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Charles de la Forêt #1
The Pontcourt Murders: A Charles de la Forêt Mystery
Musketeer cadet Charles de la Forêt has been assigned his first travel to a small French town far outside of Paris and retrieve a prisoner accused of killing an entire family. Arriving in Pontcourt, Charles finds the villagers ready to take justice into their own hands. Mob rule threatens to prevail over the King’s law, and, worse yet, Charles discovers the locals may be seeking vengeance against an innocent man. Compelled to investigate the truth behind the murders, Charles explores the complex and dark side of rural French life in the 17th century. With little more than his wit and rapier to rely on, the musketeer cadet must solve the mystery of the Pontcourt massacre before more innocent life is lost.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2022
21 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 17, 2022
Charles de la Forêt is the third son of a Baron. A couple of months ago, his father sent him to Paris to be a musketeer. Charles has no choice but to obey. However, he enjoyed the camaraderie of the musketeer cadets and has even made a couple of friends.
Dueling is illegal in France but when a group of the Cardinal’s guards interrupt rudely the cadet’s play, Charles has to defend the Musketeers’ honor and fight one of them. They’re both wounded. The next day, Charles is sent to his first mission; not because he’s the most qualified but because the Cardinal might charge him if he remains in Paris.
Charles is sent to a small town, Pontcourt, to bring a murderer and proof of his guilt to Paris for trial. A family was brutally murdered but the people caught the villain. When Charles and his servant Michel arrive in the town, they encounter a mystery. The suspected murderer has been tortured so much that he can’t travel. Still, he insists that he’s innocent. He’s also a tax collector, so the local people want him to be the culprit. Charles starts to investigate even though the people are against it.
Charles lives in the shadow of his two elder brothers who are more successful than him. His father is constantly disappointed in him. So, he’s eager to prove his worth but he also wants justice to be done. He was born and raised in a small town and thinks that Paris is a smelly and dangerous place. He’s short and men often underestimate him. The Musketeers assign him the servant Michel. Michel was born and raised in Paris and thinks it’s the best place in the world. They don’t know each other but must quickly learn to rely on each other because the people just want to see the murderer punish with torture and death.
This was an entertaining read. It has surprisingly many action scenes for a murder investigation. Wray has clearly researched the time and the place; his descriptions are vivid. The mystery has enough twists to keep you guessing. This is a stand-alone story but it can be easily expanded to a series.
Dueling is illegal in France but when a group of the Cardinal’s guards interrupt rudely the cadet’s play, Charles has to defend the Musketeers’ honor and fight one of them. They’re both wounded. The next day, Charles is sent to his first mission; not because he’s the most qualified but because the Cardinal might charge him if he remains in Paris.
Charles is sent to a small town, Pontcourt, to bring a murderer and proof of his guilt to Paris for trial. A family was brutally murdered but the people caught the villain. When Charles and his servant Michel arrive in the town, they encounter a mystery. The suspected murderer has been tortured so much that he can’t travel. Still, he insists that he’s innocent. He’s also a tax collector, so the local people want him to be the culprit. Charles starts to investigate even though the people are against it.
Charles lives in the shadow of his two elder brothers who are more successful than him. His father is constantly disappointed in him. So, he’s eager to prove his worth but he also wants justice to be done. He was born and raised in a small town and thinks that Paris is a smelly and dangerous place. He’s short and men often underestimate him. The Musketeers assign him the servant Michel. Michel was born and raised in Paris and thinks it’s the best place in the world. They don’t know each other but must quickly learn to rely on each other because the people just want to see the murderer punish with torture and death.
This was an entertaining read. It has surprisingly many action scenes for a murder investigation. Wray has clearly researched the time and the place; his descriptions are vivid. The mystery has enough twists to keep you guessing. This is a stand-alone story but it can be easily expanded to a series.
February 13, 2023
Just finished reading this, and WOW!
What a great story, well told! Like any good historical novel, I learned while being entertained. Mr. Wray has a good grasp of French history (or so I assume; if it's wrong, he sold it well) and things like 17th century medicine. The characters, especially Charles, Michel, and Gabrielle come to life, and I am so glad there's more. I'm off to read the next book in this series!
What a great story, well told! Like any good historical novel, I learned while being entertained. Mr. Wray has a good grasp of French history (or so I assume; if it's wrong, he sold it well) and things like 17th century medicine. The characters, especially Charles, Michel, and Gabrielle come to life, and I am so glad there's more. I'm off to read the next book in this series!
December 31, 2023
Historical fiction at its best! Did not disappoint. Based in France in the early 1600’s, a young Musketeer cadet Charles de la Forêt is on his first mission from the big city of Paris to the village of Pontcourt. The imagery throughout the novel is intriguing, the adventure is daring, the historical accuracy is impressive, and the murder mystery is witty and suspenseful. Highly recommend! On to book II!
September 16, 2022
A rocking good read
For anyone who enjoys musketeer stories, make sure to add this to your library. It has all of the elements that make a good story - adventure, intrigue, romance, mystery, murder and humor. Philip Wray has written a strong debut novel and set up the adventures of Charles de la Forest brilliantly. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
For anyone who enjoys musketeer stories, make sure to add this to your library. It has all of the elements that make a good story - adventure, intrigue, romance, mystery, murder and humor. Philip Wray has written a strong debut novel and set up the adventures of Charles de la Forest brilliantly. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
October 28, 2023
The Pontcourt Murders
This is the first of Wray’s books to my understanding and the first I have. I love the setting of 17th century France and the story is wonderfully paced, and a pleasure to read. I eager to get the other 2 (I think there are 2 others in the series so far) and hope for more!
This is the first of Wray’s books to my understanding and the first I have. I love the setting of 17th century France and the story is wonderfully paced, and a pleasure to read. I eager to get the other 2 (I think there are 2 others in the series so far) and hope for more!
December 27, 2025
This was a fantastic story!
I wasn't sure if I'd like this book or not, but it is historical, so I wanted to try.
It turned out to be a fantastic book!
The people and the scenery were very well done, and it was easy to imagine all of it in my mind. The mystery and how it was solved were also well done.
I highly recommend this book. I'm on to book two now!
I wasn't sure if I'd like this book or not, but it is historical, so I wanted to try.
It turned out to be a fantastic book!
The people and the scenery were very well done, and it was easy to imagine all of it in my mind. The mystery and how it was solved were also well done.
I highly recommend this book. I'm on to book two now!
September 11, 2022
A delightful and well-told story
The time and setting while unfamiliar was a compelling stage for familiar themes of the complexity of love and honor: family, friends, romance. Kudos
The time and setting while unfamiliar was a compelling stage for familiar themes of the complexity of love and honor: family, friends, romance. Kudos
November 30, 2022
Suspenseful
A historical mystery with several possible killers. Good descriptions of Paris and a nearby village from the past. I gave it 4 stars because I did not become emotionally involved. I wanted to see how it ended but it did not "grab me".
A historical mystery with several possible killers. Good descriptions of Paris and a nearby village from the past. I gave it 4 stars because I did not become emotionally involved. I wanted to see how it ended but it did not "grab me".
November 14, 2023
Great Musketeer Romp - starting book 2
I had fun riding along with Charles though this story. There were little bits of history or tench culture that I really enjoyed. Great book for the Author’s first and I know it will only get better.
I had fun riding along with Charles though this story. There were little bits of history or tench culture that I really enjoyed. Great book for the Author’s first and I know it will only get better.
November 12, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed The Pontcourt Murders. It is a nice mystery adventure filled w engaging characters. Looking forward to the next installment of the Charles de la Foret mysteries.
January 24, 2023
Fantastic Read
I am a true crime/murder mystery fan and this book did not disappoint. It was great to use my imagination with the setting being so far in the past, as there were no cars, phones, or any other modern tools many writers use to trick readers.
There was so many different angles, yet nothing seemed out of reach and ended on a great note.
Congrats on your first book being fantastic.
I am a true crime/murder mystery fan and this book did not disappoint. It was great to use my imagination with the setting being so far in the past, as there were no cars, phones, or any other modern tools many writers use to trick readers.
There was so many different angles, yet nothing seemed out of reach and ended on a great note.
Congrats on your first book being fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews