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Cathie Dunn
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Ocelot Press
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The Shadows of Versailles: A dark tale of innocence lost in a world full of intrigues (An Affair of the Poisons Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Cathie Dunn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 276 ratings

“Dunn’s masterful portrayal of the glittering world of the Sun King’s court and the contrasting dark, human stew of 17th Century Paris, will delight any reader familiar with the Affair of the Poisons - and equally thrill those new to the period.”
~ Kate Braithwaite, author of Charlatan


Dazzled by Versailles. Broken by tragedy. Consumed by revenge.

Jacques de Montagnac, a spy for Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie, head of the police in Paris, investigates a spate of abductions of newborn children. Soon, his path takes him into the darkest parts of the city – and to the gates of King Louis XIV’s impressive new palace.

When Fleur de La Fontaine attends the Sun King’s glittering court at Versailles for the first time, she is quickly besotted with handsome courtier, Philippe de Mortain. Giving in to his seduction, she dreams of married life with him, away from her indifferent mother.

Nine months later, held in a convent against her will, she gives birth to a boy, but the nuns whisk him away. With Jacques’ help, Fleur finds shelter at the brothel of Madame Claudette, a woman who helps ‘fallen’ girls back on their feet. As she mends the girls’ dresses to pay for her stay, Fleur falls deeper and deeper into despair.

Meanwhile, Jacques’ search for Fleur’s son leads to a dead end – and a dreadful suspicion.

Fleur decides to avenge her boy, and her new acquaintance, the Duchess de Bouillon, knows the very person who can help Fleur achieve her revenge: the infamous midwife, La Voisin.

But it’s not the woman’s skills in childbirth that Fleur seeks. La Voisin dabbles in poisons!

Can Jacques save Fleur from herself? Or will she allow vengeance to subsume her?


Delve into The Shadows of Versailles and enter the sinister world of ambitious courtiers, crafty poisoners, child abductions, and black masses during the Affairs of the Poisons, a real event that shook the court of King Louis XIV!

Note: This dark historical novel contains scenes that some readers may find upsetting.

~~~An Affair of the Poisons series:

Book One: The Shadows of Versailles
Book Two: The Alchemist's Daughter (out in late 2021)

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  1. Book 1 of 1
    An Affair of the Poisons
  2. Print length
    279 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 20, 2020
  6. File size
    6.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

palace of Versailles

Meet the poisoners of Paris...

Discover the Affair of the Poisons that reached from the dark back streets of Paris to the heart of the court of King Louis XIV at Versailles!

Dare you enter The Shadows of Versailles?

Brinvilliers

In the beginning...

The trial of the Marquise de Brinvilliers, accused of murdering her father and two brothers in cold blood, through poison, was the first of many.

She was found guilty and sentenced to death.

catacomb

A series of unexplained deaths...

Soon after, more cases emerged. Suspicion arose when people died, often suddenly and in dubious circumstances.

At the same time, newborn babes were abducted. Their fate was a cruel one, meant to satisfy the nobles’ thirst for power.

The Shadows of Versailles

Enter the Shadows at your peril...

...and discover courtly intrigues, a thriving market for potions and poisons, and men and women who stop at nothing.

The Shadows of Versailles. See how bitter revenge can taste...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ms Dunn takes the real history, some of the real people caught up in the scandal, and weaves an intricate plot involving two main, but completely fictional, characters. I very much liked the way she selected some real figures from history and threaded her own characters into their lives in a most plausible way...

This incident in history, the poisons and the scandal of the abducted children, might almost feel completely fantastic had it not all been true. Ms Dunn, in focusing on a small cast of characters, shows how these terrible events affected ordinary people's lives.
Shadows of Versailles is the first in a series, but does not end on a cliff-hanger. One chapter closes, another remains open, but there is enough resolution to satisfy readers whilst they await the next instalment." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ Discovering Diamonds Reviews


"Fleur goes from a sweet-natured young woman to a cold and calculating one as she waits for the right moment to strike...

This novel is quite dark in the telling and the further you read the darker it becomes. Do not expect a happy ending, for you will be disappointed!

I really enjoyed The Shadows of Versailles and I will certainly be looking out for more books from this very talented author." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ The Whispering Bookworm


"The story is intensely gripping...

I thought the author did a marvellous job of portraying what life must have been like at Versailles, and I also thought she contrasted Versailles with the poorest parts of Paris very well, showing exactly how differently the rich and the poor lived and behaved." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ Oh Look, Another Book

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08LHC27F7
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ocelot Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 20, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 279 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 1 ‏ : ‎ An Affair of the Poisons
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 276 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Cathie Dunn

    Cathie Dunn

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Cathie Dunn writes historical fiction, mystery, and romance. The focus of her historical fiction novels is on strong women through time.

    Cathie has been writing for over twenty years. She studied Creative Writing, with a focus on novel writing, which she teaches in the south of France. She loves researching for her novels, delving into history books, and visiting castles and historic sites.

    At the moment, Cathie is working on two novels: Treachery, #2 in the House of Normandy series, about Sprota the Breton, handfasted wife of William Longsword, the son of Poppa and Rollo; and The Alchemist's Daughter, #2 in the Affair of the Poisons series. She also continues to plot a medieval murder mystery series set in 13th century Languedoc at the height of the Cathar persecutions.

    Cathie's stories have garnered awards and praise from reviewers and readers for their authentic description of the past.

    Ascent: The fictionalised story of Poppa of Bayeux, handfasted wife of Rollo (Hrólfr) the Viking. A historical novel about a strong woman who faced many challenges head on.

    The Shadows of Versailles: Seduced at Versailles. Broken by tragedy. Consumed by revenge. A historical novel set during the infamous Affair of the Poisons.

    Love Lost in Time: A paranormal dual-timeline mystery set in Carcassonne, south of France, in the present and in the time of Charlemagne. A winner of The Coffee Pot Book Club Award and Book of the Month at Discovering Diamonds Reviews, the story is ’beautifully told’ and ’compelling'. Love Lost in Time is also a Finalist in its category from The Coffee Pot Book Club.

    A Highland Captive: Set during the Scottish Wars of Independence, A Highland Captive is a ’well-researched’ tale of bravery, of uncertainty, and of recognition of love. Winner of the Chill with a Book Award.

    Highland Arms: A fast-paced romantic adventure set in the Scottish Highlands about smugglers, Jacobites and rebellions. A heroine with an insatiable curiosity encounters a Highland rogue. But dangers await!

    Dark Deceit: An ’exciting' medieval mystery romance set in England and Normandy, Dark Deceit weaves a tale of murder, changing loyalties, betrayal and love.

    Silent Deception: A ’thoroughly enjoyable’ gothic romance novella set in Victorian Cornwall. A young heiress uncovers a dark family secret with the help of a stranger. But he has secrets too. Silent Deception is free in ebook format.

    Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors, and she organises historical fiction blog tours for The Coffee Pot Book Club.

    After many years in Scotland, Cathie now lives in south of France with her husband, and rescued Charlie Cat and Ellie Dog. Discover more about Cathie at www.cathiedunn.com!

    See more on the author's page
  2. Ocelot Press

    Ocelot Press

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Ocelot Press is an independent cooperation of bestselling and award-winning authors writing mainly historical fiction, women's fiction and mystery. Our books take our readers across time and into faraway places.

    Find out more about us on our website at www.ocelot-press.com.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
276 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Scottish Hunni
    5.0 out of 5 stars Darkness in the time of Louis XIV
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2021
    Certainly one of the most intriguing periods in history, The Shadow of Versailles takes the reader directly into Louis XIV's dazzling and dangerous court. Jacques de Montagnac is faced with uncovering a mysterious string of poisonings and disappearing infants, but will someone he holds dear be at the center of it all?

    Personally, I thought Jacques should have featured more heavily in the blurb, because he is the main character of this series. Fleur is a sympathetic character, driven by revenge and subject to the burdens of women at the time. I felt deeply for her plight and immense sadness at her fate. I would be very keen to continue reading about Jacques and his further investigations of the poisonings at Versailles and I look forward to the next book in the series. This will appeal to historical mystery lovers with a penchant for reading novels set at the time of the Sun King.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • NWReadingMaven
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deftly woven tale of romance and revenge
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2021
    The scandal-ridden court of France’s extravagant Louis XIV, the “Sun King”, is a fascinating topic for historical fiction, and Cathie Dunn’s The Shadows of Versailles does not disappoint. Two real-life incidents—a mysterious series of poisonings at court and the inexplicable disappearance of infants in Paris—ground the story in history. Deftly weaving fact and fiction, Dunn spins a tale of romance and revenge spanning both the dazzling world of the king and the poorest slums of Paris. The contrast between court life and Paris street life is beautifully drawn, and the heart-breaking choices faced by heroine Fleur de la Fontaine and hero Jacques de Montagnac keep the tension building until the surprising conclusion. Highly recommended.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • 11thc girl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dark thriller set in 17thc France brings the Affairs of the Poisons glaringly to life!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    So I am late with this review for this must read by Fellow author Cathie Dunn but better late than never!
    I absolutely loved the story of Fleur de la Fontagne and real life spy agent, Jacques de Montagne. It opened my eyes to a new era, taking me out of my comfort zone of the Anglo-Saxon and medieval eras to learn a new history about the Affairs of the Poisons that took place in Paris, France in the late 17thc.
    Fleur is a young woman used as a pawn by her mother and her lover to advance their status. Unfortunately for Fleur, her mother didn't teach her how to avoid the clutches of men who would ruin her. Falling for a young courtier, Phillippe de Mortain, she finds herself with child and her mother has her shut away in a convent to deliver the baby which will then be taken away from her, so that Fleur can marry a cruel man of her mother's choice, a man much older than her who Fleur reviles. But Fleur is rescued from such a fate by the honourable and compassionate Jacques, who sets her up in a safe house with his friend, brotherl owner, Madame Claudette whilst he does his best to find her child, the little baby boy, who was ripped from her as she gave birth.
    Dunn's novel about a fallen girl and her quest for justice and Jacques attampt to help her find it, takes her characters to the darkest of places and we see Fleur enter a world of dangerous liaisons, including murder.
    The two main characters tales take different paths but are continuously intertwined throughout the book. Jacques, we find, was a real character who worked for the first ever Lieutenant General of Police in Paris, Gabriel Nicholas and was charged with finding out the criminal secrets of the city. Jacques is charged with helping the force to keep the streets safe, and we see in Jacques a man who wants to help the children and abandoned babies on the streets by setting up a school for them and somewhere safe for the orphans of Paris to go.
    Ms Dunn's writing embues the reader with empathy in her characters, and her narrative of Fleur's deterioration into darkness is superbly told.
    Amidst the stories of both Jacques' and Fleur's lives, we see the start of the Affairs of the Poisons evolve and the impact it has on their lives as they both try to deal with events in their own way.
    A charming and absorbing tale.
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  • Valerie W.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good story reminisant of Three Musketeers
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyable story line. Some editing problems, but forgivable. Ended rather suddenly as though writer came to end of permitted word count. But I recommend and may consider reading further books in series.
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  • diane
    3.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant holiday read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Found it rather predictable. Rather shallow. Good for a quick read on your hols..
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  • james gault
    5.0 out of 5 stars intriguing mystery in the time of Louis XIV
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Cathie Dunn’s new work is a historical mystery set in 17th century Paris, and is a triumph on all levels. The plot is exactly what is wanted in a mystery: engaging and maddeningly puzzling, with all sorts of unexpected twists and turns. Just as readers get to like or hate a character, the author throws in some information or plot development that makes them question their assessment. And the conclusion is suitably surprising and satisfying. The whole book is cleverly crafted.
    As usual for this author, the historical research has been meticulous. This has resulted in not only an accurate background of the facts surrounding the central story, but also to a really credible sensation of the atmosphere of Louis the Fourteenth’s Paris. We experience the fawning and the intrigue of the court at Versailles; we wallow in the luxury of the aristocracy. And then we’re taken into the crowded back streets of the city and exposed to the deprivation, poverty and hopelessness of the lives of the underclasses, and of the criminal exploitation of these poor souls by the middle and religious classes. We are taken back into history in a convincing and not always entirely comfortable way.
    This is a book that ends too soon, but do not despair. A sequel is planned. Watch out for it.
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  • Lady Jane
    2.0 out of 5 stars boring and shallow
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Started well and I was looking forward to getting sucked into another historical novel.

    Very disappointing.
    I was very quickly bored as there wasn't much plot development, there was no depth to the characters and a distinct lack of content when it came to setting the scene.

    I won't be bothering with any other books in this series - which is a shame as it had great potential
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