Customer Reviews

Mute Witness

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When she learns of her stepfather's death, Anne Cartier joins handsome Colonel Paul De Saint-Martin in a trip to Paris. She is certain that he could not be guilty of the murder and suicide that the French officials have accused him of. Once in Paris, however, Anne learns that her stepfather's death is part of a larger scheme--a scheme involving some of the most important men in Ancien Regime France and huge thefts of precious jems and art works.

Through a repeated series of lucky coincidences, Anne, a teacher of the deaf, discovers a secret witness to the murder her stepfather was accused of, narrowly averts being abducted into a sadists lair, and discovers the secrets of the jewel thefts that shock all of France. Despite a complete unwillingness to take any precautions, Anne somehow manages to survive, eventually uncovering the full magnitude of the plot.

Author Charles O'Brien has set his historical mystery, MUTE WITNESS in the fascinating time immediately before the French Revolution. France continues to reel under the debt load it took on in its efforts to help America win its independence and is held hostage by bankers with ever-greater power. Thomas Jefferson walks the streets of Paris and Voltaire, Rousseau, and the other intellectual giants of the enlightenment are remembered firsthand.

Underdeveloped characters and a string of lucky coincidences marr a novel that shows real promise.

In 1785, France is predominantly a two-class society with the frivolous aristocracy running roughshod over the common folk and the small bourgeoisie. Nowhere is that more indicative than the so-called justice system where very little evidence is needed to throw a peasant in jail. The privileged hide behind their wealth and position to stop any charges being brought against them.

The alleged murder-suicide case of Antoine Dubois and Lelia La Plante is based on skimpy circumstantial evidence to draw such a conclusion. Antoine's stepdaughter Anne rejects the official position. At the invitation of Countess Maria she comes to France accompanied by her nephew Colonel Paul de Saint Martin of the Royal Highway Patrol. Marie confides in Anne that there is more to Antoine's death than a simple suicide. Working together with Maria and Paul, Anne goes undercover where she begins to find proof that a double murder occurred. As she steps closer to the truth, several influential people want her to end her investigation or they will dispatch her just as they did her stepfather.

Charles O'Brien uses the fictional narrative to show why the wide gap in class structure led to the revolution. The historical background allows the clever story line to easily flow over it. The heroine refuses to back down from her quest to obtain the truth. Before they realize it, readers are flowing along with the absorbing plot that makes MUTE WITNESS a riveting historical mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Here the reader is transported back to England and France, principally Paris and its environs, on the eve of the French Revolution. Anne Cartier, an English music hall entertainer who has become a teacher to the deaf in Paris, begins the dangerous task of tracking down the mysterious death of her beloved stepfather, Antoine. The aristocratic Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin, whose family she knew as a child, aids her in this effort as she enters the decadent world of the French aristocracy and ambitious merchants who callously treat the classes below them with contempt. Throughout there are brief indications of the looming storms of revolution, most vividly expressed by Saint-Martin who questions the concept of "noble privilege."

O'Brien gives us glimpses of Parisian theater life, helping to explain Anne's unconventional spirit and acrobatic feats as she more than once puts herself in danger while trying to uncover the true culprits. Her actions seem a bit unreal for the time, and more could have been made of the lives of ordinary Parisians. But there are many bits of interesting historical accurate information here. Among them is Anne's association with France's deaf institute. Also note the Royal Highway Patrol, references to various luminaries such as Thomas Jefferson, Marie Antoinette, and Voltaire, and the influence of enlightenment beliefs and the Masonic Lodge. Laudably, the low status of actresses in Anne's time is indicated. But given this, the indications of a potential marriage between Anne and the Colonel seem improbable. A love affair yes, a marriage most likely no.

The book includes a map of 1786 Paris and an author's afternote. This is the first of three books featuring Anne Cartier.

A deftly woven web of intrigue that unfolds in 18th century London and Paris. The heroine's sensitivity to and training in the needs of the deaf enable her to win the confidence of a frightened mute witness to a crime and solve the mystery of her stepfather's death.

The vivid background descriptions capture the ambience of the period and pull the reader right into the settings. The cobblestone streets, the elegant castle interiors, the lush landscapes spring to life before the mind's eye.

O'Brien's erudition leaves its imprint in the authenticity of the novel's historical context; the social injustices of the time and even international politics are interwoven in the plot.

The budding romance between the strong-willed heroine and a chivalrous nobleman is allowed to develop just far enough to whet the reader's curiosity about how their relationship fares. One hopes for a sequel!

A deftly woven web of intrigue that unfolds in 18th century London and Paris. The heroine's sensitivity to and training in the needs of the deaf enable her to win the confidence of a frightened mute witness to a crime and solve the mystery of her stepfather's death.

The vivid background descriptions capture the ambience of the period and pull the reader right into the settings. The cobblestone streets, the elegant castle interiors, the lush landscapes spring to life before the mind's eye.

O'Brien's erudition leaves its imprint in the authenticity of the novel's historical context; the social injustices of the time and even international politics are interwoven in the plot.

The budding romance between the strong-willed heroine and a chivalrous nobleman is allowed to develop just far enough to whet the reader's curiosity about how their relationship fares. One hopes for a sequel!

Mr. O'Brien has not only succeeded in creating a gripping story: he has animated historical places and characters, weaving them effortlessly with the twists and turns of his plot. I was a history major, but never learned about revolutionary or pre-revolutionary Paris/France, and have never had a chance to travel there -- a good work of historical fiction is probably the best way to learn. Mute Witness has left a wonderfully alive picture of the times and places its characters inhabited.

WARNING: If you are prone to reading-induced insomnia, have someone hide this book before bedtime.

Absolutely a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found it very authentic - even with some French spelling of titles. The story has drive, the personalities are well designed and seem to ring true. Read it when you have enough time, it's hard to have to put it down to do other things. I'm looking forward to Charles O'Brien's next book.

Mr. O'Brien vividly captures the years just prior to the French Revolution, with a fascinating cast of characters and a story that's gently laced with suspense throughout. It's a crime novel and a history lesson, woven together with skill and clarity. It well rewards the scholar and the mystery buff. I couldn't put it down.

Mute Witness is three hundred and twenty five pages of mystery and intrigue, and a tad of romance thrown in for good measure. It takes place in London and Paris just before the French Revolution. The sleuth is Anne Cartier, a vaudeville actress training to be a deaf teacher at two, soon to be famous, deaf schools. Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin of the royal highway patrol is sent by his aunt to find Anne and give her the sad news that her stepfather is dead. He lets Anne help in finding the truth about her stepfather's death by pairing her up with Georges Charpentier, who goes undercover. It's a story of politics, trickery, adversity and emotional awakening.

The era itself is captivating and romantic; Mr. O'Brien successfully enriches it with full-bodied characters and a multifaceted mystery of twists and turns. I found Mute Witness to be a lengthy, sound read. It is an impressive story to be read and enjoyed a bit at a time in order to make the experience last.