A Dead Man in Trieste
atmospheric historical crime from an award-winning author
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $2.99
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- $2.99
Publisher Description
'Sheer fun' The Times
Trieste in 1906 is of vital strategic importance and one of the world's greatest seaports. But assorted nationalist movements are threatening to pull the place apart and the militarist regime has trouble keeping a lid on things.
Amid all the chaos the British consul goes missing, and Special Branch Seymour is sent to find him. Born to an immigrant family in London's East End, Seymour has an acute linguistic ear - crucial in turn-of-the-century Trieste. As he attempts to solve the riddle of the consul's disappearance, Seymour discovers dark and disturbing corners of the city and finds that it holds the secrets of his own family's past.
Praise for Michael Pearce's A Dead Man in . . . series
'The steady pace, atmospheric design, and detailed description re-create a complicated city. A recommended historical series' Library Journal
'His sympathetic portrayal of an unfamiliar culture, impeccable historical detail and entertaining dialogue make enjoyable reading' Sunday Telegraph
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British author Pearce, creator of the acclaimed Mamur Zapt historical series (The Camel of Destruction, etc.), makes the case for a larger fan base with this first in a new series, set early in the 20th century amid the growing erosion of the power of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the burgeoning Balkan conspiracies that will eventually spark WWI. The British foreign office plucks Sandor Seymour of Special Branch from Whitechapel and assigns him to surreptitiously investigate the disappearance of Lomax, the British consul in Trieste, a major seaport for the empire. Posing as a lowly king's messenger who's just passing through town, the affable and matter-of-fact sleuth quickly manages to insinuate himself into the missing man's bohemian circle of artists and revolutionaries. Those contacts soon prove invaluable when Lomax's corpse surfaces and Seymour must battle competing local police forces to solve the murder. Fans will find Seymour quite familiar, since like Gareth Owen, the hero of Pearce's Egyptian series, he is adept at mixing detection with diplomacy. Pearce again demonstrates his skill at making the past come alive and at seamlessly weaving actual political intrigues into his plot.
Customer Reviews
If you like Furst, you may like this.
Reminds me of Alan Furst in his ability to conjure attractive characters and set them loose in a well-painted historical tableaux.