THE DEVIL IN MONTMARTRE

A police detective uses science to solve a grisly murder in 19th-century Paris.

In 1889, Boulevard de Clichy feels like the center of the world. Crowds of tourists already in Paris for the Universal Exposition to marvel by day at sights like M. Eiffel’s wondrous tower flock at night to Montmartre to watch the scandalous new dancers at the Moulin Rouge , where Virginie Ménard dances cancan under the watchful eye of Maurice de Toulouse-Lautrec. In his atelier, the artist has seen more of the young dancer than the glimpse of undies she flashes in the club. Nevertheless, Lautrec never misses a chance to sketch one of his favorite models. So when Virginie goes missing, he’s one of the first to notice. Not far behind is American artist Marcia Brownlow, whose fascination with Virginie enrages her lover, heiress Betsy Endicott. But the police are as indifferent to the disappearance as the artists are concerned—until the headless body of a young woman is found in a cesspit. Old-school detectives like Inspector Rousseau rely on a network of snitches. But Chief Inspector Féraud has faith in modern young inspector Achille Lefebvre. And Lefebvre has faith in evidence. With the help of crime lab pathologist Alphonse Bertillon, Lefebvre examines the crime scene, casting footprints in the mud and dusting for fingerprints. As the yellow press blames the crime on a conspiracy of Jewish bankers and Rousseau takes aim at the art community, Lefebvre seeks to unmask the real killer, who has autographed his work as surely as Lautrec signs his. 

Essayist Inbinder’s mystery debut shows Montmartre at its atmospheric best—inhabited by characters as diverse and devious as Paris can offer.