This book checks so many boxes for different reader interests. There is a true crime story in the vein of Devil in the White City, alongside a fascinating look at life in Paris in the run-up to World War II. We also get a portrait of pioneering journalist Janet Flanner, who gradually shifted from gossipy columns about expats in Paris to meatier pieces about the Nazis’ growing influence in Europe in her role as New York columnist. History and true crime readers will both appreciate this one.
The Typewriter and the Guillotine by Mark Braude, (List Price: $32.50, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538767115, January 2026)
Reviewed by Amanda, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas