Mute Witness

Praise for Mute Witness... "The bar for historical mysteries has just been raised...." -Publishers Weekly starred review The years just prior to the French Revolu­tion were filled with conflict, although many chose to ignore the signals of the coming storm. The Palais-Royal was the scene of much gaiety and a constant round of pleasures-perfect cover for darker activities such as the murder of a Parisian actress. That same evening, her lover, Antoine Dubois, died in a fatal fall. Was his death a guilt-induced suicide? Soon word of Antoine's death reaches his stepdaughter, Anne Cartier, a young vaudeville actress with the Sadler's Wells company in London. She enlists the aid of the messenger, Colonel Paul de Saint-Martin, and his adju­tant, Georges Charpentier, to cross with her to France to investigate. While in Paris, Anne, who is skilled in signing for the deaf, befriends Michou, a deaf, illiterate seamstress with a talent for puppetry. Michou gives Anne an entrée into the Palais-Royal, where her quest broadens to include an amateur theatrical society of dissolute young noblemen and several suspicious officials. Hoping to learn more, Anne agrees to appear at a chateau to act the part of an exotic queen in Indian costume. But when priceless jewelry disappears and its owner, an aged count, is murdered, a venal police inspector threatens to derail Anne's whole project.... Charles O'Brien earned a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University and went on to teach history for thirty years before turning to historical mystery fiction full time. He resides in Williamstown, Massachusetts, with his art historian wife, Elvy. www.mutewitness.com