Man Upon the Stair, The
A Mystery in Fin de Sicle Paris

At the public execution of the anarchist assassin Laurent Moreau, the outgoing Chief Inspector warns his protg, the newly promoted Lefebvre: Ive heard that some of Moreaus cronies have sworn revenge. You dont want to get killed your first week as chief. Meanwhile, Lefebvre is charged with investigating the disappearance of the Baron de Livet, a brash millionaire with connections to Russian spies and a history of gambling, womanizing, and fighting in duels. The case is more complicated than it seems, of course, and Lefebvre and his team must make sense of a poisoned maid, an unidentifiable stagecoach, and a missing briefcase full of cash. The Barons connection to the world of international espionage means that, if the Inspector isnt fast enough, the Barons disappearance might trigger a war. And Lefebvre mustnt forget those stalking anarchists who are out for his blood, as he searches for the man who wasnt there...