Arsène Lupin in the Teeth of the Tiger by Maurice LeblancMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
These are action-packed, swashbuckling books, full of unexpected twists and turns, and this one even more so than average for the series. Lupin, under a pseudonym which continues to be used even after his identity as Lupin is well established, sets out to solve a series of murders, some of which don't even seem to be murders at first, and discovers an intricate plot in which the antagonist keeps changing and what seem to be airtight clues turn out to be not so much.
There is a hard-to-swallow twist partway through, when Lupin is exposed and captured and bargaining for his freedom with the President of France; what he brings to the table is (view spoiler)
Lupin is an interesting paradox; he's sometimes an unstoppable force of nature, a pulp hero who can achieve any ridiculous goal, while at other times he's baffled and threatened with real danger. The author manages this contradiction well, for the most part, and his plotting shows a high level of skill; he's not just writing an intelligent character, he's an intelligent author, which makes a big difference. Lupin's tendency to fall in love is, I suppose, to be expected in a French character, and it raises the stakes and increases the complications. The women are never entirely three-dimensional, though this one at least plays quite an active role in the plot.
While sometimes going over the top, these are gripping pulp stories that thrill, puzzle and excite, and I recommend them as an entertaining read.
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