’s plotline without trying to pick up clues and guess whodunnit. Too many of those and I was ready to head back to horrid Harlequin romances (shudder).
But this one was…intriguing. I’d never heard of this detective before now and a French one at that. Mazarelle is one of those detectives with quirks: a penchant for pipes instead of cigarettes, a gastronome (oh, well, he IS French) with a keen eye and nose for the best fruit in season and a tendency to attract oddball cases. So when a man is found hanging upside down like a figure on a Tarot card, both Mazarelle and I are curious.
The first few pages provide us with local color, with a gunman who’s a sad failure at assassination. It’s almost funny, a welcome departure from the lurid violence of contemporary America, where gunplay seems to erupt almost daily. Then it’s followed up by the aforementioned hanged man.
The shift in tone is startling and masterfully done, the grim sight of the victim juxtaposed by a ferry ride of tourists passing beneath him. The captain’s shaken call to his superior is also a kind of mini-comedy, as the ferryman explains to his offended superior that the crime had to be reported to the police—even if he did have customers. Ah, the French. C’est drôle.
This mystery promises to have other touches of comedy, making it a worthwhile departure from other murder mysteries.
But this one was…intriguing. I’d never heard of this detective before now and a French one at that. Mazarelle is one of those detectives with quirks: a penchant for pipes instead of cigarettes, a gastronome (oh, well, he IS French) with a keen eye and nose for the best fruit in season and a tendency to attract oddball cases. So when a man is found hanging upside down like a figure on a Tarot card, both Mazarelle and I are curious.
The first few pages provide us with local color, with a gunman who’s a sad failure at assassination. It’s almost funny, a welcome departure from the lurid violence of contemporary America, where gunplay seems to erupt almost daily. Then it’s followed up by the aforementioned hanged man.
The shift in tone is startling and masterfully done, the grim sight of the victim juxtaposed by a ferry ride of tourists passing beneath him. The captain’s shaken call to his superior is also a kind of mini-comedy, as the ferryman explains to his offended superior that the crime had to be reported to the police—even if he did have customers. Ah, the French. C’est drôle.
This mystery promises to have other touches of comedy, making it a worthwhile departure from other murder mysteries.
December 10, 2021
3/5 Stars
Trigger Warning: This novel has mentions of a statutory rape relationship, mentions of an incestuous molestation, and mentions of infidelity.
This is an intriguing second novel in a series that follows Inspector Mazarelle as he investigates a series of murders. He is determined to find the killer, no matter the cost.
Sadly I am unable to give it a higher rating. There were so many characters to keep track of, some of whom would be briefly mentioned then brought up a hundred pages later. I would have loved a character index. The plot also seemed to be quite muddled until almost halfway through.
I do understand that this a crime novel and that crimes are not completely straightforward. But this seemed to go in multiple directions all at once that made it hard to keep track of what was happening. Once the characters made a monumental discovery, the story finally began moving at a decent pace.
Our main man Mazarelle also rubbed me the wrong way. From the beginning he's very flirtatious towards any woman he interacts with and then starts a fling with someone he should not have. Especially when the situation reminded him of one he'd previously been in.
Overall, I like the crime and investigation shown. And I am interested to see where the story goes, especially after the ending. But I would have loved to follow Mazarelle's subordinates than him.
Disclaimer: I won an advanced copy through BookishFirst.
Trigger Warning: This novel has mentions of a statutory rape relationship, mentions of an incestuous molestation, and mentions of infidelity.
This is an intriguing second novel in a series that follows Inspector Mazarelle as he investigates a series of murders. He is determined to find the killer, no matter the cost.
Sadly I am unable to give it a higher rating. There were so many characters to keep track of, some of whom would be briefly mentioned then brought up a hundred pages later. I would have loved a character index. The plot also seemed to be quite muddled until almost halfway through.
I do understand that this a crime novel and that crimes are not completely straightforward. But this seemed to go in multiple directions all at once that made it hard to keep track of what was happening. Once the characters made a monumental discovery, the story finally began moving at a decent pace.
Our main man Mazarelle also rubbed me the wrong way. From the beginning he's very flirtatious towards any woman he interacts with and then starts a fling with someone he should not have. Especially when the situation reminded him of one he'd previously been in.
Overall, I like the crime and investigation shown. And I am interested to see where the story goes, especially after the ending. But I would have loved to follow Mazarelle's subordinates than him.
Disclaimer: I won an advanced copy through BookishFirst.
October 14, 2021
Not My Style, But Still Pretty Good
Although mystery IS one of my favorite genres, this wasn't my style.
As I didn't read the first book, nor have ever heard of this series, it was alittle confusing to follow up with.
I enjoy the way Gerald writes, and the plot of the book. Whilst I didn't understand much, it was still an interesting theme/base that kept me in.
I love his style of writing. I'm a huge fan of James Patterson, and the way that Gerald wrote this book, it definitely reminded me of him. He has amazing imagery, which allows me to know when and what is wrong. I can imagine everything clearly, and that is one of the many things I can say made me continue reading. The listing of each character was a bit boring, and not really anything I enjoyed having to read. It's a pretty good mystery novel, and a good thing to add on for the month of October. Although I didn't enjoy it, I do believe that many others would. So, an amazing read if you've read the first book, you have amazing things to look forward to
Although mystery IS one of my favorite genres, this wasn't my style.
As I didn't read the first book, nor have ever heard of this series, it was alittle confusing to follow up with.
I enjoy the way Gerald writes, and the plot of the book. Whilst I didn't understand much, it was still an interesting theme/base that kept me in.
I love his style of writing. I'm a huge fan of James Patterson, and the way that Gerald wrote this book, it definitely reminded me of him. He has amazing imagery, which allows me to know when and what is wrong. I can imagine everything clearly, and that is one of the many things I can say made me continue reading. The listing of each character was a bit boring, and not really anything I enjoyed having to read. It's a pretty good mystery novel, and a good thing to add on for the month of October. Although I didn't enjoy it, I do believe that many others would. So, an amazing read if you've read the first book, you have amazing things to look forward to
October 30, 2021
Paul Mazarelle is a police investigator that has his work cut out for him. Not only is he working a case but he's trying to solve his own problems as well.
I found this book with all of it's twists and turns to be a refreshing change from some of the other.
The world building in my opinion was amazing, I could see in my mind the catacombs.... not that that's something I want to see but the descriptions were so vivid and detailed that I could imagine the locations that were being written about.
I do question quite a few of the Mazarelles decisions, like becoming friends with one of the suspects, I mean ok so he wasn't sure who was who at that point but that's kind of the point.
I will say I didn't see the identity of the murderer, it snuck up on me but once the true sequence of events was revealed it made all of the pieces fall into place and that in my opinion is the best kind of mystery. When all the pieces click and you just sit back and think wow how did I miss all of that.
I found this book with all of it's twists and turns to be a refreshing change from some of the other.
The world building in my opinion was amazing, I could see in my mind the catacombs.... not that that's something I want to see but the descriptions were so vivid and detailed that I could imagine the locations that were being written about.
I do question quite a few of the Mazarelles decisions, like becoming friends with one of the suspects, I mean ok so he wasn't sure who was who at that point but that's kind of the point.
I will say I didn't see the identity of the murderer, it snuck up on me but once the true sequence of events was revealed it made all of the pieces fall into place and that in my opinion is the best kind of mystery. When all the pieces click and you just sit back and think wow how did I miss all of that.
November 2, 2021
I won the arc of The Hanged Man’s Tale, so i was able to read it earlier than when it was published. My copy did get here a little late so I’m barley finishing it. First off I want to start with saying that I absolutely loved this cover, and the details were what got me appealed to this book. The quality of the book pages are superior. Stuff like this are very important to me. So when I started reading this, at first I was very lost. It automatically starts off with many names and characters and it took me till about half of the book to understand who was who. So it was really hard for me to follow through with the story and the plot. I have recently gotten into mystery and thriller books, so this was the perfect book for me to explore more of this genre. This was fast paced, which I really appreciate. And not only that, but the book also had some romance in it. Can’t go wrong with that! I would definitely recommend this book. I really enjoyed reading this last night on Halloween. It really went with the vibe!!
November 3, 2021
**This review was gathered by a preview provided by Bookish First**
I like subtle misdirect in the beginning a lot. Showing us Max who is an aspiring actor and has finally seemed to have found his big break. He's studious and on time, everything ready for the big day and boom. Total opposite of what we expect. He's hauled into a jail and that's the last we see of him for the time being. We're then brought to Captain Marc upon his boat, going up canal Saint-Martin. He makes his way to what the local people refer to as the "Locks of the Dead." an underground water channel. Inside the underground tunnel he sees a body dangling from a rope tied to the person's ankle. He described it the dead man's face as a "gargoyle of agony." It leaves an eerie feeling of unsettlement in the reader. I really liked the set up and delivery of how things occurred in the snippet. I feel as if there aren't too many murder/mysteries I've read that have been set in Paris and this book had me very interested in reading more.
I like subtle misdirect in the beginning a lot. Showing us Max who is an aspiring actor and has finally seemed to have found his big break. He's studious and on time, everything ready for the big day and boom. Total opposite of what we expect. He's hauled into a jail and that's the last we see of him for the time being. We're then brought to Captain Marc upon his boat, going up canal Saint-Martin. He makes his way to what the local people refer to as the "Locks of the Dead." an underground water channel. Inside the underground tunnel he sees a body dangling from a rope tied to the person's ankle. He described it the dead man's face as a "gargoyle of agony." It leaves an eerie feeling of unsettlement in the reader. I really liked the set up and delivery of how things occurred in the snippet. I feel as if there aren't too many murder/mysteries I've read that have been set in Paris and this book had me very interested in reading more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great police procedural. There are many suspects and many twists and turns. I didn't read nor did I realize that this was the 2nd book in a series. This can definitely be read as a stand alone. Mazarelle is a good cop with great instincts. He is a huge man with a large presence and some underestimate him. This time he stumbles upon a conspiracy that has far reaching consequences that didn't completely resolve at the end so I'm sure it will carry over into another book. The murder however is solved and doesn't leave you hanging, which I hate.
Racism is a big theme running through this book. Mazarelle's co-worker is of African descent and is constantly dealing with racism throughout the book but many different characters. When a "gypsy" is arrested the powers that be are quick to pin the blame on him however Mazarelle doesn't work that way, he only wants the truth and he doesn't believe that man is the culprit. White supremacy doesn't seem to only be an American issue as this book is quick to point out.
I really enjoyed this book and will be definitely adding this series to my reading list.
This is a great police procedural. There are many suspects and many twists and turns. I didn't read nor did I realize that this was the 2nd book in a series. This can definitely be read as a stand alone. Mazarelle is a good cop with great instincts. He is a huge man with a large presence and some underestimate him. This time he stumbles upon a conspiracy that has far reaching consequences that didn't completely resolve at the end so I'm sure it will carry over into another book. The murder however is solved and doesn't leave you hanging, which I hate.
Racism is a big theme running through this book. Mazarelle's co-worker is of African descent and is constantly dealing with racism throughout the book but many different characters. When a "gypsy" is arrested the powers that be are quick to pin the blame on him however Mazarelle doesn't work that way, he only wants the truth and he doesn't believe that man is the culprit. White supremacy doesn't seem to only be an American issue as this book is quick to point out.
I really enjoyed this book and will be definitely adding this series to my reading list.
December 1, 2021
The Hanged Man's Tale is book 2 in the Inspector Marzarelle Mysteries by Gerald Jay.
"A murdered man is found hanging in the tunnel of a Paris canal with a tarot card in his pocket. A suspect is arrested quickly but Inspector Marzarelle knows he's not the real killer. Marzarelle and his team follow leads all over Paris. More people are killed and when Marzarelle is suspended he wonders if he can find the killer."
This is the first French crime fiction story I've read. I wanted to like this book more. Marzarelle has the potential to be a great character. He has a big personality and reminds you of many other fictional detectives.
The biggest issue is the constant French phrases - always having to look up the meaning. It really slows the reading down and hurts the flow of the story. There are some big jumps in logic that are iffy. And lots of cliches (one of my pet peeves)
If you're looking for a different kind of crime fiction give this a try. Keep your French-English dictionary handy.
"A murdered man is found hanging in the tunnel of a Paris canal with a tarot card in his pocket. A suspect is arrested quickly but Inspector Marzarelle knows he's not the real killer. Marzarelle and his team follow leads all over Paris. More people are killed and when Marzarelle is suspended he wonders if he can find the killer."
This is the first French crime fiction story I've read. I wanted to like this book more. Marzarelle has the potential to be a great character. He has a big personality and reminds you of many other fictional detectives.
The biggest issue is the constant French phrases - always having to look up the meaning. It really slows the reading down and hurts the flow of the story. There are some big jumps in logic that are iffy. And lots of cliches (one of my pet peeves)
If you're looking for a different kind of crime fiction give this a try. Keep your French-English dictionary handy.
December 1, 2021
The Hanged Man's Tale is book 2 in the Inspector Marzarelle Mysteries by Gerald Jay.
"A murdered man is found hanging in the tunnel of a Paris canal with a tarot card in his pocket. A suspect is arrested quickly but Inspector Marzarelle knows he's not the real killer. Marzarelle and his team follow leads all over Paris. More people are killed and when Marzarelle is suspended he wonders if he can find the killer."
This is the first French crime fiction story I've read. I wanted to like this book more. Marzarelle has the potential to be a great character. He has a big personality and reminds you of many other fictional detectives.
The biggest issue is the constant French phrases - always having to look up the meaning. It really slows the reading down and hurts the flow of the story. There are some big jumps in logic that are iffy. And lots of cliches (one of my pet peeves)
If you're looking for a different kind of crime fiction give this a try. Keep your French-English dictionary handy.
"A murdered man is found hanging in the tunnel of a Paris canal with a tarot card in his pocket. A suspect is arrested quickly but Inspector Marzarelle knows he's not the real killer. Marzarelle and his team follow leads all over Paris. More people are killed and when Marzarelle is suspended he wonders if he can find the killer."
This is the first French crime fiction story I've read. I wanted to like this book more. Marzarelle has the potential to be a great character. He has a big personality and reminds you of many other fictional detectives.
The biggest issue is the constant French phrases - always having to look up the meaning. It really slows the reading down and hurts the flow of the story. There are some big jumps in logic that are iffy. And lots of cliches (one of my pet peeves)
If you're looking for a different kind of crime fiction give this a try. Keep your French-English dictionary handy.
December 7, 2021
A body was found dangling upside down inside the tunnels of a Paris canal – not suicidal buy murdered – with the Hanged Man tarot card tucked inside his pockets!
The police inspector Paul Mazarelle was assigned to investigate this homicide. As he dug deeper into the case, he was stonewalled everywhere he went. In addition to that, the body count kept increasing, including the ambitious and prominent journalist Claire Girard who was found dead with a tarot card in her hand – the Hanged Man!
Is the Hanged Man tarot card a curse?
The talented Gerald Jay has cleverly written this suspenseful and riveting thriller THE HANGED MAN’S TALE featuring Inspector Paul Mazarelle whom I found likeable and sharp-minded. The suspense of the novel intensified as I turned the pages while I was on the edge of my seat. This is my first book by Gerald Jay and I definitely will look forward to reading his future Inspector Mazarelle Mystery!
I would like to thank Bookishfirst for this tremendously exciting opportunity to read and review the ARC of THE HANGED MAN’S TALE, which I absolutely enjoyed!
The police inspector Paul Mazarelle was assigned to investigate this homicide. As he dug deeper into the case, he was stonewalled everywhere he went. In addition to that, the body count kept increasing, including the ambitious and prominent journalist Claire Girard who was found dead with a tarot card in her hand – the Hanged Man!
Is the Hanged Man tarot card a curse?
The talented Gerald Jay has cleverly written this suspenseful and riveting thriller THE HANGED MAN’S TALE featuring Inspector Paul Mazarelle whom I found likeable and sharp-minded. The suspense of the novel intensified as I turned the pages while I was on the edge of my seat. This is my first book by Gerald Jay and I definitely will look forward to reading his future Inspector Mazarelle Mystery!
I would like to thank Bookishfirst for this tremendously exciting opportunity to read and review the ARC of THE HANGED MAN’S TALE, which I absolutely enjoyed!
October 5, 2021
I would first like to begin by thanking BookishFirst for providing me an ARC of this book for this review.
The start of this book is pretty shocking because it starts with a murdered man being discovered inside the tunnels of Paris and the only clue is a tarot card in his pocket called the Hanged Man (yay title!). However, an innocent person gets accused of the kill. Inspector Paul Mazarelle takes it upon himself to go and find the real killer and bring justice to the accused innocent. It gets pretty gruesome at some parts so a fair bit of warning there.
This book definitely had me on the edge of my seat - honestly I thought the plotline was pretty well carried out. I can't go into too many details otherwise the magic of the book would be ruined, but I would say that this book is perfect for reading when it is a cold rainy day and you simply feel the laziness in the air. Overall, I'd rate it a 3/5.
The start of this book is pretty shocking because it starts with a murdered man being discovered inside the tunnels of Paris and the only clue is a tarot card in his pocket called the Hanged Man (yay title!). However, an innocent person gets accused of the kill. Inspector Paul Mazarelle takes it upon himself to go and find the real killer and bring justice to the accused innocent. It gets pretty gruesome at some parts so a fair bit of warning there.
This book definitely had me on the edge of my seat - honestly I thought the plotline was pretty well carried out. I can't go into too many details otherwise the magic of the book would be ruined, but I would say that this book is perfect for reading when it is a cold rainy day and you simply feel the laziness in the air. Overall, I'd rate it a 3/5.
Want to read
October 12, 2021The start of the novel has nice imagery that lets the reader know that something is wrong. But I find the listing of what is around the character and the showing of the characters actions to be a bit boring. I also think that the pacing is too fast and we skip around a lot. The tale really begins when a murder occurs and the only clue is a tarot card that has a picture of a hanged man stuffed into the chest pocket of the dead man's jacket. The author also has wonderful cliffhangers or endings to the chapters as they always leave the reader on the edge of their seat. I find the writing itself to be dry and not really have a lot of prose. You can also tell in the beginning that this is going to be a violent and gruesome tale as the characters curse and the mystery gets heated rather quickly. The story itself takes place in Pairs in 2002. Paul Mazarelle, who is an inspector takes on the case and tries to find who the real killer is.
October 17, 2021
This book is such a fun murder mystery. An attempt on the French presidents life and a private investigator hanging dead from his ankles. At first the two don’t seem to be connected except they are both the cases of Commandant Mazarelle. This murder has the usual suspects: the murdered investigator’s sleazy partner, a gorgeous cutthroat reporter, a slew of corrupt cops and a mysterious man who kills and feeds his victim to his dog. Two more murders happen, but the twist. Is there a copycat murder? As Mazarelle and his team work the murders yet are stymied at every turn there appears that some one is trying to thwart their investigation. The question is, how high up in the French police force does the corruption go? I was kept guessing at every turn along with Mazarelle and enjoyed reading how he worked every clue. I also loved the many descriptions of Paris and the surrounding area. I certainly we hear more from Commandant Mazarelle!
October 22, 2021
Where do I even begin?! This mystery took me on a ride I’ve never read before. (Don’t worry, no spoilers here) Finding a tarot card inside a dead mans jacket l, hanging inside a Paris tunnel, is enough to send chills down my spine. 2 different people, 1 investigation, several uprooted secrets that will lead back to corrupt police officers and an innocent man accused of the killings. There is a big touch of racism in the book, but it’s a part that builds this book and when reading you understand why. Definitely has some surprises that I didn’t see coming. The author wrote a very detailed book with the imagery in my head so vivid. This is my first novel by this author. I understand there is a book #1. I feel like you should probably read them in consecutive order that way some of the back stories make sense. Overall I would recommend this book 100%. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
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