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    The Black Tower: A Novel
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    The Black Tower: A Novel
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    The Black Tower: A Novel
    Ebook468 pages6 hours

    The Black Tower: A Novel

    By Louis Bayard

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Vidocq! Master of disguise and chief of a newly created plainclothes police force, Vidocq is a man whose name sends terror rippling through the Parisian underworld of 1818—and the inconsequential life of Hector Carpentier is violently shaken when Vidocq storms into it. A former medical student living in his mother's Latin Quarter boardinghouse, Hector finds himself dragged into a dangerous mystery surrounding the fate of the dauphin, the ten-year-old son of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette presumed to have suffered a cruel death years earlier in Paris's dreaded Temple. But the truth of what happened may be even more shocking—and it will fall to an aimless young man and the most feared detective in Paris to see justice done for a frightened little boy in a black tower . . . no matter what the cost.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9780061982682
    Unavailable
    The Black Tower: A Novel
    Author

    Louis Bayard

    A writer, book reviewer, and the author of Mr. Timothy and The Pale Blue Eye, Louis Bayard has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, and Salon.com, among other media outlets. He lives in Washington, D.C.

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    Reviews for The Black Tower

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      This was a fun mystery in the league of The Man in the Iron Mask and the myth of Anastasia where a man found battered and near death in a prison. Could this possibly be Charles, the son of King Louis and Marie Antoinette? Dr. Hector Carpentier (whose father was the doctor of Charles before the Revolution) and Eugene Vidocq (a real person), a policeman who was ahead of his time in criminalistics.Vidocq was a fascinating person who loved altering his appearance and was maybe the first person to realize that fingerprints could be used to solve a crime. I loved the period this story took place and the mystery surrounding Charles. That it was narrated by the incomparable Simon Vance made it even more enjoyable. He always sounds like he's telling a story, not reading from a book
    • 4/5
      I absolutely loved this book.I got an Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher through library thing's program. I am so glad to have gotten the chance to read this novel before the rest of the public.The author managed to make me care about the characters within the first few pages. Even though I'm not an expert on the time period, I never felt lost, or that there was excessive exposition. This book kept me riveted until the very end.
    • 4/5
      A very interesting alternate history of the lost dauphin. Bayard's writing is always conspiratorial with his reader, and this one is no exception. If you have my habit of occasionally reading the dialogue aloud, there is a section that should reduce you to tears. Bayard really does manage to immerse his readers in the time period of his books; terrific.
    • 4/5
      Historicals are among my favorite types of novel. Not so much the sort where Goody Smith saves Plymouth colony from evil minions of some corrupt government and oh, look! Isn't that Miles Standish over there under the spreading chestnut tree? But rather, the sort where true history and fiction are joined so seamlessly that you actually find yourself thinking that the author's creations were historical figures. Since I'm a huge fan of the late Dorothy Dunnett, my bar is set pretty high, which is part of the reason why I only awarded four stars to Bayard for "The Black Tower." Another part? His prose, though good, isn't the sort that keeps you turning pages obsessively.That's not a bad thing. He's a good, solid novelist, and he has created a believable story about the possibility that the son of Marie Antoinette and Louis the Sixteenth actually survived the French revolution and the years of terror that came after. It's a potent tale; stories about lost princes or princesses stir the imagination. The real-life story of Anna Anderson continues to captivate people in spite of the DNA testing which has proved conclusively that she was not a Romanov, much less Anastasia. Kudos to Bayard for tackling a lesser known story, and giving us a pair of unlikely heroes in the (fictional) Hector Carpentier and the (quite real) Eugène François Vidocq, the man who in 1812 created the Sûreté, which has since served as the model for Scotland Yard and the FBI.While I did find myself pulled into the story, it didn't really come alive for me until about halfway through. And I was tossed right back out again with the explanation of how the Dauphin was smuggled out of the tower because I found it all a little too much of a stretch. But at the same time it wasn't enough to make me stop reading, which proves the strength of the prose, I imagine. My only other complaint is that the character of Charles, the young man who may or may not be the Dauphin, never really came to life for me. I really never got any sense of who he had become. And in fact, none of the characters truly resonated for me, though they were by no means badly drawn.Do I recommend this book unreservedly? No. But I do recommend it. If you're a fan of historicals, I think you'll find it well worth your time.
    • 4/5
      The French Revolution-- now a memory. However, memories are restirred in Louis Bayard's The Black Tower, wherein Dr. Hector Carpentier is embroiled in a mystery when he discovers a dead man bearing his name and address. Into the scene comes Inspector Vidocq, and together Carpentier and Vidocq are thrown into a series of events that takes them back to the bloody days of the revolution and the whereabouts of Louis XVII, the boy who would have been king of France.I thought this book was delicious. I'm not too well-versed in mysteries and most of the mysteries I've read have been your typical British-manor types. So it was entirely refreshing to read a mystery set in France, and historical France at that. Bayard does a good job of recreating the era. His setting is impeccably well-researched and atmospheric. A lot of the time mysteries focus solely on the mystery so I appreciated the way Bayard focused on the whole package.The premise of the mystery is also intriguing. Like Anastasia, another lost royal, the fate of Louis XVII is tantalizingly mysterious. The mystery is clever, twisting and winding in ways one wouldn't necessarily expect it to go. I think Louis Bayard has created a fantastic adventure with Vidocq and The Black Tower. I look forward to reading more.
    • 3/5
      The Black Tower is a detective story set in the early days of the return of the Bourbon monarchy. Doctor Hector Carpentier is drawn into an investigation of a murder by Vidocq, the historical famous criminal turned detective who inspired Victor Hugo for both Valjean and Javert in Les Miserables. At first Vidocq suspects the doctor of being behind the murder, but it turns out that the crime has its roots a generation earlier and is tied into the fate of Louis XVII, the lost Dauphin.Vidocq is perhaps not quite as much in the spotlight as this reader would prefer, but this remains a rich historical narrative and the unfolding plot will draw the reader in. The fact that questions remained unanswered at the end makes it no less satisfying.
    • 5/5
      Pleasure is personal but for me few things equal the deep enjoyment of sitting down with a new book and being riveted from the first page. I reviewed Louis Bayard's book Mr. Timothy here. His newest novel shows he is just getting better.The Black Tower is historical fiction at its finest. It tells the tale of Louis XVII, the lost king of France. There is quite a bit of historical fact in this book and a great many of the characters were real. For those who are unaware of the history, during the French Revolution the Royal Family was held prisoner for a time in the Temple prison in the 'black tower'. It was from here that Louis XVI was led to the guillotine. After his father's death the eight year old Charles (Louis XVII) was separated from his mother forever. In 1795 his death was announced. Like Anastasia, young Charles' death was difficult to prove and rumors and legends and family claims of pretenders persisted until fairly recently..Bayard has taken one of these rumors and woven a delicious story of mystery, murder and intrigue. While I did not find this book as tense as Mr. Timothy, it was much more fun. Most of the fun was created by M. Vidocq the creator of France's Surete and one of the very first detectives. He is given to costumes that are so effective they even fool the mobs of the 'sans culotte' at the guillotine. Here is some information on the real Vidocq. Using this character was a brilliant choice and he colors the book wonderfully. As his foil Dr. Hector Carpentier is more sober and thoughtful and not altogether happy to be drawn in to the adventure.The adventure itself revolves around the possibility that some person or persons were able to substitute another child for the dauphin and that the young Charles in the book might be the real king. Various factions have reason to either wish for this to be so or to prevent its becoming known if true. Several people are murdered by the latter faction and Vidocq is tasked with solving that crime. Since Dr. Carpentier's name was found on the body of the first victim, he is drawn in against his will. He is also in danger from the killers who think he can identify the King. Ultimately the doctor is required to protect Charles and himself from these killers with much help from Vidocq and his staff. The two get as close to death as anyone during the Revolution and it is only with a tour de force performance by the detective that they are saved.Mr. Bayard does not miss a step in weaving truth and fiction in this book. I have read a certain amount of French history and I cannot find a flaw. In the acknowledgments, Bayard says: "My account of the dauphin's final months in the Temple is about equal parts history and invention. For the real deal, the reader is advised to consult Deborah Cadbury's excellent The Lost King of France. Having the vast library that I do, I was able to close the cover of The Black Tower and open the Cadbury book immediately. A review of the latter will be forthcoming. The two books together make very interesting, though poignant, reading.The Black Tower will be published in August. I cannot wait for the film which would be fantastic. Perhaps Gerard Depardieu could reprise his role as Vidocq.
    • 4/5
      Once I started reading I could only put it down for short spells of actually "getting up and doing something useful" a phrase I have heard my whole life. I know I gasped out loud three times, if not more and held my breath, chuckled and even let out a guffaw. It is a rollicking ride.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this author's style and the images of the day, 1818 Paris, were very visual. Good story even to the end, kept you thinking and guessing.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely loved this book! When I first started it, I was a little thrown off by the use of modern language and forensic techniques in 19th century England, but as I got further along, the writing style combined with the historic setting started to flow together. What annoyed me in the beginning of the book, I found charming by the end of it.
    • 3/5
      The Black Tower by Louis Bayard is a historical mystery set in 1818 Paris involving the lost Dauphin of France, Louis-Charles (who would have been Louis XVII if Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette hadn't lost their heads in the revolution). The novel also features the historical François Vidocq, a former criminal who became France's first Director of Security and one of the first detectives of the modern era.

      The writing is good - 1st person present, which is difficult to pull off but Bayard does quite well with snappy (and often humorously vulgar) dialog, flashbacks, a diary, correspondence, and fast-paced narrative. Got a little long in the middle, as modern novels often do, but the denouement was satisfying. Bit of an anti-religious bias (Bayard writes for Salon after all), but again, it's something many modern novels stumble over. Too bad, decreases their shelf life. My rating: 6 out of 10.
    • 3/5
      The premise tugged at me because of The Man in the Iron Mask, the whole deal with Richard III and the princes in the tower and all those women who claimed to be Anastasia, Grand Duchess of Russia, and it is a little of all those. The inclusion of Vidocq adds a veneer of hard-boiled detective which is weird for this period (and locale) of history, but strangely it works. It balances the social striving that consumes a lot of the lives of everyone else, Hector included. And poor old Hector is in need of structure and stability, especially once he’s hit with the cyclone that is Vidocq. Oh is he ever the man out of his element. Eventually he gets up to speed though and proves an able “assistant” for the hard-driving Vidocq.Like any good piece of historical fiction, this book blends the real and the unreal so skilfully that it’s hard to distinguish. Hector Carpentier, his family and friends are wholly fictional, but the royal family and Vidocq are not and provide anchors of believability. Then there is Hector’s narration. He’s yanked out of his comfortable self-pity by Vidocq’s driving enthusiasm and persistence and his whole attitude of surrender, first to his circumstances then to the pull of the conspiracy theory. The way he tells the tale has the ring of truth. Most of it is conversational and there are no “as you know, Bob’s” at least none so glaring that I noticed. Luckily I knew enough about the French Revolution and Restoration to understand what was not explicitly explained. This time period really came alive for me in the broad strokes and in the details. The journal reports were especially squirm-inducing. Why does the Aristocracy persist? Why do people who largely have been abused by it, seek to restore it? Why do most attempts to replace it fail? Why are humans so damned competitive and suspicious? Why do so few of us have deep compassion? Where does Vidocq get his wonderful toys? These are just some of the questions to turn over while you read about the missing would-be King of France.
    • 4/5
      _The Black Tower_ by Louis Bayard is a very enjoyable historical fiction/mystery set in Paris and its environs during the period of the Bourban Bourbon Restoration, with numerous flashbacks to the Terror of the Revolution. It is a period of huge turmoil and horror for France, where hope and possibility were mingled with despair and the worst elements of the human heart. The story proper begins as the narrator, Dr. Hector Carpentier, recalls for us what is perhaps the most eventful period of his life. It is a time when he was struggling to find his place in a world full of both personal and political upheaval and whose most memorable event may have been his seemingly chance meeting with Eugène François Vidocq, the famous former criminal turned police investigator, considered by many to be the father of modern criminology. As Carpentier tells us: I’m a man of a certain age – old enough to have been every kind of fool – and I find to my surprise that the only counsel I have to pass on is this: never let your name be found in a dead man’s trousers.

      Unfortunately for him, Carpentier has fallen prey to just such an occurrence and as a result becomes enmeshed in an investigation involving murder and conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of French society and threatens to engulf the nation in yet another political upheaval that could destroy what little remains of its tattered foundations. We learn, as events progress, that Louis-Charles the young son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, once thought to have perished in destitution while a prisoner in the eponymous Black Tower, may actually have survived and be in line to claim his rightful place as Louis XVII. Naturally there are many parties with a vested interest to see that this does not come about and the main story revolves around the efforts of Vidocq and Carpentier as they attempt to unravel the mystery of numerous bodies that keep accumulating in apparent connection to the afore-mentioned note bearing Hector’s name. As the mystery deepens and they are led to a strange and simple man going by the name of Charles Rapskeller who appears to be the centre of it all, the two men meet with greater resistance that threatens not only their lives, but the welfare of the nation.

      Interspersed with the main narrative are sections from the diary of one of the former dauphin’s keepers. Written tersely in a sort of shorthand, they still manage to provide a bleak and moving picture of the horrors to which the former rulers of France were subjected. In both the flashbacks and the story proper Bayard excels at depicting characters that are people whose lives and circumstances are the result of the world around them and the events that have occurred in their lives. It is in these aspects that I think Bayard’s work shows its most compelling aspect. Regardless of how you feel about monarchy vs. democracy and the ‘realities’ of bringing about necessary political change, Bayard manages to compellingly show us that every action (or revolution) has a human cost. Ultimately this is a book that explores that human cost by taking a view of France from the Revolution to the Restoration and examining the impact of the turmoil of these events on individuals from the lowest to the highest levels of society (which flip-flopped throughout the period). It is in this personal examination of great political events and a concentration on well-drawn characters, without forgoing the complexity both of the people involved and the events into which they are thrown, that Bayard has his greatest success. Added to that is Bayard’s skill as a writer which makes the story move along at a brisk pace with many happy turns of phrase. All in all a very enjoyable reading experience.
    • 4/5
      I'm a man of a certain age—old enough to have been every kind of fool—and I find to my surprise that the only counsel I have to pass on is this: Never let your name be found in a dead man's trousers.So begins the adventure of a lifetime for Hector Carpentier. Why was his name on the dead stranger's person? That's what the great Vidocq of the Sûreté would like to know. Vidocq's suspicions of Carpentier gradually becomes trust. Together the men begin to unravel a mystery with ties to the Revolution that its survivors in Restoration era Paris have tried hard to forget. Could it be possible that the dauphin, Louis XVII, survived his imprisonment in the Temple? Someone certainly thinks he's alive, and they're doing their best to make sure he doesn't stay that way.I had no idea where Bayard was headed with this historical thriller. The story was perfectly paced. I never rushed ahead of the narrative to speculate about what would come next. Bayard found the right balance between suspense and humor and continually surprised me with both. This kind of historical mystery has long been popular with novelists. (Think of all the novels based on the premise that the Grand Duchess Anastasia survived the execution of the Russian Tsar's family.) Bayard's novel has to be among the best of this niche of literature.
    • 4/5
      I freely admit that History was always one of my worst subjects in school. I find the stories and encounters of history very fun and fascinating but for some reason I've always had trouble trying to keep straight all the names, dates and events that go along with them. So it was little surprise that I hadn't heard of Vidocq. Apparently Vidocq was a criminal in France in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He turned over a new leaf and founded a crime detection unit and is apparently considered the first private detective. In The Black Tower by Louis Bayard we find ourselves in Paris shortly after the French Revolution. The narrative has us focused alongside the central character of Dr. Carpentier but we are very quickly paired up with Vidocq in an attempt to solve a murder that could have the potential to topple the state of the current French government if it is proven to be based on the conspiracy that the Dauphin didn't actually die but is in hiding somewhere nearby.In spite of the very serious subject matter, there was a surprising amount of subtle humor in this book. When we first meet Carpentier he passes on this piece of advice: "never let your name be found in a dead man's trousers." These sort of nonchalant tongue-in-cheek comments are found throughout the book and serve as a nice break from some of the weightier discussions of murder and politics. There were also segments where the main story narrative was broken up with pages from the journal of a doctor who cared for the Dauphin while he was imprisoned in "the Black Tower." These brief segments were interesting juxtapositions in the main story presenting a unique voice (written in quick abbreviated shorthand) and perspective (the story of the treatment of the Dauphin).I found the writing style to be vividly evocative and rather enjoyable. The scenes and settings are depicted with wonderful clarity and sensual precision. There is a great balance between the formal, taut writing you might expect from the early 19th century as coupled with the personable humor of characters scratching their way through the underbelly of society in any century. I was a bit turned off by the degree to which Vidocq cursed. It did certainly add to his tone as a harsh, brash character but it was a turnoff to have him dropping the F-bomb as frequently as he did. I felt like he could have been just as abrasive without the swearing.The mystery is interesting and fun, hovering around the fringes of conspiracy theory and political intrigue. The way everything played out reminded me frequently of another literary french (Belgian) detective, Hercule Poirot. Where Poirot was more "civilized" than Vidocq, they both possessed similar matter-of-factness that would take people off their guard and allow him entry into otherwise impenetrable circumstances.While a lot of the mystery involved uncovering historical events from decades gone by, the research was interspersed with scenes of action that left our heroes running for their lives. These scenes didn't happen enough to turn this into an action packed thriller but also happened with enough frequency to keep this from becoming a fictional biography or historical treatise. I felt like there was just the right balance of mysterious scrutiny and suspenseful action to keep this book well rooted as a fun yet serious piece of historical fiction.As is often the case with historical mysteries based this closely with reality, the ending was a little bit of a let down. But without actually changing world history and changing the genre to "speculative fiction", there were some limitations that Bayard was unable to overcome. Still, the mystery and conspiracy were rather interesting and were presented in a compelling way. Since I am not an expert on History, let alone French History, I can't speak to the believability of the tale but as a non-historian I found myself drawn in and really enjoying the story and the writing. The style and language might be a turn-off for some readers but if you're a lover of historical mystery and don't mind language that's a bit rough around the edges at times, you should enjoy this book.***3.5 out of 5 stars
    • 3/5
      Liked this, but didn't love it... Liked it more than 'The Pale Blue Eye'...wasn't super fond of the ending of that one... actually have wanted to read 'Mr. Timothy', but keep reading his other works! Vidoq was my favorite character of his so far, I see the beginnings of a series... Fun historical fiction fare.
    • 4/5
      While interesting, and it did make me want to read more by this author, it seemed to leave me with more questions than it answered, and a mild aftertaste.Vidcoq is the chief of a newly created plain-clothes police force in Paris. In order to solve a murder he drags in to help Hector Carpentier, particularly as the murdered man has Carpentier's name in his pocket. This brings up he mystery of the death of the Dauphin. It's an interesting read but somehow just left me wanting more. I didn't feel that the story had been truly resolved.
    • 4/5
      This is a book that grabs you from sentence one and doesn't let go until the end. Louis Bayard has accomplished something rare in historical fiction: using a first person account, he manages to put the reader in a time and place, in this case 19th century Paris, without resorting to long descriptions the narrator wouldn't bother to make. His Paris comes alive organically, with all of its characters -- from the poor living in rat-infested squalor, to the petite bourgeousie, the nobility, and criminals and royalty -- and describes the smells, the monuments, the political climate, the weather and so many other period details so as to make you feel like you are there. That he also writes beautifully and has crafted a story that unfolds exquisitely and at a perfect pace makes this a great read and one I will want to return to again and again. The narrator in question is Hector Carpentier, a doctor of sorts, who has frittered away his family's cash and whose mother has turned their home into a boarding house. He is drafted into helping solve a murder by feared police inspector Vidocq, an actual historical character, and in the process discovers that Louis-Charles (Louis the 17th), the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, believed killed as a child by revolutionaries under Napoleon, may still be alive. While the real star of the book is Restoration Paris itself, Vidocq is a close second in all his animal ferocity and uncanny brilliance. Think a French Sherlock Holmes with an edge. The supporting characters are fleshed out beautifully, both men and women, rich and poor, and I'm not describing them because their identity and characters unfold with the twists and turns in the story and are best savored without knowing too much going in. Every time I thought the story had nowhere to go, it went somewhere new, and the characters continued to develop in their complexity and nuance.
    • 4/5
      In the latest page-turning historical thriller from Louis Bayard, Dr. Hector Carpentier teams up with famed criminal-turned-detective Eugene Francois Vidocq to solve a murder involving the son of Louis XVI, imprisoned during the Reign of Terror and assumed dead, but often rumored to be alive. As with his previous two books, this one is very atmospheric and twisty-turny, with a lot of hair-raising suspense, a touch of pathos, and, through the character of Vidocq, a sprinkling of wry humor.
    • 4/5
      What happened to Louis the Seventeenth, the young Dauphin of France? A child when he and his family were taken prisoner by the French people, his body was never identified after his death was announced. In 1818, years after his supposed death, the monarchy has been restored but the city is still tense and citizens unsure of their new rulers.Hector Carpentier is a medical student living with his mother and the borders they share their house with when Vidocq, a well-known and well-feared detective, approaches him on his way home one afternoon asking why a dead man had his name. Hector has no answers and Vidocq wants them. He drags him along on his investigation, disguising him when necessary, and pulling him deeper into the mysterious disappearance of the young Dauphin. When a young man is found who may indeed be the true Dauphin, Hector is torn between finding the truth and wanting to protect the terrified and simple man.I don't read many mysteries but I found this one to be rather satisfying. I didn't care as much for the characters as I did the setting here though. I like stories from this time period and anything where Marie Antoinette is featured. She doesn't play a big part here, it's more her memory, but I found the mystery surrounding the events of those times appealing.Vidoq is a great detective character. He's a former criminal and part of a new plain clothes police division in Paris. He obeys no rules, is uncouth, and terrifying in his means. Torture has no negative connotations and he feels liberal use is what is called for when dealing with criminals. He's not a likable person, although he has his moments, but he does add a dark and unsuspecting air to the story.If you're looking for a quick, entertaining read, The Black Tower works. It moves fast, the setting is interesting, and the characters are engaging.
    • 4/5
      Overall I enjoyed reading this mildly earthy book for the shining moments when the characters came alive, for instance when Hector's mother has an unguarded conversation with her son while polishing silver. Another bright point is the setting. The author managed to capture the cumulative "post-trauma stress disorder" permeating the populace just after the French Revolution. Late in the book I was disappointed with what seemed to be an overly convenient contrivance, but I had wrongly jumped to conclusions. All the loose ends are tied up at the end of the story, though I only gave it 4 stars because there were a few implausible elements and it seemed that the author didn't know what to do with Hector at the end.
    • 5/5
      The Boy King LivesDown through the centuries, the history books and legends have had us all believing that the future King Louis the 17th, son of Marie-Antoinette and King Louis the 16th, died in a tower soon after the beheading of his parents. It is said that he was thrown in the Black Tower of Paris during the French Revolution, left there to rot and die, and hopefully be forgotten. But there have long been other theories, that somehow La Petite Louis just may have escaped. Gaslight mystery author Louis Bayard triumphs in this his third novel, creating a finely tuned realistic world of Paris in the early 1800s. This is a murder mystery of the highest quality, introducing two delightful sleuths akin to Holmes & Watson that will unravel the clues of three deaths that occur due to the mystifying conundrum of the possibility, that young Louis-Charles is alive. Alive and hidden from those who know he survived, and those that want him dead. This is the time of the Restoration, a time when the descendants of the throne would lose their lofty royal seats if Louis were found and restored to the throne of France. Two incredibly well developed sleuths bring this mystery to the forefront of Victorian thrillers. Dr. Hector Carpentier, son of young Louis' physician, and a very unusual detective, a dastardly and sarcastic ex-convict turned cop, Francois Vidocq. Vidocq is the bane of every criminal's existence, the terror of the town, a clever intuitive man with eyes in the back of his head. Sharp as a tack and a bit crazy, he and Hector begin a friendship that turns partnership, as they go undercover and trace the lines that lead to the past. Hidden journals, found documents, long overdue confessions, and interviews with various players, soon reveal the truth regarding the secrets of Louis' childhood spent in a dark, damp, and fetid hell. Although there is not a lot of high suspense or action, the talent that Bayard shows us as he brings Victorian Paris alive on paper, is worth every finely crafted line of Dickensian-like prose. One will feel the mist and fog envelope them as they turn the pages, will hear the rattling of coaches on cobblestones, and will occasionally look up from this novel with a sense of foreboding and remember to lock the doors and keep the lights on as you continue on, not able to rise until the end is in sight. This was my first Bayard novel and I now can't wait to purchase his others. I sincerely hope that the author is considering bringing back these two great characters of Hector and Vidocq, this would make a wonderful ongoing series. I fell in love with Vidocq, not since the Pink Panther's Inspector Clouseau has an author come up with a detective with so much charisma, although he's rather cheeky! Bravo to the author, quite a sensational story.
    • 4/5
      In this new novel by Louis Bayard, carefully drawn French sleuth Vidocq searchers for the Dauphin, the lost son of Louis-Charles, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's. At first this book appears to be a mystery novel, and during some of the initial chapters this created some confusion since it becomes clear later that this amazing book is instead a careful character study. When seen from this perspective The Black Tower provides a glimpse into what must have been a remarkable part of European history. Thoroughly enjoyable, well researched and carefully crafted, this book is an amazing study of how strong, extraordinary and common people deal with events thrown on them they could never imagine themselves becoming involved in.
    • 5/5
      Bayard's great skill is his ability to evoke historical periods implicitly. In this case, the culture post-revolutionary France is captured by adopting the attitudes and values of its people. The tale has several protagonists: the failed medic narrator, the first police detective, and the man who might be the usurped king of France. Each lends his own dimension to the picture of early nineteenth century Paris.
    • 4/5
      I love historical fiction that introduces me to a time I’m not familiar with, in this case, the French Restoration following the ousting of Napoleon. Unlike The Firemaster’s Mistress, a recently unfinished read which also took place in an unfamiliar era (early 1600s England), I almost immediately got a feel for Paris in the early 1800s. One is pulled into this story not by Hector Carpentier, who serves as little more than narrator for most of the book, but by Vidocq, the eccentric yet extremely effective police chief who comes to Hector in search of a murderer. And, someone who actually existed! A fact I did not know until after I finished. That’s another mark of good historical fiction to me… it sends me straight to Wikipedia to learn more. It left me wanting to know about the real mystery of the Dauphin, and whether he really did live or die. History does not truly know, and by the time you get to the end of this book, you’re not sure Fiction knows either.
    • 4/5
      This novel is set in France during the Restoration. Everything is in flux. People are getting used to being ruled by a king after the Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. What if Marie Antoinette’s lost son, Louis-Charles, turned out to be alive? This possibility brings back memories of the Revolution; horrible, bloody memories. Would people embrace the new King or push him away? That is the crux of this novel.The calling card of medical student Hector Carpentier is found in the pocket of a dead man. This brings him under the watchful eye of Vidocq of the Surete. Hector becomes Watson to his Holmes as they investigate the murder. The investigation takes them from slums to high society and leads them to the unthinkable; the Dauphin who reportedly died in the Black Tower at the age of ten.I had never heard of Vidocq before. According to The Vidocq Society website he was a criminal who offered his services as a police spy and informer and became so successful at catching fugitives of the law that he was named the first chief of the Surete, in 1811. Vidocq eventually directed a force of detectives who had also been criminals. Some consider him to be the father of modern criminal investigation although what we know of him comes from his own memoir and he had a tendency to embellish the truth. In the novel he is a physically big man who is crude and rude and has a commanding presence. His is a master of disguise; not unlike Mr. Holmes. Vidocq’s demeanor almost turned me off of reading this book. I am used to the gentleman detective and Vidocq is a very coarse man. Hector, the narrator, and the simple minded Charles were so engaging that they made this story a real page turner.
    • 4/5
      Fun, light, mystery read about a lost king of France in the 18th century. Fast.
    • 5/5
      Restoration Paris, 1818. It has been over twenty years since the Revolution, Napoleon is in exile and the Bourbon kings are back on the throne of France. But the past still echoes...Hector Carpentier is an ordinary medical student living at home with his mother, where she takes in boarders to help make ends meet. He is suddenly thrust into a murder investigation when detective Eugene Francois Vidocq turns up on his doorstep. It seems Hector's name has been found on a piece of paper that was concealed on a dead body. Hector has never seen or heard of the victim before. He is at a loss to explain why the man might have had his name and been at pains to hide it.Before he knows what's happening, he is swept along with Vidocq and into a case that has the potential to shake France to its core. The evidence points to a conspiracy to kill a simple, quiet young man who lives in the country and who just might be the heir to the throne of France, Louis-Charles. During the Revolution, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were both killed. Their two children, Marie-Therese-Charlotte and Louis-Charles were imprisoned in the Black Tower. Marie was eventually released but Louis-Charles died in prison. Or did he? The rumors have always circulated that he might have escaped and impostors have turned up before. But this young man has no memory of his early life and does not claim to be the lost prince. Someone believes he is, though, and they are intent on his death. It is up to Vidocq and Hector to unravel the mystery and protect the unassuming, fragile young man.Louis Bayard paints a fascinating picture of the little-known real life detective, Vidocq. The world's first real police detective, he had a background in crime and had been imprisoned in his youth. He knew the criminal mind from personal experience and was able to use his knowledge to become an extremely successful detective. To me he seemed to be a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Columbo because of his flair for disguise and his gruff demeanor. Restoration Paris is likewise brought to life brilliantly. This book is a wonderful historical adventure.
    • 5/5
      The Black Tower is a what-could-have-been murder mystery. Set in 1818, not long after Napoleon had been deposed and the French monarchy reinstated, the novel begins when a man is found murdered in the streets of Paris, carrying a calling card with Dr. Hector Carpentier’s name on it.Enter Eugene Francois Vidocq, one of the most legendary and feared detectives of the early 19th century (and such an influence that Victor Hugo modeled both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert on him; a Wikipedia search on Vidocq reveals that he is credited with introducing record-keeping, criminology, and ballistics to the field of criminal investigation). Vidocq has just established the very first plainclothes police force, said to be composed of some very dangerous ex-cons. It’s into this world, where the line between the law and crime is smudged, that Dr. Hector Carpentier enters.On the surface, the dead man, Leblanc, and Carpentier have nothing in common. But the mystery soon leads Carpentier and Vidocq into a dangerous search into the secrets of the murdered royal family—and entertain the thought that Louis-Charles, the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and who was imprisoned for many long months, might still be alive.I’m always skeptical of historical fiction that’s written in the first person—but surprisingly, Louis Bayard manages to make it work in this book. The Parisian underworld is sufficiently creepy, and Carpentier, plays a perfect (albeit watered-down) Dr. Watson to Vidocq’s Sherlock Holmes. I just loved inspector Vidocq, for his razor-sharp wit and ability to transform into another character through disguise. He’s arrogant and cocky (and not above strutting like a peacock when someone compliments him!), but very sure of his abilities as an investigator. He's also sarcastic. One of my favorite quotes from this novel:And then his voice shifts into a sharper register."Of course, if you don't have the stomach for this work...""I have the stomach," I answer, lifting my head towards his. "It so happensI have a heart, too.""Oh, yes," he says, breezily. "I've got one of those myself. I keep it in abox somewhere."There’s a hefty amount of political intrigue and espionage in this novel, made even juicier by the idea that the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette might have still been alive in 1818, long after a time period which everyone wished to forget. The novel is well-written; not a word is wasted here. It’s a fast-paced and utterly convincing novel.
    • 4/5
      Through a well-crafted historical thriller, Louis Bayard recreates Paris' days of Restoration in The Black Tower. Vidocq, a crass, but brilliant detective, begins to investigate Hector Carpentier, a young medical student, when Hector’s name is found upon a dead body. One murder leads to another and Vidocq and Hector begin chasing a mystery that began twenty years previously when many French believed that Louis-Charles the dauphin, son of Marie-Antoinette, escaped the torture and entrapment of the notorious Black Tower. The plot thickens when Vidocq and Carpentier begin to wonder if the dauphin had escaped The Black Tower, who would kill to ensure that the potential King not be found? The Black Tower was excellently written. The pages turned themselves as the mystery propelled the reader along. Vidocq’s character was at once obnoxious and endearing. It was clear why Hector, trying to battle his own family demons, was drawn to Vidocq. Bayard offers the perfect balance of historical fiction and thrill in The Black Tower.