This book is a sequel to Émile Gaboriau's hit detective fiction, The Count's Millions. Like many other works of Gaboriau, this is also an elaborate tale of greed, passion, and desire. It's a highly intricate plot, with cliff-hangers, intense backstories, horrible mothers, and excellent mothers, all of which contribute to a thrilling story. The author also makes snarky comments about society and the different personalities of people, making it an enjoyable work. These comments hold somewhat true for even the present era. This work connects to his other books around life in Paris in the 1800s. An excellent piece of literature for all the mystery and detective fiction fans.Émile Gaboriau (1832 1873) was a French writer, novelist, journalist, and a significant figure in the history of detective fiction. He is best known as the father of the roman policier and has been defined as the Edgar Allan Poe of France.