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Panama
Nineteenth-century historian Henry Adams finds himself in the unlikely position of detective in the wake of a French scandal over the Panama Canal involving the disappearance of a woman and a murder..
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 24, 2020
3.5 stars. Henry Adams, the direct descendant of two U.S. Presidents, met with his friend, John Hay, who was on a mission for the State Department, in Panama in September 1892. Jules Dingler, Chief Engineer for the French Interoceanic Canal Company, believed that he could bring “order and civilization into the jungle.” However, he abandoned the canal project after “chronic undercapitalization,” unending need for money, rains, disease, deaths, and the corrosive effects of the jungle crippled his work and malaria killed his family.
By the end of the month, Henry and John were in Paris. While visiting Mont-Saint-Michel with his friend and her stepdaughter, Henry met and became fascinated with an American artist, Miriam Talbott. “The barnyard smelled earthy and sun-baked, and he imagined he could sense the wake created by her passage through its air.” His attraction for her grew in a day trip by train to Chartres to admire the wondrous glazed windows of a church.
In November during the course of a week, Henry discovered Miriam missing and was determined to find her, encountered murder and mayhem, and became embroiled in the Panama canal scandal. The cobble stoned streets, the buggies, and the gas lights lent a strong sense of the era. Yet, having only met Miriam twice, I did not understand why he undertook such risks to his friendships and his reputation in his pursuit of her and the Panama affair. He brazened on sometimes with determination or confusion. Every action resulted in a further step and inquiry. He realized “everyone involved in this affair had their own motivations, their own perceptions, their own angle on events, their own limitations. The interests of some were necessarily antagonistic to the interests of others. And yet there were also alliances, near congruences of interest, based on desires so similar that subtlety of difference between them might not be fully apparent until they were brought, like the swatches of a cloth a tailor displays, into juxtaposition in the good broad light of day.” Charles must learn to set aside his own arrogance and interests to solve the truth of Miriam’s disappearance and the political intrigues of the canal.
By the end of the month, Henry and John were in Paris. While visiting Mont-Saint-Michel with his friend and her stepdaughter, Henry met and became fascinated with an American artist, Miriam Talbott. “The barnyard smelled earthy and sun-baked, and he imagined he could sense the wake created by her passage through its air.” His attraction for her grew in a day trip by train to Chartres to admire the wondrous glazed windows of a church.
In November during the course of a week, Henry discovered Miriam missing and was determined to find her, encountered murder and mayhem, and became embroiled in the Panama canal scandal. The cobble stoned streets, the buggies, and the gas lights lent a strong sense of the era. Yet, having only met Miriam twice, I did not understand why he undertook such risks to his friendships and his reputation in his pursuit of her and the Panama affair. He brazened on sometimes with determination or confusion. Every action resulted in a further step and inquiry. He realized “everyone involved in this affair had their own motivations, their own perceptions, their own angle on events, their own limitations. The interests of some were necessarily antagonistic to the interests of others. And yet there were also alliances, near congruences of interest, based on desires so similar that subtlety of difference between them might not be fully apparent until they were brought, like the swatches of a cloth a tailor displays, into juxtaposition in the good broad light of day.” Charles must learn to set aside his own arrogance and interests to solve the truth of Miriam’s disappearance and the political intrigues of the canal.
December 27, 2025
I read this during a trip to Panama. Except only the first twelve pages are set in Panama and the rest is in Paris, all of it in 1892. It is a mystery/thriller set in the midst of the political intrigue and fallout that followed the failure of the French attempt to build a canal in Panama and the associated series of political and financial scandals in France. Oddly the detective unravelling the mysteries is Henry Adams who is accidentally brought into an escalating series of murders and disappearances related blackmail and a coverup of the Deputies who were bribed to support the French Panama Canal.
Overall it was atmospheric, a sense of technological change (fingerprints are a novel technology that play a critical role), and nicely portrayed some of the swirl around the canal. Nevertheless, I often felt myself wishing I was reading Zola instead who covers similar thematic ground but better--although without the same whodunnit aspect that does keep this book moving along,
Overall it was atmospheric, a sense of technological change (fingerprints are a novel technology that play a critical role), and nicely portrayed some of the swirl around the canal. Nevertheless, I often felt myself wishing I was reading Zola instead who covers similar thematic ground but better--although without the same whodunnit aspect that does keep this book moving along,
September 19, 2012
What I took away from this book, what I loved about it, was that it finally helped me understand the modern arts. Throughout the book he shows how society was speeding up, becoming interconnected, and becoming fragmented. Which is exactly what artists like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf were responding to. This book got this idea through to me when Eng Lit classes couldn't.
Like The Name of the Rose, this is a book you should read for the literary meaning underlying it. And like Rose, it's a slow moving, slow building thriller. If you just read it for a page turning mystery, it's a fail. Read it if you're interested in turn of the century history and art.
Like The Name of the Rose, this is a book you should read for the literary meaning underlying it. And like Rose, it's a slow moving, slow building thriller. If you just read it for a page turning mystery, it's a fail. Read it if you're interested in turn of the century history and art.
July 7, 2016
Quite an "ingenious" book. I've not read anything quite like it, didn't have a shelf for it. It was the author's first book and he is/was a history professor. It takes place in Paris in 1892, very little in Panama. It's excellent w/r/t the setting - Paris in 1892. That's the author's main strength, and he's great at it - describing a scene, whether it's the land/city/room, or the interactions between characters when they are in a dialogue, or just proximity. The book took me 42 days to finish (granted, I'm very busy); but that should tell you that, for me, the plot wasn't that compelling. (It's a mystery/historical/philosophical story about France's attempt to build the canal through Panama and the political machinations of France at the time.) With American writer Henry Adams, grandson of the famous Adams, at middle-age, wrapped up in it. He was interesting, complex, but not enough so for me to care about him. He's involved with 3 women, his deceased wife who he yearns for, the young wife of a French politician, and a young American artist who disappears. But the best part was the author's ability to put YOU/me there, in the scene; so I could just pick it up and read and forget about everything else. Boom - time travel back to Paris in 1892. And at the end, it get's very philosophical about the nature of man and why are we here, for what purpose? Part of the scene setting is inside the churches of France, so there's a large religious component. All in all, good stuff. Just what I needed at the time. hmmmm ....
November 1, 2022
In 1892 Panama, the French are trying to build the Panama Canal, and failing badly, losing workers to accidents, disease, and everything else. A woman disappears.
The French attempt at the canal was interesting, but the lyrical writing wasn't able to sustain amy sort of suspense.
The French attempt at the canal was interesting, but the lyrical writing wasn't able to sustain amy sort of suspense.
May 1, 2023
Panama tells the story of Henry Adams, generational nepo baby historian who gets wound up in the Panama Affair after an acquaintance of his goes missing. The plot can be a little slow and Henry is a little weird at times (why is he obsessed with this college-aged girl), but the author does an excellent job with imagery and prose—you really feel immersed in the Parisian setting. If you like books that tie in art, culture, and religion or are obsessed with the Panama Affair, give it a read.
September 4, 2012
Wonderfully-written historical mystery set in late-19th-century Paris. Henry Adams, the historian and grandson of President John Quincy Adams, is the mane character. The main plot centers around the French scandal of bribes and bankruptcy of the French attempt to build the Panama Canal. Added to this is Adams's negative thoughts about progress in the industrial age and his focus on the twelfth-century as a turning point in civilization from fortress mentality to a culture more centered around the individual (individual responsibility and the Church's forgiveness of individual's transgressions through grace and the Virgin) which later become subjects of his books. Thought-provoking.
August 14, 2007
PANAMA (Historical-Paris-1892) – G
Zencey, Eric – 1st book
Berkeley, 2001- Trade Paperback
*** Henry Adams, descended from two U.S. Presidents, is in Paris writing a book. While at Mont-Saint-
Michel, he meets, and becomes intrigued by, a young American art student. When he tries to locate her in Paris, he is told she is dead, but the body is not her. But then who was she and how is she involved in the “Panama Scandal” involving France’s disastrous attempt to build the Panama Canal and the corruption behind the scenes.
*** This is a part of history with which I was completely unfamiliar and so I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I did also love Zencey’s ability to place me thoroughly in 1892 Paris. At the same time, I found the story quite slow and difficult to stay with. The character of Adams and the depiction of the period kept me going, but not without difficulty.
Zencey, Eric – 1st book
Berkeley, 2001- Trade Paperback
*** Henry Adams, descended from two U.S. Presidents, is in Paris writing a book. While at Mont-Saint-
Michel, he meets, and becomes intrigued by, a young American art student. When he tries to locate her in Paris, he is told she is dead, but the body is not her. But then who was she and how is she involved in the “Panama Scandal” involving France’s disastrous attempt to build the Panama Canal and the corruption behind the scenes.
*** This is a part of history with which I was completely unfamiliar and so I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I did also love Zencey’s ability to place me thoroughly in 1892 Paris. At the same time, I found the story quite slow and difficult to stay with. The character of Adams and the depiction of the period kept me going, but not without difficulty.
May 16, 2016
Read this book while on a cruise through the Panama Canal. I had read the Path Between the Seas - a non fiction booik about the building of the Panama Canal and attended a few lectures on the project. That helped be be familiar with some of the names in the story. I found it facinating. Be aware there is a story line not associated with the Panama scandal but it is interesting to read between the lines for the backstory.
June 4, 2017
I am huge historical fiction fan, so I loved this. It reminded me of Caleb Carr's The Alienist, although perhaps not quite as grizzly. It interweaves a mystery, politics, love and friendships, coming to a startling conclusion which isn't unmasked until nearly the very end.
January 14, 2015
A very stilted read.
The description of Paris is gritty and informative and takes me back there in my imagination straight away.
The description of Paris is gritty and informative and takes me back there in my imagination straight away.
December 22, 2022
I can't usually say that I'm reading something unlike anything I've ever read before, but while I was reading this novel - and wasn't plagued by the titular Van Halen song - I could say that. Panama is equal parts detective story, literary fiction, and historical fiction. It is intriguing and well-written with genuinely intriguing themes hiding in the subtext, and it may just wind up as my book of the month, although that will probably be up to Piranesi; it's a shame that Eric Zencey only ever wrote one novel. Now, this is no flawless book, and while I don't think it's a masterpiece, it does bear reading and discussing. I suppose I must explain myself now.
First of all, this is not my normal fare: I'm a science fiction aficionado, and the only other mysteries I've read this year have been part of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. I have read a little more historical fiction than that, and I think this is almost the best example of that I've read this year, with its only rival and superior being McMurtry's Zeke and Ned; but enough namedropping, let's talk about what the book is about.
This book tightly follows Henry Adams, American historian, who - while visiting France - is asked to confirm a dead body's identity. They tell him that the dead body is that of Miriam Talbot, a young painter whom Henry met a little while before. He denies that it's her, and when he tries and find out where she is - and what she has to do with the great financial and political scandal revolving around the funds allocated to build the Panama Canal and their misuse at the hands of Reinarch, who Talbot is said to serve as mistress to - well, the plot thickens. Henry is still grieving over the death of his wife seven years ago as he investigates with help from several police officials, his diplomat friend Hay, and during it all becomes further estranged from the beautiful Elizabeth, a woman who has been tempting him towards the front of an affair for years. The story that results seems a bit dull at first but quickens during the last quarter of the book until you don't want to set it down. The final reveal was both utterly predictable and a bit surprising, depending on which facet of the mystery you were attempting to unravel. I don't want to say much more of the plot for fear of spoilers even though the plot isn't the most important part of this story.
If plot isn't the most important part of this book, what it? I would say: the writing. While I don't know what the average detective writer's prose to be, I don't imagine that it's careful and thoughtful like Zencey's. It uses good language and is generously sprinkled with random asides into Adams' thoughts on history, politics, philosophy, and just random analyses of the goings-on of the Panama Scandal. Lots of reviewers call this book too slow, and while I see what they're saying, I really do think that the writing makes up for it. It's got a certain feel that, while it may not be the most exciting, does definitely agree with me and my taste in prose.
Another element that this book provides in spades is theme; while I don't usually pick apart or particularly care about a novel's themes, I was astute enough to notice the intersect between Henry Adams' mid-life crisis and resistance to change and turn-of-the-century-France's political upheaval was not lost on me. Adams is an interesting character, and one plucked directly from history, like a large part of his book's cast. I'm not quite sure how much of it is accurate - I imagine that the main scandal is conjectured for the sake of the story Zencey wanted to tell, but I suppose I cannot be sure.
All of that being said, this is not a perfect book. Like some reviewers, I do believe that the middle portion is - if not slow - not gripping. It is enjoyable and resonating but never feels like a true work of suspense, like I feel a mystery should be. I didn't feel there was a lot of room to guess and "play along" with our detective. All of that being said, the last portion of the book had all of that in spades, and brought the book's final rating up by a whole point.
What is the final rating, you say? Why, an 8.5 out of 10, good sir. This book has lots of memorable scenes, has very well constructed writing, and tells a pretty good story along with it. It is quite the debut and I wish that Zencey would've written more. I do plan on reading more mystery next year (2023), with the works of Christie and Barr and hopefully Doyle on standby. That being said, this is a worthwhile red for anyone whose tastes bend literary or historical as well, especially when it comes to late 19th-century France. This is one of those cases where expanding my literary palette worked out quite well.
First of all, this is not my normal fare: I'm a science fiction aficionado, and the only other mysteries I've read this year have been part of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. I have read a little more historical fiction than that, and I think this is almost the best example of that I've read this year, with its only rival and superior being McMurtry's Zeke and Ned; but enough namedropping, let's talk about what the book is about.
This book tightly follows Henry Adams, American historian, who - while visiting France - is asked to confirm a dead body's identity. They tell him that the dead body is that of Miriam Talbot, a young painter whom Henry met a little while before. He denies that it's her, and when he tries and find out where she is - and what she has to do with the great financial and political scandal revolving around the funds allocated to build the Panama Canal and their misuse at the hands of Reinarch, who Talbot is said to serve as mistress to - well, the plot thickens. Henry is still grieving over the death of his wife seven years ago as he investigates with help from several police officials, his diplomat friend Hay, and during it all becomes further estranged from the beautiful Elizabeth, a woman who has been tempting him towards the front of an affair for years. The story that results seems a bit dull at first but quickens during the last quarter of the book until you don't want to set it down. The final reveal was both utterly predictable and a bit surprising, depending on which facet of the mystery you were attempting to unravel. I don't want to say much more of the plot for fear of spoilers even though the plot isn't the most important part of this story.
If plot isn't the most important part of this book, what it? I would say: the writing. While I don't know what the average detective writer's prose to be, I don't imagine that it's careful and thoughtful like Zencey's. It uses good language and is generously sprinkled with random asides into Adams' thoughts on history, politics, philosophy, and just random analyses of the goings-on of the Panama Scandal. Lots of reviewers call this book too slow, and while I see what they're saying, I really do think that the writing makes up for it. It's got a certain feel that, while it may not be the most exciting, does definitely agree with me and my taste in prose.
Another element that this book provides in spades is theme; while I don't usually pick apart or particularly care about a novel's themes, I was astute enough to notice the intersect between Henry Adams' mid-life crisis and resistance to change and turn-of-the-century-France's political upheaval was not lost on me. Adams is an interesting character, and one plucked directly from history, like a large part of his book's cast. I'm not quite sure how much of it is accurate - I imagine that the main scandal is conjectured for the sake of the story Zencey wanted to tell, but I suppose I cannot be sure.
All of that being said, this is not a perfect book. Like some reviewers, I do believe that the middle portion is - if not slow - not gripping. It is enjoyable and resonating but never feels like a true work of suspense, like I feel a mystery should be. I didn't feel there was a lot of room to guess and "play along" with our detective. All of that being said, the last portion of the book had all of that in spades, and brought the book's final rating up by a whole point.
What is the final rating, you say? Why, an 8.5 out of 10, good sir. This book has lots of memorable scenes, has very well constructed writing, and tells a pretty good story along with it. It is quite the debut and I wish that Zencey would've written more. I do plan on reading more mystery next year (2023), with the works of Christie and Barr and hopefully Doyle on standby. That being said, this is a worthwhile red for anyone whose tastes bend literary or historical as well, especially when it comes to late 19th-century France. This is one of those cases where expanding my literary palette worked out quite well.
September 20, 2023
The opening chapter, the only one set in Panama starts with an intriguing story about Jules Dingler who doesn't figure that strongly in the plot since he died before the events begin. This is the author's first book and I think it's a mistake to open with stuff the reader buys into and then sort of let that fall the wayside and start over with other stuff. However, the author's strength is in scene setting and name dropping. The people in the book are real people. After I did a little of my own side research on Dingler, Adams, Hays, Elizabeth etc., I found myself more interested in the book. The way the author casually introduces fingerprinting into the storyline is elegant. The author is a historian and it shows, the little details are all there. He knows the names of every kind of contemporary vehicle, i.e. gig, barouche, cabriolet, cart, tram, train et al, that's fun. But the plot itself felt hard to follow.
There's one easy plot line to follow, the missing woman. Then there's one convoluted plot line to follow, why was she murdered? What are they trying to hide? And I must admit I probably wasn't reading carefully enough. The tumult in the Chamber of Deputies came out of left field for me. I thought we were reading a pleasant account of Lizzie and Adams visit to Paris. Suddenly we're introduced to a slew of new characters, politicians - and I didn't understand why Hays even invited (urgently) Adams to attend. It felt like he's invited to attend because otherwise you, dear reader, won't understand the mystery - but there should be a better reason than that. I would have appreciated a little more backstory to justify the attendance. I dunno. . .
Anyway I finished it and I enjoyed all the descriptive parts of the prose if not the plot so much. I would recommend this book to anyone else who likes to time travel and feel what it was like to live back then.
There's one easy plot line to follow, the missing woman. Then there's one convoluted plot line to follow, why was she murdered? What are they trying to hide? And I must admit I probably wasn't reading carefully enough. The tumult in the Chamber of Deputies came out of left field for me. I thought we were reading a pleasant account of Lizzie and Adams visit to Paris. Suddenly we're introduced to a slew of new characters, politicians - and I didn't understand why Hays even invited (urgently) Adams to attend. It felt like he's invited to attend because otherwise you, dear reader, won't understand the mystery - but there should be a better reason than that. I would have appreciated a little more backstory to justify the attendance. I dunno. . .
Anyway I finished it and I enjoyed all the descriptive parts of the prose if not the plot so much. I would recommend this book to anyone else who likes to time travel and feel what it was like to live back then.
May 26, 2024
I got half a page in and was completely bored by the writer’s lack of ability to write fiction. I flipped through a few more pages at random and the writer’s style was the same, no improvement… he seems to write out each action by action what’s happening which is confusing and takes one away from the action and drama of the plot… Thoroughly dissapointing given the rave reviews on the back cover. Apparently the author is a historian and this is his first book so maybe his should stick to writing history books or spend some serious time and effort into developing his fiction writing skills. I’m currently learning how to write so I might keep this book purely as a reminder of how not to write a book.
January 25, 2018
The attraction was the location promised in the title of this novel about Henry Adams, the famous American historian and author of the late 19th century, who investigates, in 1892 Paris, a murder and the disappearance of a young woman associated with the Panama Canal scandal, but there is no real resolution and it’s very languid. However, the descriptions of France and Parisian society in the 1890s helped contribute to a reasonable story in the style of Victorian novelists where, unfortunately, Panama itself features little.
February 22, 2021
I found this book fairly dense which made reading it very slow. I normally read a novel in under 5 days. This one took me at least 3 weeks. As others have noted, the action is in France, not Panama. Locale and people descriptions are highly detailed, perhaps sometimes too much so.
December 4, 2019
Interesting information about the France work on the canal. It started as a story about people however and finished more as a complicated ending about the canal. I preferred the story of the people.
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February 17, 2025Couldn’t read it. Got about 50 pages and had no desire to continue. Blah
January 9, 2026
Mont St. Michael in 1892, an acquaintance is made with long lasting, dangerous and confusing consequences.
February 20, 2017
I enjoyed reading book and getting an art lesson as well. The ending fell flat. I have no idea how the protagonist knew where the hidden heroine was. He went to her hide -out and found her. I am thinking that this person is a good writer, but he needs a stronger plot somehow.
April 13, 2010
I picked up Eric Zencey’s PANAMA because I lived in Panama from 1955 to 1957. However, the novel is about fin de siècle Paris in the aftermath of the failed French attempt to build the Panama Canal, an enterprise that was rife with bribery and fraud. The main character is Henry Adams, the noted historian and descendant of both John Quincy Adams and John Adams. A young female acquaintance of Henry’s is murdered, though the reader learns immediately that the body is actually that of some other unknown woman. The rest of the novel is a literary whodunit, in which Adams, working with the local constabulary, attempts to find out what really happened to his friend. The investigation is intertwined with the political scandal and leads Adams into the nooks and crannies of Paris, into the mansions of famous men and into the bedrooms of lowlifes.
The writing is intelligent and immaculately detailed. Henry Adams’ mind and his coming to terms with the loss of his wife to suicide some years earlier are successfully presented. Paris of the late 19th century comes alive with unusual depth. Also interesting is the fact that fingerprinting was a new forensic technique at this time, and the procedure plays an important role in the plot. What the book is not, is a page turner. If you’re looking for a crime novel that you can’t put down, PANAMA is not for you. If you don’t mind a leisurely read filled with exquisite detail that recreates the mind of a famous man and the streets of a newly industrialized city, by all means read the book. But the wonderful details don’t always advance the story.
The writing is intelligent and immaculately detailed. Henry Adams’ mind and his coming to terms with the loss of his wife to suicide some years earlier are successfully presented. Paris of the late 19th century comes alive with unusual depth. Also interesting is the fact that fingerprinting was a new forensic technique at this time, and the procedure plays an important role in the plot. What the book is not, is a page turner. If you’re looking for a crime novel that you can’t put down, PANAMA is not for you. If you don’t mind a leisurely read filled with exquisite detail that recreates the mind of a famous man and the streets of a newly industrialized city, by all means read the book. But the wonderful details don’t always advance the story.
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November 23, 2011Good book, interesting subject matter. I find it interesting when an author takes a real character who existed in history and creates a fictional story around him. In this case with Henry Adams it is well done and provides for a good thriller. The settings of Panama and then Paris, along with the descriptions of the new and wonderful technologies of the period are fascinating. I was particularily taken by his inclusion of "les pneus" which I had previously thought were fictional as described in Orwell 1984.
February 20, 2015
Good historical thriller that makes you feel like you are in Paris at the time of the building of the canal, and which weaves in how society, art and politics were changing in response to technological developments. If you like this, I recommend frank Tallis's thrillers set in fin de siècle Venice. I like them a bit more.
May 10, 2008
Read while vacationing in Barcelona
April 16, 2009
Very, very long murder-mystery, 1892, historian Henry Adams solves mystery of murdered woman: Panama Canal scandal. Really. Very long.
December 7, 2010
loving it! can't put it down
May 29, 2010
Probably the worse book I've ever read. I rarely give up on reading a book, but I just couldn't get through it.
January 25, 2012
Ugh. Waste of time. This wasn't about what I thought it would be about--Panama and the canal. Not well written and not even an interesting story.
October 20, 2015
It was really not the book I was expecting. But it was interesting although slow reading until about half way through. Then I couldn't put it down until it was finished.
January 13, 2016
This was a very good book for a first for this author,,loved the language he used, loved the mystery, and the history of Henry Adams,
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews