Dance of the Assassins (The Devil's Dances Trilogy) [Hardcover]

Herve Jubert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2005 | Series: The Devil's Dances Trilogy (Book 1)

Mary Graham is found murdered in a dark alley in Whitechapel. It appears the Jack the Ripper has returned. Roberta Morgenstern, a qualified witch, and her assistant Clement Martineau, fresh out of the police academy, set out to solve the murder.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Have Jack the Ripper, Montezuma, and other famous villains come alive to commit grisly murders? That's the question that Roberta, a sorceress in her 40s, and her 20-something assistant must determine in this futuristic fantasy/mystery novel. This first book in a projected trilogy takes place in a world in which virtual-reality theme parks have been created in London, Paris, Versailles, and Venice. Each city is set in a time from the 17th to the 19th century. Tourists wear period costumes and totally immerse themselves in that city's milieu. A wealthy man named Count Palladio has financed these re-creations and is suspected of being the mastermind behind a series of murderers committed by a group called the Killers' Quadrille. They are famous villains come back to life to do the Devil's bidding. The plotting is quite convoluted and involves, among other things, astral twins, telepathic hedgehogs, and babies comprised of organs taken from murdered women. The transitions from scene to scene are often abrupt. At times, the translation is awkward, resulting in melodramatic and laughable prose–she let the warmth envelop her, savoring it like warm tangerine sauce. Although there are no teen characters, the plot will appeal to fans of historical mysteries, fantasy, and forensic science. A few brief sexual situations and some graphic violence make the story more suitable for older teens. The author's pairing of elements from Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter is unique but not completely successful.–Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton
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Review

“Very dark, utterly addictive and simply brilliant.” (Bookseller (London) )

“A devilish dance that confirms the exceptional talent of its creator. Don’t hesitate, join the dance.” (Le Monde )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060777176
• ISBN-13: 978-0060777173
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,602,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, June 27, 2006

By 

E.L (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance of the Assassins (The Devil's Dances Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Dance of the Assassins is a thrilling book that takes the reader from 19th century London,to 17th century Paris,and Venice.
Count Palladio has created a virtual theme park of those cities in which tourists explore. The theme park is so detailed that famous villians (Jack the Ripper, La Voisin) from that time are brought back to life.
When Roberta Morgenstern and Clement Martineau are sent to investigate a grisly murder in the theme park, they stumble upon a darker secret.
The plot is fast paced and will keep the reader glued to the book. You even get to learn a few historical facts while reading this fantasy/mystery novel. Although some parts are a little gory, this book is not to be missed!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Must Read..., March 22, 2006

By 

gagagoogoo "gagoo" (HK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance of the Assassins (The Devil's Dances Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Gripping, just gripping. Herve's book, Dance Of The Assasins, is one of the finest horror books money can buy...I bought this book on intuition, i quickly snatched it from the bookshelf of the store and bought it before you could say "Assassin!"
Even if you don't like horror books, try this one out! it's bound to please everyone, even jaded genre readers. The story revolves around two detectives; Roberta Morgenstern (a witch of the future) and Clement Martineau. (an heir to a hugely seccesful company)They had been called apon because there were a series of gruesome and strange mureders occuring in some re-created historical cities. For example, ine the re-created 19th century london, it's not only tourists visiting...Jack The Ripper, too, has returned...This book is quite challenging in vocabulary, but makes a great read-aloud. Now get reading!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Darkest, most addictive book I have read yet!, October 16, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Dance of the Assassins (The Devil's Dances Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Chilling, but definitely not for the weak-hearted. There are only a few gory parts in this book, and the description is terrifyingly brilliant. Surprise around every corner catches you with its sharp claws. Be warned; the Devil is tricker than you think!
The characters in this book was well-done, and Herve Jubert has a sense of humour which he slips in just a little now and then. Sometimes the plot is a little difficult to understand, but it gets clearer along the way. As I said above, sometimes the story gets a bit too gory, and a little bit too dark. I even found my head spinning once or twice. But once you won't be able to stop reading this book. It's too fascinating to miss.
The plot is creative too, and the idea of the Historical Cities is such a big, imaginative idea. It gets you thinking: would you would want to live in this time, or not?
Don't miss the second book, "The Devil's Tango." I'm not sure what the third one will be, but the "Devil's Dances" is definitely not a series to be missed.