Customer Reviews

Paris City of Night

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After sitting up all night, unable to put down this amazingly crafted, sensational book, I can only recommend it wholeheartedly and hope that it receives even part of the extraordinary recognition it merits. The writing is sublime. I have read many thrillers and many thrillers that take place all over the world, but this is stupendous, addictive and stays with you after you've finished as you marvel at Downie, wondering: "How did he DO that?" Please give yourself a real treat, get your own copy and then just see if you can put it down before you've finished it. I dare you!

"Paris City of Night" is so gripping that I stayed up reading it all night and finished it over breakfast. So hyped up, so engrossed was I by how the story was going to turn out that I forgot that I was ALSO eating and dropped a nice splotch of egg yolk on my beige slacks. "Thriller" is right... What a yarn! And what knowledge of photography the author has! It's extremely well-written (but that's no surprise, given Downie's other books) and I loved all the detail about the Paris neighborhoods and streets, of course. Bravo, bravo to the author for pulling this off. And bravo for writing it in such a made-for-movie way. If I were a rich producer, I'd grab it in a nanosecond. I hope to see it on the screen someday. Whatever the fate of this masterpiece (and I hope it will have a long and healthy life!), I'm giving it my hearty and early endorsement.

I originally discovered Downie's writing through his deliciously evocative food and travel books, so was most curious to read his fiction. It was equally thrilling, albeit in a completely different genre.

Paris is affectionately nicknamed "The City of Light." But where there's light, there's inevitably shadow. Like many expat writers, Downie knows his adopted turf better than many locals -- witness the spot-on description of Jim Morrison's gravesite or a seedy barber shop near the Pantheon -- and he illuminates those hidden recesses, painting a vivid chiaroscuro portrait of the shady Parisian underbelly. Paris, City of Night recalls the complex political intrigues of Le Carré, the shadowy ambiance of Ambler, the psychological insight of Simenon, the cat-and-mouse tension of Highsmith... yet showcases Downie's unique voice and pitch-perfect perspective on his adopted city. And his prose is relentlessly entertaining (or entertainingly relentless). His recipe mixes secret Daguerreotype codes, embittered Cold Warriors, terrorists, and a somewhat reluctant, ambivalent "son of a spook" hero -- with a soupcon of sex and even spicier political commentary.

After reading this twisting compulsive CIA actioner, you'll never think of Paris in quite the same way.

For a sunnier view of his expat hometown, I recommend reading Downie's ode in essay form (Paris Paris) or one of his marvelous cookbooks (which also include delectable details of local flavor as well as flavors).

This book was a wonderfully written page turner written by author David D. Downie. The story keeps one on the edge of their seat. The story is captivating and alluring, the setting inspiring and awe-worthy; this is a must read for anyone who is fascinated by the city of Paris. Paris City of Night

I cannot recommend this super-suspense thriller highly enough. It will keep you guessing and on thge edge of your seat the whole time and you will never be able to look at Paris quite the same way again.

Downie is a master at crafting a story with real, dimensional characters, places with texture, keen dialogue and beautiful language that stays with you. He is always a step ahead in his action and that is just the way you'll like it.

I hope this will be just the first of many thrillers to come from this exceptional author. Encore, monsieur!

"Dancing in the dark in Paris" would have been my title for this intellectual whodonit--a thriller spy story that is sometimes hard boiled, and more often revealing a soft core of decency and sentiment. Because it contains information with which I'm unfamiliar, I reread the first thirty pages several times to try to figure out what was going on, in a fascinating background of the history and science of photography. It was worthwhile: the deeper into the story, the more interesting it became.

I enjoyed this book for a bunch of reasons. First, the fast pace and the atmosphere. I've spent time in Paris and recognized a lot of places, like Pere Lachaise cemetery, where there's a great chase scene early in the book. Reminded me of the suspenseful opening scenes of the Da Vinci Code at the Louvre. In the book, I also discovered other cool-sounding places and neighborhoods I've never explored (they're on my list for my next trip). City of Night is definitely a page-turner, like Da Vinci Code. I also thought the CIA and the French secret services were portrayed in an entertaining and frightening way. It feels more like a classic thriller than a crime or detective novel. It's a great read. I highly recommend it.

Okay, this book's hero, Jay Grant, whose father was a CIA man, has got two women in his life although only one of them really has his best interests at heart. It takes Jay quite a while to figure that out, however, as he is pursued from one end of Paris to another trying to figure out why both the CIA and a bunch of bad guys are after some daguerreotypes--could it be they contain the codes needed to blow up the city? Or to stop the city from being blown up? Only a longtime Paris resident writer like David Downie could weave City of Light street scenes so integrally into a fast-paced thriller like this and not lose the plot thread. And talk about your celebrity cameos! Adolph Eichmann, Jim Morrison--never mind that they are dead, they both play key roles. Downie brings both Paris and his characters alive with an economical but richly descriptive prose style reminiscent of Raymond Chandler and Eric Ambler. A must read!

Paris City of Night is a terrific read. Thoroughly captivated from the first paragraph. Not a line can be skipped. Always some telling observation or important twist to the plot on each page. Must have taken a few years to flesh out. I think it interesting how at the end you left the door open Mr. Downie. Do hope you might think of another one. Having visited the Niepce museum in Chalon in Burgundy I was primed for the Book's trope (vanishing illusions). Made it all the more fun. Especially since I learned so much more about Photography's famous trailblazers. Bravo! Jasper Brinton

Without ever having actually been to Paris, the reader feels as if they are there and rounding every corner with the characters. This really is one book that is impossible to put down. I do believe it is time for me to read it again. I know I will enjoy it just as much this time around.