The Man on the Dancing Sticks

by Richard Willey

Richard Willey's historical crime novel, The Man on the Dancing Sticks, plunges readers into the dark underbelly of late 18th-century France, beginning with a scene of profound horror and escalating into a complex investigation that blurs the lines between crime, ritual, and the supernatural. The narrative weaves together elements of crime investigation with elements of the supernatural and the occult. The inclusion of French terms and cultural nuances adds to the authenticity of the period setting, providing the reader with a unique, entertaining read in the first book of the crime trilogy.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Chris Anderson]

Enjoyable read! Written in a Dan Brown-ish style where there are short chapters and a nugget thrown in at the end of the chapter to make you want to continue now!

[Ann Schwarz]

The Man on the Dancing Sticks is the first in a trilogy and is Richard Willey's debut novel. It is an intriguing mystery set just prior to the outbreak of the French Revolution. The story revolves around seasoned inspector Emile Berteaux and his clever and newly hired partner Marcel Laroche. The two are given a case that takes them from their familiar environs of Paris to an abbey in Chartres where some unusual thefts have been occurring. It is beyond the scope of what the local constabulary can handle.

As Berteaux and Laroche dig into the crimes, they discover the case is much darker than they could have ever imagined. What follows is a web of intrigue involving the occult and possibly the supernatural. I absolutely loved this one! It is well researched and kept me turning pages to figure out how all of the puzzle pieces fit together as the two detectives race to solve the crime before another innocent is attacked.

I can't wait to read the other two books in this trilogy. If you love dark, historical mysteries then you won't want to miss this one!

[Terry Caruthers]

First book in a proposed trilogy, THE MAN ON THE DANCING STICKS is Willey’s debut novel. It follows seasoned Detective Emile Berteaux and his new partner Marcel Larouche as they investigate crime in late 18th-century France. When they journey from Paris to Chartres to address their first case as partners, the two detectives soon find this confounding crime is more complex than they ever imagined. What they eventually discover will lead them into a dark world of unspeakable horrors.

Willey has written a compelling crime novel steeped in this historic era. Authenticity is leant to the period by his inclusion of historic locations, French words and phrases delicately sprinkled amid the dialog, and its French cuisine. He has definitely done his homework!

A compelling read and a stand-out debut! This reader is looking forward to their second case.