A decent murder mystery but not brilliant characterisation. The main character seeme d to pick on everyone as the culprit and only realised the truth by chance towards the end, as such the whole book didn't come across as very well thought out. The one positive that is lacking in some historical books was the descriptions of Paris itself, i felt as if i was walking in the city, the Exposition and even up the Eiffel Tower. If i come across the next book in this series i will probably give it a go to see if there is improvement but if not i won't be reading any more by this author. The story sounded so inviting: at the 1889 world's fair in Paris, people are dieing of what seems to be bee stings. While a new newspaper gains popularity writing about the deaths, a young bookseller tries to find out if his old tutor or his new love could be involved.The problem may be that this was translated from French. But that would account for only some of the dull, plodding way that this was written. After a bit you don't even care what the mystery is, you just want the book to end.
It was a little hard to follow, and a very slow read, but I did enjoy the overall plot.
—niharika
My mom really enjoyed this series, and the first one was fun to read.
—krod
Excellent historical mystery - intent on reading the whole series.
—babe
Paris, a bookstore, the year 1880 loved it.
—blah
Quick to read and an interesting story.
—khineh
