Death of a Musketeer

Musketeers Mysteries #1

by Sarah D'Almeida

When they stumble upon the dead body of the Queen of France's double, who was masquerading as a musketeer, the Four Musketeers, keeping the crime quiet as to not cause a scandal, investigate on their own and unravel a shocking conspiracy that is linked to one of their pasts. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Crime

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

A pseudonym used by Sarah A. Hoyt

Reviews

[Reni]

I give up.

I somehow made it through Les Larmes du Cardinal suffering nothing worse than tedious boredom. And I even enjoyed myself a bit reading the smutty and slightly offensive Sword & Blood (which was apparently written by the same author as this series?). But this innocuous little murder mystery is where I give up. I did not even make it through a fifth of this book before I could not take it anymore.

I binge-read the complete d'Artagnan romances this year, and having this book claim it takes place in the same universe as those did not make me happy: The characterisation for our Inseperables is just way-off! And the book does not even get basic details right like their hair & eye colours or where they live! Why then create an elaborate foreword to claim that these are exactly the characters from Dumas' d'Artagnan romances? Oh, and btw. the book constantly misspells "d'Artagnan" as well. That's how closely this book recreates Dumas' stories! In addition the murder-mystery plot doesn't grip me at all. Even the first couple of descisions our heros take upon discovering the body are so outlandish and out-there that I can't get into the plot at all. And on top of that the characters prefer to monologue to themselves, providing the reader with info-dumps, rather than act.

This is simply bad style.

[Eva Müller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Life is too short for shitty books.



Unless the author finally learns how to spell d'Artagnan and has another look at the original canon I am not going back there...

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

A writing style I find awkward and difficult to trad. Overwrought and unbelievable characterizations of the emotional turmoil the musketeers go through. Very melodramatic.

[Marko · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read quite a few pastiches based on Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, so I have built some tolerance to the fact that they rarely meet the quality of the original. Death of a Musketeer, however, is a risky venture from the start: instead of continuing the story or covering the "lost years", the author sets out to rewrite the original, claiming that Dumas altered the story and she has found new evidence of what actually happened to the four heroes. The result is mediocre at best (even if you manage to ignore the many plot holes) and changes the characters beyond recognition and likeability.

Full review at:
http://susimetsa.blogspot.fi/2017/12/...

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon after their first meeting, D'Artagnan and the three musketeers he picked a fight with stumble across the a corpse of a woman in the streets of Paris - a woman dressed in a musketeer uniform who bears a striking resemblance to the queen. Fearing that a scandal might break loose if the queen is indeed involved or this turns out to be connected to some sort of plot against her, they choose to keep the matter quiet and investigate the murder themselves.

I've always loved The Three Musketeers and watch pretty much any movie or TV adaptation I can get my hands on, so finding out that there's a series of mystery novels out there featuring these characters, I obviously had to give them a shot. Fitting neatly into the timeline of the original novel, this was an enjoyable read with all the swashbuckling, daring duels, humour, conspiracies and secret plots of Dumas's books.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are cozy mysteries in the marketplace today that have various historical or literary figures solving crime in their own time that was never "recorded." One such mystery series stars the well loved trio plus one of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan has met the "inseparables" by accident and has to duel each one for various reasons of honor. Of course, the Cardinals' guards decide to enforce the no dueling allowed law at this time. Well, the three musketeers (plus one young Gascon) defeat the guards quite handily and avoid arrest. From then on, D'Artagnan becomes a part of their group and is included in a pub tour of Paris. Unfortunately, in a dark alley way they discover one of their corps dead. With firm resolve, the four promise each other to solve this murder and take vengeance on the assassin. Thus, the mystery begins and twists and turns along the way keep you reading.

Very recommended.

[Cynthia Armistead · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to some swashbuckling fun and good repartée, so when I heard of these books I put the first four on my reading list. After reading the first, I removed the others.

The murder mystery isn't as mysterious as all that, and the delay in solving it relies heavily on D'Artagnan not recognizing someone he'd encountered before. As he is supposed to be very observant and cunning, that doesn't work very well.

I suppose it's time for a re-read of Brust's The Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After. I know I won't be disappointed there!

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for the way it delved into the lives of the musketeers, using their different POVs, unlike the Dumas original with it's omniscent narrator. It deviates from Dumas's story a little to create a mystery, which I found a little too out there for me, but I will admit I love The Three Musketeers. Not sure I'm going to read any more of Sarah's books. Too many great books and mystery series and not enough time for ok books.

[Harish P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Athos, Porthos, Aramia, and D’Artagnan literatures' enduring friend quartet. They turn the detectives to investigate a corpse of young woman clad in musketeer's outfit.

One hell of a read for historical fiction lovers like me. The Paris and the French countryside of Dumas time is very meticulously recreated. The plot is mind blowing. Can't ask for a better book on a weekend! Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Margaret Konecsni · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting twist on a classic. While I wouldn't exactly trust the Musketeers to try and solve MY murder, it was good as an introductory novel to the series.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Porthos, the direct man of action, found words a slippery adversary who wouldn't meet him openly.

As a big fan of the Three Musketeers who has also written a book using them, I am impressed by Sarah Hoyt’s use of the trio plus one. Mine is a pastiche, but she uses the same characters using modern storytelling techniques while maintaining the motivations and personalities that Dumas gave the characters,

The story takes place during the time period that Dumas glossed over after D’Artagnan meets his three friends and before he takes up with Dessesart’s guards.

Her story is firmly set in the mystery genre. The mystery begins when they find the Queen dead in an alley, dressed as one of the King’s Musketeers. And it should not be a spoiler to say that nothing that happens here contradicts the original books.

There are many echoes of events that will happen later in Dumas’s originals, including the three plus one making guesses about how other characters, such as Richelieu, would deal with adversity that are savvy guesses—for we know they are right from Dumas’s later books.

He looked like the ghost of fashion past.

[Nigel Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the basis of the plot was interesting, it was a bit of a trudge negotiating spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and rather average editing. For me, there was too much analysis of the characters and many of the scenes, and the prolific use of dialogue could easily have done with being replaced by more action. In a sense, the writing style was basic and bumpy, which hindered the flow of the story and could use some freshness and vitality. Later chapters, however, showed some improvement, perhaps indicating the author's good and bad writing days.
With so much uninspiring text and her melodramatic approach, I will not be going out of my way to search for her other novels.
Two stars from me.

[Carbonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape into another world of honor, adventure, & political intrigue

This book is pretty good value. The pacing and plot aren’t as snappy as in Mrs. Hoyt's most recent work like Code Pink (which was a delight) but the characters are spot on. Best of all the whole thing feels like I’m living in Dumas’ Musketeers' world. Which is not something I ever expected to get, M. Dumas being long-dead and all. So if the idea of being transported into a long-ago Paris of duels, loyalty, betrayal, and intrigue floats your boat, this is a good choice. I've already bought the sequel.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read

It was a fast reading and fun book and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Doc · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characterizations of the Musketeers were a little over-the-top histrionic for me. This made it hard to trust the four swordsmen.
Athos, for example--normally calm, even stolid--was perpetually and disturbingly angst-ridden, acting like an angry high school kid with a crush.
Aramis, who in the original tries to maintain a calm, priestly mien, is sometimes on the verge of completely surrendering to lust, unreasonably so.
Worst of all, the one-for-all, all-for-one thing doesn't seem to hold much sway: Often the four are in danger of dueling each other.

For me, the book veered too far afield from the original, which made it unsettling and a little disappointing.

[Louise Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characterization other than the villain. Disappointing ending.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the Three Musketeers, you will like this first book in this mystery series. You can vividly see the personalities of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan within this story. An unknown young lady wearing a Muskateer's uniform is found murdered they the 4 men when they decide to follow her, thinking she is their comrade. Because this young lady looks so very much like the Queen of France, they realize some type of plot is being conspired against the Queen. To find the identity of this young woman, the 4 must go to an orphanage led by nuns in the farmland outside the city of Paris. They find the woman was of noble birth. Going back to the city, they meet the roommate of the murdered woman, and let her journey with them back to the city to see that her friend's murder is avenged. From the information pieced together, they realize that Cardinal Richlieu's right hand man, Rochefort, must have something to do with the treasonous plot against the queen. After many twists and turns within the plot, the murderer is finally revealed. It is not who the Musketeers thought, but is someone who is now close with the Musketeers, much to Athos' dismay.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp of a read, as the Musketeers discover a dead body and decide to solve the mystery behind it. Fun, as none of the four heroes are really traditional detectives.
The writer has a great handle on the four leads and even adds in a few explainations for things hinted at in the Dumas books.
Only problem I have is setting this smack in the middle of the original novel limits some of what she can do and It cramped her style in a few places.

Lots of fun and I'm looking forward to tracking down the rest of the series.

[Kiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and fun murder mystery romp with the Musketeers. The author does a good job of setting up how these stories came to light via her hands, she also has a good grasp on the character voices. We get some nice back story on the more minor characters in the original tales as well.

This story interweaves into the very beginning of when D'Artagnan arrives in Paris and meets the Musketeers - Porthos, Athos, and Aramis. We get a good glimpse into the Royal palace and at the Cardinal's households and lifestyles too.

Sending this onto Cheesy so she can read it.

[Lorinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of this series of mysteries, written about the famous four, D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers, Aramis, Porthos and Athos. I enjoyed it although I read the second of these books first and thought it was much better than this one I still liked it. I had a little trouble in the beginning getting the characters straight, but once I got further into the story I really enjoyed it. The four are quite the comedy team with some deeply embroiled secrets, sometimes its hard to remember who knows what, but overall the characters are engaging and human. Will be reading more!

[Hannah Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love getting into the point of view of each musketeer in this book. Each chapter is told from the point of view of either Aramis, Porthos, Athos, or D'Artagnan. While the extra back story and personality quirks are enjoyable, I did feel like the characters were each very analytical. Maybe I am just used to less paragraphs about what the character thinks about, but each time a character started analyzing the mystery, it seemed excessive and too detailed. I did enjoy the book, but I was not satisfied with the ending. There was a surprise, but I didn't like how the mystery wrapped up.

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Three Musketeer's has always been my favorite book. I am glad to see someone has taken up the pen in their name again. I enjoyed their adventures in solving a murder. This murder has the potential to become a scandal, as the body of a musketeer is discovered to be a female that looks very much like the Queen. Athos, Porthos, Aramis & D'Artagnan work together to solve the crime and save great nations.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book up to a point. Ms. D'Almeida has a flare for capturing the personalities of the Three Musketeers and D'artagnan but the story kind of petered out. Still, a good period piece and interesting enough to inspire me to try another in the series.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery. Great if you are a Dumas fan. Probably not where I would have taken the original fab 4, but a fun mystery.

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. Try it yourself.