What do you think?
Rate this book
Bastille Mysteries #2
The Year of the Oath: A Crime Thriller
Someone is killing members of the clergy in increasingly bizarre ways. Rouget Maison and Inspector Drabert must find out who, in this gripping, fast-paced crime thriller set in the French Revolution.
It is 1790 and the French Revolution is moving fast.
Catholic Church property has been nationalised and is being sold off to reduce the vast state debts. Monastic orders have largely been dissolved. King Louis XVl has been forced to accept the changes. Now, all clergy are being required to swear an Oath of Allegiance to the State.
Pierre Reynard, now promoted to Canon, struggles with his conscience over whether to take the Oath. Many of his colleagues have refused, and been expelled from France. Resistance is brutally crushed.
Against this background, as though things were not bad enough, members of the clergy are being murdered, so fuelling the unrest. There are numerous suspects including a female assassin and a most unusual giant.
It is Commissaire Rouget Maison’s task to stop the killings and arrest the murderers. In this, he is assisted by a new young, radical policeman, Inspector Jules Drabert, and obstructed by an old rival, Inspector Anton Fevrier, who hates everything the two of them stand for.
Get your copy of this standalone novel that proves murder and murderers are not surplus to requirements even in the Age of Terror.
It is 1790 and the French Revolution is moving fast.
Catholic Church property has been nationalised and is being sold off to reduce the vast state debts. Monastic orders have largely been dissolved. King Louis XVl has been forced to accept the changes. Now, all clergy are being required to swear an Oath of Allegiance to the State.
Pierre Reynard, now promoted to Canon, struggles with his conscience over whether to take the Oath. Many of his colleagues have refused, and been expelled from France. Resistance is brutally crushed.
Against this background, as though things were not bad enough, members of the clergy are being murdered, so fuelling the unrest. There are numerous suspects including a female assassin and a most unusual giant.
It is Commissaire Rouget Maison’s task to stop the killings and arrest the murderers. In this, he is assisted by a new young, radical policeman, Inspector Jules Drabert, and obstructed by an old rival, Inspector Anton Fevrier, who hates everything the two of them stand for.
Get your copy of this standalone novel that proves murder and murderers are not surplus to requirements even in the Age of Terror.
ebook
Published October 24, 2016
5 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Ian Honeysett
4 books14 followersIan Honeysett co-authored The Bastille Mystery Series with Pete Stevens. They've known each other since they were students when they wrote and staged comedy reviews together. When they both retired, they decided to resume their writing partnership with a series of historical thrillers combining their mutual love of history and (purely fictional) crime.
Ian is married to Jan with 3 children and lives in Godalming, Surrey. His other interests are painting and playing the ukulele.
Visit the Bastille Mysteries website at http://honeysett9.wixsite.com/bastill...
Connect with Ian on Twitter: @Ukieian
Ian is married to Jan with 3 children and lives in Godalming, Surrey. His other interests are painting and playing the ukulele.
Visit the Bastille Mysteries website at http://honeysett9.wixsite.com/bastill...
Connect with Ian on Twitter: @Ukieian
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 13, 2017
The best thing about reading Indie authors is the opportunity to discover new and exciting talent. That is certainly the case with this latest read; The Year of the Oath by Peter Stevens and Ian Honeysett.
I love historical fiction and this story, set in the turmoil and angst of the French Revolution in the late 1700's is up there with some of the best historical fiction I have read lately. Amongst French society, there are many countering influences - those who want the revolution to stop and return to the power of the Monarchy and those who don't think it has gone far enough and want liberty and franchisement for all citizens. Caught in the middle of this maelstrom is the Church, whose Clergy are soon to be required to sign an Oath of Allegiance to the terms of the Revolution. Opinions on signing are deeply divided and the Church is slowly tearing itself apart over the issue. Throw in the seemingly related murders of members of the Clergy, kidnapping, and corruption and you have the makings of a fast-paced and thrilling crime thriller. Commissaire Rouget Maison is the man tasked with solving these crimes and Maison is not one to be trifled with, even for the rich and powerful in revolutionary France.
This is a fast-paced, fascinating insight into one of the bloodiest and most violent times of our history. The authors pull no punches and the suffering, angst, and deviousness of players of the time are well highlighted and illustrated.
I am thrilled to discover that this is just one of a series of books based around the Revolution and Commissaire Maison. I will definitely be revisiting these authors and this series again in the near future. I highly recommend this read and have no hesitation in awarding the five stars it thoroughly deserves.
I love historical fiction and this story, set in the turmoil and angst of the French Revolution in the late 1700's is up there with some of the best historical fiction I have read lately. Amongst French society, there are many countering influences - those who want the revolution to stop and return to the power of the Monarchy and those who don't think it has gone far enough and want liberty and franchisement for all citizens. Caught in the middle of this maelstrom is the Church, whose Clergy are soon to be required to sign an Oath of Allegiance to the terms of the Revolution. Opinions on signing are deeply divided and the Church is slowly tearing itself apart over the issue. Throw in the seemingly related murders of members of the Clergy, kidnapping, and corruption and you have the makings of a fast-paced and thrilling crime thriller. Commissaire Rouget Maison is the man tasked with solving these crimes and Maison is not one to be trifled with, even for the rich and powerful in revolutionary France.
This is a fast-paced, fascinating insight into one of the bloodiest and most violent times of our history. The authors pull no punches and the suffering, angst, and deviousness of players of the time are well highlighted and illustrated.
I am thrilled to discover that this is just one of a series of books based around the Revolution and Commissaire Maison. I will definitely be revisiting these authors and this series again in the near future. I highly recommend this read and have no hesitation in awarding the five stars it thoroughly deserves.
December 24, 2019
1790 Paris. Commissaire Rouget Maison and Inspector Drabert investigate the case of the murdered clergy. Members of the clergy are being murdered, and suspects appear to be many including a female and a giant of a man.
An enjoyable historical mystery
An enjoyable historical mystery
October 16, 2017
It's not long since I read The Bastille Mysteries Book One: THE EIGHTH PRISONER, which I greatly enjoyed. The second book in the series, THE YEAR OF THE OATH, picks up where its predecessor left off. Late 18th Century France is in uproar. The King is still alive, still to be overthrown. The Revolution has begun, however, and despite the best efforts of those who oppose it, nothing will stop the cataclysmic events on the horizon. For centuries the nation has been in thrall to its monarchy and the Catholic Church. Book 1 focussed on the threat to the former; its sequel sees the latter under threat. While priests resistant to France's budding transformation are being murdered by a freakish superhuman with his own agenda, the powerful and privileged weren't giving up their positions without a fight. In the face of an overwhelming groundswell in popular opinion, those opposed to reform were willing to resort to Machiavellian tactics and dastardly deeds. It will take all of newly-promoted Commissaire Rouget's wiles to prevent further bloodshed.
As with the first novel, the writing is of a high standard. The large cast of players - some already familiar, others new - is carefully managed and juggled. These authors have a particular gift for three-dimensional character development. There are no black and white heroes and villains, no cliches; even the most bloodthirsty of assassin's evokes sympathy. Perhaps even stronger than the characterisation is the plot. Intricate but not convoluted, it gives the reader plenty to think about, but it is never confusing. The pace is well-judged, the twists and turns inspired.
Of course, this is historical fiction, so the setting is crucial. Although I've always been fascinated by history, this period is not overly-familiar for me, yet Honeysett and Stevens have brought the era to life in fine style. Revolutionary France was both exciting and dangerous in equal measure, and I look forward to visiting again soon! I recommend THE YEAR OF THE OATH to people with an interest in this time period, to lovers of historical fiction, and to anyone who enjoys clever, engaging fiction. An easy five stars!
As with the first novel, the writing is of a high standard. The large cast of players - some already familiar, others new - is carefully managed and juggled. These authors have a particular gift for three-dimensional character development. There are no black and white heroes and villains, no cliches; even the most bloodthirsty of assassin's evokes sympathy. Perhaps even stronger than the characterisation is the plot. Intricate but not convoluted, it gives the reader plenty to think about, but it is never confusing. The pace is well-judged, the twists and turns inspired.
Of course, this is historical fiction, so the setting is crucial. Although I've always been fascinated by history, this period is not overly-familiar for me, yet Honeysett and Stevens have brought the era to life in fine style. Revolutionary France was both exciting and dangerous in equal measure, and I look forward to visiting again soon! I recommend THE YEAR OF THE OATH to people with an interest in this time period, to lovers of historical fiction, and to anyone who enjoys clever, engaging fiction. An easy five stars!
March 6, 2018
The Year of the Oath is the second in the Bastille Mysteries series, set before and during the French Revolution at the end of the Nineteenth century.
The authors, Ian Honeysett and Peter Stevens have done a fine job of crafting an excellent thriller as a follow-up to The Eighth Prisoner, the first in the series.
I enjoyed The Year of the Oath a little more than the first book. That may be because I've familiarised myself both with the characters and the period in which the narrative is set, an era in which I had hitherto taken only a passing interest.
The plot is very diverse, encompassing grisly murders, a serial killer of priests at loose on the streets of Paris, castrato singers, homosexuality, political intrigue and police corruption. A juicy read.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
The authors, Ian Honeysett and Peter Stevens have done a fine job of crafting an excellent thriller as a follow-up to The Eighth Prisoner, the first in the series.
I enjoyed The Year of the Oath a little more than the first book. That may be because I've familiarised myself both with the characters and the period in which the narrative is set, an era in which I had hitherto taken only a passing interest.
The plot is very diverse, encompassing grisly murders, a serial killer of priests at loose on the streets of Paris, castrato singers, homosexuality, political intrigue and police corruption. A juicy read.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
April 22, 2019
Very good detective series.
This is a very creative plot using the French Revolution in18th century Paris as the backdrop. The events of the era move the actions of the police commissioner Rouget with the assistance of the Canon Reynard and newly appointed investigating policeman Drabert.
I have to mention the appalling punctuation and failure of decent editing, though, which made for some difficulty in the reading of this very interesting and engrossing story. This is a travesty in an otherwise well-written book.
The series is very good and I'd recommend to readers of historical fiction.
This is a very creative plot using the French Revolution in18th century Paris as the backdrop. The events of the era move the actions of the police commissioner Rouget with the assistance of the Canon Reynard and newly appointed investigating policeman Drabert.
I have to mention the appalling punctuation and failure of decent editing, though, which made for some difficulty in the reading of this very interesting and engrossing story. This is a travesty in an otherwise well-written book.
The series is very good and I'd recommend to readers of historical fiction.
July 27, 2020
Set in 1790 during the French Revolution, this crime thriller takes up where the previous book, The Eight Prisoner, left off. A fast moving historical fiction novel with lots of action and many twists and turns. A good read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews