The Good Thief's Guide to Paris

Charlie Howard makes his living writing mystery novels and stealing for hire. During a visit to Paris, he meets a mysterious American who asks him to break into his apartment to steal a small item - an apparently simple job that leads to unexpected complications. Charlie finds himself caught up in a web of deception involving stolen paintings, dangerous criminals, and the dark side of the Paris art world. He must use his skills as both a thief and a writer to navigate an increasingly perilous situation. The story moves through Paris locations from elegant apartments to shadowy back alleys, incorporating elements of classic noir while maintaining a contemporary sensibility. Charlie's dual identity as author and thief provides both advantages and liabilities as he works to resolve the situation. The narrative explores themes of authenticity versus artifice, and questions what makes something - or someone - genuine or fake. These elements mirror Paris itself: a city of both romance and gritty reality.

Readers describe this as a lighter mystery with humor and charm, though not as strong as the first book in the series. On review sites, fans highlight Charlie Howard's wit and the Parisian atmosphere, with several mentioning they appreciate the insider's view of both writing and thievery. Likes: - Fast-paced plotting - Details about Paris locations - Balance of mystery and comedy - Entertaining narrator voice Dislikes: - Less compelling than the Amsterdam book - Plot becomes convoluted - Some find Charlie's decisions frustrating - Romance subplot feels forced Ratings: Goodreads: 3.73/5 (1,286 ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (58 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.71/5 (89 ratings) One frequent comment notes the book works better for readers seeking entertainment over complex mysteries. As one Amazon reviewer wrote: "The plot is secondary to Charlie's amusing observations and mishaps."

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Ghostman by Roger Hobbs. A professional thief and master of disguise must untangle a complex casino heist gone wrong in Atlantic City.

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🗺️ The book is part of a larger series following gentleman thief Charlie Howard through different cities, including Amsterdam, Venice, Berlin, and Vegas. 🖋️ Author Chris Ewan wrote the first book in the series, "The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam," while working as a lawyer, and it won the Long Barn Books First Novel Award. 🗼 The novel features a pivotal scene at the iconic Eiffel Tower, which receives about 7 million visitors annually - making it an ideal setting for intrigue and thievery. 📚 The protagonist Charlie Howard is both a mystery novelist and a thief, allowing the author to blend meta-commentary about writing with criminal escapades. 🎭 The book plays with the classic "theft of a theft" plot device, which has been popularized in films like "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "Ocean's Eleven."