Masquerade

by Susanne Alleyn

An original short story from the author of the Aristide Ravel Mysteries. When handsome young Duke Ludovik gives a ball at the palace, Eleyna will let nothing--including her stepmother and stepsisters--prevent her from dancing with the duke, in her mother's ravishing court gown. But her stepmother, mindful of her own daughter's chances, has other ideas... Sound familiar? Attend the ball, wait for midnight to strike, and you may be surprised! Acclaim for Susanne Alleyn’s Historical [ The Cavalier of the Apocalypse] “Superb ... Alleyn expertly captures the politics and atmosphere of the period.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) [ A Treasury of Regrets] “Put her latest on the must-read list.” (Library Journal, starred review; Library Journal’s Best Mysteries of 2007) [ Game of Patience] “Alleyn knows her French Revolution, creates a complex brain-teaser of a mystery, and excels in making her characters believable. In short, this book has everything.” (Library Journal)

Genres: Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Romance

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2011

About the author

The granddaughter of children’s author Lillie V. Albrecht (author of Deborah Remembers, The Spinning Wheel Secret, and three other historicals, all now available for Kindle), Susanne Alleyn definitely doesn’t write for children, unless, like her, they have found guillotines, high drama, and the French Revolution fascinating since the age of ten or so.

Susanne grew up in Massachusetts and New York City. After studying acting and singing, and earning a B.F.A. in theater from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Susanne eventually came to the conclusion that, as an actor, she was quite a good writer, and that sending out manuscripts to editors and agents was still easier on the nerves than going to auditions. (She can, nevertheless, still sing a high C when requested.) Having been unwholesomely fascinated by the French Revolution since she read the Classics Illustrated comic-book version of A Tale of Two Cities, she set out to write about it. Her first novel, A Far Better Rest, a reimagining of A Tale of Two Cities (what else?) from the point of view of Sydney Carton, was published in 2000.

Though a longtime fan, she had never considered writing mysteries, however, until she suddenly found herself creating a historical mystery plot suggested by an actual series of murders committed in Paris in the early 1800s. Police agent Aristide Ravel made his first appearance in Game of Patience and returned in A Treasury of Regrets, both set in Paris in the Directoire period of 1796-97. Susanne is currently at work on a third mystery in the series, a prequel, and intends to cover the entire Revolutionary period in future novels.

She would like to add that she speaks French very badly.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review has been updated and can now be found at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is now my favorite version of "Cinderella". It is rather inventive and makes good use of point of view. I will have to give this author another try.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun twist on the Cinderella fairy tale. While it is not set during the French Revolution and does not include any guillotining or revolutionary plots or my favorite sleuth Aristide Ravel, it is a fun re-imagining of the Cinderella story. I urge readers to use this work as a jumping off point if you enjoy historical fiction, particularly mysteries. Her Ravel series is OUTSTANDING!

[Zuzana Urbanek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickedly dark! A terrific, quick read in the best tradition of the Brothers Grimm and other warped and macabre fairy tales.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

um, ok?!