'Smooth writing, fast-paced action, and description of Paris during World War II.' - Historical Novel Society, 'All novelists are architects. Written by an architect whose knowledge imbues every page, this story becomes more gripping with every soul hidden and every life saved. The Paris Architect asks us to consider what we owe each other, and just how far we'll go to make things right. But when one of his hiding spaces fails horribly, and the problem of where to hide a Jew becomes terribly personal, Lucien can no longer ignore what's at stake. He sorely needs the money, and outwitting the Nazis who have occupied his beloved city is a challenge he can't resist. All he has to do is design a secret hiding place for a wealthy Jewish man, a space so invisible that even the most determined German officer won't find it.

But if he's clever enough, he'll avoid any trouble. 'A twisted mystery.The New York Times Bestseller 'A beautiful and elegant account of an ordinary man's unexpected and reluctant descent into heroism during the second world war.' -Malcolm Gladwell An extraordinary novel about a gifted architect who reluctantly begins a secret life devising ingenious hiding places for Jews in World War II Paris, from an author who's been called 'an up and coming Ken Follett.' (Booklist) In 1942 Paris, gifted architect Lucien Bernard accepts a commission that will bring him a great deal of money - and maybe get him killed. 'A twisted mystery.Belfoure gets better and better'-Karen Bakshoian, Letterpress Books (Portland, ME) who caused it? And why? And what if they find out who he used to be?Ī chilling novel of architecture, intrigue, and identity, this historical thriller uncovers one man's quest to clear his name and correct the mistake that ruined his life.

He needs to assume a new identity and rebuild his life.īut the disgraced man soon finds himself digging up the past in a way he never anticipated. When the architect is finally released from prison, he has no job, no family, nowhere to go. The man should have known better, should have made it safer, should have done something.ĭouglas Layton knows the flaw wasn't in his design, but he can't fight a guilty verdict. Over a dozen people are killed, and the fingers all point at the architect. Someone has to take the blame when the Britannia Theatre's balcony collapses. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Architect!Ĭharles Belfoure's next novel is a puzzling historical thriller about a man who must dig through the rubble of his past to construct a future worth living, grounded by Belfoure's experiences as a professional architect.

The paris architect by charles belfoure