The Napoleon Connection (Jewel Trilogy 1)
Claude Brickell, 2008
Bricbooks
210 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780557139064 (Kindle)
Summary
The Napoleon Connection—the first installment in The Jewel Trilogy:
Set in the French Quarter of present-day New Orleans, young, accomplished art historian Michael Bennington is hired by one of that city’s prominent denizens to search for the whereabouts of a priceless artifact—purported to be a rare jewel—curiously missing from the city’s Cabildo historical museum.
Bennington dives into the assignment with an uncanny passion—his specialty is 19th century jewels—and ends up taking a virtual roller coaster ride through the city’s fascinating historical past uncovering both real and purported, if not positively bizarre local legends, descends into the city’s eclectic alternative underground and even encounters a quasi-religious, homoerotic Roman Catholic cult. It is an introduction into the colorful escapades of the likable Bennington character in the mystery trilogy.
This is the first book in the Jewel Trilogy; the second is Carlota's Legacy (2014), and The Brotherhood Wars (2014) is the third.
Author Bio
Claude Brickell is a New York-based writer of art history adventure mysteries. His Jewel Trilogy introduces readers to young, likable and accomplished art historian Michael Bennington as he searches the world for rare and missing artifacts in three thrilling installments: The Napoleon Connection, Carlota's Legacy and The Brotherhood Wars.
Claude's formal education was with the American University and the Sorbonne in Paris, Oxford University in England and graduate of New York University. He is a world-traveler, a certified fine arts appraiser, a filmmaker, a former ice hockey league player and an equestrian enthusiast. He is currently an instructor at New York University. (From the author.)
Visit the author's book website — and his art blog.
Visit Claude on Facebook.
Discussion Questions
1. What is Michael Bennington all about? What drives this artifact enthusiast to the ends of the world to discover their whereabouts?
2. How does Bennington compare with other artifact hunters such as Robert Langdon? Does his age-difference add to or hinder his success?
3. How does Bennington add up in the area of love and intimate relationships? Is he struggling or hopeless? (most discernible after reading all three installments).
4. How convincing are the author's depictions and descriptions of the various locales Bennington visits?
5. How would you define exactly the genre of The Napoleon Connection?
6. What age range and reader group do you feel The Napoleon Connection is best suited for?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)