The XIII Mystery: The Investigation (in French The XIII Mystery : L'Enquête) is the thirteenth album of the comic book series XIII. It was published in 1999.
A Milestone Celebration album of sorts (since it's the thirteenth) that does not continue the story yet but follows the investigation of the XIII case by two journalists, Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein. Many characters of the series get a huge expansion of their backstory, as the album reads like an investigation file.
The XIII Mystery: The Investigation provides examples of:
- All There in the Manual: This book is not a comic book album like the other instalments of the series, but it looks like an investigation file. It gives much information about the characters' backstory.
- Attempted Rape: Two KGB agents are ordered to rape Irina. The Mongoose saves her in the last second.
- Backstory: This album sums up the previous events of the series and gives all the characters a backstory.
- Big Damn Heroes: Inverted. The Mongoose, a villain, saves Irina, another villain, in the last second when two KGB agents are going to rape and kill her.
- The Casino: Matt Rowland meets Felicity Brown in a casino in Las Vegas.
- Code Name: Frank Giordino and the agents who track down Warren Glass use code names taken from Classical Mythology.
- Comic-Book Fantasy Casting: A member of the conspiracy looks like Bruce Willis. Another one looks like Clint Eastwood.
- Connected All Along:
- The librarian of Eastown (whom XIII met in The Day of the Black Sun) is the half-sister of Betty Barnowsky (whom XIII met in S.P.A.D.S.).
- Jonathan Mac Lane met Benjamin Carrington in Berlin and they became friends.
- Dramatic Irony: In their investigation file, Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein mentions as a random fact that Frank Giordino uses code names taken from Classical Mythology to communicate with his agents. Unlike the reader, the two journalists do not know that the killers who track them down use such code names.
- Da Editor: Randolf McKnight, the editor of the New York Daily, tries to protect journalists Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein, but he does not believe all their conspiracy theories and does not publish them without asking the opinion of the president of the group.
- Fanservice: In the beginning of each chapter, there is a large drawing of an attractive woman (Janet B. Fitzsimmons, Kim Carrington, Jones, Felicity Brown, Irina Svetlanova, Abigail Frazier, Maria Isabel de Los Santos, Jenny O'Keefe, Deborah Callahan, Judith Warner, Betty Barnowsky).
- Femme Fatale Spy:
- Irina when she was a KGB agent. She seduced men in order to kill them.
- Jessica is an NSA agent. She uses her charms to gain Warren Glass's trust and she kills him.
- First-Person Peripheral Narrator: The narrators of this album are Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein, two journalists who investigate the XIII mystery.
- The General's Daughter: General Carrington was expelled from West Point because he had an affair with the wife of an officer.
- Gunship Rescue: The platoon of Alan Smith is rescued by helicopters. Unfortunately, it is too late for Alan.
- Happy Ending Override: In the end of The Trial, XIII is jailed, but the conspiracy has been exposed live on TV. In particular, the Mongoose discloses the existence of a bank safe where evidences can be found. This album reveals that the conspiracy led by Wally Sheridan was covered up: officially, Wally Sheridan died in a hospital and the "trial" was a mascarade set up by a crazy general who recruited actors, including a Wally Sheridan lookalike.
- He Knows Too Much: The reason why Ron Finkelstein and Warren Glass are killed by NSA agents.
- High-Class Call Girl: Felicity Brown was one when she lived in Las Vegas.
- Historical Domain Character: Several characters crossed path with real-life people in their backstory. For example, William Sheridan was defeated by Michael Dukakis in the Democratic primaries, the rumour has it that Wally Sheridan has affairs with Julia Roberts, Geena Davis, Sharon Stone and Brigitte Nielsen, Amos worked in the Carter administration...
- Hopeless Suitor: David Rigby is still a boy, but he is already in love with Judith Warner who ignores him.
- Intrepid Reporter: The investigative journalists Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein risk their life to discover the truth about the XIII mystery.
- Jailbait Taboo: Judith Warner is swimming in the nude in a lake. Dwight Rigby, an evil character, catches her, claims that she likes teasing men, and, after making clear that he knows she is only 14, rapes her. This Backstory reinforces Rigby's characterization as a villain.
- Never Suicide: Ron Finkelstein's murder is covered up by making it look like a suicide: he is throwed out of the window of a high rise.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: The investigative journalists Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein are expies of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
- Outdoor Bath Peeping: Jason Mac Lane and David Rigby spy on Judith Warner when she is bathing in a lake.
- Out with a Bang: Irina has sex with a man, and immediately thereafter she stabs him to death.
- Parental Abandonment: Jone's father abandoned his family. Her mother died of alcoholism.
- Precocious Crush: David Rigby is still a boy, but he is already in love with Judith Warner who is 14.
- Professional Killer: Hitmen are after Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein. They are revealed to be NSA agents who work for Frank Giordino.
- Recruited from the Gutter: Jones is a homeless child, when she meets Ben Carrington. He encourages her to join the army. Later, she becomes his aide-de-camp.
- Renegade Russian: Irina was a KGB agent. Her employer decided to eliminate her during Glasnost. The Mongoose, a free-lance professional killer, saved and hired her.
- The Runaway: Jones and her brother Marcus run away from the orphanage.
- Saved for the Sequel: The conversation between Liam Mac Lane, George Mullway and Jack Callahan implies that, even if the three silver watches are collected, the location of Maximilian's gold will be difficult to find.
- Shout-Out:
- The record about a bodyguard of William and Wally Sheridan claims that In the Line of Fire is based on his life.
- The record about Don Pasquale Giordino claims that The Godfather, the book by Mario Puzo, is based on his life.
- Skinny Dipping: Judith Warner swims in the nude in a lake. Jason Mac Lane and David Rigby are spying on her.
- Stern Chase: Warren Glass is chased by hitmen and he has to flee from Florida to Europe. In Europe, he constantly goes from one country to another.
- Treachery Cover Up: The conspiracy led by Wally Sheridan was covered up: officially, Wally Sheridan died in a hospital and the "trial" was a mascarade set up by a crazy general who recruited actors.
- The 'Verse: Warren Glass and Ron Finkelstein work for the New York Daily, a newspaper that belongs to Largo Winch. Their editor even exchanges letters with Stephen G. Dundee, the president of American News Inc., who is a minor character of Largo Winch series.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: During Glasnost, the KGB decided to kill Irina, one of their profesional killers, because her skills were not necessary any more.
