Noble Blood
Anne Cartier Series, No. 3
by Charles O’Brien
Teacher of the deaf, Anne Cartier, has now entered into a morganatic marriage with her aristocratic lover and
fellow sleuth, Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin of the Royal Highway Patrol. Still musing over whether she has done
the right thing, she finds herself drawn into a case where her new husband’s influence will be vital and enable
her to enter a world that would otherwise be closed to her. Denise de Villers is an ex-student from the
Institute of the Deaf and has been working as a maid to the Duchesse Aimée de Saumur. But her mistress has been
found murdered, and fingers seem to point towards Denise as the culprit. If she is found guilty, she will be
burned at the stake - but did she actually do it? And why do several people seem so keen to see her take the
blame?
The third book in this unusual and entertaining series (
Mute Witness and Black Gold are
also reviewed on this site) dishes up another inventive and absorbing story. Previously I had complained that
despite the enjoyable feel of old swashbuckling adventure story and fast paced plots, Anne had far too many
talents and seemed over emancipated for the times. This has been toned right down, and she seems a shadow of her
former self, at times rather too much so. Her husband is a mere cipher, though a useful one, and the plot shifts
forward to take center stage. Not quite, though, as surely the historical background of events leading up to the
revolution makes this book rise above the common run of "mystoricals". Watching the decadent aristos fiddle
while the country burns amid turmoil of cruelty, debt, and bad management is intriguing because we know what
will happen. This is a time filled with legend, yet not all that removed from our own times, making it a
fascinating backdrop for a convoluted and teasing plot. However, like a shower that can only run boiling hot
or freezing cold, the two protagonists need to be finely tuned to give us the balance between superbeings and
automatons. I am confident that Mr O’Brien will get there sooner or later, and then this will truly be a series
to be reckoned with. |
The Book |
Severn House |
August 2004 |
Hardback |
0727861042 |
Historical Crime - 1787, Paris |
More at Amazon.com
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UK |
Excerpt |
NOTE: Deaf Characters |
The Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed 2007 |
NOTE: |
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