A Fine Tapestry of Murder
Paris, 1676: An old veteran fishes a corpse from the malodorous stream that runs past the Gobelins Manufactory, the royal tapestry workshop. No one can identify the body, but Anne-Marie, the wife of the sculptor Niccolò, assists the doctor in his examination. The partially carved toy in the man’s pocket and his carefully mended shirt convince her that the nameless unfortunate has a wife and child someplace in the city, waiting in vain for his return. Despite the disinterest of the police and her husband’s concern for her safety, Anne-Marie insists on searching for the man’s identity. One quest leads to another, and Anne-Marie finds unexpected allies, as well as unsought danger, as she and Niccolò track a heartless killer.
Seventeenth-century Paris comes alive in this well-researched and entertaining mystery. The world within a world of the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory (still operating today) is vividly portrayed, as are the larger environs of Paris and the Royal Court. Anne-Marie is a stubborn, intriguing, and totally human sleuth, and the other characters are well drawn. Many of the people portrayed were actual personnel at the Manufactory or were Court figures. Friedman writes well, and the detailed descriptions of everyday life in this era add to the charm of the book. Perhaps as much thriller as classic mystery, A Fine Tapestry of Murder makes a fine read. Recommended for historical mystery fans and others who seek an immersive and suspenseful journey to the past.
