The Tears of Buddha

by E. A. Allen

Overview

Marie-Claire Bernard was the widow of a national hero and the daughter of a wealthy, politically powerful family and her murder threatened domestic consequences for the French Government. Eager to avoid uproar in the press, the Minister of Justice summons Gérard de Montclaire—the most renowned detective of the era—to assume a familiar role. Examining Magistrate, with sweeping powers to find and prosecute the killer. Montclaire soon learns that Marie-Claire was in possession of three rare and priceless porcelain bowls of the Tang Dynasty. The legendary bowls—called The Tears of Buddha—are now missing. A motive for murder?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592113712
Publisher:	Histria Books
Publication date:	01/09/2024
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

E.A. Allen is a History Professor, cattle farmer, and retired CIA intelligence officer. When he’s not out chasing staying cows that have no respect for fences, or tracking-down undergraduates who have no respect for assignment deadlines, he’s at his desk, writing mysteries in the great tradition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers.

Editorial Reviews

11/06/2023

Allen’s underwhelming 15th historical mystery featuring French investigator Gerard de Montclaire (after 2016’s The Rare Vintage) fails to capitalize on its intriguing setup. In 1907 Paris, Montclaire and his Watsonian sidekick, FitzMaurice, are roused late at night at the behest of minister of justice Jean-Luc Brouillard to solve a sensational murder. Marie-Claire Bernard, a military hero’s widow and daughter of an influential banking family, has been found dead in her home, nearly decapitated. With three valuable Tang dynasty bowls known as the Tears of Buddha missing from the premises, it seems obvious that Bernard was killed by a thief. But Brouillard discloses that Bernard’s father, financier Pierre Joffre, is suspected of collaborating with countries opposed to French interests, and that there may be a link between the murder and those political allegiances. Allen tosses in several twists, but few elicit shock, and the book’s Sherlockian moments of deduction feel familiar and phoned in. Historical whodunit fans have a bounty of better options. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Critical Praise for E. A. Allen and the Montclaire Mysteries:

“...A Gallic detective to rival Britain’s Sherlock Holmes. We will surely have more of Gérard de Montclaire.” —David Burke, Actor and notably “Doctor Watson” in the popular PBS Mystery series, Sherlock Holmes, with Jeremy Brett

 

“Watch out Sherlock Holmes. Gérard de Montclaire is on the case! . . . the French detective and his English 'Watson,' Sir Francis FitzMaurice, tackle murder, intrigue, and nefarious plot . . . tracking down clues with panache and derring-do.” —Kathy Lynn Emerson, winner of both the Anthony and Agatha Awards, and Author of the Face Down Mystery Series

 

“. . . a sleuth that makes Arsène Lupin, Sherlock Holmes, and Hercule Poirot pale in comparison.” —Peter Tremayne (Peter Berresford Ellis), author of the popular Sister Fidelma Mysteries

"A brilliantly written novel that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in historical murder mysteries, "The Tears of the Buddha" by E. A. Alen is a deftly crafted crime thriller." —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher