The Man upon the Stair: A Mystery in Fin-de-Siècle Paris

Inbinder’s solid third mystery set in fin-de-siècle Paris (after 2016’s The Hanged Man) finds the capable Achille Lefebvre, now chief of the Paris Detective Police, dealing with blowback from the arrest and execution of terrorist bomber Laurent Moreau. Moreau’s colleagues have vowed revenge, forcing Lefebvre to be circumspect in his movements and to take precautions to insure his safety. Meanwhile, the new police chief must resolve the case of the wealthy Baron Le Noir de Livet, who vanished along with about a million francs after a dispute at a casino. A Russian prince named Papkov accused the baron of cheating at baccarat; a bloodless duel between the two preceded the disappearance. The puzzle deepens after one of de Livet’s servants is poisoned. The intriguing plot—Lefebvre must determine whether the baron’s whereabouts connect with European power politics—compensates for the less-than-distinctive lead. Agent: Lukas Ortiz, Philip Spitzer Agency. (Feb.)