I heard about this book on the radio and both the topic and the fact that it's set in Paris made me think I would enjoy this. Turns out I found it interesting, but maybe didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. L'affaire de la rue Transnonain centers on a little known episode of the French July Monarchy period (between 1830 and 1848), a period with a lot of social unrest. During one such episode of tumult in 1834, troops forced entry into a building in the rue Transnonain, arguing that someone had shot a captain of the army from that building, and massacred nearly everyone inside, including women and children. A disgraced policeman is told to find incriminating dirt on the man suspected to have shot the army captain so that a trial of the revolutionaries can put the matter to rest. But he uncovers a much more sinister political manipulation... The story is good and very well documented, it's harsh as well, but I found its telling a bit flat. I'm glad I read it, but it took me much longer than I anticipated, and I'm not sure I would recommend it unless the topic is of interest as well.
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