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The Crimes Of Paris: A True Story Of Murder, Theft, And Detection (2009)

by Dorothy Hoobler(Favorite Author)

3.56 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0316017906 (ISBN13: 9780316017909)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Little, Brown and Company

review 1: Good stories, but this book lacks focus. The theft of the Mona Lisa takes a back seat to many other crime-related topics in Belle Epoque Paris. It was an enjoyable but scattered read. Much like meandering through the City of Light itself, you will encounter the good (intriguing characters!), the bad (anarchists!), and the ugly (origins of detective novels?!). It's a good primer for this era, but look to other books if you want to delve more deeply into particular crimes.
review 2: Do you know who used to live in the Louvre? Do you know when the Belle Epoque was? Do you know Pablo Picasso's real name? I learned these things in the first few pages, then the wheels came off this book. Thank goodness I got from the library and didn't pay $$$ to buy a Kindle ver... moresion on-line. I was expecting a real crime story, the Mona Lisa was stolen, France's best detectives would solve the case. Instead I got a book about the evolution of crime solving techniques and forensics in France around the time of Belle Epoque. The Mona Lisa case was a tiny part of this book, and the police . . . . well, I'll stop there. I still want to know how a single thief could carry the Mona Lisa, it's protective frames and glass to his getaway path. Also I learned what C.E. and B.C.E. means with regard to a date. To the author . . . Must you try to be so politically correct that you must remove any reference to Christianity by using this? Sheesh! Finally, if you ever wondered why Parisians are the way they are, you might get some insights from this book. Personally, I don't think the return on investment is worth it. Read something else! less

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