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The French Orphan #5
The Duke and the Imposter
It's a beautiful day in the seventeenth century. Pierre, Marquis de Beauvoir, Duke of Hertford and his small family arrive for a picnic on the banks of the River Loire in the grounds of his castle of Montrésor. It is a garden Eden - beautiful and peaceful. But fate strikes and, taken by surprise, the lunch party is ambushed.
Pierre is found later by his faithful valet, barely clinging to life, but his wife and only son have vanished without a trace. Beyond consolation, Pierre is convinced that his family has been annihilated. Luckily his friends François and Armand rush to the castle from Paris to his aid - and to investigate.
The quest leads to the coast of France and then on to the shores of England, a country torn apart by old loyalties to the Stuart king and the rise of the new Puritan gentry.
As the friends come closer and closer to the viper's nest they must find out the truth, and track down the mastermind behind the ambush, who is prepared to stop at nothing until he has taken Pierre's place and styled himself the next Duke of Hertford. A man not known to take prisoners. Soon Pierre and his friends are not only fighting against an enemy who's ruthless and vile, they're racing against time, the biggest enemy of all.
Pierre is found later by his faithful valet, barely clinging to life, but his wife and only son have vanished without a trace. Beyond consolation, Pierre is convinced that his family has been annihilated. Luckily his friends François and Armand rush to the castle from Paris to his aid - and to investigate.
The quest leads to the coast of France and then on to the shores of England, a country torn apart by old loyalties to the Stuart king and the rise of the new Puritan gentry.
As the friends come closer and closer to the viper's nest they must find out the truth, and track down the mastermind behind the ambush, who is prepared to stop at nothing until he has taken Pierre's place and styled himself the next Duke of Hertford. A man not known to take prisoners. Soon Pierre and his friends are not only fighting against an enemy who's ruthless and vile, they're racing against time, the biggest enemy of all.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2019
21 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Michael Stolle
59 books148 followersBorn and educated in Europe, Michael has always been intrigued by the historical setting and the fact that what makes us human was as true in the 17th century as it is now.
He has been reading and writing about history for longer than he cares to recall...
He has been reading and writing about history for longer than he cares to recall...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 10, 2019
I won the kindle e-book edition in a Goodreads Giveaway. While it is the fifth in the series, it worked fine as a standalone novel. It is well written and set in 17th century France and England.
Pierre, Marquis de Beauvoir, Duke of Hertford takes his pregnant wife and young four-year-old son on a picnic. They are ambushed and Pierre is severely wounded and his wife and son are not found. With this as the beginning the story unfolds. It kept my interest throughout, but is was somewhat slow in a few places. I felt this was more of a amateur detective suspense novel than a thriller. It also showed some of the history of the times including discussions of Oliver Cromwell, Louis XIV, tenant conditions, mercenaries, gambling, indebtedness, alcoholism, friendships, and so much more.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with some heart-wrenching moments that gives you a sense of the times. The characters were well-developed whether they were "the good guys" or some of "the bad guys". Does Pierre live? Did his wife and young son survive? Why were they attacked? Read the book to find out.
Pierre, Marquis de Beauvoir, Duke of Hertford takes his pregnant wife and young four-year-old son on a picnic. They are ambushed and Pierre is severely wounded and his wife and son are not found. With this as the beginning the story unfolds. It kept my interest throughout, but is was somewhat slow in a few places. I felt this was more of a amateur detective suspense novel than a thriller. It also showed some of the history of the times including discussions of Oliver Cromwell, Louis XIV, tenant conditions, mercenaries, gambling, indebtedness, alcoholism, friendships, and so much more.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with some heart-wrenching moments that gives you a sense of the times. The characters were well-developed whether they were "the good guys" or some of "the bad guys". Does Pierre live? Did his wife and young son survive? Why were they attacked? Read the book to find out.
July 15, 2019
Save a lord
A man will go to any length to save his family. I enjoyed how detailed the author was with the scenery, you could picture it clearly. The turmoil between France and England shows the how hard it is for the men to find the missing lady and her son.
A man will go to any length to save his family. I enjoyed how detailed the author was with the scenery, you could picture it clearly. The turmoil between France and England shows the how hard it is for the men to find the missing lady and her son.
May 2, 2019
Kept my interest throughout
May 3, 2019
I will first start by saying that this is the first I have read by Michael Stolle, so I did go into this book with eyes wide open and with caution as I always do with new to me authors. I loved the sound of this from the back blurb, it gripped me which is why I decided to be apart of this blog tour. I was fascinated by the description of it, it sounded thrilling and I can very happily say that I was not disappointed.
The Duke and The Imposter is book five in The French Orphans series, as I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series I can say without a doubt that this can be very easily read as a stand a lone, there was hints of previous book plots but nothing that hindered my reading and enjoying of the story. It does make me want to go out and start reading the previous one though as I am fascinated as to the other stories in the series.
The story opens up to our hero; Pierre, Marquis de Beauvoir, Duke of Hertford waking up in his bed severely wounded after being attacked and nearly killed. He and his family were ambushed and he was shot and left for dead while his wife and young son disappeared without a trace. Those moments when Pierre comes to realise what happened is heart breaking, you genuinely feel his pain and his despair that he has lost the two most treasured things in his life. He right there and then decides that he won’t fight to get well he will just starve himself instead. Which is where his two closest friends come in; Armand and Francois ride hell pent from Paris to Montresor to go to their sick friends aid and to find out what the hell happened to Marie and little Pierre.
Once they start to investigate the three friends begin to see that this is far more than just a murder kidnap scheme, there is a dastardly plot in place to put the villain in Pierre’s shoes and take not just the title but to literally be him. Their investigation takes them from France across the channel to England, a country very like their own France which is full of danger as it is torn apart. But will they find the truth of what happened and why? But, most importantly will Pierre find his family?
I have to say, these three guys are great! I love the relationship between Pierre, Armand and Francois, there is a lot of friendly, brotherly fondness, lots of joking they don’t hold back when they are taking the mickey out of each other. But, more than that they are loyal, they have a great bond. I just love how their friendship is written!
Michael Stolle’s writing is fresh, fast and vivid, there is a real depth to this, it pulls you in from that first page, I was completely hooked and then it sets off on a whirlwind adventure through dangerous France and over to England. What I really loved about this is that the character’s really come to life, their relationship with one and other, the way they act and talk is very engaging for the reader. Unlike a lot of books where the point of view is writing through a certain character or through the eyes of the heroine and hero, with this it is written through the eyes of all the lead characters. So you’re not just seeing a scene through one set of eyes but three and I like that, it really gives perspective to each scene and each character’s personality.
The Duke and The Imposter is a fast paced, thrilling, exciting and imaginative story, it has a real fresh feel to it that lures the reader in. You are literally racing along with the three men and they investigative, it is completely immersive and I will guarantee that anyone who loves a good old-fashioned high stakes historical thriller , then you will love this one.
Great from start to finish!
The Duke and The Imposter is book five in The French Orphans series, as I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series I can say without a doubt that this can be very easily read as a stand a lone, there was hints of previous book plots but nothing that hindered my reading and enjoying of the story. It does make me want to go out and start reading the previous one though as I am fascinated as to the other stories in the series.
The story opens up to our hero; Pierre, Marquis de Beauvoir, Duke of Hertford waking up in his bed severely wounded after being attacked and nearly killed. He and his family were ambushed and he was shot and left for dead while his wife and young son disappeared without a trace. Those moments when Pierre comes to realise what happened is heart breaking, you genuinely feel his pain and his despair that he has lost the two most treasured things in his life. He right there and then decides that he won’t fight to get well he will just starve himself instead. Which is where his two closest friends come in; Armand and Francois ride hell pent from Paris to Montresor to go to their sick friends aid and to find out what the hell happened to Marie and little Pierre.
Once they start to investigate the three friends begin to see that this is far more than just a murder kidnap scheme, there is a dastardly plot in place to put the villain in Pierre’s shoes and take not just the title but to literally be him. Their investigation takes them from France across the channel to England, a country very like their own France which is full of danger as it is torn apart. But will they find the truth of what happened and why? But, most importantly will Pierre find his family?
I have to say, these three guys are great! I love the relationship between Pierre, Armand and Francois, there is a lot of friendly, brotherly fondness, lots of joking they don’t hold back when they are taking the mickey out of each other. But, more than that they are loyal, they have a great bond. I just love how their friendship is written!
Michael Stolle’s writing is fresh, fast and vivid, there is a real depth to this, it pulls you in from that first page, I was completely hooked and then it sets off on a whirlwind adventure through dangerous France and over to England. What I really loved about this is that the character’s really come to life, their relationship with one and other, the way they act and talk is very engaging for the reader. Unlike a lot of books where the point of view is writing through a certain character or through the eyes of the heroine and hero, with this it is written through the eyes of all the lead characters. So you’re not just seeing a scene through one set of eyes but three and I like that, it really gives perspective to each scene and each character’s personality.
The Duke and The Imposter is a fast paced, thrilling, exciting and imaginative story, it has a real fresh feel to it that lures the reader in. You are literally racing along with the three men and they investigative, it is completely immersive and I will guarantee that anyone who loves a good old-fashioned high stakes historical thriller , then you will love this one.
Great from start to finish!
August 2, 2019
Disappointing
I am so very disappointed with this latest addition to the French Orphan series. What a total yawn!
This book continues the story of Pierre, the French orphan who has become both a wealthy marquis and a duke and married to lovely Marie. They have a son. The plot surrounds the kidnap if Pierre's little family after an attack that leaves him for dead.
The story goes into the hunt for Pierre's wife and child. Old friends and relatives join in the long drawn out investigation as they search France and England. And when I use the term "long drawn out" I'm not exaggerating ....... I'm being polite in terms. This story is too long and boring, especially in comparison to the initial first three books of the series.
I admit I found myself skimming pages only to find to myself continually bored. Additionally, I found myself mildly irritated by the modern dialogue, usage of phrases unheard of in the 18th century and attempts to include humour.
As much as I enjoyed The French Orphan series initially, I now wonder what happened here! Pierre comes off as a pansie; Armand as an idiot; and the resulting continuation of the series dull, boring and redundant. Enough is enough!
No recommendation on this one, but the previous books of the series are good. Stop while you're ahead, as they say.
I am so very disappointed with this latest addition to the French Orphan series. What a total yawn!
This book continues the story of Pierre, the French orphan who has become both a wealthy marquis and a duke and married to lovely Marie. They have a son. The plot surrounds the kidnap if Pierre's little family after an attack that leaves him for dead.
The story goes into the hunt for Pierre's wife and child. Old friends and relatives join in the long drawn out investigation as they search France and England. And when I use the term "long drawn out" I'm not exaggerating ....... I'm being polite in terms. This story is too long and boring, especially in comparison to the initial first three books of the series.
I admit I found myself skimming pages only to find to myself continually bored. Additionally, I found myself mildly irritated by the modern dialogue, usage of phrases unheard of in the 18th century and attempts to include humour.
As much as I enjoyed The French Orphan series initially, I now wonder what happened here! Pierre comes off as a pansie; Armand as an idiot; and the resulting continuation of the series dull, boring and redundant. Enough is enough!
No recommendation on this one, but the previous books of the series are good. Stop while you're ahead, as they say.
October 21, 2019
Pierre, now a Marquis after his poor upbringing in an orphanage, lives in France with his wife and young son. On a normal outing to have a picnic in the countryside, they are attacked, and his wife and son are abducted. When Pierre is found near death by his friends, he is patched up and they begin the long arduous journey to figure out who has abducted them and why. Their journey takes them all the way to England and Pierre will have to face an old and bitter enemy if he wants to retrieve his family.
The writing was good, it was at a very slow pace and much detail is given into the worldbuilding. As this is the 5th book in the series, I don’t think that the author had to go into such detail, much could have been abbreviated while not detracting form the story. It is still a good book if you wish for something at a slower pace.
The writing was good, it was at a very slow pace and much detail is given into the worldbuilding. As this is the 5th book in the series, I don’t think that the author had to go into such detail, much could have been abbreviated while not detracting form the story. It is still a good book if you wish for something at a slower pace.
May 12, 2019
I won this ebook in a Goodreads Giveaway. It was reminiscent of The three Musketeers in both time and characters. It was also somewhat reminiscent of The Perils of Pauline, as the characters rush from one crisis to the next. I hated that the rescuers always seemed to delay and miss the opportunity to rescue the duchess and her son. Very realistic background to the book with the filth of the the English Civil War so apparent.
January 30, 2020
I was not aware that it was is series, it was a very good stand alone book. I loved the descriptions of the scenery. At times I would lose where the story was going. They were one place and then another without a firm description. It was a good verse evil, covering France and England during a very angry and scary time in England. I do love to read stories of this era in history.
June 13, 2019
I enjoyed the story line and character development. All in all, I was hooked by the plot...to save a wife and child. There were quite a few spelling errors in the e-book version I read and maybe not as intricate a narrative as I would have liked. A good read all in all.
May 3, 2019
This is the 5th book in this series, but my 1st so don't worry about not having read any of the others! It's really easy to get in to and is a great mix of history and mystery, so plenty to keep you engaged and entertained from page one to the last!
Set in 17th Century England and France, you follow the story of Pierre who is in pain and struggling to remember what happened to his family while they were out having a picnic. With no sign of his wife and child he fears the worst, but calls in his friends Francois and Armand to help try and figure out what happened and how to find out if his family are alright.
As Francois and Armand start to question those around, they soon uncover sinister goings on and then have a race against time to track Marie and her son down before it is too late.
I enjoyed the duo of Francois and Armand as they would often bicker and were very funny together but they had great detective skills between them! They used their contacts in London well and it was quite good fun trying to work out who they should trust. I also like the way the story was switched too from Marie's point of view as it showed her being so brave for her son despite not knowing what was really going on. It soon becomes clear why they wanted the young son so badly and why they went to the lengths they did to grab him and a lot is uncovered in clandestine meetings back in London that really get to the bottom of the plot against the family.
Set in the time of Cromwell and King Charles I, England was in turmoil so there's always plenty going on and lots to explore in how people were behaving at that time, and I just enjoyed the quick pace of the story, the engaging characters and a fascinating period of history!
Set in 17th Century England and France, you follow the story of Pierre who is in pain and struggling to remember what happened to his family while they were out having a picnic. With no sign of his wife and child he fears the worst, but calls in his friends Francois and Armand to help try and figure out what happened and how to find out if his family are alright.
As Francois and Armand start to question those around, they soon uncover sinister goings on and then have a race against time to track Marie and her son down before it is too late.
I enjoyed the duo of Francois and Armand as they would often bicker and were very funny together but they had great detective skills between them! They used their contacts in London well and it was quite good fun trying to work out who they should trust. I also like the way the story was switched too from Marie's point of view as it showed her being so brave for her son despite not knowing what was really going on. It soon becomes clear why they wanted the young son so badly and why they went to the lengths they did to grab him and a lot is uncovered in clandestine meetings back in London that really get to the bottom of the plot against the family.
Set in the time of Cromwell and King Charles I, England was in turmoil so there's always plenty going on and lots to explore in how people were behaving at that time, and I just enjoyed the quick pace of the story, the engaging characters and a fascinating period of history!
September 22, 2021
Great book
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews