harishwriter's review
4.0
Historical suspense set in Victorian Paris. The novel has a good political backdrop of war between England and Russia looming large. As with most suspense novels, this one too has enough characters to keep one guessing who the culprit is. In a way, the author has taken a simple jealous-lover vein and used the political situation as a wrapping to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner. I think the characters Clary, the pertinacious art student and Resse, the charming spy are portrayed, in anticipation of a sequel. However, Quillan, with his self-deprecating humor is endearing( happens to be author's fav too!). A-R-S-E-N-I-C seems to be the favorite sauce of deathly potions of Victorian era :).
More...