From Publishers Weekly
O'Brien's fourth Anne Cartier mystery falls short of the high standard set by earlier books in the series (
Mute Witness, etc.), which explored issues of social justice and morality more deeply and offered more sympathetic supporting characters. Fortunately, the protagonists remain as engaging as ever: Anne, a teacher of the deaf, and her husband, Paul de Saint-Martin, provost of the Royal Highway Patrol. The couple and everyone else attending the 1787 opening of the Salon of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture at the Louvre are shocked by the unveiling of a portrait of the late Comtesse Virginie de Serre, whose visage has been replaced by a macabre skull. When the womanizing artist, Albert Bouchard, turns up stabbed to death early one morning, the subsequent investigation expands to include not only academy members but also several undesirable types who frequent the Louvre and Palais Royale. As usual, O'Brien vividly conveys the great inequalities within French society under Bourbon rule.
(June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
At an exhibit opening in Paris in 1787, noted artist Bouchard unveils his latest painting. He and his audience are shocked to see it has been badly defaced, and Bouchard immediately--and very publicly--accuses his rival, Hamel, of the crime. When Bouchard is found brutally murdered shortly afterward, Hamel becomes the prime suspect. Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin of the French police is placed in charge of the investigation, and, as usual, he asks his wife, Anne Cartier, for help. Anne soon determines that Hamel isn't the only person who might have had reason to deface the portrait or kill Bouchard. With no forensic science, modern investigative tools, or crime-scene teams to call on, Anne and Paul must rely on a combination of intuition and hard work. Eventually, their careful investigation pays off, but nothing has prepared them for the shocking identity of the killer or the tangled, tragic story behind the murders. Deftly drawn characters and a plot that will keep even seasoned mystery fans guessing make this a good choice for historical mystery collections.
Emily MeltonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
