Synopsis:
The Reign of Terror has ended six years earlier, and Napoléon Bonaparte has seized power, but shifting political loyalties still tear apart families and lovers.
On Christmas Eve 1800, a bomb explores along Bonaparte’s route, narrowly missing him but striking dozens of bystanders. Chief Inspector Roch Miquel, a young policeman with a bright future and a beautiful mistress, must arrest the assassins before they attack again. Complicating Miquel’s investigation are the maneuverings of his superior, the redoubtable Fouché, the indiscretions of his own father, a former Jacobin, and two intriguing women.
For The King takes readers through the dark alleys and glittering salons of post-revolutionary Paris. It is a romantic thriller, a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.
For the King by Catherine Delors
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I knew I would enjoy this book for the very reason that it is historical fiction, and I love historical fiction. Especially historical fiction that is well-researched.
I was first taken in by this book because of the time period. I have always been fascinated by the French Revolution, but I was not too familiar with what happened after the French Revolution in Paris. Talk about it being the worst of times, maybe Charles Dickens should have written a book during that time period! It was horrid! I knew Napoleon was bad, but he made things worse than I imagined.
After the first few chapters, my interest waned. Delors is a fantastic authoress, but for the second quarter of the book, I was not as enthralled. I don’t know why. I guess I just didn’t care so much about the characters. Maybe the intrigue just didn’t draw me in.
I remember that about a week ago, the plot took a twist that I wasn’t expecting. That is when I was so drawn to the book that I did not want to put it down. I won’t add any spoilers, but it concerns the character Blanche. And as I read on, the plot become even more intriguing. I now cared about what happened to Roch, the main character. I did not know if the ending would be happy or sad or a mix of both.
The best part of the book for me was when Delors described the historical authenticity of the book. Although she took artistic liberty, much of what she wrote was based on actual fact. The event around which the book is centered really happened. If you do decide to read the book, do not hesitate to read that section. There is even a United States tie-in that I never would have guessed.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to most people with a taste for historical fiction. While I found a portion of it dry, the last half of the book made it very worth reading. The sex scenes are not graphic, for the most part. And profanity is very rare–I appreciated that. I think Delors has the power to write in such a way that you feel as though you are transported back in time and are living the events of the lives of the characters right along with them. Or at least you are watching from a safe spot close by. While it is not the best book I have ever read, it is well worth your time.
Catherine Delors was born and raised in France. She graduated from the University of Paris-Sorbonne School of Law and became the youngest member of the Bar of Paris at the age of twenty-one.
She later moved to the United States and passed the California Bar. She worked at a few large American law firms before setting up a solo practice following the birth of her son.
She now splits her time between London and Paris, while remaining a partner in an international law firm based in Los Angeles.
Her second novel, For The King, was published in July 2010. Catherine is currently writing on a third novel, a prequel to Mistress of the Revolution. She is also researching a fourth one, which shall revolve about Jane Austen and her French connections.
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