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Murder in Montparnasse: A Mystery of Literary Paris

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Think 1920's, the Left Bank, Hemingway, prolonged erudite discussions over bottles of wine, and you've set the scene for what is billed as "A Mystery Of Literary Paris."

Mike Ward, a Canadian journalist, arrives in this wannabe mecca eager to be a part of the scene. He meets and befriends Jason Waddington (this is where you think Hemingway) who is quick to include Mike in a select coterie of writers, artists, and world weary types.

It seems there's also a murderer ala Jack the Ripper roaming those dimly lit streets. The killer has a penchant for fatally stabbing beautiful women. When gorgeous Laure Duclos, with whom Mike has been having a romantic encounters, falls victim, Mike has a theory of his own.

As Mike begins an investigation of his own, café rumor has it that Waddington's latest book is a thinly disguised roman a clef, a character besmirching study of his friends.

A highly readable multi-layered mystery

If you read this for the sense of place (Paris, 1925)and the glimpses of literary figures of the time, then you'll enjoy it and the mystery related to the Jack de Paris killings will be icing on your cake. But if you expect the mystery to be in the foreground and you aren't interested in portrayals of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and others, then you're liable to be disappointed.

In 1925 Paris, the "War to end all Wars" seems a distant memory as the city serves as the literary Mecca of the world. Seemingly all the famous authors and wannabes live on the Left Bank. American journalist Michael Ward is the latest expatriate to settle in Paris. Jason quickly falls in love with his mentor Jason Waddington, a person accused of writing an expose.

As Michael adjusts to the excitement of the cafes, Jack de Paris, a Ripper clone, is terrorizing the city. When Jack apparently murders Laure Duclos, a member of Jason's inner circle, only Michael thinks otherwise. The journalist believes someone killed the woman by disguising the murder to look like Jack's action. Now Michael begins to investigate, not yet knowing how much danger he must confront.

MURDER IN MONTPARNASSE is an excellent historical mystery that leaves readers feeling as if they are sipping café au lait at an outdoor restaurant. The story line is crisp and entertaining and the investigation fun to observe as it unfolds. The characters are enjoyable with real historical persona mingling with fictional players. Howard Engel's tale is must reading for sub-genre fans as the autumn air of 1920's Paris will leave fans wondering when the next time they read about the gay city will happen.

Hariet Klausner

I bought this book because it was coupled with a book by Cara Black. Talk about mislabeling! The dialog is a pitiful attempt to replicate the delightful repartee of contemporaneous period pieces. The gratuitous racism might have been real (but I doubt it). The story builds slowly and I never developed the least interest in any of the characters. To put this in context I love Feydeau, Sayers, Stout, Charteris, and Simenon--all of whom outperform Engel in their sleep.