The Tears of Buddha: A Montclaire Mystery

Allen’s underwhelming 15th historical mystery featuring French investigator Gerard de Montclaire (after 2016’s The Rare Vintage) fails to capitalize on its intriguing setup. In 1907 Paris, Montclaire and his Watsonian sidekick, FitzMaurice, are roused late at night at the behest of minister of justice Jean-Luc Brouillard to solve a sensational murder. Marie-Claire Bernard, a military hero’s widow and daughter of an influential banking family, has been found dead in her home, nearly decapitated. With three valuable Tang dynasty bowls known as the Tears of Buddha missing from the premises, it seems obvious that Bernard was killed by a thief. But Brouillard discloses that Bernard’s father, financier Pierre Joffre, is suspected of collaborating with countries opposed to French interests, and that there may be a link between the murder and those political allegiances. Allen tosses in several twists, but few elicit shock, and the book’s Sherlockian moments of deduction feel familiar and phoned in. Historical whodunit fans have a bounty of better options. (Jan.)