Dance of the Assassins (The Devilęs Dances Trilogy) - Softcover

Herve Jubert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060777192 ISBN 13: 9780060777197

Publisher: HarperTeen, 2006

Synopsis

In London, Jack the Ripper has claimed another victim.

But this "London" is a crime-free virtual city, a historical theme park for tourists. Qualified witch Roberta Morgenstern and her young police assistant, Clément Martineau, set out to solve the murder.

A wild chase through the streets of old London brings them face-to-face with the terrifying new Ripper. But then they realize their true quarry is the man behind the monster: the one bringing history's most notorious villains back to life. The trail of evidence leads them from Louis XIV's Versailles through Renaissance Venice to Montezuma's Mexico, where they have a date with the devil himself.

About this title

About the Author:

Hervé Jubert worked as a chauffeur, butcher's assistant, and drummer in a rock band before becoming a writer. He lives in the south of France. Devil's Tango was first published in France.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 9 Up–Have Jack the Ripper, Montezuma, and other famous villains come alive to commit grisly murders? That's the question that Roberta, a sorceress in her 40s, and her 20-something assistant must determine in this futuristic fantasy/mystery novel. This first book in a projected trilogy takes place in a world in which virtual-reality theme parks have been created in London, Paris, Versailles, and Venice. Each city is set in a time from the 17th to the 19th century. Tourists wear period costumes and totally immerse themselves in that city's milieu. A wealthy man named Count Palladio has financed these re-creations and is suspected of being the mastermind behind a series of murderers committed by a group called the Killers' Quadrille. They are famous villains come back to life to do the Devil's bidding. The plotting is quite convoluted and involves, among other things, astral twins, telepathic hedgehogs, and babies comprised of organs taken from murdered women. The transitions from scene to scene are often abrupt. At times, the translation is awkward, resulting in melodramatic and laughable prose–she let the warmth envelop her, savoring it like warm tangerine sauce. Although there are no teen characters, the plot will appeal to fans of historical mysteries, fantasy, and forensic science. A few brief sexual situations and some graphic violence make the story more suitable for older teens. The author's pairing of elements from Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter is unique but not completely successful.–Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton
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About this edition

• Publisher: HarperTeen
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0060777192
• ISBN 13: 9780060777197
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 505