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Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris Audiobook
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A riveting true story of murder and detection in 15th-century Paris, by one of the most brilliant medievalists of his generation.
On a chilly November night in 1407, Louis of Orleans was murdered by a band of masked men. The crime stunned and paralyzed France since Louis had often ruled in place of his brother King Charles, who had gone mad. As panic seized Paris, an investigation began. In charge was the Provost of Paris, Guillaume de Tignonville, the city's chief law enforcement officer -- and one of history's first detectives. As de Tignonville began to investigate, he realized that his hunt for the truth was much more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.
A rich portrait of a distant world, Blood Royal is a gripping story of conspiracy, crime and an increasingly desperate hunt for the truth. And in Guillaume de Tignonville, we have an unforgettable detective for the ages, a classic gumshoe for a cobblestoned era.
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“Though the story is ostensiblyabout the murder of Louis, brother to mad King Charles and frequent regent ofFrance, it takes on a much larger scope as the uncovering of the mastermindleads to political maneuvering, civil war, and ultimately invasion byEngland…Jager’s attention to atmosphere and detail allows the setting to cometo life in all its gruesome detail, especially as he explores the nature ofcrime and punishment and the many grisly repercussions for those heldresponsible. Despite the misleading focus on Tignonville’s investigation, thisis a fascinating and complex look at the tumultuous events of early fifteenthcentury France.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“Jager is a fine writer attuned to the details that bring medieval France to life, and once the crime is dispensed with, we’re galloping madly across the rise of kings and the fall of cities, headed toward Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Few works of fiction will grab readers’ attention as well as Jager’s riveting story of a 1407 murder mystery that split the royal family of France…An impressive combination of mystery, crime story, and social and political history.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Jager has utilized de Tigonville’s written report as the basis for a tense and exciting true-life detective story. De Tigonville is the ideal detective, combining street smarts, a relentless drive, and a willingness to follow where the facts lead regardless of whose toes he steps on. An outstanding crime tale that also provides a good survey of both the glittering façade and the seamier aspects of medieval Paris.”
— Booklist -
This high-suspense, sanguinary tale ensnares readers. . . . The tension is nearly unendurable. . . . Sex, savagery, and high-level political maneuvers energize a splendid piece of popular history.
— Kirkus Reviews -
Jager provides an excellent depiction of feudal society, placing the reader into the lives of knights and nobles, detailing their relationships with each other and their lords. The ongoing Hundred Years' War and each man's role in it give this personal conflict its historical context. The story of the duel and the rivalry leading up to it make for quick reading as enthralling and engrossing as any about a high-profile celebrity scandal today.
— Gavin Quinn, Booklist -
If you read only one book about the Middle Ages, Eric Jager's thriller is the one to read.
— Steven Ozment, author of A Mighty Fortress and The Burgermeister's Daughter
Blood Royal Listener Reviews
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justin walker, 8/1/2019
About Eric Jager
Eric Jager is an award-winning professor at UCLA and the author of many in acclaimed academic journals. He has also written numerous books, including the widely acclaimed The Last Duel, The Book of the Heart, and The Tempter’s Voice. He lives in Los Angeles.
About René Auberjonois
René Auberjonois is an American stage, film, television, and voice actor and an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. After graduating from Carnegie-Mellon University, he acted with various theater companies, including San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater and Los Angeles’ Mark Taper Forum. In 1969, he earned a Tony Award for his performance as Sebastian Baye alongside Katharine Hepburn in Coco. Since then, he has acted in a variety of theater productions, films, and television series, in addition to being active in radio drama.