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Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Parisian Detective Tales: A Trilogy (Part One: Two Sisters) by Marcel Marquié is the first installment in what promises to be a fascinating series based around private detective Toni Bonnet. Set in Paris not long after the end of World War II, this story revolves around the suspicion and intrigue in France after the defeat of the Germans. Many French citizens were out for blood. They wanted the collaborators during the war captured and executed for their complicity with the German authorities. When Toni is hired by a local butcher to investigate the unusual and mysterious behavior of his beautiful wife, Toni initially believes he is dealing with a simple case of adultery; his specialty. The more he delves into the woman’s activity though, the more he realizes that she and her older sister are up to something much more sinister than adultery.
Parisian Detective Tales is an excellent example of a well-thought-out, cleverly plotted historical drama. Author Marcel Marquié has created an interesting character in Toni Bonnet. There is a subtle feeling that Toni has some inbuilt guilt for the easy time he had during the war when he was a prisoner of war on a Bavarian dairy farm, and where he had a wonderfully passionate relationship with the farmer’s wife. In post-war France, to have been labeled a collaborator was an almost certain death sentence and citizens were scurrying to prove their loyalty to France and the resistance. I particularly enjoyed Toni’s loving relationship with the big-hearted prostitute, Rose. One of the best scenes is on Rose’s family farm when Toni is confronted with the strength, fortitude, and courage of the rural women of France. The twists and turns of the plot, as Toni unravels the mystery of sisters Claudine and Sandrine, are the central core of the story and will keep readers guessing about the two women’s actions. As an introduction to Toni Bonnet, his investigative techniques, and his thought processes, this is an excellent start to what looks to be a successful series of cases, romances, and adventures. I look forward to the next book and I highly recommend this one.
