The Hanged Man's Tale

Praise

“Excellent . . . Combining rational twists with sophisticated characterizations, Jay (the pseudonym of Gerald Jay Goldberg) and his collaborators never sacrifice plausibility for plot surprises.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Welcome back, Inspector Mazarelle! Jay’s brilliant, brooding, gourmand is one of detective fiction’s greatest creations. I didn’t want it to end.”
–Andy Breckman, creator of Monk

“What Philip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther is to Berlin, Gerald Jay’s Paul Mazarelle is to Paris: the world-weary cop condemned to figuring out which of his colleagues is the least trustworthy. Cinematic and suspenseful, laced with sudden turns, The Hanged Man’s Tale is a gripping read — a classic roman policier set in the thoroughly modern streets of Paris. You can taste the espresso in the cafes, and feel the danger lurking in the shadows.”
–Alexander Wolff, author of Endpapers: A Family Story of Books, War, Escape, and Home

“The writing is taut yet still redolent of an older European style, when storybook cops talked of Turgenev novels.”
–Booklist

Praise for The Paris Directive:

“Outstanding! The Paris Directive is a beguiling, and entirely entertaining novel that promises intrigue and suspense from the very first page. Inspector Mazarelle is a wonderful creation: a  world-weary, gimlet-eyed detective who must rouse himself for one last case. I expect to see him one day in the pantheon of greats alongside Poirot, Maigret, Brunetti, and Zen.”                     
—Christopher Reich, author of Rules of Deception

“Jay has woven threads of police procedural, espionage, rural noir, ‘acts of barbarism,’ and Gallic charm into a story that will be a great fit for almost any crime fan. Mazarelle is a memorable flic.” 
—Booklist (starred review)   
    
“The charming, indomitable Inspector Mazarelle . . . enjoys puffing on his old pipe, stopping for cognac in the middle of the day, and dining on . . . his favorite dish, duck confit, at the Café Valon. Mystery fans will look forward to seeing more of him.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A mashup of cloak-and-dagger and cozy replete with murder and fine dining.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“A sprightly, stylish, and sophisticated thriller. The reader is left wanting more of Gerald Jay’s cinematic, intrigue-riddled, and tasty France.”
–Cal Bedient, author of Days of Unwilling
 
“This novel is many things at once—stylish, dark, humorous, suspenseful—but mostly very readable . . . This is a rich, deep novel that will leave you wanting more.”
—Mystery Scene

“Gerald Jay is truly a master in elegant use of language and a bright star in the world of crime fiction.”
—Mystery Tribune
                   
“This is pretty close to mystery nirvana: a sophisticated book set in France, populated by interesting characters, with descriptions of good food.”
—Murder by the Book

“A vastly entertaining read . . . Klaus Reiner is one of the most interesting villains I’ve become acquainted with recently, a chillingly attractive blend of ego, intelligence, and psychopathy.”         
—Kittling Books
 
“A sleek, elegantly plotted thriller that deftly brings the world of international espionage into the rural backwaters of southwest France.”       
–Longitude Books

“This novel has everything! Suspense, wonderful characterization, beautiful descriptions of the French countryside and . . . edge-of-your-chair narrative . . . Anyone who is a fan of intrigue will jump on this book and read it from cover to cover.”
–Feathered Quill