When a seemingly impregnable Parisian bank safe is robbed, suspicion immediately falls on the young, unassuming clerk, Prosper Bertomy, who, alongside the bank's owner, Monsieur Fauvel, possesses one of only two keys and the combination. As the evidence mounts against Prosper, a shadowy figure emerges from the background: the enigmatic detective Monsieur Lecoq. Lecoq, however, seems less interested in proving Prosper's guilt than in uncovering a deeper, more intricate web of deceit and long-buried family secrets that extends far beyond a simple bank heist, hinting at a third, impossible party. Gaboriau, often hailed as a godfather of detective fiction, masterfully weaves a tale where the initial crime is merely a thread leading to a Dickensian tragedy. *File No. 113* is less about *whodunit* than *why*, exploring the moral complexities of its diverse cast – from the virtuous to the villainous, and those caught in between. It's a compelling character study wrapped in a meticulously plotted mystery, showcasing the nascent brilliance of Lecoq and cementing Gaboriau's legacy as a foundational voice in the genre.
