Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc and Edgar Jepson

Arsène Lupin
novelized by Edgar Jepson
from a play of the same name by Maurice Leblanc
1909

4/5 stars

first American edition, 1909 
Doubleday, Page & Company

Arsène Lupin is a gentleman thief with a wicked sense of humor, buckets of charm, and a genius for planning.  Several years ago, he sent a letter to the unbearable millionaire M. Gournay-Martin directing him to pack up the named items and send them to the given address, or Lupin would come and steal them himself.   M. Gournay-Martin did not; Lupin did.  Now, he is threatening  M. Gournay-Martin again with the intention of stealing an immensely valuable coronet.  M. Gournay-Martin's soon-to-be son-in-law, the Duke of Charmerace, takes a great interest in the goings-on and vows that he will help stop the crime. Mlle Gournay-Martin and her secretary/companion Sonia figure into the plot also, as the story fills with love, betrayal, deception, and greed. 

This is the novelization of Maurice Leblanc's 1908 play of the same name by Edgar Jepson, and fits in before the Hollow Needle in the series. (If one reads the Hollow Needle first, as I did, the surprises of this volume may be spoiled.)

Jepson's writing is not as melodramatic or as thrilling as is Leblanc's, but the tale is still told well.  Lupin's character is so appealing, that it's impossible for the reader not to root for him during the battle of wits between the Law and the Criminal.  The romance of the story is only lightly touched on, but there is still a strong and touching scene between the two lovers.  The plot is clever, and it's fun to see how Lupin works all the angles to create success.  His daring and impudence, along with the plot twists, make Arsene Lupin a fun read.

This is an entertaining series, and I found Arsene Lupin enjoyable from start to finish, but I recommend that a new reader begin with The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin: Gentleman Burglar (my review here), the set of short stories that introduces Lupin.