Death in the Latin Quarter

Our reviews of

Death in the Latin Quarter by Raphael Cardetti

Genre

Thriller (View all)

Synopsis:

Early one morning in Paris the magnificent tranquillity of the Sorbonne university is shattered by a death. But why would Albert Cadas, a crumpled professor of medieval literature, have any reason to kill himself? Meanwhile, Valentine Savi, a talented young restorer, receives a visit from an enigmatic elderly gentleman with a unique commission: to restore a priceless medieval manuscript whose timeworn pages promise to reveal the truth of a mystery that has fascinated scholars and writers for centuries. Valentine soon learns that the shadowy figures who seek to possess the book's secrets are far darker and more ruthless than she could ever have imagined...Together with her friend Hugo Vermeer - aristocrat, epicure, crook - and David Scotto, Cadas s doctoral student, Valentine finds herself on a terrifying and thrilling adventure through the narrow streets and gloomily palatial mansions of the Latin Quarter.

Annette's Review

4.25/5

Reviewed: April/May 2010

This is a rather more literary piece of crime writing which should appeal to readers of Michelle Giuttari, Donna Leon or Frank Tallis; in other words authors whose novels are enjoyable, well written mysteries which are set in Florence, Venice, Vienna, or in the present instance, Paris, and possess a strong sense of place, as well as subject matter with a bit more intellectual bite. Good euro crime is also just the thing for travel buffs when travel is not on the agenda! If this fits the bill, you will thoroughly enjoy Cardetti's first outing, which features a very strong cast of well defined characters, and a particularly stylish female lead in the person of Valentine Savi, who specializes in art restoration. I liked it very much and would have rated it more had I not been able to guess the culprit as soon as he arrived upon the scene, but because the plot was interesting and well executed, I never-the-less look forward to the next instalment; and bear in mind that because I read so much, I can be very difficult to surprise.