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The Paris Architect (Wheeler Publishing Large Print Hardcover) Hardcover – Large Print, April 1, 2015

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 17,987 ratings

A Parisian architect is paid handsomely to devise secret hiding spaces for Jews in his Nazi-occupied country but struggles with risking his life for a cause he is ambivalent towards, until a personal failure brings home their suffering.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wheeler Publishing; Large Print edition (April 1, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 548 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1410477991
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1410477996
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.48 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 17,987 ratings

About the author

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Charles Belfoure
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I'm an American historic preservation architect who discovered writing late in life. After writing non-fiction architectural works, I tried my hand at fiction. I decided to make an architect and architecture the basis of the plots. My first novel was the New Times Bestselling book THE PARIS ARCHITECT about an architect who designs temporary hiding spaces for Jews escaping Paris during World War II. The second was HOUSE OF THIEVES about an architect in Gilded Age New York who is forced to work for a criminal ring to save his son. The third was THE FALLEN ARCHITECT, a mystery set in the world of British music halls in the early 1900s.

Mt fourth book, THE FABERGE SECRET is set in the Imperial Russian court of Nicholas and Alexandra and is about a Russian prince whose life is changed after he sees the 1903 pogrom of Jews. He is torn whether to to join the revolution to fight injustice against peasants and Jews.

THE PARIS ARCHITECT was a finalist for the Dublin Literary Award in 2015.

HOUSE OF THIEVES was a Target book of the month selection.

THE FALLEN ARCHITECT was a finalist for the Nero Award in 2019.

I still preserve old buildings like the one in the photo. I love cats and Irish Setters and have 3 grandsons.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
17,987 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable. They appreciate the suspenseful plot and plot twists that keep them reading until the end. The writing quality is described as well-written, realistic, and spellbinding. Readers find the characters believable and well-developed. The book holds their attention throughout with its engaging storyline and insightful insights into the tragic situation. Architectural details are also appreciated.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,257 customers mention "Readability"1,193 positive64 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the believable characters and the captivating storyline. While some criticize the execution, they find the concept interesting and enjoyable. Overall, readers describe the book as an intriguing page-turner that keeps them hooked until the end.

"Good book" Read more

"...The story was neat, elegant, and well executed. The things that happen make sense. The characters' decisions make sense...." Read more

"I enjoy reading historical fiction. I had never heard of Lucien Bernard...." Read more

"...Well done. The relationship with bette was compelling and i wish it had been developed further. The book was good...." Read more

802 customers mention "Suspenseful story"662 positive140 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story. They find the plot twists and tension keep them reading until the end. The book is described as an exciting page-turner from beginning to end with a fast pace that keeps readers hooked.

"...The story was neat, elegant, and well executed. The things that happen make sense. The characters' decisions make sense...." Read more

"A WW2 novel not just about the holocaust. Read and enjoy this story one chapter at a time. A story of war and survival." Read more

"...While the plot remained strong and compelling throughout, the writing style became more bothersome...." Read more

"...The story certainly kept me engaged! One warning: the description of torture is pretty gruesome in several parts. Not for the weak at heart!..." Read more

477 customers mention "Writing quality"365 positive112 negative

Customers find the book's writing quality good. They say it's readable, well-developed, and engaging. The author does an excellent job of developing Lucien Bernard's character. They describe the story as a real page-turner, with great descriptions of the wide world. Readers appreciate the professional lingo and some gore without gratuity. Overall, the book conveys the mood of Paris during the Occupation in an effective way.

"...I appreciate that the writing style was a smooth balance of description with action, which makes the whole thing highly palatable and easy to..." Read more

"...I had never heard of Lucien Bernard. I like how the author is knowledgeable about architecture and describes it well to a novice...." Read more

"...The savagery of the gestapo was well described without gratuitous gore. Well done...." Read more

"...But the writing is lacking. Lucien is the most complex character, but even he is not very fleshed out...." Read more

337 customers mention "Character development"254 positive83 negative

Customers enjoy the believable and well-developed characters. They find it heartwarming to watch them change and grow. The book reminds readers that there are good people among them, both French and German. Readers appreciate the realistic writing style and the factual content.

"...The things that happen make sense. The characters' decisions make sense. The pacing was perfect--no drag, no rush...." Read more

"...Belfoure’s writing style is very good. I really liked the characters, especially Lucien...." Read more

"...The other thing I really loved about the book was the character development as we watched each of the characters navigate through their lives in the..." Read more

"...This is a story of an unlikely and unlikable hero. Lucien Bernard is a modernist architect in German occupied Paris during WWII...." Read more

257 customers mention "Entertainment value"249 positive8 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's entertainment value. They found it engaging, enlightening, and thought-provoking. The story held their interest and read quickly. Readers also described the book as exciting, riveting, and refreshing.

"...Gotta engage me from guts to heart, and be well written. See, I’m easy to please. Just finished a book that has it all...." Read more

"...this was great writing, but it was an interesting and captivating read on several levels...." Read more

"Charles Belfoure captures your attention throughout the entire book. Some of the scenes create such a realistic image that you physically cringe." Read more

"...this is a kind of "Breaking Good" story that is thoroughly entertaining and not to be missed." Read more

224 customers mention "Insight"175 positive49 negative

Customers find the book provides interesting insights into the tragic situation. They appreciate the admirable amount of information and the courageous, ingenious, and caring characters. The book explores hatred and love from a human perspective that is different from other perspectives they have read. It also makes for an interesting discussion in book clubs.

"...Well done. The relationship with bette was compelling and i wish it had been developed further. The book was good...." Read more

"...The relationships while very challenging and complicated seem quite authentic...." Read more

"This is such an eye opener, also a great novel! One of my favorites and I always recommend this to anyone who is getting into the historical genre!" Read more

"...The author's weakest point is dialogue. It is stiff and unnatural...." Read more

159 customers mention "Architectural detail"149 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the architectural details in the book. They enjoy the perspective provided by an architect and the realistic portrayal of how people reacted during WWII. The book weaves history, architecture, and human nature into a fascinating view of Paris and its resistance during that time.

"...The story was neat, elegant, and well executed. The things that happen make sense. The characters' decisions make sense...." Read more

"...I so enjoyed the descriptions of the various streets of Paris. The story is a complex and interesting one as well. WHAT A WILD RIDE...." Read more

"...Belfoure creates a very real setting of Vichy France, the Gestapo, the Resistance, and the terrors and difficulties facing Jews who did not cross..." Read more

"...Some of the scenes create such a realistic image that you physically cringe." Read more

110 customers mention "Heartwarming"106 positive4 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and engaging. They say it brings out a variety of emotions, including compassion and bravery. Readers appreciate the author's empathy for the time period and the gripping story of humanity over hubris. The book restores faith in the good of men and the heroic everyday people.

"...remind once again that there were very courageous, ingenious and caring people who made life saving differences...." Read more

"...It's a compelling tale of survival in World War II occupied France where its main characters are to survive by trying to get along with the German..." Read more

"...for me is...this is a good read, very engrossing, and brings out emotions and understanding. I don 't want it to end!" Read more

"The author really understands the human heart. His characters are a physiological challenge to the reader...." Read more

Five Stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025
    Good book
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
    The thing that I appreciate most about this book is that Belfore himself is also an architect, so the details of the main characters profession are laser sighted. I love when an author has real, significant experience with the subject at hand.

    The story was neat, elegant, and well executed. The things that happen make sense. The characters' decisions make sense. The pacing was perfect--no drag, no rush. I appreciate that the writing style was a smooth balance of description with action, which makes the whole thing highly palatable and easy to read.

    The only reason I don't give 5 stars is because it's good, but not excellent. All the pieces are there, but in the same way that all the pieces will still make a house and all the right notes will still make a song, this book doesn't strike you or shake you or haunt you.

    It's good, maybe very good. But only just that.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
    I enjoy reading historical fiction. I had never heard of Lucien Bernard. I like how the author is knowledgeable about architecture and describes it well to a novice. Paris is the perfect setting for this story to take place.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2018
    not particularly well done.

    I love the concept of showing the WWII occupation of paris through a non combatant who can make money working with the nazis while protesting that he is not a collaborator.

    Whether he had a real choice is another question.

    I am no expert in 1940s colloquialisms or speech generally, but it seems the author used 21st century words and phrases in 1940s speech. It wasn't terrible, just a bit curious and therefore distracting.

    And multiple times the main character is in the presence of nazis or the gestapo. While they are not after him, they are "there." Each time he fears the worst and each time his knees turn to jelly, he breathing quickens and he seriously considers running away as fast as he can. Or he considers opening the car door and running as fast as he can.

    He is always terrified, always looking for a way to escape, but he always stays. By the end of the book, i just figured, "Here he goes again. But nothing will happen."

    Finally, while i am no architect, i'm not sure why it takes an architect to find or build the hiding places. Seems a good carpenter could do what is needed. Maybe not even that, as the sponsor had his own high quality workmen.

    Nonetheless, an interesting premise.

    The attitude of the french was well described and displayed. Their hatred of jews was fascinating, even while many french people risked or lost their lives helping them.

    The savagery of the gestapo was well described without gratuitous gore. Well done.

    The relationship with bette was compelling and i wish it had been developed further.

    The book was good. Better than three stars actually, but not in my opinion worth the fourth.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
    A WW2 novel not just about the holocaust. Read and enjoy this story one chapter at a time. A story of war and survival.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2016
    I was hoping to give this a 5 star rating, but the writing and character development ruined it for me. While the plot remained strong and compelling throughout, the writing style became more bothersome. Trigger warning--there are some graphic and horrible descriptions of torture in the book. They are brief and not gratuitous, but they are rightfully disturbing. I read those paragraphs really fast.

    This is a story of an unlikely and unlikable hero. Lucien Bernard is a modernist architect in German occupied Paris during WWII. He is struggling financially when he is approached to devise hiding places for Jews within pre-existing buildings. He reluctantly does it for the money. He has some prejudice against Jews, but he doesn't like the Nazis either. He continues to design hiding places while he is also building factories for the Nazis, all for the money and prestige. Things finally become real to him when one of his hiding places fails and a couple dies. He works harder and even hides a Jewish boy in his home, growing to think of him as a son. Any more details will ruin the plot twists and turns.

    This really is a well thought out plot. I learned some new things about occupied Paris. I read this in just a few days. It was compelling and fist-in-your-mouth, edge of your seat exciting. I really appreciated that Lucien was a flawed hero. He is selfish and lacks humility. This is a nice change from the more typical self-sacrificing heroes in many books about WWII and the holocaust. But the writing is lacking. Lucien is the most complex character, but even he is not very fleshed out. The rest are almost caricatures, especially the Nazis. The author's weakest point is dialogue. It is stiff and unnatural. I am not certain about this, but some of the specific word choice and phrases may be anachronistic. Sadly, the writing (or lack of editing) takes away from a really good story. If you are not fussy about writing style, this is a great book. The author has a second book out. I am not sure if I will read it.
    16 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Emilia Mori
    2.0 out of 5 stars Un libro scritto al "pantografo"
    Reviewed in Italy on January 22, 2020
    Charles Belfoure sarà sicuramente un bravo architetto ma come scrittore "di intrattenimento" mi ha lasciata molto perplessa. La storia molto tragica dei gentili parigini che cercavano di salvare gli ebrei dai rastrellamenti nazisti è un momento tragico ma anche commovente negli avvenimenti dell'occupazione tedesca a Parigi, che l'autore tratta con totale distacco e superficialità, senza metterci mai il cuore. La scrittura è quella di taglio giornalistico, tirata giù senza mai coinvolgere con una specie di penchant per le descrizioni delle torture praticate dalla Gestapo.
    Un libro da dimenticare...
  • Minerva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2019
    This book traces the life of a Paris architect during the German occupation. The protagonist of the story Lucien, who is ambivalent to the plight of Jews, undergoes a transformation and ends up designing secret hide outs for Jews. The essence of this story is the triumph of love over hate, and the importance of love, solidarity and supporting your neighbour. It is a great story expertly told and holds the readers attention from beginning to the end.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2017
    what an interesting world war 2 story. most enjoyable.
  • Reader69
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Paris Architect
    Reviewed in France on October 20, 2018
    Vraiment TRES intéressant: au plus près de la vie quotidienne sous l'occupation. Qu'a été la collaboration ? La résistance ?
    Un beau portrait d'homme anti-juif qui évolue au fil du récit, simplement parce qu'il est HUMAIN.
  • Janice NIppers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something I can associate with
    Reviewed in Australia on December 12, 2018
    A totally different take on a well written historical story. Keeps you interested and sympathetic all the way through.