Masquerade

Pinkerton Mysteries

by Walter Satterthwait

In the sequel to Escapade, Jane and Phil unwittingly uncover a murderous plot in 1923 Paris and must try to investigate the death of wealthy American publisher Richard Forsythe without arousing the dangerous ire of his German mistress Sabine. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, France

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Walter Satterthwait (b. 1946) was an author of mysteries and historical fiction. A fan of mystery novels from a young age, he spent high school immersed in the works of Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane. While working as a bartender in New York in the late 1970s, he wrote his first book: an adventure novel, Cocaine Blues (1979), about a drug dealer on the run from a pair of killers.

After his second thriller, The Aegean Affair (1982), Satterthwait created his best-known character, Santa Fe private detective Joshua Croft. Beginning with Wall of Glass (1988), Satterthwait wrote five Croft novels, concluding the series with 1996’s Accustomed to the Dark. In between Croft books, he wrote mysteries starring historical figures, including Miss Lizzie (1989), a novel about Lizzie Borden, and Wilde West (1991), a western mystery starring Oscar Wilde. His most recent novel is Dead Horse (2007), an account of the mysterious death of Depression-era pulp writer Raoul Whitfield. 

Reviews

[RoseMary author · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize this is just me...I stopped reading at chapter 35. I thought as the writing moved along that I was reading a mystery in the vein of Agatha--lots of twists and a murder or two, in a Parisian setting.
Then, in chapter 2, the female Pinkerton wrote to her friend about how the 15 year old son of the people she was employed by (as a nanny) wouldn't get to go to Eton and [at Eton], "how to accommodate ... an occasional jolly bound of boyish sodomy." The next chapter was a skeleton with a limp condom dangling from it's mouth.

That's when I realized I was decidedly out of the depths of a cozy.

This book has been on my shelf for so long that I no longer know how I came to own it. I'll pass it along to someone who won't be bothered by the above.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Masquerade (Walter Satterthwait)
Was a classic who-done-it. Set in the 1920's and affluemt man and his mistress are found dead. Thought to be a double suiced.

Two investigators from the Pinkerton agency are investigating. Not too sure this is a suicide, they are convinced a homicide. I did like the story line, moved a little too slow for me and a few parts were a bit unbelievable. But a good read on a lazy day.

[Marjorie Kubacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that was required for my Mystery Book Club. At first I wasn't happy, this book is less than 20 Years old and is currently out of print.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This is a very well written book that takes place in the 1920's in Paris. Needless to say it is populated with members of the Lost Generation (A lot like Midnight in Paris). This is the first book I have ever read that uses humor and sacrasm, that is really funny.
I would highly recommend this book!

[Julie]

This story is masquerading as an interesting book. This bizarre tale involves a cast of characters including Hemmingway, Stein, Picasso, and anyone else of fame (it seems) whose feet lighted in Paris in the 1920's. The author evidently has not progressed past the psychosexual age of 13, based on his distracting tangents into homosexuality and promiscuity. Save your time and pass on this book

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris, you'll probably enjoy this book as well, although it doesn't have the fantasy element. An American detective couple careen through the Paris of the Twenties -- they even meet Christie and Simenon! And, there's a locked-room mystery to solve. Very enjoyable.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s Paris in the 20’s, it’s Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway and Alice B. Toklas and Pablo Picasso and Erik Satie and a Josephine Baker clone and many many more and…you get the idea. It’s a name dropper’s wet dream. That’s a bit unkind, as the book largely is set in the demi-monde of that time, and the characters are of a piece with it all; additionally, while largely just a page turner, Satterthwait is an accomplished and facile writer and he pulls this all together to produce an entertaining and satisfying tale.
Pinkerton agents Phillip Beaumont and Jane Turner have been dispatched to Paris by the agency to investigate the circumstances of the death of Richard Forsythe and his mistress. French police have ruled it a murder/suicide, but Forsythe’s American mother doesn’t believe it. Forsythe was a publisher of some note, and moved in the circle of jazz singers, painters, authors and Lost Generation expats who gravitated to the Paris of the time, so that is where they investigate.
The book hasn’t a lot of plot generation as such, mostly a lot of linear action, but the depictions of Hemingway (not favorably) and Gertrude Stein (more favorably, altho…) are hilarious - Satterthwait definitely dipped his pen in acid, and it’s terrific reading. The ending was a surprise to me, well concealed and satisfying, altho more truncated than I’d have liked. Used copies of this seem to be available everywhere, def worth a read.

[Susan Jo Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Escapade by this author. I love the way he blends the action in these mysteries with famous people as additional characters. The story takes place in Paris after WWI in the 1920's with a supposed murder-suicide pact. Our hero and heroine are Pinkerton agents trying to find out exactly what happened for the mother of the male victim who refuses to believe that her son committed suicide.

My only complaint is the proof reading. The use of computers that can only check spelling is really very appalling. So many good books are being mass produced with poor grammar and blatant errors and many of these are from the well known publishing houses that are too cheap to hire people to proof read any more. Let's hear it for GREED!

[Araych · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinkerton agents Phil and Jane #2 ...... France, mostly Paris, 1923. The Pinkerton Detective Agency has been hired to investigate the supposed murder/suicide of a wealthy Frenchman and his German mistress. So Phil and Jane go to France to do the investigation and along the way encounter Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein, among others. I loved this fascinating, witty, and altogether wonderful mystery. Highest recommendation, 5 stars.

[Sarah "Kat" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Great characters, fabulous setting. Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway are among the characters. Funny - laughed out loud often. How have I never heard of this author?

Looking for more from this author.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh, I actually had to give up on this one. The opening chapters were very clever and witty, but I found I didn’t want to spend time with the characters once certain things I won’t spoil started happening.

[Jells · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detective looks into the death of a well known aristocrat in the 20s, uncovering many secrets among the elite. It's interesting, lots of well known writers make an appearance in this book such as Ernest hemmingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude stein etc etc super neat book find!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery set in 1920s Paris? What’s not to like? Good book. Fast paced and smart.

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written with well drawn characters with insight into Paris in the 20's. A little too much information about French cooking and street layout of Paris (a map would have sufficed.)

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

In May 1923, Pinkerton agent Phil Beaumont and his newly-minted colleague Jane Turner are assigned to investigate the death of a man and his mistress in Paris. The police think it was a double suicide, and indeed the dilettante man, Richard Forsythe, was known to have often mused about wanting to commit suicide, and in fact the room in which the deaths occurred was locked at the time. But Beaumont and Turner think there’s something not quite right about that conclusion, and they look to others to find out the truth, including run-ins with Hemingway, Picasso, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, to name just a few….”Masquerade” is the second in the Pinkerton Pair trilogy; I read it some years ago and did not give it a very high rating, but now that I’ve read the first book I understand it more and like it better. Beaumont and Turner are shaping up into a good investigative team, and I’m fairly sure that it’s only a matter of time before they become a couple as well. I’m looking forward to the third and final book in the series!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh I enjoyed this one. Satterthwait displays such a deft hand at comedy here. His preoccupation with the light atmosphere dwarfs the mystery, but I didn't much care. The rich womanizer Richard Forsythe has been shot with his lover in a hotel room. Pinkerton Phil Beaumont must discover if Forsythe committed suicide or if there is some larger plot afoot. The mystery winds its way into international intrigue involving Nazis and then abruptly changes direction to end in a rather pat manner. However, that hardly detracts from the comedy. Phil meets a klutzy Hemingway and a formidable Gertrude Stein. And runs about through 1920s Paris. Jane masquerades as a nanny to Forsythe's niece and nephews, and manages to get sucked into the ocean. A fun birthday read.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Set in the early '20's 2 Pinkerton agents investigate a double suicide as there is the suspicion that all is not as it seems. A locked room mystery as well. What an interesting twist to have 2 sleuths working the same case from different locations and perspectives. I liked both Jane and Phil. I also loved the name dropping. Who knew Hemingway was a complete klutz? And I loved the personality, Gertrude Stein - my kind of gal. Straight talking, no nonsense. I never guessed the culprit which is a good thing and I loved all the details about France and Paris in particular. This was well-written and evocative of that time period.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a reread. I really love this trilogy of mysteries with Escapade and Calvacade. I enjoy the way the author had historical characters enter into the mystery (in this book Hemingway, Gertrude Stein). I like the way the story is told with Phil's narration and Jane's letters. I think in the reread I like the story even more because I know how it will conclude in the final book. Although, I have thought out trying to contact the author to ask if there will be another installment.

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still like the style where Jane's perspective is expressed in letters to Evy while Phil's perspective is traditional writing. The characters are witty and engaging and the mystery is clever. I also enjoy seeing the portrayal of famous historical figures. I never really thought of Hemmingway as overwhelmingly clumsy. Gertrude Stein was particularly funny. I wish he'd written more of these, but since this was published in 1998 I sadly don't think that it's likely.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likable characters, a fine sense of wry humor, and nice sense of Paris in 1920s. Hemingway is a flake, Alice and Gertrude help solve the crime. The crime resolution was a little unsatisfying, although it had passed my mind who had "done it." The resolution of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was mentioned, and that is something of a clue to the ending of this novel.

[Bayneeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, frothy romp through 1920s Paris. Hemingway and Gertrude Stein put in appearances. Enjoyed it enough I'm now reading the previous and first book in the series, Escapade , where Houdini is a major character.
Re-read for Crime Readers Book Discussion group (03/12--03/13/12)

[Jo Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever writing and a fine sense of humor. The setting is Paris in 1923 and there are a lot of famous people there (Hemingway, Picasso, Gertrude Stein, and more ) who are woven into the story. Not much of a mystery, but fun to read.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me hungry. Time to head to Paris for some Maison de Gyro! Or, actual French food.

[Laura Karoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything by Walter Satterthwait . His books are mostly out of print. His heroes are a little sarcastic and there are some hilarious one liners in these well written and interesting stories.