Panama

When PANAMA first appeared on the scene it astonished reviewers & readers alike for its brilliant analysis of turn of the century politics & moral philosophy, as well as for its great page-turner-ability. The novel continues to amaze. Anyone interested in the plight of our planet in the early years of the twenty-first century should read it.

A stellar effort for Zancey's debut. Taking place in 1892 the story is a mixture of fact and fiction. Henry Adams is an American historian whose descendants include two U.S. presidents. He becomes fascinated with the story surrounding the Panama Affair which is where the French royally messed up the building of the Panama Canal due to poor planning and widespread corruption among government officials. While in Paris a woman is pulled from the Seine named Miriam Talbot. This is someone Adams has befriended a couple of months previously and he goes to identify the body. It's not her but she has gone missing. He then starts his own amateurish investigation. We then get to see the quirkiness of his character and the humourous and uncomfortable situations he gets himself into. We get wonderful descriptions of Paris circa 1892 and meet some wonderful characters on both sides of the law. We get into the beginnings of forensic science and become acquainted with power hungry French politicians such as Loubet, Delahaye and Clemenceau. Adams is constantly at odds with himself also. Why is he pursueing this dangerous escapade? Is it for adventure and to fill the void of his wife Clover's suicide seven years ago? He observes the encroachment of the industrial age and wonders if it is destroying man's moral fibre. Overall the story is so vivid, each conversation and confrontation can be clearly imagined. It's not a page turning suspense thriller but it is a rich experience that leaves you feeling very satisfied. Stick with it through the first 50-60 pages and you will be generously rewarded. A charming, intelligent read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. So what if it's slow, should every "historic mystery novel" be a comic book like The Alienist? Contrary to what others have said, I couldn't put it down.

I read this book several months ago and so I don't remember all the details of it. I do remember that it was a very enjoyable read. The plot is very clever and complex, the characters are interesting and well defined, and there is some action and suspense in some parts. The best thing about this book is its atmosphere; you really feel transported to late nineteenth century Paris. I wouldn't say that it was an outstanding novel, but it definately deserves a lot more than the one star some reviewers gave it.

As you will see from many of the customer reviews, this historical thriller is not a purely plot-driven page-turner, a la Robert Ludlum or Ken Follett. If that is what you are looking for, you will be disappointed. Rather, the author takes the time (and, yes, forces the reader to do so) setting a mood, at the same time capturing the spirit of the age and the tormented inner spirit of the protagonist (Henry Adams). This is first and foremost a book about Adams' emotional recovery, so, no, it is not as fast-paced and action-packed as The Alienist. (I liked both books very much, but they are different--perhaps the marketers are at fault for raising false expectations.) But, so long as you are willing to savor a mood, and to arrive slowly at your destination, this is an excellent read.