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laurie king harris stuyvesant bones of paris man ray mary russell sherlock holmes cole porter jazz age bennett grey well written historical fiction time period private detective private investigator subject matter missing girl hired to find russell and sherlock stand alone ernest hemingway
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Patti Saint-Marie Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars Creepy and disturbing
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2013
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Creepy. I usually read mystery cozies, historical mysteries, whodunit type books. But, as a fan of King's Mary Russell series, I thought I would try this book. If I had to describe it, I would say that it is part Edgar Allen Poe and part Ian Rankin. Almost all of the characters are broken in some way - either mentally or physically or both. The story takes place in Paris circa 1929. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements which spiral clockwise starting at the Louve - arr. 1 in the heart of the city. This story takes place in Montparnasse - arr. 14. During post world war I, it was home and hide-out to the bohemian culture where many famous or soon to be famous authors, artists, and performers created and socialized. It was a place where anything goes. The main character, Harris Stuyvesant, is a broken man and a private investigator who is looking for a missing young woman. He discovers that Montparnasse has a hidden secret of multiple missing persons. And, this is where the roller coaster begins. You slide in a world of gorey people without being subjected to gore, of art that is beyond genius but, bent towards the inconceivable, and of people who are just trying to enjoy life without any consequences.

The book is very disturbing. But, similar to a train wreck, you are compelled to watch - or, in the case, read on to the end.

I would recommend this book to people who like a mystery with macrabre. It is intense. And, I guarantee that whether you like it or place it in the back of your closet covered with crosses, you will think about this story for a long time.
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maria s spencer
4.0 out of 5 stars a Sleuth in 20's Paris
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018
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I loved the "feel" of this book. I think King captured what I imagine was the atmosphere of Paris in the 20's. I wasn't enamoured by the main character - he always felt a little shady; but I think the story line was a very good one. I like almost all of Laurie King's work and this was no exception. She writes well, builds a plot well, and doesn't try to tie up all the loose ends at the end of the book - she has been getting there all along. I think I just didn't like some of the character traits of Stuyvesant, even though they made him who he was. I definitely would recommend this book.
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nom de plume
2.0 out of 5 stars Surrealistic Read
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2016
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This is one of the more bizarre and macabre books I've ever read. It may appeal to others but it's just not my style so I'm having a hard time writing an objective review. If you're into beetles eating flesh off bones and the woman-hating and horror-filled world of Surrealism in 1920's France, you may like this book.

I honestly felt that I was cheated by the publisher's reviews - I was expecting life in ex-pat Paris before the crash, not death and bones and gruesome gore.
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Kathleen IgoTop Contributor: Coloring
3.0 out of 5 stars My first Laurie R. King disappointment
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
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After 11+ Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes books that are as amazing and outstanding as the Conan Doyle canon, and a sizeable list of other books, this one was a disappointment. Continuing the exploits of former FBI agent Harris Stuyvesant in 1920s Paris, this dark and disturbing story is well written as is all her stuff. It just doesn't reach her usual A+++ standards. I'm more than willing to allow her this one, because I know she will be back with her amazing quality stuff in the next book - whatever the topic. She does the dark and disturbing stories very well. I usually avoid those kind of things, but her work is so over-the-top outstanding that I was willing to give it a try (Folly and Keeping Watch were my first ones, and they were mesmerizing and superb stories) - plots, characterizations and atmosphere are her strong points. Always very rich and so much more than I expect, she is always mind blowing in her quality and great stories. At this point I expect a lot, and that may be why this book was a "disappointment", but not a waste of time!!! If you haven't discovered Laurie R. King, give yourself a gift: either one of her Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes or any of her others will do! I suggest Folly!!!
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boswell
4.0 out of 5 stars Intense, Disquieting and Very Satisfying
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2013
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I picked this up because I have read all King's Mary Russell/Holmes books, but this is nothing at all like those. This was an extremely intense, dark and often disturbing piece, that kept me riveted until the very end. I loved the way she weaved in all the actual historical characters with her fictional characters, and even though I did not read the first book involving some of these characters, I thought this one stood very well on its own (and in fact I don't think i'd have wanted to have read the first one because, given what I could glean from this book, that book sounds even darker and more depressing than this one). Spoiler alert - The one thing I didn't really like about this book was the ending, because it seemed to me that if two fictional characters were ever meant for each other it was Harris and Sarah, and I didn't particularly like the Doucet character at all. That plus the really, really dark nature of this kept me from giving it five stars, but I would still highly recommend it, and would definitely read a sequel if she does intend to keep this series going.
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JaneSail
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Original and Full of Suspense
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2019
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This is in the darker style of mysteries, which seems to be popular lately... I love Ms. King's style: She builds a firm plot foundation in the first half of the story, then the second half keeps you glued to the book to the end... The details and history elements make you feel like you are there... Every character is well developed... Always clever, original ideas in her books.
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Top reviews from other countries

Beetle
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, atmospheric, great story with plenty of skulls, artists and crypts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2018
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I do find Laurie King’s writing intelligent and thoughtful and this book was no exception, and having been reading about the Grand Guignol recently I was really interested to see how such a skilled writer evoked that Paris. If you are looking for the Mary Russell point of view you won’t find it - but that’s as it should be: it insults the women who came before us to suggest that any but the most exceptional characters had then the freedom that many women have in Europe today- including the freedom of mind.
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Briony Holyoake
4.0 out of 5 stars Book by Laurie King.....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2020
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Purchase having stated to read the Holmes and Russell series. I am not a fan of reading any swear words, or of any sort of religious blasphemy. So immediately put off. Not at all recognisable as the same author. Not for me.
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june finnigan - writer
5.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliantly gripping tale with the added backdrop of Paris in 1929.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2015
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Harris is hired by the American family of a missing girl. He also has a personal reason for wanting to find her, as they were former lovers. Paris has been taken over by artists, and Americans have flocked to experience the seedy side of the city where there is a fascination for the macabre. The police have a long list of missing people. Then Harris starts to see a pattern emerge. A truly gruesome yet intriguing tale.
June Finnigan - writer.
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annem
1.0 out of 5 stars I was deeply disappointed in this book by an author I usually enjoy ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2016
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I was deeply disappointed in this book by an author I usually enjoy greatly. I found it revolting and gave up, went to the end and found it hadn't improved.
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Mrs. Anne Morton
3.0 out of 5 stars This one can be judged by its title
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2016
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It was well written, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Mary Russell books. Don't let that put anyone off: very interesting if you know Paris and modern artists, but with a touch of the macabre.
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