The Black Tower

By: Louis Bayard

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

From the acclaimed author of The Pale Blue Eye, this literary thriller features Eugène Vidocq, a criminal who transformed himself into the world's first and greatest detective.

After the execution of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, and the death of their son, the Dauphin, the Bourbon monarchy has at last been restored.

Dr. Hector Carpentier leads a very quiet life, until he meets legendary police officer Vidocq, who has used his mastery of disguise and surveillance and his extensive knowledge of the Parisian underworld to capture some of the most notorious and elusive criminals. Now, with the help of Carpentier, Vidocq may prove that the Dauphin lives, which could change the course of history.

©2008 Louis Bayard (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Outstanding historical mystery!!!!

Any additional comments?

Brings one of history's great mysteries to life with fully realized characters that I came to care about. Suspenseful and moving, and read by one of the very best narrators in the business, Simon Vance, the story delves into the puzzle of France's Anastasia-like Lost Dauphin. So happy to have stumbled onto this author!!! Excellent in every way.

Vidocq steals the show

I am a sucker for stories that take place in England or France from about 1700 to 1900 and I also enjoy a clever detective story. So I liked this very much. I was hoping it would be a series but apparently not. This book spans the period of the French revolution and it helps to have a little knowledge. But I appreciated that the author didn't spend a long time explaining the history, just let it emerge naturally.

There were some plot twists I didn't expect, which kept my attention, but the most interesting character to me was the detective Vidocq. Possessed of a criminal past, an iron nerve, and an incredible talent for disguise, he was constantly fascinating. In comparison the narrator is rather colorless. Simon Vance did a good job with the different voice and pronounced the French excellently.

A French Detective with a British accent?

Might have been better if it had truly been about Vidoc and his scientific methods. A French narrator would have been better.

Great Historical Fiction

I truly enjoyed this story and the reading. If you like historical fiction this will not disappoint. I wish audible would offer more stories by this author.

started out slow

It started out slow but really picked up...I want to go back and listen to the beginning again just to get the characters straight

Wonderful

Well written, fascinating history. Perfectly narrated as well. Even better than the Pale Blue Eye.

Excellent

This starts slowly but moves at a seady pace. The style is a bit wordy but as i got into it it became a true literary masterpiece. Highly recommended.

A gem

If not the best audiobook I have ever listened to and I've listened to a good number, certainly in the top 5. Combining a natural, seemingly effortless writing style that delivers lively, intelligent conversations as well as the protagonists personal thought process along with a thrilling story [if you like historical fiction] this book kept me always wanting to hear more. The narration was lively and well done. If you wanted to nit pick you could find fault in the fact that the narrator did not effect a French accent [all the characters are French] so all the lower class types tended to have sort of a Cockney accent [at least I think that's what a Cockney accent sounds like]. I find that when non French speaking people try to do French accents it just comes out sounding dopey so I don't regret his decision to stick to the English version.

Great performance

One of the best performances I've heard in audio books. Good detective story as well set in a different time. Sherlock Holmesish

Another Winner from Bayard

Any additional comments?

This is another good novel from Louis Bayard. He does a great job of building interesting characters and settings.