Reviews
The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection by Dorothy Hoobler, Thomas Hoobler
caedocyon's review against another edition
3.0
The pacing was strange. The long introduction was a bit of a slog, and spacing the Mona Lisa mystery out as the author did was vaguely frustrating, especially because there wasn't quite enough content to it to justify its prominence in the book. There were lots of interesting anecdotes (like Picasso's involvement in the Mona Lisa affair), the history of the detective novel was pretty interesting, and so was the stuff on the history of criminal identification (from pre-Bertillonage to fingerprints). I'm sure it was tough to get all this to hang together, and the author mostly succeeded. But it was still a choppy read sometimes.
anniew415's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun history of an unknown historical angle of the Belle Epoque. The French have a love of true crime and during this time period, crime became a huge part of the culture. This book traces famous crime sprees from art theft to bank robbery, and also explores the cultural fascination through works of fiction and fantasy serials.
An entertaining read for anyone who loves true crime stories, French history, forensics, and science.
An entertaining read for anyone who loves true crime stories, French history, forensics, and science.
a_ma_n_da's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. I thought it would be more exciting. Also, it seems like the authors assume we don't know who Gertrude Stein is? She is an important lady, give her more credit.
sujata's review against another edition
1.0
I coudn't finsih this, didn't keep my interest, just not my thing, sadly!
sethlynch's review against another edition
4.0
This book uses the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 as an opportunity to survey the crime scene of Paris 1896-1914. They look at the theft and then police techniques, notorious criminals, and famous cases. One error in the last chapter: they claim Dada started in Geneva rather than Zurich (I studied Dada literature and lived in Zurich for a year).
I read this as part of my background research for Salazar. It was a lively and fun read. I picked up a few interesting details which may crop up in the Salazar books. This was really deep research as it ends in 1914 where Salazar begins in 1930.
This book is a good read – you can sit and read it like a novel.
I read this as part of my background research for Salazar. It was a lively and fun read. I picked up a few interesting details which may crop up in the Salazar books. This was really deep research as it ends in 1914 where Salazar begins in 1930.
This book is a good read – you can sit and read it like a novel.
caitlinxmartin's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay read for me. I think I would've liked it better if I had never read [b:The Banquet Years The Origins of the Avant-Garde in France, 1885 to World War One|762789|The Banquet Years The Origins of the Avant-Garde in France, 1885 to World War One|Roger Shattuck|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|748876] - an absolutely incredible and fascinating look at France during the same period, but in particular at the artists and writers who made things interesting there. I also would've liked it better if I hadn't read [b:Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York|75220|Low Life Lures and Snares of Old New York|Luc Sante|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170874056s/75220.jpg|2116806] - at this point it is the definitive template for how to look at crime in a city in the past. [b:The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection|6234101|The Crimes of Paris A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection|Dorothy Hoobler|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256045844s/6234101.jpg|6416735] sort of wants to do what each of these other books each do in their own way, but the writing was just a little too dry to hold my interest.
krisrid's review against another edition
3.0
I did not know that the Mona Lisa had at one time been stolen from the Louvre and remained missing for a couple of years before being found and returned to its place in the Salon Carre. This book traces the crime, before during and after, and also examines in interspersing interludes, the many - surprisingly many - other fascinating crimes and high-profile, high-drama criminals in turn-of-the-century Paris.
The book is non-fiction, and while the authors do a good job of making real events interesting and engaging, the need - obviously - to be factual and give all the related details and background for the various crimes they examine did cause the book to drag a bit from time to time. It is still a very interesting book, however.
I was quite surprised to learn about all the "firsts" that were French in terms of criminology and detection of crime. There were many, too many to try to do justice to in a review, but suffice it to say the French were trail-blazers and very effective at expanding the fighting against crime . . . well, mostly. There are a few botched attempts to catch the various criminals profiled, but that was as much a factor of the French citizenry being frequently enamoured by, and on the side of, the criminals in many cases.
Overall, if you are a fan of true crime, and if you find turn-of-the-century Paris to be a fascinating place and era, you will probably enjoy this book.
The book is non-fiction, and while the authors do a good job of making real events interesting and engaging, the need - obviously - to be factual and give all the related details and background for the various crimes they examine did cause the book to drag a bit from time to time. It is still a very interesting book, however.
I was quite surprised to learn about all the "firsts" that were French in terms of criminology and detection of crime. There were many, too many to try to do justice to in a review, but suffice it to say the French were trail-blazers and very effective at expanding the fighting against crime . . . well, mostly. There are a few botched attempts to catch the various criminals profiled, but that was as much a factor of the French citizenry being frequently enamoured by, and on the side of, the criminals in many cases.
Overall, if you are a fan of true crime, and if you find turn-of-the-century Paris to be a fascinating place and era, you will probably enjoy this book.
sujata's review against another edition
1.0
I coudn't finsih this, didn't keep my interest, just not my thing, sadly!
lancakes's review against another edition
4.0
From what I can tell, well researched. Describes Paris during la belle époque. Deftly weaves together art and science, beautifully describes the current events and attitudes of the era. Narrative loosely held together by the story of the theft of the Mona Lisa. Parts of it were boring to me, personally, because of where my interests lie. Was most engrossed by the middle section about the cultural obsession with crime and the birth of criminology, la sûreté, and crime fiction. Actually felt sad at the end when the epoch came to an end.