Murder on the Leviathan : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Best mystery writer I've read in a long time
Review: What a great book! It had everything - humor, cultural differences and misunderstandings, history and murder. Most importantly, I was surprised by the ending - did not expect it.

I liked how he told the story from the viewpoint of the suspects. I don't think we ever really got to read about the detective's opinion, which gave him a sense of mystery (I have not read The Winter Queen, yet). It also highlighted the opinions of the Europeans toward the Japanese passenger - I believe their opinions were pretty realistic with what Europeans and Americans thought of Asians at that time. It was a good look at how people's prejudices can get in the way of the truth. The author got in a few humorous digs at British and French imperialism.

I highly recommend this book. I am surprised how few people have reviewed this book. I think it is better written, more clever and more interesting than other more popular mystery writers. I can't wait for his other books to come out here in the US. Yes, he does remind me of Agatha Christie.

Rating:
Summary: Best mystery writer I've read in a long time
Review: What a great book! It had everything - humor, cultural differences and misunderstandings, history and murder. Most importantly, I was surprised by the ending - did not expect it.

I liked how he told the story from the viewpoint of the suspects. I don't think we ever really got to read about the detective's opinion, which gave him a sense of mystery (I have not read The Winter Queen, yet). It also highlighted the opinions of the Europeans toward the Japanese passenger - I believe their opinions were pretty realistic with what Europeans and Americans thought of Asians at that time. It was a good look at how people's prejudices can get in the way of the truth. The author got in a few humorous digs at British and French imperialism.

I highly recommend this book. I am surprised how few people have reviewed this book. I think it is better written, more clever and more interesting than other more popular mystery writers. I can't wait for his other books to come out here in the US. Yes, he does remind me of Agatha Christie.

Rating:
Summary: A great mystery
Review: When British aristocrat Lord Littleby and his servants are killed in Paris, the hunt is on for the killer. In a fast-paced mystery reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, we are introduced to M. Gauche, a police investigator who goes on board the Leviathan to see what he can to to solve "the Crime of the Century." Up against him, however, is the Russian detective Erast Fandorin, who we met before in the Winter Queen (it isn't necessary to have read The Winter Queen before Murder on the Leviathan, though doing so helps in understanding the character of Fandorin).

With some intelligent insights into 19th-century Europe, Boris Akunin introduces us to several interesting international characters, including a very mysterious British nobleman, the pregnant wife of a prominent Swiss banker, and a Japanese doctor, just to name a few. This is a highly readable book, a lot of fun for history and mystery buffs alike.