"AUTUMN 1915. The First World War is raging across
Europe. Woodrow Wilson has kept Americans out of the
trenches, although that hasn’t stopped young men and
women from crossing the Atlantic to volunteer at the front.
Christopher Marlowe ‘Kit’ Cobb, a Chicago reporter and
undercover agent for the US government is in Paris when he
meets an enigmatic nurse called Louise. Officially in the city
for a story about American ambulance drivers, Cobb is grateful
for the opportunity to get to know her but soon his intelligence
handler, James Polk Trask, extends his mission. Parisians are
meeting ‘death by dynamite’ in a new campaign of bombings,
and the German-speaking Kit seems just the man to discover
who is behind this – possibly a German operative who has
infiltrated with the waves of refugees? And so begins a pursuit
that will test Kit Cobb, in all his roles, to the very limits of his
principles, wits and talents for survival."
This isn't the first time Kit has graced the pages of a book yet I found Paris In The Dark read perfectly as a standalone novel. Like Kit, Robert Olen Butler also went to war, was part of the military intelligence and a reporter and editor at an investigative business newspaper. All this experience clearly shines through on the pages with Kit being a well rounded and (crucially) likeable lead character.
I loved the title. The reference to 'In The Dark' illudes to the otherside of Paris that only comes alive once the sun has set, Moulin Rouge with its risque cancan and champagne fuelled parties. Yet this was Paris in the middle of a war, one that was casting a very dark shadow over the city. The book begins in darkness when the first bombing takes place and the nail biting, claustrophobic climax is also in darkness.
Yet it is not only physical darkness that is present in the book. Kit is the brave American coming to report on the true horror of the front line, returning to the cafe after the first bombing to pay his bill. Yet his darker alter ego as a spy takes place under the cover of night requiring him to lie, carry a hidden gun and, if necessary, kill. Kit's bosses are highly placed yet are quick to lie and practically instruct Kit to get his hands dirty. Nurse Louise (interestingly Louise means 'famous warrior' or 'famous in war') is clearly a golden light in the book yet she too has experienced horrors that no person should and is all too quick to take to Kit's bed before she obtains a husband. Every character in some way has a darker side all exposed in various shapes or forms as the story unfolds.
The book increased in tension as the pages turned and I loved the red herrings which I won't go into for fear of spoiling it for you. The ending didn't disappoint and Kit clearly has room for another story or two (reporter, story, get it?!?). Lame jokes aside, it was very fitting at this time of year to read a story set in World War One and if you haven't read any of Olen Butler's novels you can't go too far wrong with Paris In The Dark as an introduction to his work.
My thanks go to No Exit Press via Anne Cater's Random Thing's Through My Letterbox website for the absolutely beautiful copy of the book (fold out cover and back pages and everything!) in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sharing today's blog tour spot with Nudge-Book head over and see what they made of Paris In The Dark when you get the chance.
This isn't the first time Kit has graced the pages of a book yet I found Paris In The Dark read perfectly as a standalone novel. Like Kit, Robert Olen Butler also went to war, was part of the military intelligence and a reporter and editor at an investigative business newspaper. All this experience clearly shines through on the pages with Kit being a well rounded and (crucially) likeable lead character.
I loved the title. The reference to 'In The Dark' illudes to the otherside of Paris that only comes alive once the sun has set, Moulin Rouge with its risque cancan and champagne fuelled parties. Yet this was Paris in the middle of a war, one that was casting a very dark shadow over the city. The book begins in darkness when the first bombing takes place and the nail biting, claustrophobic climax is also in darkness.
Yet it is not only physical darkness that is present in the book. Kit is the brave American coming to report on the true horror of the front line, returning to the cafe after the first bombing to pay his bill. Yet his darker alter ego as a spy takes place under the cover of night requiring him to lie, carry a hidden gun and, if necessary, kill. Kit's bosses are highly placed yet are quick to lie and practically instruct Kit to get his hands dirty. Nurse Louise (interestingly Louise means 'famous warrior' or 'famous in war') is clearly a golden light in the book yet she too has experienced horrors that no person should and is all too quick to take to Kit's bed before she obtains a husband. Every character in some way has a darker side all exposed in various shapes or forms as the story unfolds.
The book increased in tension as the pages turned and I loved the red herrings which I won't go into for fear of spoiling it for you. The ending didn't disappoint and Kit clearly has room for another story or two (reporter, story, get it?!?). Lame jokes aside, it was very fitting at this time of year to read a story set in World War One and if you haven't read any of Olen Butler's novels you can't go too far wrong with Paris In The Dark as an introduction to his work.
My thanks go to No Exit Press via Anne Cater's Random Thing's Through My Letterbox website for the absolutely beautiful copy of the book (fold out cover and back pages and everything!) in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sharing today's blog tour spot with Nudge-Book head over and see what they made of Paris In The Dark when you get the chance.
Huge thanks for the Blog Tour support x
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