A delightful detective romp, highly recommended by geologist Peggy Barroll.  Two American Pinkertons work independently to explain the apparent suicide of an emigre American publishers in postwar Paris. Americans abroad, they naturally are drawn into emigre society. Paris is a swell party: Ernest, Pablo, Man Ray and Kiki, Stein and Toklas. What's exceptional here, beyond the wit of Satterthwait's writing, is a real knack for redrawing familiar faces and for using them to good purpose: Gertrude Stein, in particular, is a revelation and she's not merely there for decoration.

Out-of-print but readily available -- Amazon has 51 used copies -- this book also exemplifies the new importance of internet sales of used books.