Victor Legris has the potential to be an appealing if somewhat quirky sleuth, if only he spent a little more time chasing down clues rather than chasing his married mistress or pretty young artists (especially the pretty young artists). Claude Izner's Murder on the Eiffel Tower is the first in a series of historical mysteries set in late 19th century France to be published in the US. There are already perhaps half a dozen Victor Legris mysteries available in France, though I can't quite gage their popularity there.
Victor Legris is an antiquarian bookseller and amateur photographer, though I think he leaves most of the work to his crime-novel-reading assistant. He is also involved with a married woman though his interest in her begins to wane when he meets a young, attractive Russian woman. Tasha is very bohemian and independent. She's a struggling artist who makes her way in the world by working as an illustrator and cartoonist for a sensationalist newspaper. The editor of Le Passe-partout would like nothing more than to have Victor write a column for his paper as well. A business meeting at the Anglo-American bar on the Eiffel Tower with the editor and staff of the newspaper will quickly involve Victor in love and murder.
The 1889 World Exposition in Paris is the backdrop for a series of baffling murders that on the surface don't even appear to be murders. Victor is witness to what appears to be an unusual death on the newly unveiled Tower. A woman mysteriously collapses after an apparent bee sting. When an American naturalist later dies under the same strange circumstances, Victor starts making connections between the deaths and those around him he trusts and loves. The bodies start stacking up and basing his assumptions on coincidences, Victor suspects not only his new passion, Tasha, but his long time friend and business partner, Kenji Mori, as being involved in the mess. I'm not entirely sure the author intended this, but at times it felt like a comedy of manners with each character suspecting (and at times following) the others and wondering what each was up to.
Generally I love historical mysteries, even quirky ones, but Murder on the Eiffel Tower didn't really work for me. It may be a case of a first time mystery writer (actually in this case the author is in reality two sisters who happen to be second-hand booksellers) setting the scene and getting the characters in place and then building on to it all later. The plot felt choppy, the mystery aspect not as developed as it could have been, and to me the characters felt like "types" with no real depth to them. I don't mind a slightly weak mystery if the characters are strong enough to carry the story, but they didn't really engage me and I was a little incredulous of their actions and behavior a few times. I will say the feel of 19th century Paris was there, however. I loved the descriptions and atmosphere, which felt authentic. It's not surprising as the book blurb mentions the sisters are "experts on 19th century Paris." So I'm not sure what to think. I hope I don't sound too harsh, the series has possibilities, but with so many other excellent mysteries out there to read, I'm not sure I'll pick up another Victor Legris mystery. Perhaps this author is one to check out again via the public library.