Browne, Marshall. Inspector Anders and the Ship of Fools (New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2002) 320 p.

On the trail of European terrorists, Interpol detectives consult documents in the Libraire Kleber in Strasbourg. “He clanked upwards caged in iron and brass, and entered a huge room which appeared to take up most of the second floor – a mezzanine overlooked it. Aisles of bookshelves ranged away, creaking with book-weight, smelling of old leather. Under-funded and municipal…. Largely devoid of human beings. Though scores could’ve been beavering silently away in the maze-like aisles.” (p. 85). The librarian, Dr. Marguerite Dauban, was “about thirty-seven. A face the creamy hue of gardenias, devoid of cosmetics. Yes, careless hair, nonetheless a faint perfume emanating from it. Her mouth was as straightforward, humanitarian, and commonsense as Anders had ever seen.” (p. 86). Dr. Dauban lets Inspector Anders study the library’s 1499 edition of The Ship of Fools. As Inspector Anders works with this “woman of both sharp comments and soft looks” (p. 142), he becomes attracted to her and she to him.