REVIEWS OF SANDMAN AND SALAMANDER
(Published in Mystery Buff Magazine. Please contact Mark Levine at mlevine1@flash.net for permission to reprint)
TITLE: SANDMAN
AUTHOR: J. Robert Janes
REVIEWER: Mark Levine
CLASSIFICATION: World War II Mystery
PUBLICATION: 1996
BINDING: Paperback
PAGES: 261
ISBN: #1-56947-120-7
PUBLISHER: Soho Press, Inc.
COST: $12.00
TITLE: SALAMANDER
AUTHOR: J. Robert Janes
REVIEWER: Mark Levine
CLASSIFICATION: World War II Mystery
PUBLICATION: June 1998
BINDING: Hardback
PAGES: 311
ISBN: #1-56947-119-3
PUBLISHER: Soho Press, Inc.
COST: $22.00
Good guys versus the bad guys: That's what mystery fiction is all about. Cops vs. Killers. Good vs.
Evil. J. Robert Janes boils it all down to the essentials with his Jean-Louis St-Cyr and Hermann
Kohler mysteries, SALAMANDER and SANDMAN, now available in the United States. It's the
Nazis against the Allies, but with some interesting twists.
Set in occupied France in 1942 and 1943, Kohler is a Gestapo inspector paired up with French
Surete's St-Cyr to investigate non-military crimes. The good guys working with the bad guys for
truth and justice. Author Janes explains in a note, "...during the Occupation of France the everyday
crimes of murder and arson continued to be committed, and I merely ask, by whom and how were
they solved?" Whether or not this duo represents historical accuracy is unimportant -- Janes'
detailed and intricate tales are highly believable.
It also isn't as simple as good vs. Evil. Kohler is Gestapo, but refuses to participate in the depravities
the Nazis were known for. His assignment to this outpost in France, far away from Germany, is
something of a punishment. He's a likeable guy. St-Cyr, also, seems dedicated to his work.
Unfortunately, he's now associated with the Gestapo, and therefore marked as a traitor by the
French Underground. St-Cyr doesn't seem to warrant the label of bad guy. Janes clearly needed
positive characters for his novels, and compensated by creating alternative conflicts. The pairing of
Gestapo and Surete may be a gimmick, but it's well executed and entertaining. This bird has wings.
A Canadian author, Janes provides not only a detailed picture of life in occupied France, but also a
glimpse into the minds of the people. Janes style of writing includes seeing St-Cyr and Kohler
through the eyes of the people they question, revealing their fear and suspicions while providing
additional depth to the inspectors. There is a huge wealth of information on life in German-occupied
countries, and Janes has no doubt read most of it.
Likewise, Janes' plots differ significantly. Both follow a hurried investigation under difficult, war-time scrutiny. Both piece together clues from not only crime scenes but from numerous
interrogations and interviews. Both feature limited time to solve the crime -- In SANDMAN,
because of the threat of harm to a missing girl and additional killings, in SALAMANDER because
of threat of arson fire at a huge upcoming public concert. Yet, each investigation features
significantly different crimes, techniques, political challenges, and personalities. Janes is clearly not
writing his books based on a formula.
In SANDMAN, set in January, 1943, St-Cyr and Kohler find themselves tracking a serial killer
through the frozen streets of Paris who preys on young girls. The most recent victim is suspected to
be Nenette Micheline Vernet, part of the powerful family who turned their factories over to making
German submarine parts. The prominent name certainly turns up the heat on the investigation,
especially when the body turns out to be somebody else, and Nenette appears to be missing.
St-Cyr and Kohler find themselves pursuing two mysteries: stalking the killer, and rescuing the girl.
Fortunately, the two investigations proved to be linked, as Nenette's room indicates she's something
of a Nancy Drew, and was secretly investigating the serial killings, too. Apparently, she must have
been pretty good, for her clues prove valuable. The clues lead the detectives through the ruins of
Jewish Synagogues, the depravity of the Parisian brothels, and to the protected strongholds of the
church.
In SALAMANDER, the duo find themselves investigating an arson fire at a theatre in Lyon, 1942.
The fire claimed 183 victims. Evidence of the French Underground is found, but St-Cyr and Kohler
don't believe it to be a factor and hide the evidence. Suspiciously, Lyon Fire Marshall Julien
Robichaud had been in the theatre with a lover. A prominent priest is burned. A nude woman,
murdered, is found upstairs.
Also suspiciously, Lyon was playing host to a fire marshall's convention, and the only thrice-decorated Fire marshall in the Reich, Leiter Weidling, was in town. Weidling suspected the arsonist
also responsible for a number of fires in Germany. Obersturmfuhrer Klaus Barbie, complete with
Gestapo torture tactics, appears to bi in Lyon as well. The pressure to solve the crime would be
intense.
Again, the trail leads through the brothels, and the dark underside of Lyon, with some sick men and
women who find themselves sexually aroused by fire. The theatre fire was expertly set, and could
only have been committed by someone who knows about accelerrants and explosions well. The duo
must find the culprit before the big concert all the German and city officials will be attending: The
arsonist will certainly strike there.
St-Cyr's style of investigation would be impossible today: He collects clues from the crime scene,
and drops them in his pocket. Then, either as new clues come up, or when he's sitting and thinking,
he pulls the clues from his pocket for further examination. Kohler is more direct, using his Gestapo
background as leverage in an argument, despite his lack of belief in the system, or follow through
from superiors should anyone call his bluff. Together they work well, playing off each other and
depending on each other.
There are probably others in the St-Cyr-Kohler series already published in Canada -- Janes
bibliography lists many titles. Should it prove popular here, new mysteries will probably be
published quickly. For some reason, Soho Press is not publishing in chronological order:
SALAMANDER takes place before SANDMAN. There may be copyright issues involved, or the
best sellers in Canada are making their way South first.
Regardless, if World War II is a passion along with mysteries, do not miss J. Robert Janes books,
SANDMAN and SALAMANDER. It opens up a whole new genre in war fiction.