Charles Belfoure crafts compelling narratives that delve into the intricate interplay of space, memory, and human identity. His work frequently explores historical settings and the profound ways the past shapes the present. Belfoure's writing is characterized by its meticulous detail and an immersive quality that draws readers into vividly realized worlds. His novels resonate with audiences through their unique perspective on architecture and its impact on the human experience.
In 1942 Paris, gifted architect Lucien Bernard accepts a commission that will bring him a great deal of money - and maybe get him killed. If he's clever enough, he'll avoid any trouble. But when one of his hiding spaces fails horribly, and the problem of where to hide a Jew becomes terribly personal, Lucien can no longer ignore what's at stake.
In 1886 New York, a respectable architect shouldn't have any connection to the notorious gang of thieves and killers that rules the underbelly of the city. But when John Cross's son racks up an unfathomable gambling debt to Kent's Gent's, Cross must pay it back himself. All he has to do is use his inside knowledge of high society mansions and museums to craft a robbery even the smartest detectives won't solve. The take better include some cash too: the bigger the payout, the faster this will be over. With a new-found talent for sniffing out vulnerable and lucrative targets, Cross becomes invaluable to the gang. But Cross's entire life has become a balancing act, and it will only take one mistake for it all to come crashing down and for his family to go down too.