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Aristide Ravel - author's suggested reading order #3
Game of Patience
Paris, 1796. Aristide Ravel, freelance undercover police agent and investigator, is confronted with a double murder in a fashionable apartment. The victims prove to be Célie Montereau, the daughter of a wealthy and influential family, and the man who was blackmailing her.
Célie's enigmatic and bitter friend Rosalie Clément provides Aristide with intelligence that steers him toward Philippe Aubry, a young man with a violent past who had been in love with Célie. According to an eyewitness, however, Aubry could not have murdered Célie. As time passes, Aristide finds himself falling in love with Rosalie, albeit reluctantly, as he suspects that she knows more about the murders than she will say.
When Aristide uncovers evidence that points to Rosalie herself, he must learn whom she is protecting and why before he can obtain justice for Célie and save Rosalie from the guillotine. From the gritty back alleys of Paris to its glittering salons and cafés, through the heart of the feverish, decadent society of post-revolutionary France, Aristide's investigation leads him into a puzzle involving hidden secrets, crimes of passion, and long-nurtured hatreds.
With elaborate French cultural atmosphere, author Susanne Alleyn has created a sophisticated and stylish mystery set in the uneasy and turbulent years between the Terror and the rise of Napoleon.
Célie's enigmatic and bitter friend Rosalie Clément provides Aristide with intelligence that steers him toward Philippe Aubry, a young man with a violent past who had been in love with Célie. According to an eyewitness, however, Aubry could not have murdered Célie. As time passes, Aristide finds himself falling in love with Rosalie, albeit reluctantly, as he suspects that she knows more about the murders than she will say.
When Aristide uncovers evidence that points to Rosalie herself, he must learn whom she is protecting and why before he can obtain justice for Célie and save Rosalie from the guillotine. From the gritty back alleys of Paris to its glittering salons and cafés, through the heart of the feverish, decadent society of post-revolutionary France, Aristide's investigation leads him into a puzzle involving hidden secrets, crimes of passion, and long-nurtured hatreds.
With elaborate French cultural atmosphere, author Susanne Alleyn has created a sophisticated and stylish mystery set in the uneasy and turbulent years between the Terror and the rise of Napoleon.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2006
10 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Susanne Alleyn
27 books78 followersThe 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.
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.
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August 3, 2014
Rating: 4.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Paris, 1796. Aristide Ravel, freelance undercover police agent and investigator, is confronted with a double murder in a fashionable apartment. The victims prove to be Célie Montereau, the daughter of a wealthy and influential family, and the man who was blackmailing her.
Célie's enigmatic and bitter friend Rosalie Clément provides Aristide with intelligence that steers him toward Philippe Aubry, a young man with a violent past who had been in love with Célie. According to an eyewitness, however, Aubry could not have murdered Célie. As time passes, Aristide finds himself falling in love with Rosalie, albeit reluctantly, as he suspects that she knows more about the murders than she will say.
When Aristide uncovers evidence that points to Rosalie herself, he must learn whom she is protecting and why before he can obtain justice for Célie and save Rosalie from the guillotine. From the gritty back alleys of Paris to its glittering salons and cafés, through the heart of the feverish, decadent society of post-revolutionary France, Aristide's investigation leads him into a puzzle involving hidden secrets, crimes of passion, and long-nurtured hatreds.
With elaborate French cultural atmosphere, author Susanne Alleyn has created a sophisticated and stylish mystery set in the uneasy and turbulent years between the Terror and the rise of Napoleon.
My Review: French Revolution buff Alleyn's second novel and first mystery is a perfect example of how historical fiction can illuminate history in the most satisfying and intriguing light; simple textbook history doesn't and can't come close to the concerns and needs of the actual people of 1796 Paris, and this book does that job very, very well.
I could end this review here, adding only "read it yourself if you don't believe me," but I want to offer some specifics.
The upheaval of the Revolution was as inevitable as anything in all of history could be. When intolerable abuse is heaped upon enough people for a long enough time, they find a way to make it stop. While there were Royalists in France, like there were Tories in the American Revolution, they lost...so the history is that of the winners.
But what about the average citizen and citizeness? (These were the titles that replaced Monsieur et Madame in those years.) What did life hold for them? Alleyn explores this subject in her novel, and what life held was...well, what it always holds: Love, hate, fear, passion, joy, rejection, redemption (though that last is rare). So Alleyn delves into our human comedy to show us that, mutatis mutandis, Revolutionary Paris's people were just like us, only colder and hungrier.
The story of Aristide Ravel, police spy, and Henri Sanson, executioner, is one of destinies that criss-cross in unpleasant places. Surprisingly, they find themselves friends...okay, friendly acquaintances at first. As a result of the movements of the plot, their most dramatic meeting will cause the friendship to blossom or die; another book will tell that tale. But theirs is the central relationship in this book. It's an odd thing to say, I suppose, but it's true; they each have one half of a very important story in their possession, neither knowing this until the author clangs them into each other so hard that the reader's teeth rattle.
While Sanson is central to the story, he's offstage most of the time. This device worked well enough, though I was a bit overprepared for his eventual appearances by the time they happened.
The principal quality of this book for me was its rhythm. I felt I was there, living by the truly alien Revolutionary calendar of thirty-day months and ten-day weeks. I found myself thinking "isn't it just about décadi, shouldn't stuff be closed?" (That was the Revolutionary Sunday-day-of-rest equivalent.) I wondered where the manservant was more than once while immersed in Aristide's life...he's too poor to have one. (I relate.) I felt myself jolting along in the fiacre with Aristide and his boss (actually just the frost-heaved Long Island roads) to the Hotel de Ville (my village's city hall is nothing like so grand, but it's next to the liberry so the association stuck).
If you are bored by history, try reading this book. It will allow you to experience history more directly than even a conventional historical novel could, since there are such ordinary human stakes in the crime committed and its solution. If you're a mystery fan, the puzzle should keep you going. IIf you're just an old sourpuss, give it a miss. But I hope you aren't, and hope you'll have a great time walking around Paris with Aristide and his crew.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Publisher Says: Paris, 1796. Aristide Ravel, freelance undercover police agent and investigator, is confronted with a double murder in a fashionable apartment. The victims prove to be Célie Montereau, the daughter of a wealthy and influential family, and the man who was blackmailing her.
Célie's enigmatic and bitter friend Rosalie Clément provides Aristide with intelligence that steers him toward Philippe Aubry, a young man with a violent past who had been in love with Célie. According to an eyewitness, however, Aubry could not have murdered Célie. As time passes, Aristide finds himself falling in love with Rosalie, albeit reluctantly, as he suspects that she knows more about the murders than she will say.
When Aristide uncovers evidence that points to Rosalie herself, he must learn whom she is protecting and why before he can obtain justice for Célie and save Rosalie from the guillotine. From the gritty back alleys of Paris to its glittering salons and cafés, through the heart of the feverish, decadent society of post-revolutionary France, Aristide's investigation leads him into a puzzle involving hidden secrets, crimes of passion, and long-nurtured hatreds.
With elaborate French cultural atmosphere, author Susanne Alleyn has created a sophisticated and stylish mystery set in the uneasy and turbulent years between the Terror and the rise of Napoleon.
My Review: French Revolution buff Alleyn's second novel and first mystery is a perfect example of how historical fiction can illuminate history in the most satisfying and intriguing light; simple textbook history doesn't and can't come close to the concerns and needs of the actual people of 1796 Paris, and this book does that job very, very well.
I could end this review here, adding only "read it yourself if you don't believe me," but I want to offer some specifics.
The upheaval of the Revolution was as inevitable as anything in all of history could be. When intolerable abuse is heaped upon enough people for a long enough time, they find a way to make it stop. While there were Royalists in France, like there were Tories in the American Revolution, they lost...so the history is that of the winners.
But what about the average citizen and citizeness? (These were the titles that replaced Monsieur et Madame in those years.) What did life hold for them? Alleyn explores this subject in her novel, and what life held was...well, what it always holds: Love, hate, fear, passion, joy, rejection, redemption (though that last is rare). So Alleyn delves into our human comedy to show us that, mutatis mutandis, Revolutionary Paris's people were just like us, only colder and hungrier.
The story of Aristide Ravel, police spy, and Henri Sanson, executioner, is one of destinies that criss-cross in unpleasant places. Surprisingly, they find themselves friends...okay, friendly acquaintances at first. As a result of the movements of the plot, their most dramatic meeting will cause the friendship to blossom or die; another book will tell that tale. But theirs is the central relationship in this book. It's an odd thing to say, I suppose, but it's true; they each have one half of a very important story in their possession, neither knowing this until the author clangs them into each other so hard that the reader's teeth rattle.
While Sanson is central to the story, he's offstage most of the time. This device worked well enough, though I was a bit overprepared for his eventual appearances by the time they happened.
The principal quality of this book for me was its rhythm. I felt I was there, living by the truly alien Revolutionary calendar of thirty-day months and ten-day weeks. I found myself thinking "isn't it just about décadi, shouldn't stuff be closed?" (That was the Revolutionary Sunday-day-of-rest equivalent.) I wondered where the manservant was more than once while immersed in Aristide's life...he's too poor to have one. (I relate.) I felt myself jolting along in the fiacre with Aristide and his boss (actually just the frost-heaved Long Island roads) to the Hotel de Ville (my village's city hall is nothing like so grand, but it's next to the liberry so the association stuck).
If you are bored by history, try reading this book. It will allow you to experience history more directly than even a conventional historical novel could, since there are such ordinary human stakes in the crime committed and its solution. If you're a mystery fan, the puzzle should keep you going. IIf you're just an old sourpuss, give it a miss. But I hope you aren't, and hope you'll have a great time walking around Paris with Aristide and his crew.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
February 23, 2010
First Sentence: Aristide did not often set foot in the Place de Grève.
Aristide Ravel is an freelance police investigator working for Commissaire Brasseur in Paris. They are called to a fashionable apartment to view a double murder scene. One victim; the apartment owner and, they learn, a blackmailer. The other victim; a young woman from a wealthy family and the blackmailer’s victim. A friend of the young woman, Rosalie Clèment, points Ravel toward a handsome young man, Philippe Aubry, who the victim loved. She is adamant Aubry is guilty but the evidence is less certain. Ravel must find the true killer and find out why Rosalie is determined to see Aubry beheaded.
First, a caution: Do not read the flyleaf of the hardcover as it gives way too much of the plot without conveying any of the emotion you experience reading the book.
Set two years after “the Terror,” it is a fascinating look at Paris after the Revolution. Alleyn’s descriptions are exacting and powerful. Her level of research is clear and well represented by the exacting detail included in every aspect of the story. I very much appreciate the information included in the Forward and Historical Notes.
Her dialogue is excellent. It conveys the cadence of French without trying too hard but, moreover, it conveys strong emotion without ever being strident or histrionic but is, at times, filled with pathos. There is one conversation dealing with fathers and sons which was so well done.
Ravel is such a wonderful character. After his experiences, he dreads the possibility of sending one who is innocent to the guillotine. Each of the characters of this story were very strong, particularly those of Ravel, Rosalie and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sanson. As we get to know each one, we learn more about the others; their history and their motives.
The story is very well plotted, and the plot is driven by motives. There are excellent twists. Even though I perceived the direction one twist would take, the impact was no less powerful when it was realized. The story, and particularly the ending, was sad, poignant and tragic, yet ultimately satisfying. That’s a tough combination to pull off successfully, yet Alleyn does it admirably.
This is a story that will stay with me long after having closed the cover. I lost sleep reading this book, even waking in the night to note that it has a very cinemagraphic quality to it and, strangely, made me think of “Casablanca.”
I highly recommend this book but do suggest first reading “The Cavalier of the Apocalypse” first. Although it was published in 2009, it is a prequel to the series.
GAME OF PATIENCE (Pol. Proc-Aristide Ravel-France-1796/post-Revolution) – Ex
Alleyn, Susanne – 2nd in series (1st by publishing date)
Thomas Dunne Books, ©2006, US Hardcover – ISBN: 0312343639
Aristide Ravel is an freelance police investigator working for Commissaire Brasseur in Paris. They are called to a fashionable apartment to view a double murder scene. One victim; the apartment owner and, they learn, a blackmailer. The other victim; a young woman from a wealthy family and the blackmailer’s victim. A friend of the young woman, Rosalie Clèment, points Ravel toward a handsome young man, Philippe Aubry, who the victim loved. She is adamant Aubry is guilty but the evidence is less certain. Ravel must find the true killer and find out why Rosalie is determined to see Aubry beheaded.
First, a caution: Do not read the flyleaf of the hardcover as it gives way too much of the plot without conveying any of the emotion you experience reading the book.
Set two years after “the Terror,” it is a fascinating look at Paris after the Revolution. Alleyn’s descriptions are exacting and powerful. Her level of research is clear and well represented by the exacting detail included in every aspect of the story. I very much appreciate the information included in the Forward and Historical Notes.
Her dialogue is excellent. It conveys the cadence of French without trying too hard but, moreover, it conveys strong emotion without ever being strident or histrionic but is, at times, filled with pathos. There is one conversation dealing with fathers and sons which was so well done.
Ravel is such a wonderful character. After his experiences, he dreads the possibility of sending one who is innocent to the guillotine. Each of the characters of this story were very strong, particularly those of Ravel, Rosalie and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sanson. As we get to know each one, we learn more about the others; their history and their motives.
The story is very well plotted, and the plot is driven by motives. There are excellent twists. Even though I perceived the direction one twist would take, the impact was no less powerful when it was realized. The story, and particularly the ending, was sad, poignant and tragic, yet ultimately satisfying. That’s a tough combination to pull off successfully, yet Alleyn does it admirably.
This is a story that will stay with me long after having closed the cover. I lost sleep reading this book, even waking in the night to note that it has a very cinemagraphic quality to it and, strangely, made me think of “Casablanca.”
I highly recommend this book but do suggest first reading “The Cavalier of the Apocalypse” first. Although it was published in 2009, it is a prequel to the series.
GAME OF PATIENCE (Pol. Proc-Aristide Ravel-France-1796/post-Revolution) – Ex
Alleyn, Susanne – 2nd in series (1st by publishing date)
Thomas Dunne Books, ©2006, US Hardcover – ISBN: 0312343639
March 2, 2011
First time I'd ever read anything by this author and it won't be the last. Thoroughly enjoyed the mystery (and didn't figure out who'd done it until it was revealed) but most of all found the picture of life after the French Revolution -- and before the rise of Napoleon -- fascinating.
December 12, 2012
I have mixed feelings about this book. I remember being really excited about it when I heard about the series (French Revolution and mystery!). Since I'm currently listening to (and loving) The Black Count, I thought this would be a nice companion read. I can't tell if this book suffered from my expectations of it, or if I just wasn't my kind of mystery.
For the setting--I felt like I didn't have a real sense of why or how the Directory (the time period of the book) was different from a general historical mystery, other than the references to people being guillotined in the Terror. I guess I'd hoped for more of a sense of the time. And, to be honest, maybe there wouldn't be. The Black Count has a grand sense of time and place, but it's nonfiction so Reiss can go off on tangents that wouldn't be appropriate in a novel. So, a little disappointment there.
For the mystery--the resolution of the mystery was a bit of a soap opera for me. I didn't feel the passions that are supposed to have driven the main characters, so it felt a bit like I was ready Days of our Lives.
That all being said, I checked another in the series out of the library and started it, so I couldn't have disliked this book too much.
For the setting--I felt like I didn't have a real sense of why or how the Directory (the time period of the book) was different from a general historical mystery, other than the references to people being guillotined in the Terror. I guess I'd hoped for more of a sense of the time. And, to be honest, maybe there wouldn't be. The Black Count has a grand sense of time and place, but it's nonfiction so Reiss can go off on tangents that wouldn't be appropriate in a novel. So, a little disappointment there.
For the mystery--the resolution of the mystery was a bit of a soap opera for me. I didn't feel the passions that are supposed to have driven the main characters, so it felt a bit like I was ready Days of our Lives.
That all being said, I checked another in the series out of the library and started it, so I couldn't have disliked this book too much.
March 13, 2012
OK, I definitely recommend this book! It was a really good read. I stumbled, at first, with the historical terminology. I will admit – with some embarrassment – that my knowledge of French history is very limited. I didn’t even realize that there ever was a Republic with its own calendar, terminology, etc.
But, this book was excellent because it seamlessly incorporated that into the story. The foreword and brief explanation of the French calendar during the Republic was extremely helpful, too.
The constant casting of suspicion on several characters helped to initially defray the identity of the true murderer, but I had an idea for a while. Still, I really enjoyed how the author danced around it and led me on the chase.
I love history, so this was a neat glimpse into an era and society I’d not ever really studied.
Although “average” size for a hardback, I would classify this read as a bit more challenging, simply because I had to keep up with the French history. I recommend it!
But, this book was excellent because it seamlessly incorporated that into the story. The foreword and brief explanation of the French calendar during the Republic was extremely helpful, too.
The constant casting of suspicion on several characters helped to initially defray the identity of the true murderer, but I had an idea for a while. Still, I really enjoyed how the author danced around it and led me on the chase.
I love history, so this was a neat glimpse into an era and society I’d not ever really studied.
Although “average” size for a hardback, I would classify this read as a bit more challenging, simply because I had to keep up with the French history. I recommend it!
September 1, 2017
This mystery is set in the immediate shadow of the French Revolution where political tensions are high. But instead of focusing on that political drama, this book showcases the lives of ordinary people and how they were affected by the revolution, all while solving a murder.
April 2, 2021
A fascinating look at life in France in revolutionary times, it's also a mystery with a strong leading character. Unfortunately the mystery got so convoluted I found I had to check back on characters which spoiled some of the atmosphere for me.
September 29, 2012
Easily my favorite jaunt yet with Aristide Ravel... well enough to make me want to go back and read the earlier installments just because I think he's so marvelous in his simplicity and his unassuming character.
In Patience, Aristide remains tormented by the devils of his past- those both early in his life and the more fresh wounds of recent events surrounding the Revolution. Never short of compelling work to do for the police, Aristide finds himself personally committed to uncovering the villain responsible for the murder of a fresh and innocent young woman mysteriously discovered in the rooms of a stranger of lesser repute.
The story unwinds gracefully with plenty of twists, turns and surprise connections, enough to make the tale utterly intriguing. Admittedly, a few of the plot twists and surprises were a bit on the obvious side, but each of the situations is presented with just the right amount of drama to not be over-the-top.
There is always an incredibly human element to the characters in Alleyn's stories- always the case with Aristide, and now with the alluring Rosalie Clement. The appeal isn't limited to the main characters-- in fact, our brief visits with the grand Mme Laroque and her cats were nothing short of delicious. I was a bit confused by the character of Phillipe Aubry, the secret fiance of the seemingly-innocent Celie Monterau. Was he a poor victim of lost love, worthy of my sympathy? Or was he actually a more sinister and evil-minded villain, implied as more of his story comes to light? His duplicitous story line didn't really fit for me, but not enough to alter my enjoyment of the tale. I made peace with it by recognizing that there are plenty of "real" people with mean streaks who are still capable of a strong, real affection for someone sweet and innocent (oh, the irony).
Now to decide-- continue on to my next (and final) jaunt with Aristide? or save it for as long as possible so I don't have to say goodbye?
In Patience, Aristide remains tormented by the devils of his past- those both early in his life and the more fresh wounds of recent events surrounding the Revolution. Never short of compelling work to do for the police, Aristide finds himself personally committed to uncovering the villain responsible for the murder of a fresh and innocent young woman mysteriously discovered in the rooms of a stranger of lesser repute.
The story unwinds gracefully with plenty of twists, turns and surprise connections, enough to make the tale utterly intriguing. Admittedly, a few of the plot twists and surprises were a bit on the obvious side, but each of the situations is presented with just the right amount of drama to not be over-the-top.
There is always an incredibly human element to the characters in Alleyn's stories- always the case with Aristide, and now with the alluring Rosalie Clement. The appeal isn't limited to the main characters-- in fact, our brief visits with the grand Mme Laroque and her cats were nothing short of delicious. I was a bit confused by the character of Phillipe Aubry, the secret fiance of the seemingly-innocent Celie Monterau. Was he a poor victim of lost love, worthy of my sympathy? Or was he actually a more sinister and evil-minded villain, implied as more of his story comes to light? His duplicitous story line didn't really fit for me, but not enough to alter my enjoyment of the tale. I made peace with it by recognizing that there are plenty of "real" people with mean streaks who are still capable of a strong, real affection for someone sweet and innocent (oh, the irony).
Now to decide-- continue on to my next (and final) jaunt with Aristide? or save it for as long as possible so I don't have to say goodbye?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2010
Aristide Ravel is a police agent. In his time, 1796, that means that he is an investigator, although some agents are nothing more than police spies. But he is called in on a double homicide. Both victims, a young society girl and an older gentleman are both found shot dead in the man's apartment. The police have a lot of trails to follow, first identifying the dead girl, then trying to decide which was the intended victim and who might have wanted them dead.
At the same time, the whole city is struggling with the aftereffects of the Revolutions. Everything has new names: the days of the week, the months, the streets, the 'citizens' themselves. And the memory of the Terror hangs over everyone, making them reluctant to get involved in a police investigation. Ravel himself is haunted by the execution of a close friends and by the more recent execution of what he believes was an innocent man. This case, he says, must be without any doubts.
I really enjoyed this mystery. I just found it at the library and I'm glad I saw it. I hope the series continues.
At the same time, the whole city is struggling with the aftereffects of the Revolutions. Everything has new names: the days of the week, the months, the streets, the 'citizens' themselves. And the memory of the Terror hangs over everyone, making them reluctant to get involved in a police investigation. Ravel himself is haunted by the execution of a close friends and by the more recent execution of what he believes was an innocent man. This case, he says, must be without any doubts.
I really enjoyed this mystery. I just found it at the library and I'm glad I saw it. I hope the series continues.
April 24, 2012
A young woman of reputable status is found dead in her blackmailer’s apartment in post-Revolutionary France. Tortured by the events in his own past, undercover police agent Aristide Ravel is called upon to investigate these crimes and soon finds himself entangled with a friend of the victim who seems to know more than she lets on. Aristide must learn the truth before the wrong person is sent to the guillotine.
Full of rich historical detail, Game of Patience was a wonderful mystery set in between the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. Not only does Alleyn know her stuff, but she is a masterful storyteller as well. The novel was fast paced with many unpredictable twists and turns and the denouement was very unexpected, far from typical but strangely satisfying.
I have the second in the series, A Treasury of Regrets, waiting for me at home as we speak. I can hardly wait…
Full of rich historical detail, Game of Patience was a wonderful mystery set in between the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. Not only does Alleyn know her stuff, but she is a masterful storyteller as well. The novel was fast paced with many unpredictable twists and turns and the denouement was very unexpected, far from typical but strangely satisfying.
I have the second in the series, A Treasury of Regrets, waiting for me at home as we speak. I can hardly wait…
March 5, 2010
Paris comes alive as the setting for this story, which takes place in France's post-Revolutionary period (mid 1790's). The Revolution and subsequent Terror are only a few years in the past and figure greatly in everyone's thoughts. The plot is intricate and well-designed. I have one criticism in that department. Juliette meets up with the great love of her life, Henri, at the end of the book. Henri is the executioner who must lop off her head. Awkward. Both for them and as a plot device. That particular loose end could have been tied up more gracefully. I think if I read more in the series, I might become fond of Aristide Ravel(fabulous name), who is a very sympathetic, morally-conflicted character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2011
I adored reading this book! When I started, I cringed a bit as it began with a glossary of terms, figuring it might be wrapped in esoteric historical cobwebs. But the historic facts and atmosphere are as artfully crafted as a lush period film (makes me want to revisit Paris and go to places the characters frequented) and add a rich layer to an excellent murder mystery. The mystery itself is intricate and, even if one figures out parts of it (as I did), there are still other details that emerge as surprises. I absolutely fell in love with the brooding, intelligent, damaged but hopeful Aristide Ravel ... and for the sake of staying close to this character will be reading the rest of the series. I consider this a wonderful find and look forward to a summer of Ravel!
Read
August 2, 2012This is the first in Susanne Alleyn's series set in Paris just after the Revolution. (Note: I just learned that this is really the third book in the series. The first book is The Cavalier of the Apocalypse. So much for the accuracy of some websites.) Part of my enjoyment of this book was due to the description of the city and the way of life there during this period. The plot itself is complex, and the main character, Aristide Ravel, struggles with personal emotions and ethical issues as he aids the police in discovering the murderer of a wealthy young woman and her blackmailer. This is a tragic tale in the true sense.
For those who enjoy period mysteries, I recommend you add this to your list.
For those who enjoy period mysteries, I recommend you add this to your list.
June 25, 2013
Aristide Ravel is a police spy in France post-revolution though he prefers to to look on his work as investigation rather than spying. Citizen Ravel is asked to look a pair of shootings by Commissaire Brasseur when the bodies of a young woman and a man are found dead in his apartment.
This was a very interesting look at a time period that I am not all that familiar with. Post-revolutionary France was very strange, with their own calendar, a different way of addressing people (Citizen or Citizeness), and a very suspicious population. I enjoyed learning more about this era and will definitely look for more of this series.
This was a very interesting look at a time period that I am not all that familiar with. Post-revolutionary France was very strange, with their own calendar, a different way of addressing people (Citizen or Citizeness), and a very suspicious population. I enjoyed learning more about this era and will definitely look for more of this series.
March 1, 2012
Good portrayal of Paris in 1796 both for the history buff and for those of us who don't know much about what Paris was really like at that time. Love the integration of Sanson-there is always one of the Sanson's lingering in the wings in Alleyn's books and I do love the strength and character of these men. Alleyn's descriptions of sights, sounds and smells are so vivid that you feel as if you can see, hear and smell them. Reading her books is an experience. I find myself so engrossed that a revolution could be going on around me and I wouldn't know it.
June 10, 2010
This is first in the series and it was fun reading about what life was like during the French Revolution.
April 20, 2012
Set during the French Revolution. A detective novel with many twists and turns. Good insight into life at the time. Good characters and motives.
November 26, 2014
Really like this author! Easy to read and held my interest
August 14, 2020
Set in 1796, after the French Revolution and before the rise of Napoleon, this mystery features police agent Aristide Ravel, who investigates the double murder of Louis Saint-Ange, a blackmailer, and Célie Montereau, a young woman from a wealthy family. At first it seems that Saint-Ange, a thoroughly unpleasant character who was blackmailing many people, was the intended victim and Célie just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But then Aristide realizes the reverse was true. But who would want to kill Célie? Her friend Rosalie points Aristide in the direction of Philippe Aubry, the young man with whom Célie was in love. Aristide finds himself attracted to Rosalie, even though he realizes she knows more about the murder than she lets on, and she seems too eager to see Aubry guillotined for the crime. It is up to Aristide to discover the truth, before an innocent person is guillotined.
Susanne Alleyn has a thorough knowledge of 18th century Paris, and she brings the city to life in her novels. Game of Patience is very suspenseful, and takes many twists and turns. I thought I had figured out who the murderer was, but the plot took a turn I didn't expect. Aristide is a great character. He is a highly intelligent investigator, but he suffers from guilt at the thought that his actions could have sent innocent people to the guillotine. In this novel, I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Aristide and Sanson, the executioner. It turns out they have much in common. Sanson is shunned by society because of what he does, and Aristide is the son of a man who killed his wife and her lover, and he grew up being shunned because of his father's crime.
Game of Patience was the first in the series to be published, but the third chronologically, after Cavalier of the Apocalypse and Palace of Justice. Each of the books can stand alone, though. This series should be much better-known! I highly recommend all of Alleyn's books.
Susanne Alleyn has a thorough knowledge of 18th century Paris, and she brings the city to life in her novels. Game of Patience is very suspenseful, and takes many twists and turns. I thought I had figured out who the murderer was, but the plot took a turn I didn't expect. Aristide is a great character. He is a highly intelligent investigator, but he suffers from guilt at the thought that his actions could have sent innocent people to the guillotine. In this novel, I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Aristide and Sanson, the executioner. It turns out they have much in common. Sanson is shunned by society because of what he does, and Aristide is the son of a man who killed his wife and her lover, and he grew up being shunned because of his father's crime.
Game of Patience was the first in the series to be published, but the third chronologically, after Cavalier of the Apocalypse and Palace of Justice. Each of the books can stand alone, though. This series should be much better-known! I highly recommend all of Alleyn's books.
October 15, 2018
Aristide Ravel is just a man about town, with little to do, he assists the police investigating crimes committed in 1796 Paris. His friend, Commissaire Brasseur, employs Mssr. Ravel to do some of his legwork. There has been a double murder, and they go to investigate. One of the murdered is a fashionable young lady, the other, it turns out, is a blackmailer.
They find out some of the people who are being blackmailed, and interview them since they have an obvious motive. But that is to no avail. They do the normal pecking and poking and eventually come up with a probable assailant. Only it is not him. They do find the criminal.
To me, this story is pretty good, but I was suspecting the criminal about halfway through. It has an odd title that has little relation to the story except that Mssr. Ravel engages in the game a bit.
They find out some of the people who are being blackmailed, and interview them since they have an obvious motive. But that is to no avail. They do the normal pecking and poking and eventually come up with a probable assailant. Only it is not him. They do find the criminal.
To me, this story is pretty good, but I was suspecting the criminal about halfway through. It has an odd title that has little relation to the story except that Mssr. Ravel engages in the game a bit.
April 27, 2022
Game of Patience is actually the first book written in the series, but the author has written two prequels since then. It is a fascinating picture of life after the French Revolution full of rich historical details.
I also found it to be an excellent murder mystery full of twists and turns. It was well-plotted and kept me guessing to the end. The two main characters are both intriguing and play off each other really well!
I loved all the well-researched detail of life in Paris especially amongst the common people! Also, that the details were seamlessly incorporated into the story. The names were a little off-putting in the beginning, but this soon disappeared as I got into the story! A very good story if you can find it!
I also found it to be an excellent murder mystery full of twists and turns. It was well-plotted and kept me guessing to the end. The two main characters are both intriguing and play off each other really well!
I loved all the well-researched detail of life in Paris especially amongst the common people! Also, that the details were seamlessly incorporated into the story. The names were a little off-putting in the beginning, but this soon disappeared as I got into the story! A very good story if you can find it!
February 11, 2019
I was undecided on whether to give this book two or three stars and finally decided on three due to the interesting / unexpected ending which I liked. In general, though, I find all the long French character names to be difficult to follow and I ended up having to enter all the characters' names into a Word file just to keep track of them. Also, it seems to be a depressing time in France which tends to make the story depressing.
January 30, 2018
Pretty good historical fiction, and I was totally surprised by the twist ending with the executioner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2019
A twisted, entertaining mystery in the aftermath of the French Revolution.
September 1, 2007
"Game of Patience" opens in 1796 post revolutionary Paris. A police "investigator" (as he prefers to be called, rather than an informer or a spy) by the name of Aristide Ravel is called upon to assist in solving a double murder case. The two victims, an extortionist named Saint-Ange, and a respectable young woman, Celie Montereau, at first appear to have no connection. As Ravel begins his investigation; searching for clues and interogating witnesses, he unravels a case far more complicated than what he originally suspected.
The synopsis I just gave barely touches upon the plot of the book, but as is the case with many mysteries, its tough to give an accurate overview without giving away the story. To avoid spoiling the entire book for any potential readers, we'll just leave it at that, and focus on my opinions of the work.
It took me a while to warm up to this story. The language is a bit rough for those of us who don't speak a word of French. Not that there is an overwhelming amount of French vocabulary included in the story, but rather its the foreign names and places that are involved in the plot that I got hung up on. It's hard (for me at least) to envision a place that I can't envision pronouncing accurately. Once I got past that however, I got sucked into a who done it murder mystery that had me pretty baffled until the end.
Alleyn is an expert on French history and culture, that much is blatantly obvious from reading this book. She weaves her knowledge in skillfully, and is able to transport her readers to another place and time as they read. One that to many readers, is completely new and alien, yet they will quickly begin to feel at home there, as I did. There are several characters that we become intimately acquainted with throughout the story; a few are quite endearing, while others are basically revolting.
Without giving much away, I do have to say that the ending of this book is one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a while. All loose ends are wrapped up into a tight bow, and all unanswered questions are at last explained. The reasoning and logic included at the end of the story make the entire book worthwhile...its a perfect ending to an all around good read.
The synopsis I just gave barely touches upon the plot of the book, but as is the case with many mysteries, its tough to give an accurate overview without giving away the story. To avoid spoiling the entire book for any potential readers, we'll just leave it at that, and focus on my opinions of the work.
It took me a while to warm up to this story. The language is a bit rough for those of us who don't speak a word of French. Not that there is an overwhelming amount of French vocabulary included in the story, but rather its the foreign names and places that are involved in the plot that I got hung up on. It's hard (for me at least) to envision a place that I can't envision pronouncing accurately. Once I got past that however, I got sucked into a who done it murder mystery that had me pretty baffled until the end.
Alleyn is an expert on French history and culture, that much is blatantly obvious from reading this book. She weaves her knowledge in skillfully, and is able to transport her readers to another place and time as they read. One that to many readers, is completely new and alien, yet they will quickly begin to feel at home there, as I did. There are several characters that we become intimately acquainted with throughout the story; a few are quite endearing, while others are basically revolting.
Without giving much away, I do have to say that the ending of this book is one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a while. All loose ends are wrapped up into a tight bow, and all unanswered questions are at last explained. The reasoning and logic included at the end of the story make the entire book worthwhile...its a perfect ending to an all around good read.
May 4, 2012
A good premise: police procedural in Paris in 1796 just a couple of years after the Terror. The writing is also by and large good, but Alleyn did need an editor to trim quite a bit of the fat. However, the "whodunit" aspect of the story is trivial, although it's not supposed to be. There really aren't enough characters (possible suspects) to make this a complex, twisty story. Alleyn tries, but I kept waiting for what I knew had to happen next, time and time again, and I was not surprised. Totally predictable outcome. I wanted to like this, and since this is the first in the series, the second may be better. I'll have to get through a huge stack of TBR though before I'll feel the need to figure that out.
August 4, 2010
This is the first in a series of historical mysteries set in France just after the French Revolution, this one in 1796. Aristide Ravel, the main character, is a sort of consultant to the police (sometimes called a police spy). In this story he is helping the police with the investigation of a double murder, that of an unsavory character who lives off blackmail and one of his victims. Things are not as they at first seem and there are surprises. It is based very loosely on a real case. I liked it well enough to read another in the series, but there are other series I've liked better.
December 11, 2019
I didn't enjoy the mystery as much as in the previous book, the Palace of Justice, but I still liked the setting and the atmosphere of this novel (except for the cheesy romance!).
Hovewer, the mystery part might not be the forte of this novel. The fact that I deduced most of the truth sooner than the investigator, in this case by a mere 100 pages, all but ruined the reading experience for me.
Still, I am so grateful to the author for setting her series during the French Revolution. For this only, I would continue reading her books.
Hovewer, the mystery part might not be the forte of this novel. The fact that I deduced most of the truth sooner than the investigator, in this case by a mere 100 pages, all but ruined the reading experience for me.
Still, I am so grateful to the author for setting her series during the French Revolution. For this only, I would continue reading her books.
August 19, 2010
Alleyn's Aristide Ravel is an undercover investigator for the police in the scary world of Paris immediately post-Revolution. It's a world turned upside down, but it hasn't turned in his favour. How does an outcast make a living on the edges of a new world order? This is an atmospheric book; yes, a mystery gets solved, but it's at least as important to find out why and how the son of a criminal might socialize with the son of the public executioner.
December 22, 2015
Excellent sense of time and place, and well-written. I've come reluctantly to the conclusion, however, that I don't really get on with historical detective stories, unless I'm heavily invested in the character of the detective (think Peter Wimsey). Anything less than that means disengagement from all the characters - it becomes an academic exercise, and that's how I felt here. I recognise this is a superior example of the genre, but it's not for me.
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