Paris and Versailles in 1787 serve as the opulent backdrop for O'Brien's outstanding third historical (after Mute Witness
and Black Gold
). Anne Cartier, teacher of the deaf and wife of Col. Paul de Saint-Martin of the Royal Highway Patrol, comes to the defense of Denise de Villers, a housemaid and former pupil at the Institute for the Deaf where Anne works, when Denise is accused of murdering the duchesse de Saumur, a close friend of Marie Antoinette's. Paul's well-connected aunt journeys with Anne and Paul to the royal palace at Versailles, where they soon become involved in a tangled web of treachery, conspiracy and intrigue. As Paul says, "Pursuing the truth can cause a mess. Old wounds open up, incriminating lies are exposed." In their effort to prove the deaf maid's innocence, they uncover corruption and deception that touch everyone from servants and courtiers to church leaders and the queen herself. Credible and memorable characters, an exciting time in French history and a puzzle that will challenge even the most astute mystery aficionado add up to first-class entertainment. A cast list, maps of the major locations and an author's note on the historical background round out a book sure to have wide appeal. Agent, Evan Marshall. (Nov.)
