For the King

Mar 28, 2012 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have been excited about this book’s release ever since I first read mention of it on Delors’ Versailles and More blog, awhile back. What could be more appealing to me than a book set in France during the Revolution- with a sneak peak at both Josephine and Bonaparte, and involving characters such as Fouché- well-Obviously I couldn’t wait to devour this!

I was ready to escape to a time filled with intriguing history, some romance...the usual? No way! This one involves a full-fledged mystery to bo...more I have been excited about this book’s release ever since I first read mention of it on Delors’ Versailles and More blog, awhile back. What could be more appealing to me than a book set in France during the Revolution- with a sneak peak at both Josephine and Bonaparte, and involving characters such as Fouché- well-Obviously I couldn’t wait to devour this!

I was ready to escape to a time filled with intriguing history, some romance...the usual? No way! This one involves a full-fledged mystery to boot! I was delighted by this unexpectedly captivating ride! Chief Inspector Miquel Roch is on a mission to uncover the truth behind the resulting massacre in the attempt to blow away First Consul himself, Bonaparte. Who masterminded this failed operation? The suspects are on the run, but the clues are numerous. One mystery person works behind the scene to help move the whole operation forward...For The King....

Jacobites, Chouans, Royalists- typically anyone of these groups would have had motive to want do away with Napoloen, the Usurper...This is a mystery with more at stake than Inspector Roch could have ever imagined; For one, his father’s life depends on it.

Truth be told, no matter how good the mystery, I always need a heroine in my stories to keep me hooked. And so, just to make it that more appealing, For The King, has a variety of entertaining French ladies; especially, one particularly tempting Blanche, who happens to be keeper of quite a few heartbeats...literally.

For The King is an intriguing tale spun around actual history. The time frame, setting, plotted assassination, the accused, as well as many of the characters encountered in this read- all real. This made the story that more attractive to me. Delors’ attention to detail and impeccable historical accuracy is remarkable. I was truly delighted to embark in this unexpected mystery that fulfilled more than the promise of another entertaining French historical fiction.

If you are fascinated by the French Revolution and the tumultuous changes of the times, you will absolutely want to read this- it's so interesting! Splendid!(less)

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Jun 27, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, hfbrt, historical-fiction, france, 19th-c, napoleon

On the surface For the King tells the story of the investigation into the attack on Napoleon Bonaparte, but deep down it tells a tale about the politics of Paris after the revolution. There was constant speculation as to who had carried out the bombing and which side was to blame. There were also the internal political games that were played within the police department – who owed a favor to who and what they could hold over the heads of someone to make them do what they want. The political aspe...more On the surface For the King tells the story of the investigation into the attack on Napoleon Bonaparte, but deep down it tells a tale about the politics of Paris after the revolution. There was constant speculation as to who had carried out the bombing and which side was to blame. There were also the internal political games that were played within the police department – who owed a favor to who and what they could hold over the heads of someone to make them do what they want. The political aspect was very interesting to me because I had not read anything set during the reign of Napoleon and really didn’t have much knowledge of the period either.

I did enjoy how this was similar to a police procedural. I always enjoy watching these types of shows on t.v. and I was a criminal justice major in college, which made it that much more interesting to me. I had not really thought about how crimes were investigated in the past – especially with the limited technology that was available at that time. I would classify this as more of a procedural rather than a mystery because you get to see the perspective of both the bad guys and the good guys. The reader is aware of who the perpetrators are and their motives, while the police are out of the loop – you are able to watch the investigation start to come together while knowing what is going on. That isn’t to say that there are not some secrets kept from the reader and twists along the way.

My complaint with this book comes with the ending. While I really liked the main character, Roch, I didn’t really feel connected enough with the other characters to really care what happened with them in the ending. I also felt that the ending was a little abrupt. As a whole bunch of things happened, it then just ended – I would have liked to have a little bit more in the end.

3.5 stars

This book was received for review from the publisher - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.(less)

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Jun 22, 2010 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Enter for giveaway at www.theburtonreview.com
I am not as historically in tune to French politics as I am with Tudor politics. With Catherine Delors' newest novel that is focused on French politics, there is no preamble to the upheaval that France is facing after the pacification set in place by Bonaparte. The French Revolution had just ended and the novel begins in 1800 with a police officer called Roch Miguel who is investigating a bombing on the streets of Paris that was a failed assassination...more Enter for giveaway at www.theburtonreview.com
I am not as historically in tune to French politics as I am with Tudor politics. With Catherine Delors' newest novel that is focused on French politics, there is no preamble to the upheaval that France is facing after the pacification set in place by Bonaparte. The French Revolution had just ended and the novel begins in 1800 with a police officer called Roch Miguel who is investigating a bombing on the streets of Paris that was a failed assassination attempt on Napoleon Bonaparte. There were several police agencies or ministries that were at odds with each other who were slightly hard to follow; along with who was Royalist, Jacobin or Chouan. If I had previously read a novel that dealt with the Republic and the aftermath of the French revolution I would probably have felt a bit less lost, but the writing of Catherine Delors pulled me through the story itself very quickly.

Written to be a historical mystery, the focus of the story is the investigation of the bombing in the Rue Nicaise. Roch, the investigator, is the main protagonist and is portrayed as a strong man with morals, and gets put in a bad situation when his father, affectionately known as Old Miguel, is suddenly arrested. Was he arrested to spur Roch's investigation in another direction? Between the several different factions of the police government it is hard to tell if Roch should trust anyone in the fearsome political times. And he has to move fast otherwise his father will meet a torturous fate meant for traitors.

Napoleon crossing the Alps (1800)~Jaques Louis David
One of the mentions in the novel is of a painter known as Jaques Louis David, who painted the famous portrait of Napoleon on the magnificent white horse. I loved how Delors included these small details of history into her novel which helped me experience France and their culture more than I ever have. And I took five years of French! Catherine Delors helped to reawaken in me the spirit of France for which I had fallen in love with long ago as a child. She surrounds the novel in historic details that really help shape the atmosphere and the turmoil of France at that time.

Catherine Delors' previous novel, Mistress of the Revolution (2008), was written in memoir fashion telling of a Frenchwoman exiled in England. For The King departs from that point of view as it is told in third person allowing for multiple views to be presented. Using this narrative allows the reader to get an entire circumspective view from all parties involved which is very helpful in this thriller/mystery setting. It also helps to lend a greater understanding of a complicated period of time that could easily befuddle the unaware reader, like I was at first.

I found the story to be fast paced and I felt empathy for the character of the investigator Roch Miguel, and Delors was subtle with the added romantic undercurrents that we are treated to. Some of the other characters shifted over time, becoming more ominous as the story wore on and the mystery of who was behind the attack unfolded. Although the reader knows the names of the three who are responsible for the attack from the very beginning, the unfolding of the multiple aspects that lead to the attack and their hopeful apprehension was expertly presented. Lovers of France and those eager to immerse themselves in its historic setting following the revolution will definitely love this book. I love the fact that Delors is focusing her next novel on another mystery setting and I will definitely be reading that one as well.
(less)

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May 25, 2010 Elena rated it 5 of 5 stars

A soul-stirring epic, replete with authentic detail, FOR THE KING sets a new standard of excellence for historical fiction. Madame Delors has raised the bar. The flow of vivid descriptions and lively characterizations seamlessly spring forth. Opening with an act of terrorism that resembles the atrocities of our own time, the novel inspires horror without indulging in the grotesque. Similarly, the intimate encounter between the hero and his lady is intensely passionate without being voyeuristic....more A soul-stirring epic, replete with authentic detail, FOR THE KING sets a new standard of excellence for historical fiction. Madame Delors has raised the bar. The flow of vivid descriptions and lively characterizations seamlessly spring forth. Opening with an act of terrorism that resembles the atrocities of our own time, the novel inspires horror without indulging in the grotesque. Similarly, the intimate encounter between the hero and his lady is intensely passionate without being voyeuristic. The writing combines power with beauty and realism with genuine pathos in order to capture the essence of an era of upheaval.

To quote from the book's website:

"The Reign of Terror has ended six years earlier, and Napoléon Bonaparte has seized power, but shifting political loyalties still tear apart families and lovers. On Christmas Eve 1800, a bomb explores along Bonaparte’s route, narrowly missing him but striking dozens of bystanders. Chief Inspector Roch Miquel, a young policeman with a bright future and a beautiful mistress, must arrest the assassins before they attack again. Complicating Miquel’s investigation are the maneuverings of his superior, the redoubtable Fouché, the indiscretions of his own father, a former Jacobin, and two intriguing women. FOR THE KING takes readers through the dark alleys and glittering salons of post-revolutionary Paris. It is a romantic thriller, a tale of love, betrayal and redemption."

Caught in a searing love affair with a lady who has much to hide, Roch Miquel has to learn the difference between love which endures and love which is mere escapism. As the reader accompanies Roch through the streets of post-Revolutionary Paris, with its colorful mix of sights and smells, both delicious and repulsive and everything in between, the city gradually surrenders its secrets. For as Roch seeks to unravel the plot to assassinate Napoleon, the mystery of his own life is slowly revealed. Roch is an appealing character, with a sense of honor and duty that come from his peasant Auvergnat upbringing, as well as the shrewdness to see behind the many façades of his world. Nevertheless, much remains hidden to him, such as the identity of the royalist agent with the code name of "For the King."

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the study of how devout, conservative people too often prove to be their own worst enemies. By descending to terrorism in order to murder Napoleon, the royalists not only destroy lives but bring shame upon their cause. While the royalist cause is not unsympathetic to me (I write all about it in MADAME ROYALE) it is easy to become disgusted with the royalist plotters, who demonstrate yet another example of Catholics Behaving Badly. Redemption, however, is offered to all who open their hearts to truth and to personal conversion, one among many subtle threads in Madame Delors' political thriller.(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Jean rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: french-revolution, france, historical-fiction, lpl, suspense, intrigue-political

This novel is about Roch Miquel who is a Chief Inspector in post-revolution Paris. He must investigate a failed assassination attempt on Napoleon but as his investigation progresses, the stakes become higher in ways he didn't imagine.

Miquel's character is a person in flux caught between two worlds. While this new social order in France allowed the opportunity for Miquel to rise from humble beginnings to be a police inspector, he still faces bias, office politics so to speak as well as a politica...more This novel is about Roch Miquel who is a Chief Inspector in post-revolution Paris. He must investigate a failed assassination attempt on Napoleon but as his investigation progresses, the stakes become higher in ways he didn't imagine.

Miquel's character is a person in flux caught between two worlds. While this new social order in France allowed the opportunity for Miquel to rise from humble beginnings to be a police inspector, he still faces bias, office politics so to speak as well as a political game that he is no player but a pawn. I was worried that he would be kitchen-sinked like the main protagonist in Delors' first novel, Mistress of the Revolution but she balanced his powerlessness with what he was able to do.

Miquel struggles as he represents the ideals of the Revolution. However, the realities show the intrigue and power play runs deeper than he could have ever conceived among those who supposedly administer the ideals of the Revolution. His attitude towards his childhood friend, Alexandrine also reflects on his attitude towards his humble beginnings. While he doesn't hate it, he does view it as an obligation of sorts and annoyance and a world that he no longer inhabits. However, the world he thought he inhabited starts to fray when he investigates the failed assassination attempts.

Career wise, Miquel thought he was making a difference and thought it was appreciated by a man he greatly respected and admired, Fouché. He also had a beautiful captivating mistress that he was greatly infatuated over. She is a beautiful noblewoman and the epitome of beauty; a creature that once belonged in a place in society that would have been out of reach for him pre-Revolution France. The investigation begins to change everything and Roch slowly learns the reality of his position at work and in society.

I highly recommend this novel. This novel is a great suspense thriller but also the rich character development within a society in transition really adds to the experience. I didn't necessarily like Roch but I didn't dislike him either. His struggles and journey is very compelling.(less)

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Sep 18, 2011 Samantha rated it 2 of 5 stars

For the King retells the assassination attempt on Napoleon Bonaparte using a homemade bomb in the streets of Paris. Though Napoleon escaped unscathed, many others were killed or permanently maimed. I enjoyed the historical aspect of this novel, in addition to the assassination attempt we are informed about the political atmosphere of the time and learn just how easily an innocent person could be sent to the guillotine. I give it only 2 stars though because the drama, romance, and suspense that I...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Ruth Hill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

I knew I would enjoy this book for the very reason that it is historical fiction, and I love historical fiction. Especially historical fiction that is well-researched.

I was first taken in by this book because of the time period. I have always been fascinated by the French Revolution, but I was not too familiar with what happened after the French Revolution in Paris. Talk about it being the worst of times, maybe Charles Dickens should have written a book during that time period! It was horrid! I...more I knew I would enjoy this book for the very reason that it is historical fiction, and I love historical fiction. Especially historical fiction that is well-researched.

I was first taken in by this book because of the time period. I have always been fascinated by the French Revolution, but I was not too familiar with what happened after the French Revolution in Paris. Talk about it being the worst of times, maybe Charles Dickens should have written a book during that time period! It was horrid! I knew Napoleon was bad, but he made things worse than I imagined.

After the first few chapters, my interest waned. Delors is a fantastic authoress, but for the second quarter of the book, I was not as enthralled. I don't know why. I guess I just didn't care so much about the characters. Maybe the intrigue just didn't draw me in.

I remember that about a week ago, the plot took a twist that I wasn't expecting. That is when I was so drawn to the book that I did not want to put it down. I won't add any spoilers, but it concerns the character Blanche. And as I read on, the plot become even more intriguing. I now cared about what happened to Roch, the main character. I did not know if the ending would be happy or sad or a mix of both.

The best part of the book for me was when Delors described the historical authenticity of the book. Although she took artistic liberty, much of what she wrote was based on actual fact. The event around which the book is centered really happened. If you do decide to read the book, do not hesitate to read that section. There is even a United States tie-in that I never would have guessed.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to most people with a taste for historical fiction. While I found a portion of it dry, the last half of the book made it very worth reading. The sex scenes are not graphic, for the most part. And profanity is very rare--I appreciated that. I think Delors has the power to write in such a way that you feel as though you are transported back in time and are living the events of the lives of the characters right along with them. Or at least you are watching from a safe spot close by. While it is not the best book I have ever read, it is well worth your time.(less)

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Jul 10, 2010 Ana T. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, mysteries-thrillers, french-hist

Today marks the release of Catherine Delors' new book For The King. I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy from the author and I am very glad to say that I really enjoyed it.

After tackling the French Revolution in her first book, Catherine Delors now uses an attempt on Napoleon's life to show the police force's investigative methods, while portraying the new society that emerged after the end of the monarchy.

In Roch Miquel, the son of a skin man turned tavern owner, she presents us with...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Audra (Unabridged Chick) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Audra (Unabridged Chick) by: histficchick.com

Shelves: place-france, historicals, favorites, place-paris, secret-identities, mysteries, truth-is-tawdrier-than-fiction

One-sentence summary: Police inspector fights conspiracies within police, Paris, personal life.

Did I routinely stay up after midnight to keep reading?: Yes.
Did this book make me wish my commute were longer?: Yes.
Did I nurture a crush on one or more of the characters: Yes. (Roch and Alexandrine, of course!)

Trivia gleaned: Sodomy was decriminalized post Revolution!

Review: I stayed up until about 3am to finish this book because I was dying to find out how things concluded. Delors has written my fav...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Amy Schmalbach rated it 4 of 5 stars

This one was very enjoyable. I knew nothing about this historical event, so I felt like I got a bit of a history lesson along with a swift-moving plot. The main character, Roch, was sympathetic, likable, and relatable. The description was good - I could picture the various people and places. I felt that what was lacking was a fleshing out of the relationship between Roch and Blanche and Roch and Alexandrine. His feelings for them seemed a bit over-the-top from the little bit of interaction we go...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, must-reads

Just started FOR THE KING... something a little different for me.. .a period piece... Paris... 1800... an assassination attempt on Bonaparte... we shall see..
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
June 5 -

An extremely well-researched novel. FOR THE KING is only one of a very small handful of historical fictions I have read. I enjoyed Madame DeLors writing very much, and would recommend her without reservation.

She describes the settings beautifully... I almost feel as if I have lived in Bonaparte's Par...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Laurel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, napoleonic-era

On Christmas Eve 1800, a devastating explosion by “machine infernale” on rue Saint-Nicaise in Paris kills twenty-two citizens, wounds fifty-six others and destroys dozens of surrounding buildings. Napoleon Bonaparte the newly self-appointed First Consul of France continues by carriage on his route to an evening at the Opera unharmed. This failed assassinated attempt angers many people, but who is responsible?

Napoleon has numerous enemies including his own countrymen. Could it be the Jacobin forc...more On Christmas Eve 1800, a devastating explosion by “machine infernale” on rue Saint-Nicaise in Paris kills twenty-two citizens, wounds fifty-six others and destroys dozens of surrounding buildings. Napoleon Bonaparte the newly self-appointed First Consul of France continues by carriage on his route to an evening at the Opera unharmed. This failed assassinated attempt angers many people, but who is responsible?

Napoleon has numerous enemies including his own countrymen. Could it be the Jacobin forces responsible for the French Revolution nine years prior who want their overthrown constitutional government reinstated, or the Chouans, loyal to the Catholic monarchy intent on the restoration of a deposed King? Napoleon is convinced that the Jacobins are to blame and immediately orders the arrest over a hundred known insurgents. The powerful Minister of Police Joseph Fouché is determined to prove to Napoleon that the Royalist’s are at fault requesting Chief Inspector Roch Miguel to investigate two known Chouans, Pierre de Saint-Régent and Francois Carbon. To cover his bet the Minister has also offered a reward of 2,000 gold louis for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the Jacobins who “committed the atrocity.”

Suspicious of Fouché’s speed in delivering these two names, Miguel begins the investigation into the assassins of the rue Saint-Nicaise from evidence and eye witness accounts. Miguel’s superior Prefect of Police Louis-Nicolas Dubois influenced by his boss Fouché also believes the Jacobins are to blame. From the description of the suspects Miguel is not convinced the assassins are any known Jacobins. His boss points out the similarity to the “Conspiracy of Daggers” assassination plot by the Jacobins against Napoleon only two months prior. Miguel suggests they do not know enough yet and should not ignore clues that would lead to the Chouans. Dubois accuses Miguel of favoritism to the Jacobins because of his father’s allegiance and blames him for not knowing of the assassination plot and preventing it. When Miguel’s aged father Old Miguel is arrested as a suspect, Dubois gives Roch one month to prove that the Royalists indeed are behind the plot or his father will be deported as a traitor. Interestingly, the two suspects supplied by Minister of Police Joseph Fouché are quickly linked to the crime, but failing to find the elusive third man with gold spectacles may be Roch’s undoing and his father’s eminent death.

Based on the “Plot of the Rue Saint-Nicaise” author Catherine Delors has crafted a thriller from historical fact; – a police procedural in its infancy. Meticulously researched at the archives of the Ministry and Prefecture of Police in Pairs, the events surrounding the bombing and the eventual investigation give the reader an inside view of the political atmosphere of post-Revolutionary France and Napoleon’s struggle to rule a country manipulated away from the new Republic and the old Royalty.

Psychologically, the conspiracy is viewed from the perspective of the two main male characters, young, honorable Chief Inspector Rouch Miguel and the revengeful mastermind behind the plot Joseph de Limoëlan. Each represent opposite sides of the struggle: Limoëlan a former aristocrat who watched his family guillotined and his property confiscated by the Republic and Miguel, a Jacobin peasant and citizen of the street who rose socially by education and hard work. Both working for their own France. Napoleon on the other hand is working for his own corrupt vision France.

Steeped in incredible detail, I recommend For the King to readers who love to be engulfed in an era and swept away in suspense and intrigue. Since we know the perpetrators of the plot from the beginning, this is not a mystery, but it plays out like one as the main character CI Roch Miguel must solve the crime to save his father and the Jacobin dignity. Those who like a good thriller will be pleased with the plot twists, double dealings and political machinations, however, those looking for emotional depth will be unmoved and short sheeted on the romance.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose(less)

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Jan 13, 2011 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: _fiction, 2010, historic-fiction

In post revolutionary France politics are still volatile. In the opening pages of "For the King", Napoleon Bonaparte's carriage narrowly misses being blown up by a bomb placed along his route through Paris. Chief Inspector Roch Miquel tries his best to find those responsible but is blocked by arrogant superiors, secret societies and back room politics. Despite it all, the inspector is determined to find those responsible.

Based on real events, this story of France at the end of the 18th century d...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010_release_read, mainstream, read_2010

An unexpectedly good historical novel about the first main royalist plot against Napoleon in 1800 when an "infernal" device just missed his coach, while killing lots of people in the middle of Paris; for political purposes Napoleon needed the Jacobins as villains and executed and exiled lots, but finally the truth outed and the royalist agents were brought to justice in large part too, though their main leader Georges Cadoudal escaped to plot more

This book introduces an inspector who investigat...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: france-paris, crime-thriller-spy-stuff

A detective story set in Paris in 1800. Based on real events and characters. The action begins with royalists trying to assassinate Napoleon on his way to a concert. Our main character, Roch Miquel, leads the police investigation. Both his father and his mistress end up being pawns in bigger plots.

The action moves along fast enough. Paris comes alive, from gambling salons at the Palais Royal to stagecoaches unloading at St. Denis. The women characters were a bit formulaic, but I liked Roch, even...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Jody rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the interest of full-disclosure, I was expecting this book to be light & fluffy chick-lit, but it ends up to be a historical and political mystery. Story was around the investigation of the attempted assassination of Napoleon on the streets of Paris. The book was like CSI (the TV show) but with the technology and techniques of the early 1800s. (The author notes that this investigation is considered a first modern police investigation.) The politics at the time were so sensitive with every...more

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Jul 08, 2010 Allie rated it 4 of 5 stars

It has been a real treat for me this month to read and review not only this upcoming novel by Catherine Delors, but also her debut novel Mistress of the Revolution. Although the two are not members of a series, For the King does pick up time period-wise where Mistress of the Revolution left off. In that sense, I did feel like there was some continuity between the two books, even though the tone of one is vastly different from that of the other. They are also different in historical fiction sub-g...more It has been a real treat for me this month to read and review not only this upcoming novel by Catherine Delors, but also her debut novel Mistress of the Revolution. Although the two are not members of a series, For the King does pick up time period-wise where Mistress of the Revolution left off. In that sense, I did feel like there was some continuity between the two books, even though the tone of one is vastly different from that of the other. They are also different in historical fiction sub-genre, as this time Catherine Delors has written a historical mystery/political thriller. For the King is a gripping joy ride through the first modern police investigation, which took place following the explosion of an "infernal machine" on Rue Saint-Nicaise on Christmas Eve of 1800 during a failed attempt to assassinate Napoléon, who was then the First Consul of France. The blast was set off by a group of Royalists or "Chouans" who wished to restore the monarchy and oust Napoléon and his supporters from power (this happens right in the very beginning of the book so I'm not giving away any spoilers here).

There is a lot of dramatic irony in this book from the very beginning; we as readers learn truths behind the investigation long before our protagonist Chief Inspector Roch Miquel himself discovers the identities of the would-be assassins or which characters are secretly Royalist agents working for "the cause." Events begin to take a very interesting turn halfway through the book, as we find out more details of the private lives of many of the key characters.

At first I didn't feel much of a real connection to Roch, but as the book went on I found his character more likable, and I enjoyed reading about the father/son relationship between Roch and Old Miquel, which for me also added sentimental value to these characters. There were flashbacks to his childhood throughout the book and I felt I really got to know Roch a lot better by learning his past and finding out how he came to be in his current position of Chief Inspector at the Paris Prefecture of Police. Because he came from a poor family, his promotion to such a high-ranking office illustrates for readers the differences in levels of respect displayed towards the common people pre- and post- Revolution. The newfound equality rights experienced by the Average Joe after the fall of the aristocracy were dramatic. Under the Ancien Régime, someone with Roch's background would never have even been considered for a position that that wielded any significant authority.

Though this is by no means a historical romance, there is a romantic thread that continues throughout the book between Roch and his beautiful mistress Blanche. The two are very much in love despite the fact that Old Miquel wishes Roch to marry his wealthy childhood friend Alexandrine. I wish I had gotten to know these two women a bit more in the book, as they both play important roles in Roch's life by the end of the story. I found the characters directly involved with the events on Rue Nicaise and those responsible for investigating the crime to be the most fully developed. Each had distinctive personalities that made them stand apart. I particularly enjoyed the desciption of the Prefect of Police, Citizen Dubois, Roch's immediate superior and sometimes foe:

"During all the years of the Revolution, he had never expressed any political opinion, defended any noteworthy cause, been a member of any club, participated in any event of any import. He had simply avoided being noticed. Absent some extraordinary mishap, men of such stubborn, deliberate mediocrity survived the stormiest of times (page 44)."

My favorite character from the book was Joseph Fouché, Minister of Police (a very real figure from history). One never quite knows what he is thinking in that fickle head of his and this ambiguity made me eager to learn more about his life. While Roch is considered somewhat of a protégé to the Minister, Fouché keeps Roch on his toes throughout the story, and his hunger for power (and the actions he took in order to maintain his power) heightened the drama of the book. My only real complaint with the book would be its final chapter, which felt a bit abrupt to me. I've recently discovered how much I enjoy historical thrillers and For the King is a perfect example of how, when they are are done right, they can be utterly un-put-down-able. All the clues and nuances of the conspiracy were cleverly woven into the plot and none of the situations felt contrived. Multiple cliff-hangers left me anxious to know what would happen next. If this story sounds like it might be something you, too, would enjoy, be sure to enter my giveaway for a chance to win your very own copy of For the King, in stores July 8th.(less)

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Aug 13, 2010 Lisa Yarde rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

It is Christmas Eve, the year 1800, in post-revolutionary France. Paris’ unsuspecting citizens go about their business casually, unaware of conspirators plotting against the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte. When a crude but powerful bomb rips through the streets, Citizen Inspector Miquel searches for the assassins, knowing that they will never stop the vicious quest for France’s return to its monarchical past.

The French republic bolstered by its revolutionary ideals permitted Miquel’s meteoric r...more It is Christmas Eve, the year 1800, in post-revolutionary France. Paris’ unsuspecting citizens go about their business casually, unaware of conspirators plotting against the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte. When a crude but powerful bomb rips through the streets, Citizen Inspector Miquel searches for the assassins, knowing that they will never stop the vicious quest for France’s return to its monarchical past.

The French republic bolstered by its revolutionary ideals permitted Miquel’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings. Now, his father’s rhetoric against Napoleon’s corrupt government lands him in jail. Miquel suddenly discovers his father’s fate is contingent on his innate skills and speed. He races against time to discover the truth. Ties to the present also hinder his abilities, with his beautiful mistress Blanche Coudert as a persistent distraction. I never doubted that he would expose the assassins and capture the elusive conspirator, code-named For the King. His deft handling of each new obstacle always gave me with intense relief, only to have my heart full of fear whenever an unforeseen threat immediately arose.

Catherine Delors first wowed me with her portrayal of revolutionary France in her debut title, Mistress of the Revolution. I have come to admire her most for her passion for France of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is always evident in the history she reveals, and the mannerisms and attitudes of her characters, details that only a dedicated writer who has immersed herself in the period can bring to life. She has also impressed me with the multifaceted personalities of the individuals on the page, each unique and memorable. Miquel has high ideals, but he can be brutally purposeful when the excesses of the past threaten to misdirect his moral compass. His father has a hard edge to him, but he is invariably committed to his friends and proud of his son’s accomplishments. Blanche proved the biggest surprise, more than just a pretty face in silken dresses. If you want principled but conflicted heroes, passionate and determined heroines, and cold-blooded, tireless villains, read For the King. Perhaps you will find yourself, like I was, transported to a turbulent time, rife with political upheaval and intrigue. Very few authors have that effect on me, but Catherine accomplishes it with unerring talent and tireless dedication to illuminating the past.(less)

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Aug 08, 2010 Moppet rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ancien-regime-france, crime, france, french-revolution, historical-fiction, history, 19th-century

I loved Catherine Delors's debut novel, Mistress of the Revolution, so my expectations for For the King were high, and I’m delighted to say that the book did not disappoint. An historical thriller, it deals with the failed assassination attempt on Napoleon in Paris on Christmas Eve 1800 – or, in French Revolutionary parlance, the 3rd of the month of Nivose (translation: Frosty) of Year Nine of the Republic.

For the King follows the investigation after the attack, which, although it failed to harm...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: mystery lovers

Shelves: historical-fiction, own, books-i-won, 2011-reads, french-history

Short Version: Started off a little slow, but the suspense kept building as the book went on, and the numerous plot twists ultimately made the book worth a read.

Longer Version: For the King started off a little slow, but the setting - Napoleonic France - was so interesting, I wanted to keep reading anyway - and I ended up being glad that I did.

This book is, basically, a mystery. The main character, Roch Miquel, is a young police inspector who has to race against the clock to figure out who is be...more

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Jul 01, 2010 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, historical-fiction, read-in-2010

My thoughts: For the King is a novel based on a real assassination attempt that took place on Christmas Eve in 1800 on Napoleon Bonarparte. Napoleon escaped by the hair on his chiny, chin chin , however many innocent Parisians died. Roch Miquel is on the case, but finding the truth is turning difficult with the intrusion of corrupt superiors in the police force and with his father falsely arrested as being part of the conspiracy. The novel centers on Roch trying to save his father quickly and fi...more

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Sep 08, 2010 Oriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, keepers, french-history, the-ones-i-cannot-live-without

The story opens with an extremely powerful scene, an attempted murder of the First Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, who is passing by Rue Nicaise in his way to the Opera. Two Chouans, Pierre Saint Régent and Joseph de Limoëlan, block the street with a cart and provoke an explosion with a strange device called “La Machine Infernale”. In a few minutes, a deadly explosion kills dozens of people, innocent Parisians, but fails to get the target of their mission. Bonaparte leaves in his carriage with his e...more The story opens with an extremely powerful scene, an attempted murder of the First Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, who is passing by Rue Nicaise in his way to the Opera. Two Chouans, Pierre Saint Régent and Joseph de Limoëlan, block the street with a cart and provoke an explosion with a strange device called “La Machine Infernale”. In a few minutes, a deadly explosion kills dozens of people, innocent Parisians, but fails to get the target of their mission. Bonaparte leaves in his carriage with his escort perfectly safe. The details of the effects of the bomb are striking, I could easily imagine the horror of those who first arrive to that slaughter.

Roch Miquel is a Chief Inspector who leads this investigation. Young, handsome and intelligent, he knows the importance of finding out the responsible minds behind the attack of the Rue Nicaise, especially after seeing the consequences. He is the son of a Romani Auvergnat, Antonin Miquel, the owner of The Mighty Barrel tavern and also a Jacobite who doesn't hide his opinions about the First Consul and the government. Roch is in love of his beautiful mistress, Blanche, a married, refined and cultivated young woman who seems too perfect to be real.

As I mentioned before in Historical Tapestry conversation about For The King, I had some troubles warming up to Roch in the first half of the book. His judgments towards several people he meets all along the story really got into my nerves. He was quick to love and even quicker to hate. I often felt bad for Alexandrine about the way he treated her and her father. I do understand his background, his story but sometimes it was a bit too much rudeness for my taste. With the development of the investigation, he slowly changes his attitude and becomes less distant and less judgmental towards those who really care for him..

The secondary characters are inevitably captivating, despite their actions. I couldn't stop myself searching for more information about Saint Régent and Limoëlan. Both are responsible for the massacre in Rue Nicaise and yet, I cannot dislike them as much as I did Fouché. They fight for what they believe and if I cannot forgive them for what they did, I felt that neither could them, especially Limoëlan. He seems to have lived all his life riddled with guilt.

Now, someone I completely disliked but couldn't help feeling drawn to him was the untrustworthy Fouché, the minister of Police. He is perfect in the role of villain, an unscrupulous turncoat who switches allegiances as he see fit. He always sides with the winners, no matter what. Definitely a very dangerous man!

The Old Miquel is definately my favorite character. He is so touching with his unconditional love for his son, even if he can be very harsh with him as a young boy. He is a man who always remains faithful to his ideals. We learn that he had a very difficult life filled with poverty, hard work and death, but he seems to enjoy life as much as he can. The details of his life in Auvergne and his work in Paris were fascinating.

The historical research behind the story is remarkable and we can feel in every page the incredible work Catherine Delors did to recreate the Post Revolutionary Paris. For those who know this city, For the King is a tremendous treat, those who don't I'm sure you'll enjoy it and you'll want to come to Paris and visit every corner mentioned in the book.

This period of French history, just after the Revolution and the first years of Napoleon as First Consul, was never really appealing to me, mostly due to my profound dislike for the future French Emperor. Catherine Delors novel didn't change my opinion but made me realize that I will read everything she writes no matter the historical period. Meanwhile, I already add Mistress of the Revolution to my TBR pile for my next vacation. Can't wait!

Grade: 4.5/5
(less)

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Jul 31, 2010 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

My review for The Associated Press:
¶ "For the King" (Dutton, $26.95), by Catherine Delors: Former attorney Catherine Delors continues to stake her claim to the French Revolutionary period in her follow-up to last year's "Mistress of the Revolution," but her second novel is more of a police procedural than a romance.
¶ While Delors covered the French Revolution and subsequent Reign of Terror with great sweep in her first novel, "For the King" focuses on a few weeks following the attempted assassin...more My review for The Associated Press:
¶ "For the King" (Dutton, $26.95), by Catherine Delors: Former attorney Catherine Delors continues to stake her claim to the French Revolutionary period in her follow-up to last year's "Mistress of the Revolution," but her second novel is more of a police procedural than a romance.
¶ While Delors covered the French Revolution and subsequent Reign of Terror with great sweep in her first novel, "For the King" focuses on a few weeks following the attempted assassination of Napoleon Bonaparte.
¶ Royalists eager to restore the French monarchy set off a cart of gunpowder in a Paris street on Christmas Eve 1800, hoping to kill the French leader as his carriage passes on its way to the opera. Bonaparte had seized power the year before and given himself the title of first consul. The French Senate would later declare him emperor.
¶ He escaped the attack unscathed but 22 people were killed and 56 wounded. One of the dead was an unsuspecting teenage girl the would-be assassins had paid to hold the horse and cart in place.
¶ Outraged by the carnage, residents of Paris rallied behind Bonaparte, and the city's police launched what some consider the first modern criminal investigation.
¶ Delors has created a hero in fictional Chief Inspector Roch Miquel, who is charged with finding and arresting the conspirators. She gives Miquel additional incentive by having his father arrested for expressing opposition to Bonaparte. Minister of Police Joseph Fouche, a historical figure Delors portrays as a Machiavellian villain, tells Miquel his father will be deported to Africa with other dissenters unless arrests are made quickly.
¶ "For the King" tracks Miquel's pursuit of the three main conspirators. Delors describes the conduct of interviews, examination of evidence and other police procedures with skill, but overall the novel is flat. Her devotion to the process of the police investigation shortchanges the romantic subplots and character development, resulting in an informative but less-than-engrossing story.
¶ Some of the most interesting material is in the author's endnote, in which Delors outlines which parts of the novel are factual and which are invented. Her detailed and sometimes sordid descriptions of the conspirators, Francois Carbon, Pierre Robinault de Saint-Regent and Joseph-Pierre Picot de Limoelan, are based on the historical record. Carbon had an affair with his sister. Limoelan paid a street vendor a small sum to hold the horse, setting her up to be killed.
¶ Delors inventively uses a detail discovered about Saint-Regent _ that he gave an unnamed love interest a pug _ as the driver for her story. In the novel, Miquel and Saint-Regent have fallen for the same woman.
¶ ___
¶ Online:
¶ http://catherinedelors.com/(less)

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Jan 18, 2011 TheRealMelbelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this book. It is based on a real attempt to assassinate Napoleon on Christmas Eve 1800. Twenty-two people were killed in the attack and another fifty-six were maimed and received a lifetime pension from the Nation. It is often considered to be the first modern police investigation. The main characters were fictitious but the intrigue of the event was based on real events. The evil Fouche seems just as nasty in real life as he was in this book.

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Sep 27, 2010 Boston Book Bums rated it 3 of 5 stars

Delors certainly follows through on the historical particulars but the romance is really third-rate. Roch fancies himself a romantic but this reader disagrees.

However, what Delors does best in For the King, is carry on a fine French tradition of the policier. If you are looking for a love story skip For the King but if you prefer a French detective story that happens to take place in 1800, For the King delivers.

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Aug 11, 2010 Rebecca Huston rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: france, historical-fiction, keepers

A knockout of a second novel. Tightly paced, smart writing and a real sense of tension as Roch, a policeman in 1800's Paris struggles to unravels a conspiracy before he loses everything -- and quite possibly his own life. Don't be fooled by the romantic cover, this is straight up historical fiction and a real roller coaster ride. Very much recommended.

For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/For_th...

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Sep 08, 2010 Christy B rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-have-won, fiction, historical-fiction, france

Another winner from Catherine Delors! I just loved her first book, Mistress of the Revolution, and was so excited to dive into For the King!

For the King can be described as a historical mystery with hints of romance. It tells the story of Chief Detective Roch Miquel who is investigating the attempted assassination of Napoleon Bonaparte that occurred on Christmas Eve 1800. The attempt failed, but dozens of innocent people were either killed or maimed.

Road blocks, such as spies, shady characters a...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Lauren Reams rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

I really wanted to love this book; I LOVED The Mistress of the Revolution but I felt like the characters in this story were really one-dimensional. This book should have been very entertaining, but instead I was flipping through the pages trying to figure out the purpose of the plot. As a historical fiction buff, I wanted to know more details about the Napoleon period in France.

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Aug 17, 2010 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been in a French reading mood since my visit to Paris last year and I must say that my visit to Paris helped immensely in my enjoyment of this book. It was almost like the city of Paris was a character in this book. I found it an interesting literary device to take an actual assassination attempt upon Napoleon and have it serve as the focal point of the novel. I cared for Roch, the fictional detective and main character, and liked seeing his life as Citizen Chief Inspector and his private l...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Future Cat Lady rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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