‘Lupin’: The books behind Netflix’s hit TV show

The first collection of eight short stories by Leblanc, initially published in French magazine Je sais tout in 1905, was the French author’s response to the popularity of Sherlock Holmes. 

A copy of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar  featured prominently in the Netflix series, as the book that Babkar Diop gifts to his son, Assane, before being framed for the stealing of the Queen’s necklace from the Pellegrini. ‘The Queen’s Necklace’ is in fact a short story in this collection.  

The anthology follows the adventures of Arsène Lupin, who is, in addition to being the best thief in the world, as witty and sly as you’d expect a Gallic aristocrat to be. Throughout these stories, we see Lupin rob from within a prison, leaving its walls with ease, and stealing diamonds from the rich. It’s a page-turner that, much like the TV series, will leave you wanting more. 

A spoof of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series, this is a fine example of a Victorian mystery novel. Full of humour and conundrums, its gripping plot keeps readers hooked. While the battle between Lupin and Sholmes (a name changed following a clash with Doyle) was written more than a century ago, it still has a modern appeal. 

A loud noise awakens the inhabitants of a country manor house to find that the estate’s secretary has been murdered. The first detective to arrive is young man named Isidore Beautrelet. The Hollow Needle follows the Beautrelet’s efforts as he picks up the trail of Arsène Lupin. It’s another entertaining read from Leblanc. 

One of the most famous stories in the series, 813  follows Lupin after he is accused of murder. Insisting on heading the police search for the real murderer, the mystery involves him finding a package of letters once written by Bismarck; locating a clock which has 813 written on it; and causing a reigning emperor to make several incognito journeys. Full of twists and turns, murders and suicides, 813 has lots of misdirection that will keep you thoroughly entertained.  

Having grown accustomed to our anti-hero having the upper hand over his adversaries, here we see Lupin under pressure. The thief may have finally met his match in deputy Daubrecq, a cunning detective. With everything against him, Lupin is the underdog and mere moments away from a fall from grace, until the final denouement which, of course, changes everything. 

In this collection of nine short stories, Leblanc showcases all the facet’s of Lupin’s personality – from his most confident to at his most blundering. Each novella is as fast-paced and amusing as the last, telling tales of the “world’s premier thief" and his outrageous exploits, from stealing to solving mysteries.