Jean Lorrain was a gossip columnist, a dandy, and a sharp-eyed critic of his time. In 'Le Crime des Riches', he uses all those skills to craft a story that feels less like a novel and more like a secret dossier passed under the table.

The Story

The plot revolves around the violent death of a celebrated actress, Liane de Pougy (though fictionalized). The setting is her own opulent apartment, a shrine to wealth and artifice. The investigation that follows peels back the layers of her life, revealing a network of financiers, aristocrats, artists, and fellow performers. Each has a motive, and each is protected by the invisible armor of their social status. The police navigate a world where truth is a commodity and everyone has a price.

Why You Should Read It

Forget the whodunit for a moment. The real thrill is Lorrain's atmosphere. You can smell the perfume and the decay. He doesn't just describe a room; he tells you what the wallpaper cost and what scandal it hides. His characters are vain, desperate, and fascinating. He exposes the machinery of fame and fortune with a mix of horror and delight. It’s a portrait of an era obsessed with surfaces, written by someone who knew how fragile those surfaces were.

Final Verdict

This is for you if you love historical crime with a heavy dose of social satire. It's perfect for fans of Émile Zola's grim realism but who want something faster-paced and dripping with decadent style. Think of it as a prequel to the 'murder of the century' tales, written by someone who was there, taking notes. It’s a short, potent shot of fin-de-siècle poison.