Arsene Lupin in 813 Paperback – October 1, 2020

I'm on a big Arsene Lupin kick right now, and have just read the first four novels from Wildside Press (Exploits of, Vs. Herlock Sholmes, the Hollow Needle, and 813) and I must say this is definitely one of the best, no doubt about it. Loved The Hollow Needle and The Exploits of Arsene Lupin as well but man, there's just something more gripping about the longer narrative that is Arsene Lupin in "813".813 starts off with the mysterious murder of a businessman, Rudolph Kesselbach, and Lupin's famous calling card is left behind Lupin, being the gentleman that he is, would never resort to the murder of anyone. That's just not his style. Lupin also hasn't been seen or heard from for four years now since the events of "The Hollow Needle" and must now clear his name, and in attempting to do so Lupin finds himself right in the middle of something much bigger!LeBlanc writes so many twists and turns into 813 with all of the characters, and really they make the story. Right when you, the reader think you have it all figured out, you know who the culprit is, something else totally unexpected with the story happens. And the ending is really just fantastically done, and you won't see it coming. And Lupin in his fine fashion dons all kinds of aliases and disguises to make the story even more interesting. I really love how LeBlanc can write about the escapades of so many different characters in one book and still manage to tie it all together. While 813 follows Lupin around much more than "The Hollow Needle" or "Arsene Lupin Vs. Herlock Sholmes" does, we still get to hear from a host of other characters in the story.Before reading 813 however, definitely read these Arsene Lupin books first: The Exploits of Arsene Lupin, Arsene Lupin Vs. Herlock Sholmes, The Hollow Needle, and also "Arsene Lupin" by Edgar Jepson and Maurice LeBlanc. There are some details that will make more sense and mean more when you read those books first before 813.But I must say the English title "813" is really not a good title for the book. In French the novel is called "The Three Crimes of Arsene Lupin", which really gives a bit more to the story, as this book really develops Lupin as a character and well...you'll find out.All in all, 813 is a fantastic novel, one of the best I've read so far in the Arsene Lupin series. Looking forward to reading The Crystal Stopper next!

Well known Maurice Leblanc's adventure, detective story at it's peak.Our hero Arsene Lupin has the unique charisma which we can hardly find in the present days detective, thriller books.It's just like that we loved ultra modern Sci-Fi action movies for a while but soon we all got tired to watching same all computer graphic films and start to missing for the old films.813 is the longest book among all the Lupin's adventure stories.It's got everything about Arsene Lupin.Humor, Wit, Action, Mystery Puzzles, Romance, Unexpected Ending...Even the famous Detective Sherlock Holmes in the stage in this book.The fighting with the their wits between Lupin and Holmes is always one of the essential point in Lupin's books.If you already known about Maurice Leblanc and 813 then read it again for your good old nostalgia.If you don't know about this book yet try to read it, you'll be never disappointed.

I think that the hollow needle, because of rhthm, plot, and wit remains the best Lupin Novel. But 813 is probably the best organized Lupin story.In other Lupin novels, such as the blonde phantom, one has the impression that Leblanc writes a short story, come to its end, finds a weak link to a new beginning, starts a new story, and so on for the whole novel. I would say that this is true also for the Hollow Needle.But 813 is a major fresco, with Lupin accused of a murder which he has not committed, with Lupin attempting to find the real culprits and free himself of accusations, with a greater variety and complexity of characters (Genevieve, Victoire,...) than any other Lupin adventure.It's a real treat and really as good as it gets.the incipit of the novel would have been appropriate for an adventure of Fantomas, but then the Lupinesque flavor emerges and it is as good as ever.

Four years or so after the events in The Hollow Needle, 813 serves up just as much mystery and adventure in a format that is slightly more cohesive and pleasant to read.For those, like me, who care about format:This publication by Wildside Press includes eight black and white illustrations by Charles Chrombie.The wide margins and newspaper column-like text of Wildside's Arsene Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes has not made its return in this volume.And the book is almost completely free of typographical errors.

I believe it takes effort to come up with such bad text formatting.Do not buy this version of the book if you want a pleasant reading.Awesome story though.