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Aristide Ravel - author's suggested reading order #4
A Treasury of Regrets
For police agent and investigator Aristide Ravel, the teeming streets and alleyways of Paris are a constant source of activity. And in the unruly climate of 1797, when gold and food are scarce, citizens will stop at very little to get what they need.
When Jeannette Moineau, an illiterate servant girl, is accused of poisoning the master of the house where she works, Ravel cannot believe she is guilty of the crime. With stubborn witnesses, a mysterious white powder, and stolen goods all stacked against her, however, he knows it will not be easy to clear her of the charges. But Ravel finds an unexpected ally in Laurence, a young widow of the house, whose past surprisingly intersects with his own.
In a large household brimming with bickering and resentment, everyone seems to have a motive for poisoning old Martin Dupont. But as more family members turn up dead, the list of suspects rapidly dwindles. Tensions rise and Ravel and Laurence must probe the secrets of the city's crafty politicians and confidence artists for clues to clear Jeannette's name. Finding information, though, in dissolute postrevolutionary Paris can lead to costly and dangerous demands.
From the author of Game of Patience comes a new historical mystery, bringing alive the sights and sounds of eighteenth-century Paris---brimming with atmospheric details, scandal, and murder.
Praise for Game of Patience
"Alleyn knows her French Revolution, creates a complex brainteaser of a mystery, and excels in making her characters believable. In short, this book has everything."
---Library Journal
"The Paris of 1796 comes alive in Alleyn's fast-paced novel. Readers will be surprised by the ending, with its twisted scenario."
---Historical Novels Review
"Grounded by a complex, haunted hero...the suspense in this layered mystery builds slowly but reaches a breakneck speed."
---Booklist
"Full of authentic historical detail, ranging from the rise of General Bonaparte to the antics of flamboyant incroyables, the story builds to an emotionally charged climax."
---Publishers Weekly
Praise for A Far Better Rest
"Engrossing right from the start...Ms. Alleyn brings the period to life.... The reader sees, hears, and smells the past and is, in effect, transported back in time. This novel appreals to the heart and soul."
---Historical Novels Review
"Alleyn's command of French culture and historical detail brings the story to life.... We can literally inhale the atmosphere of revolutionary Paris."
---Katherine Neville, author of The Eight and The Magic Circle
When Jeannette Moineau, an illiterate servant girl, is accused of poisoning the master of the house where she works, Ravel cannot believe she is guilty of the crime. With stubborn witnesses, a mysterious white powder, and stolen goods all stacked against her, however, he knows it will not be easy to clear her of the charges. But Ravel finds an unexpected ally in Laurence, a young widow of the house, whose past surprisingly intersects with his own.
In a large household brimming with bickering and resentment, everyone seems to have a motive for poisoning old Martin Dupont. But as more family members turn up dead, the list of suspects rapidly dwindles. Tensions rise and Ravel and Laurence must probe the secrets of the city's crafty politicians and confidence artists for clues to clear Jeannette's name. Finding information, though, in dissolute postrevolutionary Paris can lead to costly and dangerous demands.
From the author of Game of Patience comes a new historical mystery, bringing alive the sights and sounds of eighteenth-century Paris---brimming with atmospheric details, scandal, and murder.
Praise for Game of Patience
"Alleyn knows her French Revolution, creates a complex brainteaser of a mystery, and excels in making her characters believable. In short, this book has everything."
---Library Journal
"The Paris of 1796 comes alive in Alleyn's fast-paced novel. Readers will be surprised by the ending, with its twisted scenario."
---Historical Novels Review
"Grounded by a complex, haunted hero...the suspense in this layered mystery builds slowly but reaches a breakneck speed."
---Booklist
"Full of authentic historical detail, ranging from the rise of General Bonaparte to the antics of flamboyant incroyables, the story builds to an emotionally charged climax."
---Publishers Weekly
Praise for A Far Better Rest
"Engrossing right from the start...Ms. Alleyn brings the period to life.... The reader sees, hears, and smells the past and is, in effect, transported back in time. This novel appreals to the heart and soul."
---Historical Novels Review
"Alleyn's command of French culture and historical detail brings the story to life.... We can literally inhale the atmosphere of revolutionary Paris."
---Katherine Neville, author of The Eight and The Magic Circle
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 17, 2007
10 people are currently reading
143 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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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 3, 2014
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: For police agent and investigator Aristide Ravel, the teeming streets and alleyways of Paris are a constant source of activity. And in the unruly climate of 1797, when gold and food are scarce, citizens will stop at very little to get what they need.
When Jeannette Moineau, an illiterate servant girl, is accused of poisoning the master of the house where she works, Ravel cannot believe she is guilty of the crime. With stubborn witnesses, a mysterious white powder, and stolen goods all stacked against her, however, he knows it will not be easy to clear her of the charges. But Ravel finds an unexpected ally in Laurence, a young widow of the house, whose past surprisingly intersects with his own.
In a large household brimming with bickering and resentment, everyone seems to have a motive for poisoning old Martin Dupont. But as more family members turn up dead, the list of suspects rapidly dwindles. Tensions rise and Ravel and Laurence must probe the secrets of the city's crafty politicians and confidence artists for clues to clear Jeannette's name. Finding information, though, in dissolute post-revolutionary Paris can lead to costly and dangerous demands.
From the author of Game of Patience comes a new historical mystery, bringing alive the sights and sounds of eighteenth-century Paris---brimming with atmospheric details, scandal, and murder.
My Review: The second published, and fourth in reading order, Aristide Ravel mystery, set in Revolutionary Paris, leads us deeper into the twisty byways of our sleuth's character and, at the same time, deeper into the vanished Paris that was so influential in the creation of the modern world.
I like series mysteries for reasons I've discussed elsewhere...orderly things, mysteries, and the recurring characters make the world feel a little less random than it actually is...but they come with some hazards. Writers under the pressure of deadlines sometimes make us feel as though they're phoning it in, characterization can dwindle to a series of overused tics (like Miss Silver's cough in all those Patricia Wentworth mysteries) or a catchphrase so overused as to make one want to scream blue murder (Hercule Poirot's "little gray cells" oh clam up already).
Alleyn avoids these pitfalls by enriching our understanding of Revolutionary France and its creators as well as our sleuth. This is a spolier, so stop reading if you're spoiler-averse:
**SPOILER**
Aristide, from the last book, is still mourning his childhood chum Mathieu's death at the hands of the National Convention, which judicially murdered a lot of people belonging to an out-of-power political faction. Aristide dreams of this beloved friend's death at the beginning of this book, and we see him relive the horrible ride to the guillotine that Mathieu took, though I'd think that the presence of a friend there, at that moment, would be a comfort to Mathieu...but the kicker is, as we find out in the course of this murder investigation, that Mathieu was actually In Love with Aristide, who until now was blissfully ignorant of this important fact of his friend's life.
**END SPOILER**
So what does Alleyn do with the major revelation that she gives to not one, but two, of the major characters in this book? Does she grandstand a little and make it a huge stonking Brie wheel of a deal? No. She incorporates the revelations into the actual plot, the real mystery to be solved. It's a very nice touch. It's a reason to keep reading in the series, since this isn't the first time she's done this. It's a marker of a careful, considerate writer, one respectful of her readers, and that kind of writer deserves our dollars.
So, in the end, does this book satisfy? Yes. Are there problems? Yeah...none big...a few scanted red herrings, a little bit of background not quite colored in, that's about all. But history, the living breathing thing history, can never fail to satisfy the discerning reader. Be one of Susanne Alleyn's discerning readers, you won't regret it.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Publisher Says: For police agent and investigator Aristide Ravel, the teeming streets and alleyways of Paris are a constant source of activity. And in the unruly climate of 1797, when gold and food are scarce, citizens will stop at very little to get what they need.
When Jeannette Moineau, an illiterate servant girl, is accused of poisoning the master of the house where she works, Ravel cannot believe she is guilty of the crime. With stubborn witnesses, a mysterious white powder, and stolen goods all stacked against her, however, he knows it will not be easy to clear her of the charges. But Ravel finds an unexpected ally in Laurence, a young widow of the house, whose past surprisingly intersects with his own.
In a large household brimming with bickering and resentment, everyone seems to have a motive for poisoning old Martin Dupont. But as more family members turn up dead, the list of suspects rapidly dwindles. Tensions rise and Ravel and Laurence must probe the secrets of the city's crafty politicians and confidence artists for clues to clear Jeannette's name. Finding information, though, in dissolute post-revolutionary Paris can lead to costly and dangerous demands.
From the author of Game of Patience comes a new historical mystery, bringing alive the sights and sounds of eighteenth-century Paris---brimming with atmospheric details, scandal, and murder.
My Review: The second published, and fourth in reading order, Aristide Ravel mystery, set in Revolutionary Paris, leads us deeper into the twisty byways of our sleuth's character and, at the same time, deeper into the vanished Paris that was so influential in the creation of the modern world.
I like series mysteries for reasons I've discussed elsewhere...orderly things, mysteries, and the recurring characters make the world feel a little less random than it actually is...but they come with some hazards. Writers under the pressure of deadlines sometimes make us feel as though they're phoning it in, characterization can dwindle to a series of overused tics (like Miss Silver's cough in all those Patricia Wentworth mysteries) or a catchphrase so overused as to make one want to scream blue murder (Hercule Poirot's "little gray cells" oh clam up already).
Alleyn avoids these pitfalls by enriching our understanding of Revolutionary France and its creators as well as our sleuth. This is a spolier, so stop reading if you're spoiler-averse:
**SPOILER**
Aristide, from the last book, is still mourning his childhood chum Mathieu's death at the hands of the National Convention, which judicially murdered a lot of people belonging to an out-of-power political faction. Aristide dreams of this beloved friend's death at the beginning of this book, and we see him relive the horrible ride to the guillotine that Mathieu took, though I'd think that the presence of a friend there, at that moment, would be a comfort to Mathieu...but the kicker is, as we find out in the course of this murder investigation, that Mathieu was actually In Love with Aristide, who until now was blissfully ignorant of this important fact of his friend's life.
**END SPOILER**
So what does Alleyn do with the major revelation that she gives to not one, but two, of the major characters in this book? Does she grandstand a little and make it a huge stonking Brie wheel of a deal? No. She incorporates the revelations into the actual plot, the real mystery to be solved. It's a very nice touch. It's a reason to keep reading in the series, since this isn't the first time she's done this. It's a marker of a careful, considerate writer, one respectful of her readers, and that kind of writer deserves our dollars.
So, in the end, does this book satisfy? Yes. Are there problems? Yeah...none big...a few scanted red herrings, a little bit of background not quite colored in, that's about all. But history, the living breathing thing history, can never fail to satisfy the discerning reader. Be one of Susanne Alleyn's discerning readers, you won't regret it.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
June 4, 2019
An innocent maid in post revolution France, is arrested for poisoning her employer. Aristide Ravel, (similar to a French Sherlock Holmes), helps his friend, the police inspector, find the actual murderer. I enjoyed reading about the places and streets of old Paris, but the mystery itself wasn't a page turner.
May 1, 2012
Loved this book even more than the first in the series. The setting comes alive (Post Revolutionary France, pre-Napoleon), the characters are well developed and there's nothing like a semi "locked room" mystery to add to the fun. I really do historical mysteries. Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
August 9, 2009
Good historical mystery/detective series. A bit melancholy due to time and setting - France just after Revolution. Great sense of time and place.
September 25, 2020
A Treasury of Regrets is a wonderful mystery set in Paris in 1797, in the aftermath of the French Revolution and before Napoleon's rise to power. Police investigator Aristide Ravel and his boss, Commissaire Brasseur, investigate a poisoning in a well-to-do family. The head of the family, the elderly miser Martin Dupont, is fatally poisoned, and the next day all the members of his family fall ill and suspect they were given a non-lethal dose of the poison that killed their father. A young maidservant is arrested for the murder after a white powder, which could be arsenic, and some family valuables are found in her bedroom and on her person. But Laurence, the murdered man's widowed daughter-in-law, believes the maidservant is innocent and asks Aristide and Brasseur to find the killer, who is very likely one of Martin Dupont's own family, all of whom had motives to kill him.
In the course of the investigation, Aristide finds himself drawn to the attractive Laurence, in spite of having fallen in love with the wrong woman before, in a previous volume in the series. He learns that Laurence's late husband and Aristide's childhood friend Mathieu, who was guillotined in 1793, were good friends. But, as it turns out, there was more to that relationship than either Aristide or Laurence ever knew. Could Laurence's husband, who himself was guillotined with Robespierre's followers, have been the one who betrayed Mathieu? The Terror may be over by 1797, but the shadow of the guillotine still looms large over the people who lost loved ones.
Alleyn is an expert on the French Revolution, and her knowledge shines through in her novels, without ever seeming like she's lecturing the reader. We learn many details of life during that time, including the French Revolutionary calendar, which people are still getting used to, and the assignats, paper money issued by the government, which quickly lost value and caused rampant inflation. One of the suspects, the victim's son, is an actor, and we learn about the theater during the French Revolution as well.
The mystery itself is cleverly plotted, and reminds me of Agatha Christie, with the members of the victim's household all suspected of poisoning him, and then being killed off one by one. Alleyn provides many twists and turns along the way, including one final twist I never saw coming. Aristide is a compelling and likeable character, who seems to have terrible luck with women. This is the second volume to be published in the series, but the fourth and, so far, the last in chronological order. The series deserves to be much better known. I hope Alleyn will continue it. I had heard that she was going to self-publish more volumes, but that was a long time ago, and I haven't heard any more about it since then.
In the course of the investigation, Aristide finds himself drawn to the attractive Laurence, in spite of having fallen in love with the wrong woman before, in a previous volume in the series. He learns that Laurence's late husband and Aristide's childhood friend Mathieu, who was guillotined in 1793, were good friends. But, as it turns out, there was more to that relationship than either Aristide or Laurence ever knew. Could Laurence's husband, who himself was guillotined with Robespierre's followers, have been the one who betrayed Mathieu? The Terror may be over by 1797, but the shadow of the guillotine still looms large over the people who lost loved ones.
Alleyn is an expert on the French Revolution, and her knowledge shines through in her novels, without ever seeming like she's lecturing the reader. We learn many details of life during that time, including the French Revolutionary calendar, which people are still getting used to, and the assignats, paper money issued by the government, which quickly lost value and caused rampant inflation. One of the suspects, the victim's son, is an actor, and we learn about the theater during the French Revolution as well.
The mystery itself is cleverly plotted, and reminds me of Agatha Christie, with the members of the victim's household all suspected of poisoning him, and then being killed off one by one. Alleyn provides many twists and turns along the way, including one final twist I never saw coming. Aristide is a compelling and likeable character, who seems to have terrible luck with women. This is the second volume to be published in the series, but the fourth and, so far, the last in chronological order. The series deserves to be much better known. I hope Alleyn will continue it. I had heard that she was going to self-publish more volumes, but that was a long time ago, and I haven't heard any more about it since then.
March 24, 2018
This would actually rate 3.5 stars if allowable. The writing is strong and pacey. The solution to the murders is plausible. However, the ending left open to speculation was not very satisfying. The background of the recent post-Revolutionary France seems quite authentic without intruding on the plot. It was a worthwhile read, but not one I feel I will want to read over again or even read any others in the series.
The pater familias, Martin duPont is dead of apparent arsenic poisoning, while the other members of his large (and, at first, very confusing) family have also suffered from a more minor form of poisoning. Their recently hired maid is accused of murdering her master and is thrown in jail. The police attempt to unravel the truth, but while investigating, two more murders take place. Finally, there is to be a reckoning when a fourth family member is killed! Not all the murders or criminal activities were perpetuated by the same person, however, so several threads have to weave together to make the picture clear.
The pater familias, Martin duPont is dead of apparent arsenic poisoning, while the other members of his large (and, at first, very confusing) family have also suffered from a more minor form of poisoning. Their recently hired maid is accused of murdering her master and is thrown in jail. The police attempt to unravel the truth, but while investigating, two more murders take place. Finally, there is to be a reckoning when a fourth family member is killed! Not all the murders or criminal activities were perpetuated by the same person, however, so several threads have to weave together to make the picture clear.
March 5, 2019
By far my least favorite of the four Aristide Revel books. For the first two thirds of the book I just didn't care who did it and it wasn't until I was within about 75 pages of the end that I started to get interested. I was ready to give it one star, but raised that to two stars based on the last part of the story, but it's a weak two star rating.
November 10, 2017
Ravel investigates a poisoning in post-revolutionary Paris that brings back memories of his friends and the guillotine. An entertaining, fast-paced read.
May 12, 2010
First Sentence: Since the twenty-fourth of Frimaire, Aristide Ravel had dreamed at least a dozen times of the guillotine.
It begins with the poisoning death of Martin Dupont, the controlling head of a large household. A servant girl, Jeannette Moineau, is arrested. A member of the house, Laurence, asks the police for help as she does not believe the girl is guilty. Police investigator Aristide Ravel agrees to work with her, also discovering there is another link between them from the past. As others die, Ravel continues to search for motive believing if he finds the motive, he’ll find the killer.
Ms. Alleyn does know how to bring Paris post-Revolution alive. Best of all, we come to know the period from the characters; their memories, the awkwardness in speech tying to confirm to the new forms of address, the new calendar and the challenges living day-to-day. It is enough past the Revolution that there is not the high level of fear, but recent enough that you sense people’s uncertainty.
Aristide is a complex and interesting character yet, although his back story was provided, he never really came to life. In spite of the personal connection between him and Laurence, I sensed a chemistry or emotional connection. Even at the end, rather than being left with a sense of curiosity, I found I didn’t particularly need to know what happens. For the other characters, perhaps because there were so many of them, none of them were well developed.
The story had a very powerful opening. There was fascinating information provided on the different figures involved in the Revolution, and the impact on the monetary structure. The plot, however, was very slow until about half-way through. As we progressed, I felt there was a rather too convenient twist and huge leaps in logic made to bring us to the proper conclusions.
In spite of the positive elements, and there were some, I did not find this book as engrossing as the previous books in the series. Had this been the first book I’d read of this series, I might not read another. Fortunately, I have read the other two books and loved them. I have great hopes that the next book will restore my faith in this author.
A TREASURY OF REGRETS (Hist Mys- Aristide Ravel-France-1797) – Okay
Alleyn, Susanne – 3rd in series (2nd published)
Thomas Dunne Books, ©2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780312343712
It begins with the poisoning death of Martin Dupont, the controlling head of a large household. A servant girl, Jeannette Moineau, is arrested. A member of the house, Laurence, asks the police for help as she does not believe the girl is guilty. Police investigator Aristide Ravel agrees to work with her, also discovering there is another link between them from the past. As others die, Ravel continues to search for motive believing if he finds the motive, he’ll find the killer.
Ms. Alleyn does know how to bring Paris post-Revolution alive. Best of all, we come to know the period from the characters; their memories, the awkwardness in speech tying to confirm to the new forms of address, the new calendar and the challenges living day-to-day. It is enough past the Revolution that there is not the high level of fear, but recent enough that you sense people’s uncertainty.
Aristide is a complex and interesting character yet, although his back story was provided, he never really came to life. In spite of the personal connection between him and Laurence, I sensed a chemistry or emotional connection. Even at the end, rather than being left with a sense of curiosity, I found I didn’t particularly need to know what happens. For the other characters, perhaps because there were so many of them, none of them were well developed.
The story had a very powerful opening. There was fascinating information provided on the different figures involved in the Revolution, and the impact on the monetary structure. The plot, however, was very slow until about half-way through. As we progressed, I felt there was a rather too convenient twist and huge leaps in logic made to bring us to the proper conclusions.
In spite of the positive elements, and there were some, I did not find this book as engrossing as the previous books in the series. Had this been the first book I’d read of this series, I might not read another. Fortunately, I have read the other two books and loved them. I have great hopes that the next book will restore my faith in this author.
A TREASURY OF REGRETS (Hist Mys- Aristide Ravel-France-1797) – Okay
Alleyn, Susanne – 3rd in series (2nd published)
Thomas Dunne Books, ©2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780312343712
May 25, 2008
A Treasury of Regrets
By Susanne Alleyn
Reviewed by Terry, Quality Book Reviews
A Treasury of Regrets begins with the death of the head of a seemingly well-off family, and the accusation and arrest of a simple servant girl who is accused not only of the murder but of attempting to poison the whole family despite the complete lack of motive.
Alleyn weaves a twisty, fascinating narrative filled with lots of secrets, more deaths in the family, and great scenes as Aristide searches for the truth. A Treasury of Regrets is a fascinating historical mystery set in France just after the Revolution. You as the reader will see how the people adapt to the changes that came about. Aristide is an interesting character who cares that justice is served as he goes out of his way to prove the servant is innocent even when the legal system tries to stop him. Susanne Alleyn provides a great tale that brings to life late eighteenth century France during a troubling fledgling attempt to legalize a fair justice system.
Alleyn writes the story with a strong and steady pace, voice, dialogue, and a narrative which is beautifully written which brings enjoyment to this fascinating read. She has developed a procedural with interesting plot twists which will amaze you and keep you guessing in this fascinating look into post-revolutionary Paris.
By Susanne Alleyn
Reviewed by Terry, Quality Book Reviews
A Treasury of Regrets begins with the death of the head of a seemingly well-off family, and the accusation and arrest of a simple servant girl who is accused not only of the murder but of attempting to poison the whole family despite the complete lack of motive.
Alleyn weaves a twisty, fascinating narrative filled with lots of secrets, more deaths in the family, and great scenes as Aristide searches for the truth. A Treasury of Regrets is a fascinating historical mystery set in France just after the Revolution. You as the reader will see how the people adapt to the changes that came about. Aristide is an interesting character who cares that justice is served as he goes out of his way to prove the servant is innocent even when the legal system tries to stop him. Susanne Alleyn provides a great tale that brings to life late eighteenth century France during a troubling fledgling attempt to legalize a fair justice system.
Alleyn writes the story with a strong and steady pace, voice, dialogue, and a narrative which is beautifully written which brings enjoyment to this fascinating read. She has developed a procedural with interesting plot twists which will amaze you and keep you guessing in this fascinating look into post-revolutionary Paris.
May 13, 2011
If you liked GAME OF PATIENCE, this is a must. (It's actually the official second book in the series -- not sure why it says #4 above...hmm.) I'd give TREASURY 4.5 stars, only taking off the half-star for the fact the beginning drags a tad, with the murder investigation caught at the scene of the crime for something like 13 chapters before we ever are let out into the streets of 18th century Paris, the marvelously described backdrop of this mystery series. Regardless, this book has much of the same charm and eloquence of its predecessor. As I said in my review of GAME (which I'd give 10 stars if I could), Alleyn is a master not only of immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the era (post-revolution France) and of rich character development, but also of a creating multifaceted murder mystery. I'm on to the next book in the series!
December 11, 2019
Of the four Aristide Ravel books, I liked this the least, even though this time I did not guess the ending (I would have liked a different one, more Orient Express style!). There are several reasons why this book didn't work for me, the main being that the mystery wasn't interesting enough. Also, how many damsels in distress can Aristide fall for? This plot line is getting a bit boring. So is the Matthieu arc. While a good character in Palace of Justice, here his addition was a little unnecessary. Although, if I understand correctly, this book was the second written, so had I read the novels in the order of writing, I might not have found this storyline so convoluted.
Still, despite the three stars, I love this series. I wish there were more to come!
Still, despite the three stars, I love this series. I wish there were more to come!
July 13, 2016
I don't know why I rate this series so harshly, given that I clearly enjoy each enough to read the next one. But they all mostly feel like slightly underexecuted potential, with an air of historic pomposity, so I can't bring myself to rate them much higher. Assume a generous half star being rounded down.
Alleyn doesn't stint with the corpses- there are murders to spare in A Treasury of Regrets, but it's mostly the usual fare. Ravel continues to be a somewhat flat protagonist, but the mysteries are solid enough, though this one was predictable a little too early. My highest praise for the series is that the setting informs and is necessary to the plot, and isn't just set dressing and gimmicks the way so many historical mysteries play it.
Alleyn doesn't stint with the corpses- there are murders to spare in A Treasury of Regrets, but it's mostly the usual fare. Ravel continues to be a somewhat flat protagonist, but the mysteries are solid enough, though this one was predictable a little too early. My highest praise for the series is that the setting informs and is necessary to the plot, and isn't just set dressing and gimmicks the way so many historical mysteries play it.
January 29, 2010
I’m becoming quite a fan of Alleyn’s stories, set in the immediate aftermath of the French Revolution. I’m enjoying her hero Aristide and the twists and turns of his life, and the evocation of time and place are really splendid. I just loved the family at the centre of this tale, and I also like the new ongoing character introduced. I was a little surprised at the force of Aristide’s verbal outbursts at the widow character in a couple of places, they just seemed too intense and personal for the footing they seemed to be on at that point, but I was willing to read that as part of the “otherness” of the setting.
April 4, 2014
Gee, I thought my family was dysfunctional!
Alleyn specializes in stories mildly based on true stories from the period around the French Revolution. Her knowledge of the history and social structures of the time is encyclopedic.
The family at the centre of this mystery is a maze of broken relationships and long-held grudges. The extended family living under one roof is complex and varies from a precocious 12 year old girl to an 84 year old miserly patriarch. There is excellent characterization despite this being a fairly short book.
I enjoyed this book even though I pegged the evil character half way through.
Alleyn specializes in stories mildly based on true stories from the period around the French Revolution. Her knowledge of the history and social structures of the time is encyclopedic.
The family at the centre of this mystery is a maze of broken relationships and long-held grudges. The extended family living under one roof is complex and varies from a precocious 12 year old girl to an 84 year old miserly patriarch. There is excellent characterization despite this being a fairly short book.
I enjoyed this book even though I pegged the evil character half way through.
July 10, 2009
Susanne Alleyn's second historical mystery featuring Aristide Ravel.
Alleyn returns with a splendid encore to Game of Patience, the
first. I love this series and rank Alleyn among the very top authors
in this subgenre of historical mysteries. The series is set around
the French revolution (shortly after ours, for those who don't remember)
and are true mysteries, but full of fascinating information about
that era. You can find my full review on Amazon.
Alleyn returns with a splendid encore to Game of Patience, the
first. I love this series and rank Alleyn among the very top authors
in this subgenre of historical mysteries. The series is set around
the French revolution (shortly after ours, for those who don't remember)
and are true mysteries, but full of fascinating information about
that era. You can find my full review on Amazon.
May 7, 2024
1797, and servant girl Jeannette Moineau has been accused of poisoning her master -Martin Dupont. Dupont daughter in Law, Laurence, believes her innocent and wants Ravel and Brasseur to investigate. But is this the end to the killings, and what secrets does Ravel reveal about mutual friends of his and Laurence,
A very enjoyable tale, and I really like the characters and hope there is another in the series.
A very enjoyable tale, and I really like the characters and hope there is another in the series.
October 6, 2007
I usually do not read books set during the French Revolution or Directory years, since I hate to watch good characters walk into a meat grinder. This one is set in 1797, when life had settled down a bit. Alleyn gives a vivid description of police practices of the time and of family life and problems. It was worth the read.
November 19, 2008
Everyday life in the period right after the French Revolution. Months and days have different names. Streets and places are all renamed. and more amazing facts about post-revolutionary Paris. The murder mystery is pleasingly complex and turns on the value of the new paper money. Also read Game of Patience by same author, same series. Also very entertaining.
October 21, 2011
So nice to meet you, Aristide Ravel (great character name, too), even under these circumstances—the investigation of a poisoning at a respectable home in the aftermath of the French Revolution with oh so many suspects. I felt like I was in 1790s Paris.
I so enjoyed A Treasury of Regrets and plan on reading all of Susanne Alleyn's historical mysteries.
I so enjoyed A Treasury of Regrets and plan on reading all of Susanne Alleyn's historical mysteries.
November 6, 2011
I couldn't put this one down. Lots of really interesting historical features about the post French revolution, a compelling mystery and a really likable character. I'm looking forward to reading some more from this author.
February 2, 2008
Wow, very good. Written about a very interesting period of history.
June 24, 2010
Susanne Alleyn's Aristide Ravel series is very nearly perfect. If it weren't for the slow start, I'd have given this one 5 stars.
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September 30, 2010The Kindle edition, finally! Only $2.99.
I like this book, myself, but I'm biased... :-D
I like this book, myself, but I'm biased... :-D
April 7, 2011
The story took place in the later part of the 1700's in France. The story was okay but tended to be slow reading.
July 25, 2011
Once in a while I like to read mysteries set in the 1400-1700's so I decided to try reading this book. I didn't like. It was so depressing......I didn't finish it.
January 21, 2012
and 1/2
May 4, 2016
Very engrossing. Suspenseful and rich with historical detail.
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