THE MENAGERIE
by Judy Willmore
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GENRE:
Historical Mystery
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BLURB:
FranÇoise-AthÉnaÏs
de Rochechouart de Mortemart had to have Louis, King of France, but his other
mistresses stood in the way. Then she meets the very helpful sorceress and
AthÉnaÏs gets her wish. But soon Louis hears tales of witchcraft and poison, a
conspiracy spreading through his court—like the beasts in the Versailles
menagerie, courtesans are clawing their way to his favor, and his bed. He
orders Lieutenant General of Police Gabriel-Nicolas de la Reynie to
investigate. Mysterious deaths mount while La Reynie presses on, hauling in
witches, charlatans, and the nobility alike. Grimy fingers point to AthÉnaÏs,
the King's mistress, with whispers of a black mass celebrated over her naked
body. Then La Reynie discovers a plot to kill her.
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EXCERPT: They were about to alight when Athénaïs shrank back into the shadowed corner of the coach. “Look—could that be?” A man built with the broad shoulders and determination of a bull walked briskly past them towards the first coach in line.
Her maid
gasped, but quickly squeezed Athénaïs’ hand. “I told you, madame, tout Paris
consults the famous La Voisin. Come along, now.” In a rustle of brown silk, the
laughing mademoiselle got out of the coach, followed by the wary Athénaïs.
They were
greeted at the door by a girl of about fifteen, her frowzy hair peeking out of
her lace-edged cap. “Bon soir, mesdames,” she curtseyed. “Please come into the
parlor.” Light from a chandelier and a few candles pierced the shadows,
reflected in a crystal ball on the tea table near the settee. Next to the
crystal ball was a deck of tarot cards lying on a square of purple silk.
“Please be seated,” the girl announced. “I will fetch my mother.”
“Isn’t this
exciting,” whispered Mlle Claude as she looked around the room.
Athénaïs
stared at the murky crystal ball. “How can anyone see anything in there?”
“Only someone
with my gifts can see the future,” boomed a woman’s voice behind them.
Startled,
both ladies turned to see La Voisin in the doorway. Although short and plump,
she radiated authority in her magnificent sea-green velvet dress and crimson
velvet cloak embroidered with hundreds of double-headed, wingspread eagles.
Even her slippers were stitched with gold thread in the same motif. What
stunned Athénaïs were the woman’s eyes: black as night, so piercing as to
invade one’s soul.
REVIEW
This story takes you into the court life of Versailles and believe me when I say I was shocked as what went on there. This story was truly interesting. What one woman would do to get the man she wants. I loved the magic aspect of this story. The story had so much going on and I really enjoyed that so much. A well written story with excitement, magic, mistrust and a historical aspect.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Judy Willmore is a former journalist, then private investigator,
and now a psychotherapist who practices in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her
historical mystery The Menagerie was published in 2021 by Artemesia Press, and
she is now working on a sequel.
The book is on sale for only $0.99.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Menagerie-Passion-Power-Poison-Court-ebook/dp/B08XQXMG6Q/ref=sr_1_1
Website: https://judywillmoreauthor.com/about
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005439187278
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20514500.Judy_Willmore
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author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter. Please use this code on your post:
Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sounds like a good book.
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