Book Description

"The Amazing Gardets lead a double life, seamlessly blending into two contrasting worlds. By day, they dazzle audiences as a renowned clan of circus performers, captivating the masses with their breathtaking acts. Yet, as the sun sets, they metamorphose into world-class jewel thieves, their nimble fingers dancing across the shimmering treasures of the elite. However, the time for retirement finally dawns upon this enigmatic family, and a new chapter unfolds. Amidst the curtain call of crime, the youngest Gardet performer embarks on a solo journey, achieving extraordinary success that spans decades. Yet, her glittering path takes an unexpected turn when a meticulously planned heist goes awry, leaving her outwitted and vulnerable. Meanwhile, a young and unsuspecting waitress finds herself drawn into the perilous vortex of intrigue. Seduced by the tantalizing puzzle of the missing jewels, she becomes entangled with a group of amateur crime detectives, whose true motives and identities remain shrouded in secrecy. "Nothing Here But Bowling Shoes" artfully weaves the narratives of two remarkable women, separated by time and circumstance. Meet Aline, a destitute young girl living in Strasbourg during the 1950s. Her life takes a fateful turn after a tragic loss—her mother's untimely demise. In the midst of her grief, a mysterious uncle arrives, promising Aline a brighter future in Paris. With her father's reluctant blessing, Aline departs for the City of Lights, blissfully unaware of her family's extraordinary secret—circus by day, jewel thieves by night. Enter Renny, years later, whose life collides with Aline's in unexpected and intriguing ways. Working as a waitress in a high-class restaurant near the Hilton Hotel, Renny becomes embroiled in a heist that unfolds with the precision of a carefully choreographed act. Three intriguing patrons, attendees of an "amateur crime solvers" convention coinciding with the heist, implore her assistance. Little does Renny know that her involvement will lead her down a treacherous path, with one of the thieves convinced she possesses the key to unraveling the enigma of the missing jewels. As Aline and Renny's worlds collide, they find themselves ensnared in a web of mystery and danger, where the lines between performer and criminal blur, and where salvation and peril often wear the same face."