The Last Layer: A Novel

Lawrence Perlman
iUniverse (2010)
ISBN 9781450216210
Reviewed by Marissa Libbit for Reader Views (06/10)


“The Last Layer” by Lawrence Perlman is the fictional story of international jewel thefts that connect the lives of Gerard de Rochenoir, a French National Police Official, and Catherine York, an American insurance executive.   Gerard is called upon to investigate several high-end jewel thefts that have occurred around the world.  Meeting Catherine, who is verifying that the claims paid by her insurance agency are valid, the two travel together to Paris, New York, St. Barth, and Cuba in search of Sofia Mostov, a jeweler who seems to be related to all the cases.  As their relationship develops, murders and fabrications make their search more interesting.

Perlman has created a likable cast of characters.  Gerard is a 60ish-year-old, veteran police officer who appreciates the finer things in life, while Catherine is a 40ish-year-old woman who has failed to find lasting love.  The two work well together.  Gerard's sidekick Abou and Catherine’s boss and friends add entertaining side characters.  The background on the jewelry information has been well researched, and Ms. Mostov is delightful to dislike.

The story reads easily with nice setting descriptions.  Early in the story the reader is given the identity of the murderer and mastermind of the jewel heists.  While that is fine, the drama failed to engage me at times as the characters untangled the case for themselves.  The closest I got to tension was on the island of Cuba when the mastermind eluded capture.  I was hoping for a bit more action scenes like that.  However, overall, “The Last Layer” is a quick read filled with endearing characters and an entertaining story - not tension filled, but worth the time spent reading.

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