Review of Parisian Detective Tales, a Trilogy
Posted: 05 Mar 2025, 10:57
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Parisian Detective Tales, a Trilogy" by Marcel Marquié.]
Novels that have an atmospheric feel to them, and especially those of a noir, historical, post-war atmosphere, are a treat to read, provided they are executed well. Marcel Marquié's Parisian Detective Tales, a Trilogy: Part One: Two Sisters is one such atmospheric novel that brings out a beautiful story that is a mix of deception, murder, and personal dilemmas.
The story begins by introducing us to our cynically observant protagonist, Toni, a detective by profession who is not the typical fearless or sharp-shooting hero found in most crime novels. It happens so that Toni takes on a routine case of infidelity and begins to work on it immediately only to find out that the case is much deeper than it appears on the surface! It is, in fact, a mystery that involves hidden pasts and family secrets, and the more he uncovers, the more secrets he finds, which are far greater than marital complications. Side by side, we also see Toni navigating the city’s political landscape and his own lingering regrets. Where will the novel take us at the end? What mysteries does Toni uncover? Read this crime novel and find out for yourself.
I truly enjoyed reading this book, as there was never a dull moment. I also admired the character sketch of Toni, which is very much in contrast to those hardboiled American detectives. In this story, Toni is neither shown as brave nor tough, and this is exactly what makes him stand out and makes him refreshingly human. He fumbles, gets injured, and even lets his emotions get in the way, which is rarely observed in typical detectives of crime novels.
I also adored the way Toni's relationship with Rose, his former love, was tackled by the author. Even the interactions he had with Sandrine and Claudine, the two sisters (after whom part one of the trilogy is named), were wonderfully portrayed, and it had an emotional quotient.
There were several parts within the book that stood out to me, such as the moment of the final confrontation with the sisters, where they revealed their motives, and all the crucial moments that Toni missed due to some random reasons like falling asleep in the car (it added to the tension and worked well on the thrill front). Even the end of the novel, where Toni receives a letter from Rose, was something that warmed my heart and broke it at the same time. Multiple instances like these sprinkled throughout the book made the novel a great and entertaining read for me.
The writing style of the author is worth appreciating as well because he literally brought Paris alive on paper, be it the smoky cafés, the war-recovering city, or the overall vibe it carried. It was spectacular! The dialogue felt authentic, and the novel has a slow-burn quality to it, which worked well for me. Yes, there is an influence of American noir, but it is blended well with French sensibility, which makes it melancholic yet elegant. Thus, considering all of these factors, I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars without any reservation. I did not find anything to dislike in the book. The editing as well is top-notch, and I could not find a single error throughout, which is spectacularly rare.
I would recommend this book to readers who appreciate textured stories with historical and post-war settings and a book that has a flawed but fascinating protagonist. This book is a must-read for readers who like these attributes in a novel.
******
Parisian Detective Tales, a Trilogy
View: on Bookshelves
Novels that have an atmospheric feel to them, and especially those of a noir, historical, post-war atmosphere, are a treat to read, provided they are executed well. Marcel Marquié's Parisian Detective Tales, a Trilogy: Part One: Two Sisters is one such atmospheric novel that brings out a beautiful story that is a mix of deception, murder, and personal dilemmas.
The story begins by introducing us to our cynically observant protagonist, Toni, a detective by profession who is not the typical fearless or sharp-shooting hero found in most crime novels. It happens so that Toni takes on a routine case of infidelity and begins to work on it immediately only to find out that the case is much deeper than it appears on the surface! It is, in fact, a mystery that involves hidden pasts and family secrets, and the more he uncovers, the more secrets he finds, which are far greater than marital complications. Side by side, we also see Toni navigating the city’s political landscape and his own lingering regrets. Where will the novel take us at the end? What mysteries does Toni uncover? Read this crime novel and find out for yourself.
I truly enjoyed reading this book, as there was never a dull moment. I also admired the character sketch of Toni, which is very much in contrast to those hardboiled American detectives. In this story, Toni is neither shown as brave nor tough, and this is exactly what makes him stand out and makes him refreshingly human. He fumbles, gets injured, and even lets his emotions get in the way, which is rarely observed in typical detectives of crime novels.
I also adored the way Toni's relationship with Rose, his former love, was tackled by the author. Even the interactions he had with Sandrine and Claudine, the two sisters (after whom part one of the trilogy is named), were wonderfully portrayed, and it had an emotional quotient.
There were several parts within the book that stood out to me, such as the moment of the final confrontation with the sisters, where they revealed their motives, and all the crucial moments that Toni missed due to some random reasons like falling asleep in the car (it added to the tension and worked well on the thrill front). Even the end of the novel, where Toni receives a letter from Rose, was something that warmed my heart and broke it at the same time. Multiple instances like these sprinkled throughout the book made the novel a great and entertaining read for me.
The writing style of the author is worth appreciating as well because he literally brought Paris alive on paper, be it the smoky cafés, the war-recovering city, or the overall vibe it carried. It was spectacular! The dialogue felt authentic, and the novel has a slow-burn quality to it, which worked well for me. Yes, there is an influence of American noir, but it is blended well with French sensibility, which makes it melancholic yet elegant. Thus, considering all of these factors, I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars without any reservation. I did not find anything to dislike in the book. The editing as well is top-notch, and I could not find a single error throughout, which is spectacularly rare.
I would recommend this book to readers who appreciate textured stories with historical and post-war settings and a book that has a flawed but fascinating protagonist. This book is a must-read for readers who like these attributes in a novel.
******
Parisian Detective Tales, a Trilogy
View: on Bookshelves