The Library Paradox

by Catherine Shaw

Book Overview

A famous--and famously anti-Semitic--professor has been killed, shot in his own library, and the police, eager to close the books on the murder, have arrested a young Jewish man who was conveniently on the scene. But this is 1896, and with the notorious Dreyfus Affair much in the news, Vanessa Weatherburn has real questions about his guilt and about England's casual bigotry. Finding the truth will take Vanessa deep into London's Hassidic community,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1934609110
• ISBN13: 9781934609118
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Felony & Mayhem
• Length: 339 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Good Historical Mystery

This book was a good read. I would compare it generally to 'Some Danger Involved' by Will Thomas, 'A Conspiracy of Paper' by David Liss, and 'The Alienist' by Caleb Carr. It is set in historical London and features amateur detective work to solve the crime. The main difference with 'The Library Paradox' is the protagonist. She is a woman. The investigation in the book follows a slightly more behind-the-scenes approach than the other three books I mentioned due to societal norms- one that the protagonist is good at circumventing, but not necessarily "against". She is a typical woman of privilege of her times- one that tends to wind up in the role of detective through fate more than any will of her own. She is, however, very good at this hobby of hers and solving the crime with her throughout the book (it is written as a sort-of diary and we get to read her inner thoughts and tangents about her own 'library paradox' theories) was the treat of the book. Various Jewish cultures and the setting of London are all seen afresh through her eyes (as they are through the readers' from her perspective), which also adds an element of "observer" to the "detective" role of the protagonist, and this further adds to the element of solving the crime along with her. The foremost plot was also well-backed by international events from history highlighting the antisemitism which we now know will fallout in the two world wars. One con is that I'm not a big fan of court-room scenes, but that's just me- and that's all I'll say. I highly recommend this read for anyone who enjoys amateur armchair sleuthing and has just finished reading one too many of the predictable modern paperback mysteries (i.e. abnormal villains, unneeded romances, unbelievable- albeit 'shocking'- twists, and little satisfaction in the explanation of the motives)! Basically, if you want a little more character with your plot, this is the book! And if you like this book, I also recommend: Some Danger Involved: A Novel A Conspiracy of Paper: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) The Alienist: A Novel

a treat to read

I just read Catherine Shaw's The Library Paradox and enjoyed it mightily all the way through. I found the plot to move quickly without dragging. The case is presented as a logic problem, with an intriguing venture into the world of Hasidic Jews in 1896 London. A reference to Sherlock Holmes indicates that he is real and not fictional to the characters of this fictional book. The publishers, Felony & Mayhem, recommend this book as being most enjoyable for fans of Anne Perry and of Jacqueline Winspear's "Maisie Dobbs" series. It's true in my case. I will be looking closely at other recommendations by this publisher. I am eager to read more by Catherine Shaw.