Synopses & Reviews
In her historic mysteries
The Rhetoric of Death and
The Eloquence of Blood, Judith Rock created an atmosphere that "takes you back to fascinating and dangerous seventeenth-century Paris so well that I suspect her of being a time-traveler who's been there" (Ariana Franklin, national bestselling author of
A Murderous Procession). Now, the latest novel to feature Charles du Luc finds the ex-soldier-turned-Jesuit caught up in royal intrigue...
Versailles, 1687
Madame de Maintenon is King Louis XIV’s second wife. The daughter of a minor noble of ill-repute, she has not forgiven the king's Jesuit confessor for encouraging him to withhold the title of Queen from her. To placate her, the prestigious Louis le Grand Jesuit school has sent a delegation—including her distant cousin Pere Jouvancy and rhetoric teacher Charles du Luc—to Versailles with a gift of reliquary.
But while the Sun King’s palace might be spectacular, this visit is anything but pleasant. Their first night, a courtier dies, and court whispers claim poison. Then the Jesuit delegation falls direly ill, and a palace gardener is found murdered. Fear grips a court already on edge. In the midst of all this, Charles learns that one of his students is in love with the king’s rebellious (and betrothed) daughter, and may ruin not only himself, but all of them …
Review
Praise for the Charles du Luc novels
“Thrilling…Engaging.”—Sarasota Magazine “[Judith] Rock takes you back to fascinating and dangerous seventeenth-century Paris so well that I suspect her of being a time-traveler who’s been there.”—Ariana Franklin, national bestselling author of A Murderous Procession
“Rock’s second novel featuring Charles du Luc is every bit the equal of her impressive historical thriller debut, The Rhetoric of Death…Readers will hope this energetic and engrossing sequel will be the first of many.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Rock’s historical accuracy resonates here, transporting you to 1686 Paris. Her intriguing plot and protagonists with whom readers are becoming good friends make this a necessary read for all who enjoy historical mysteries, especially those by Ariana Franklin.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Rock skillfully builds her suspense plot, all the while incorporating splendid detail of seventeenth-century Parisian monastic and street life and the relationship between church and Crown, along with the intricate political and religious conflicts of the era. She proves herself a promising new talent by creating this powerful, absorbing, complex, and thoroughly satisfying novel.”—Historical Novels Review (editor’s choice)
Review
Praise for the Charles du Luc novels
“Energetic and engrossing.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A necessary read for all who enjoy historical mysteries.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“A truly excellent series.”—Derek Gunn, The Big Thrill
“In du Luc, Rock has created a highly likeable scholar-detective. I hope that his adventures will play out for many books to come.”—Historical Novels Review
“Rich with telling detail and a deep feeling for time and place.”—Margaret Frazer, national bestselling author of The Apostates Tale
“[A] fascinating historical mystery . . . Sure to satisfy those eager for a great new historical mystery.”—Booklist (starred review)
"Fascinating, terrifying and surprising all at the same time.”—Contra Costa Times
Synopsis
An "amazing"* debut historical novel (*Ariana Franklin, national betselling author of Grave Goods) Paris, 1686: When The Bishop of Marseilles discovers that his young cousin Charles du Luc, former soldier and half-fledged Jesuit, has been helping heretics escape the king's dragoons, the bishop sends him far away-to Paris, where Charles is assigned to assist in teaching rhetoric and directing dance at the prestigious college of Louis le Grand.
Charles quickly embraces his new life and responsibilities. But on his first day, the school's star dancer disappears from rehearsal, and the next day another student is run down in the street. When the dancer's body is found under the worst possible circumstances, Charles is determined to find the killer in spite of being ordered to leave the investigation.
Synopsis
Set in 1686 Paris, this mystery follows Charles du Luc, cousin of the The Bishop of Marseilles, as he searches for the killer of a star dancer at the prestigious college Louis le Grand--in spite of being ordered to leave the investigation.
Synopsis
In her historic mysteries
The Rhetoric of Death and
The Eloquence of Blood, Judith Rock created an atmosphere that "takes you back to fascinating and dangerous seventeenth-century Paris so well that I suspect her of being a time-traveler who's been there" (Ariana Franklin, national bestselling author of
A Murderous Procession). Now, the latest novel to feature Charles du Luc finds the ex-soldier-turned-Jesuit caught up in royal intrigue...
Versailles, 1687
Madame de Maintenon is King Louis XIV’s second wife. The daughter of a minor noble of ill-repute, she has not forgiven the king's Jesuit confessor for encouraging him to withhold the title of Queen from her. To placate her, the prestigious Louis le Grand Jesuit school has sent a delegation—including her distant cousin Pere Jouvancy and rhetoric teacher Charles du Luc—to Versailles with a gift of reliquary.
But while the Sun King’s palace might be spectacular, this visit is anything but pleasant. Their first night, a courtier dies, and court whispers claim poison. Then the Jesuit delegation falls direly ill, and a palace gardener is found murdered. Fear grips a court already on edge. In the midst of all this, Charles learns that one of his students is in love with the king’s rebellious (and betrothed) daughter, and may ruin not only himself, but all of them …
Synopsis
and#147;Rich with telling detail and a deep feeling for time and place,and#8221;* Judith Rockand#185;s historical mysteries are "a great mix of mystery, excitement and intrigue...a truly excellent series.and#8221;**
Paris, 1687.
The last thing Jesuit Charles du Luc and his elderly confessor expect to find in an ancient crypt is a newly murdered body. Even more troubling, the shock of discovering the victimand#151;a young man about to enter their orderand#151;proves too much for Charlesand#8217;s companion. Vowing justice, Charles wants nothing more than to discover the killer, but is unexpectedly restrained from investigation.
At the same moment, a fellow soldier has also entered the Jesuit Novice House, bringing Charlesand#8217;s worst battlefield secret back to haunt him. And when another Jesuit disappears from the college of Louis le Grand and Charles himself is attacked, he begins to wonder whether there might be something more sinister afoot. All signs point to someone targeting Jesuitsand#151;and not even an ex-soldier like Charles may be able to escape...
READERS GUIDE INSIDE
*Margaret Frazer, national bestselling author of The Apostateand#8217;s Tale
**The Big Thrill
About the Author
For many years a modern dancer and choreographer,
Judith Rock founded Body and Soul Dance Company in Berkeley, California, toured extensively as a solo concert dancer, and studied baroque dance. Research for her Ph.D. in art and theology took her to Paris, where she lived at the nearby Jesuit Cultural Center and researched the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century ballets produced at the Paris Jesuit College of Louis le Grand.
In a startling leap, Rock then spent several years as a police officer before taking that experience back to the stage as a playwright and actress. She was an auxiliary officer in the NYPD and later a part-time police officer in Minnesota, working midnight shifts.
Rock has written on dance, art, and theology for many journals, and has been artist-in-residence and taught and lectured at colleges, seminaries, and conferences across the United States and abroad. After years in New York, she and her husband now live in Sarasota, Florida. The Rhetoric of Death, her first novel, was a 2011 Barry Award nominee.