Intrigue and Suspense in Parisian Detective Tales, Part One: Two Sisters by Marcel Marquié (Book Review #2046)

In Two Sisters, the first part of his Parisian Detective Tales trilogy, Marcel Marquié weaves a captivating post-WWII detective story set against the backdrop of a recovering Paris. The novel is steeped in the political tensions of the time, with France still grappling with the aftermath of Nazi occupation, labor unrest, and the early stages of decolonization. As the narrative unfolds, Marquié introduces Toni Bonnet, a former Prisoner of War who has returned to Paris and established a modest detective agency in the Marais district.

Toni, pragmatic and unambitious, is content to take on straightforward cases involving infidelity. However, his quiet life is upended when a horsemeat butcher hires him to investigate his wife, who claims to be visiting her sick sister in Fontainebleau. What begins as a routine infidelity case soon turns into something far more sinister. Toni discovers that the butcher’s wife has been meeting her sister in secret, and that the supposedly ill woman—who turns out to be a former Résistance fighter—is in perfect health.

As Toni digs deeper, he uncovers unsettling truths about the sisters’ connection to the deaths of former résistants and the disappearance of the butcher’s wife’s toddler, a child fathered by a German officer during the war. The more Toni uncovers, the more entangled he becomes in a web of secrets, lies, and betrayals that stretch back to the darkest days of the Nazi occupation.

Two Sisters is a compelling start to the trilogy, blending historical drama with gripping mystery. Marquié skillfully captures the atmosphere of post-war France, where the scars of occupation are still fresh, and the tensions of the past linger. Toni Bonnet, with his calm demeanor and dogged determination, proves to be a fascinating protagonist as he delves into a case that is anything but straightforward. With an intriguing mix of personal stakes and broader historical implications, this novel will leave readers eager to continue the journey into the next installment of the trilogy.

Written Jeyran Main

“Want your book featured in our magazine? Feature an editorial book review in our Book Review Magazine or submit an article in our Book Article Magazine.”

“Support the writing community—purchase our magazines today!”

“Explore more reviews and find your next great read!”