The Eloquence of Blood

Charles Du Luc #2

by Judith Rock

An exciting new discovery" ("Library Journal") returns to seventeenth-century Paris with a new historical novel of intrigue.

Christmas in Paris, 1686. The spirit of the season is shattered when Martine Mynette is murdered while trying to prove that she is the adopted daughter of the last surviving Mynette heir and thus claim her inheritance-money that the family otherwise intended to go to the Jesuit school, Louis le Grand.

Now, with Jesuits being implicated in Martine's death, rhetoric teacher Charles du Luc will not rest until he finds her murderer...
"

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, France, Fiction, Medieval

400 pages, ebook

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

Judith 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 currently split their time between Louisville, Kentucky, and Sarasota, Florida.

Reviews

[Jacqie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maitre Charles de Luc is back and in fine form in this sequel to The Rhetoric of Death. The book started a bit haltingly, as the author introduces a large cast of new characters. The mystery was tied up in French will legalities and adoption legalities of the seventeenth century, and frankly I did not find it the most interesting part of the book. There were a lot of disparate pieces to move along, from the suspicion of the Jesuits in the murder and how that played out, to bloodlines, to smuggling, to political pressures, to the plight of the poor. That last plot point was quite poignant, and I suspect the author could have made it much more gruesome and graphic and still been quite accurate. All these different threads made for a bit of unwieldy reveal at the end.

Sadly, we don't see much of Antoine (he's in Martinique) or Marie Ange (she's visiting family for Christmas), and I would have liked to see more of those two. I usually don't like precocious child characters, but the author has made me make an exception to my rule- they aren't saccharine or overly saucy, but charming, intelligent little people.

My favorite part of reading these books is the recurring characters: the complicated head police officer, the discerning rector, sprightly Pere Jouvancy, and of course Charles. He has a purity of spirit that I suspect will cause him problems as he works in this imperfect world. He also is still not perfectly obedient- he still cannot turn the other cheek. I also love Paris, a character in itself in this series. In this book, we get a map. We also get more description of dancing, and the solution to a large, lunk-headed noble who just can't dance but whose mother wants to see him perform is quite amusing.

The mystery itself for me is just a vehicle to go back in time to this fascinating place and interesting people. But the set-up of a Jesuit in a school in Paris is a rich mine of stories- I hope we get a lot more from this author.

[Astronomica Peripatetica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it -- and I liked it a little better than the first book in the series. Although it wasn't as sweeping or dramatic, it was harder to "solve" early, and therefore wasn't as frustrating in the buildup to the solution of the crime. Again, the historical detail and meticulous research are both apparent and appreciated. The hero still has too many stellar attributes, but these are not very important to the plot in the second book, so are less annoying (tall, young, handsome, blond, noble birth, former soldier turned man of God and a dazzling dancer, besides -- while still being straight) than they were in the first book, or than they will be in the third book. The introduction of Reine and her "court" is intriguing and I am hoping this leads somewhere in future books.

[Bibliobee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally figure the "who done it" portion of most mysteries by the half way mark, so when I had no idea who committed the crime in "The Eloquence of Blood" I was impressed that the mystery wasn't so transparent. However, reading on a little further I found the mystery got slightly convoluted and the plot was bogged down by this and too many unnecessary/ ill formed characters. Even still, I enjoyed "The Eloquence of Blood" enough and look forward to reading the next in the series (if there is one).

[Dorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tepid follow up to The Rhetoric of Death. To be honest I had so much trouble following all the characters and names that it was difficult to make much sense of the plot, which involved the murder of a young woman and her father. The resolution was a little disappointing to me and didn't really completely make sense. I still like the main character, however and the author's writing itself is good, so if there is another in this series I will try it.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book. Judith Rock has brought 17th-century Paris alive, and her characters leap out of the page along with the setting. I enjoyed "The Rhetoric of Death," the first Charles du Luc installment, but Rock has really hit her stride with this latest adventure. The plot is compelling and flows seamlessly from court politics to church drama to the personal lives of some very vivid characters. I can't wait for the third book! A teaser is included in the back of the book, and I'm on the edge of my seat already! Don't miss this amazing historical mystery!

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel to The Rhetoric of Death just didn't hold my attention as well as its predecessor. The story was a little cumbersome, and the characters weren't quite as interesting the second time around. Still, Judith Rock writes beautifully and the setting feels very authentic. She touches all the senses with her descriptions (makes me glad our world is a little less aromatic than the 1600s!) and I've had an education on the various social levels that dictated how people interacted with one another.

Would recommend this 2-book series to anyone who enjoys history and mystery.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery set in 17th century Paris.

[SabCo T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start off, I had no idea this was technically the second book in a series that included the main character, Charles Du Lac. However, apparently each book can be a stand-alone story, so that’s why I went through the entire book not really realizing that it was connected to any other books, except possibly the character himself and the location he is staying at. The book doesn’t say anything about it being in a series, just advertises that the author wrote the first book, which is a pretty super-vague clue.

I found this book at one of my many ‘Thrift Store Book’ finds in which I will walk out of said thrift stores with large stacks of books for under $10.

Off the bat, the book was the total opposite of what I was expecting it to be. In a good way, though. I guess my brain automatically likes to pair ‘murder mystery’ with either Scooby Doo or Nancy Drew [quick, someone make a murder mystery rap using that rhyme if it doesn’t exist already] and I wasn’t expecting a more down-to-earth, lack of paranormal-themed kind of story.

The main character, Charles Du Lac, is a Jesuit in late 1600’s France. Handsome, young-ish [for the times], and an ex-soldier, he wants to know the light of god after what he had seen in the Hells of war, but also struggles with listening to authority. Like the summary states, a great sum of money was to go to the college/church he is a scholar at, but turns out that money rightfully belongs to someone, and when it’s found out there’s a conflict of interest there, the girl who was supposed to have that money is found dead. Was it the Jesuits being greedy? Was it one of her enemies that wanted her money? Was it one of the many insane beggars that sometimes got a little too aggressive when someone didn’t help them out? That’s what the story explains.

A word of caution for this book is: You might want to have a teeny tiny interest in religion in some manner or method, and also a French dictionary handy somewhere. [To the internet!]

Sure, the thought of a religion-based murder mystery seemed pretty cool, and it was for the most part, if it didn’t have so many long stretches of religious nonsense you had to read through. The author seems to find the need to make sure you understand particular religious shenanigans going on [which I do appreciate, somewhat] but also, throwing in a lot of French phrases and names/titles that are never translated, nor are you given a key/guide on what these things mean. More than once I found the need to stop and look up various words in French to make some of the scenes better to understand.

The Author, however, did a fantastic job setting up a historic time and event, and interesting characters. You can tell she did a tremendous amount of research into the times and areas. More than once just as I was getting bored of the book, something was brought up to reel me back in because of it’s historical accuracy, and also how fucked up it was. [IE: It was still okay to burn homosexuals alive in those times… and there is a ‘sodomite’ character who is under threat of that very death in the book]

Certainly I was enthralled in some parts, and more and more curious in the WHODONEIT aspect of the book, but sheesh there were some boring parts. Boring enough that I found myself struggling getting through the book at. Did I expect the twists and turns about the murders? Not really, no. So that was nice, at least.

Also, as the story went on, I thought the title ‘Eloquence of Blood‘ was clever. At first I thought it was a play on the murder being complex, but it’s actually also a reference to the ‘blood is thicker than water’ view. It has a lot to do with family bonds/ties and how they conflict with family that isn’t blood, even if you love them more.

Also, France has [or at least did] a lot of Saint Holidays. I mean, like every other day.

Another also: This book’s pages felt awesome. I don’t know what it was about them, but they felt really nice. A ‘page stroker’ if you will. [Is that kinky? <_<]

Would I read the former book, The Rhetoric of Death, or the other Charles Du Lac books? Ehhhhhhh. Maybe. I wouldn’t go out of my way to get them, but if I were to find the other books in a thrift store, I’d probably get them. I’d happily accept them as gifts as well.

Overall, it was enjoyable. Pretty good read for a cheap thrift store find. I’d recommend it to you murder mystery peeps out there.

I give The Eloquence of Blood 3/5 WHO DUN ITS

Charles was suddenly reluctant to have her go. “The beggars seem to look to you as a mother.”

She gave him a pleased glance, slipped into the lane, and walked briskly toward the small street that ran from the rue St. Jacques past the old college of the Les Cholets. As Charles replaced the bar, making sure it was strongly set, her voice floated back to him.

“Even God needed a mother, mon cher.”

[Rich · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is rare that I give a rating as low as 2 stars. Even more rare that I give a rating that low from an author I have chosen to read multiple times, but The Eloquence of Blood just didn't do a thing for me.

I rather enjoyed the series opener The Rhetoric of Death. Maybe the novelty of the authors ability to draw Paris in the late 1600s had worn off by the second novel.

Eloquence of death is a pretty straight forward mystery that frankly never really got my attention. The setting is beautiful once again, the characters are likeable enough, but that is about where the positives end. The mystery itself just drags on and on and on.

I started out liking this book enough for probably 4 stars but by the end, I was just glad it was over. I'm going to wait awhile to try another Charles Du Luc book, if I ever do. Maybe this is one series that should have been ended after an enjoyable first book.

[Kay Robart · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual for the two books in this series, the historical details seem convincing and interesting. The novel is well written and keeps you involved. One very small caveat that I did not notice in the first book–Rock translates even the simplest French, which is annoying.

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[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice surprise for me _ I neither knew the book nor the tale but it grabbed me while wandering the eBook libraries to which I subscribe.

Excellent sense of time and place _ 17th c Paris and a mystery to be discovered, too. I'm off to see if I can find the first of this 'series' as an eBook..otherwise its on to my 'to read' list to pull from the library when I return to the States!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it because it takes place in 17th C. France,and I only gave it 3 stars because I have just started reading it. Lately I am in to mystery novels and so far NOTHING compares to the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly. I am just sorry I have read all of them already....

[Cdelory · Rating 3 out of 5]

These 17th Century Jesuits seemed a little 21st Century to me, and the history I had hoped to learn was on the light side. The lead Jesuit investigator is an engaging character, but the mystery itself was a bit of a let down. I'd give it a, "not bad."

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting second historic mystery in this series by Judith Rock that follows Charles de Luc's career and life at the Jesuit school in Paris. Jesuit dance? That was the big surprise in the first of Rock's novels..... An exciting and informative read!

[Alana White]

Second in the 17th-Century historical series set in Paris featuring Jesuit Charles du Luk as the conflicted religious who solves mysteries while instructing students in the art of dance. Excellent writing once again. I already have the third title, "A Plague of Lies," on my To Read list.

[Roshni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, an ex-soldier and current Jesuit monk, has a penchant for solving murders, and he has to navigate treacherous religious waters as well as the political climate of Paris to solve this one.

[K. G. Whitehurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tightly plotted, well-written historical mystery, with plenty of good characters for whom one may entertain empathy and engagement.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery but best read for the 17th century Parisian atmosphere.

I enjoy this series, and will read her next one. There is something missing, however, for it to rise to a solid 4 star.

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 star rating.

[Leslie Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

good on setting (paris, 16th c.) and characters. Not quite the page-turner as the first one, but still good.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This and her fisrt one are great historical fiction of medieval France. Mysteries solved.
A bit slow - but fun to read anyway.

[Pam Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have really enjoyed this series. Learned a lot about Paris during the 17th century .

[Ellen Dark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, and I look forward to reading the next one. The author left some questions unanswered, perhaps for a future book.

[M Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good yarn but a little slow in the beginning. I appreciate period mysteries that help me learn more about history and this period is rich for France and the Jesuits.

[Nikki Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I want to read the first book in the series. The historical facts are fun to read. It is neat to learn how people lived their daily lives in another time.