The Fallen Architect by Charles Belfoure

How could his theater have collapsed? Everything was done perfectly to all the specifications.

Douglas Layton was the architect who had drawn the plans for the Britannia Theater that collapsed on its opening night killing over a dozen people.  He was convicted and sent to prison for five years.

When he was released with no home and no money, he went back to his childhood home and decided he needed to change his identity and his entire life.

He did find a job as an artist in a theater, but his drinking to blur out all his troubles might turn out to be his downfall. Keeping hidden and in disguise was of primary importance.

Keeping hidden was a bit difficult, but he managed. One day after hours as he was exploring the structure of the theater with his architect’s eye, Douglas noticed something with the wall that looked wrong.  What he found in that theater and a second theater gave him pause and had him questioning who really did cause the collapse of the theater.  He now knew it hadn’t been his error.

The investigation to clear his name had begun.  Investigation in the 1800’s was quite time consuming with all of it having to be done on foot and without the Internet.

Mr. Belfoure has written another marvelous, interest-keeping novel with a well-researched story line.  His writing is smooth, detailed, and kept me turning the pages. His architectural expertise shines through.

The characters are genuine, and it was enjoyable learning of the early theater.  I enjoyed the terminology and especially the term for movies, which was called “flickers.”

I truly enjoyed THE FALLEN ARCHITECT.

THE FALLEN ARCHITECT will be enjoyed by historical fiction fans, fans of mysteries, artists, architects, and anyone who enjoys books set in London and this time period.  5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in return for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.