Louis Bayard

Louis Bayard

The Black Tower by Louis Bayard is set in a wild period of French history, the years after the Reign of Terror. Young Hector Carpentier is a bit flustered to find himself in the clutches of Vidocq, head of the Surete. Bayard successfully blends historical fact and fiction. Vidocq was the real head of the Surete, and if in reading the book you find his exploits outrageous, they are nothing compared to his real life adventures. Vidocq has inspired many works of fiction, including one of my all time favorites, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. (booksense)… (more)

Louis Bayard reads from The Black Tower.

All Evenings with Authors events begin at 7:30 p.m. The featured guest reads from his or her most recent work, chats about writing, and then there is a question-and-answer session with the audience. Each event closes with a coffee and cookies reception and an opportunity to buy the author's book(s) and get them signed. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, with discounts for students and seniors.

Louis Bayard, the acclaimed author of Mr. Timothy, a New York Times Notable Book, and The Pale Blue Eye, nominated for both the Edgar and Dagger awards, is back with another spellbinding historical mystery about a lost king and a real-life convict who transformed himself into the world’s first modern detective. A riveting thriller of cover-ups and conspiracies, The Black Tower is set in Paris in 1818, and follows the brilliant man known as Vidocq - former criminal and father of modern forensic detection - who is close to unveiling a tantalizing secret: the fate of Louis-Charles, the lost son of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. (stephmo)… (more)