Noble Blood (Anne Cartier Mystery 3) [Hardcover]

Charles O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Series: Anne Cartier Mystery 3 | Publication Date: August 1, 2004

The third title in an acclaimed historical mystery series set at the time of the French Revolution
Paris, 1787. A deaf maid at the Court of Versailles is accused of the murder of the Duchesse de Saumur, one of Marie Antoinette's intimates. Anne Cartier, teacher at the world-famous Institute for the Deaf, and new wife of Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin of the Royal Highway Patrol, is drawn into the murder investigation, and evidence comes to light of a conspiracy to seal the maid's fate.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Paris and Versailles in 1787 serve as the opulent backdrop for O'Brien's outstanding third historical (after Mute Witness and Black Gold). Anne Cartier, teacher of the deaf and wife of Col. Paul de Saint-Martin of the Royal Highway Patrol, comes to the defense of Denise de Villers, a housemaid and former pupil at the Institute for the Deaf where Anne works, when Denise is accused of murdering the duchesse de Saumur, a close friend of Marie Antoinette's. Paul's well-connected aunt journeys with Anne and Paul to the royal palace at Versailles, where they soon become involved in a tangled web of treachery, conspiracy and intrigue. As Paul says, "Pursuing the truth can cause a mess. Old wounds open up, incriminating lies are exposed." In their effort to prove the deaf maid's innocence, they uncover corruption and deception that touch everyone from servants and courtiers to church leaders and the queen herself. Credible and memorable characters, an exciting time in French history and a puzzle that will challenge even the most astute mystery aficionado add up to first-class entertainment. A cast list, maps of the major locations and an author's note on the historical background round out a book sure to have wide appeal.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; 1St Edition edition (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727861042
• ISBN-13: 978-0727861047
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,657,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The author has found his voice, September 27, 2004

By 

Gudveig Baarli - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Noble Blood (Anne Cartier Mystery 3) (Hardcover)

This is the third book about Anne Cartier and her adventures in pre-revolutionary Europe. While the first novel was refreshing with a wonderful grip on the historic background and a good plot, the characters seemed a little contrived and the language was at times choppy. The second book was a solid follow-up where especially the language improved. In this third book the author has found his voice and many of the short-comings of the earlier books are amended. Paris and the court are revealed in vivid detail. The corruption, surrender to pleasure and contempt for the lower classes at the court are described in convincing detail. The author has built further on his strength, the historical background. The otherwise dry subject of the judicial system was presented in a page turning thriller. At the end one sits back with a solid history lecture beside the pleasure of seeing the plot evolve. The droll tone and chevalier attitude of the characters is a nice break from the often raw and brutal descriptions found in other thrillers.