The Faberge Secret

I fell in love with Charles Belfoure after reading The Paris Architect,

a fascinating story about an architect who designed secret spaces during World War II,

risking his life to help others.  I also really  enjoyed reading Belfoure's, House of Thieves,

again a novel based on an architect who makes an ethical decision when designing homes in

1880's Manhattan.  His next novel, The Fallen Architect, takes the reader to London. 

When a theatre balcony collapses and people are killed the architect knows the flaw is not

in his design but this time in a twisty historical thriller, Belfoure brings us the story of a man

who must clear his name by digging through the debris of his past and correcting his personal mistakes.

Now we come to Charles Belfoure's newest novel, The Faberge Secret.  This one is not as

memorable as his past works.  In this novel we meet architect Prince Dimitri Markoff, a close

friend of Nicholas II and Alexandra, the Tsar and Tsarina, the Imperial Court of Russia. 

This novel takes place as the pogroms and persecution of Jews is happening outside St Petersburg

in 1903.  

Prince Markoff is living a life of luxury and good fortune, as an architect to the Tsar because

he loves the work not because he needs the money.  His wife the Princess Lara has tired of him

and prefers a life of gossip and parties.  When Markoff meets  the educated and passionate

Doctor Katya Golitsyn, he falls in love with her and begins to see a world outside the palace walls.

During this time period in Russia there is an undercurrent of unrest and violence brewing. 

We are leading up to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904.  The Tzar is becoming unpopular.

Markoff witnesses the Easter Sunday pogrom, where the police force fires on agitators demonstrating

for constitutional monarchy or the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.  Markoff tries to warn

Nicholas about his increasing unpopularity.  But Nicholas tells him the Jews themselves were to blame.

Markoff cannot forget what he has seen.  He and Katya, who has discovered she has Jewish

ancestry are determined to take a stand and try to make a difference.  The results could be costly.

This is another fascinating historical novel, but though Markoff is an architect, Belfoure does not

use the  profession to assist in the solving of a problem in  this novel. The career role is not as

important to the plot line in this novel.  I think that is the downfall of this book.  Though a story

that holds your attention, the ultimate unique factor that makes Belfour's other novels so special

is missing this time.