“The French Emperor’s Woman” is a very enjoyable mystery set in 1870’s England and featuring William Reeves.Reeves , a veteran who was wounded during the Crimean war, now makes his living as a journalist who is often hired to find missing people, including veterans, who have not been in contact with family. When he receives a letter from General “ Chinese” Gordon asking for him to travel to Gravesend, Reeves responds quickly, for Gordon was kind to him on the battlefield after Reeves was wounded.
In Gravesend, Gordon hires him to look into the disappearance of a seven - year old boy, Pierre Le Bleu. Complicating matters is that the child is the son of Marie-Anne, former mistress of the deposed Emperor Napoleon III of France who lives in exile nearby. Pierre my be his bastard son, so the situation requires Reeves utmost discretion, Gordon informs Reeves. The Queen’s ministers are interested in the case.
As the details slowly become known to Reeves, he finds more than he bargained for in the bustling seaport town. There are hidden, dangerous activities that that put his life in danger from the men who do not want their involvement uncovered. Even more dangerous is a growing romantic attachment to Marie-Anne. Is she playing him for her own purposes? If the boy is dead why has his body not been found; if alive where is he being hidden, and why? The French are oddly uncooperative.
The author, David Bissenden has a able character in Reeves. A sensible and competent investigator , he works to unravel the mystery of the missing boy, even as he falls in love with the boy’s mysterious, but alluring mother.
“ The French Emperor’s Woman” is a pleasant mystery in an historical setting, a good mystery that has some surprises and an satisfying climax. The book is a complete story , but might be the beginning of William Reeve’s farther adventures? As noted above, it could easily be adapted to a television drama series.
Nothing offensive in this book. Jean-Luc362 11

Elegantly written & historically well researched, The French emperor's woman has all the ingredients necessary to captivate a reader's attention: a veteran from the Crimean War turned private detective, the kidnapping of a young French boy, the natural son of an emperor, a delicate political intrigue involving the exiled Napoleon III, some rather despicable criminal shenanigans & a doomed romance, all of it taking place in Gravesend & Dover in 1871. So far so good. But (yes there is a but) I was personally left hungry by the end. I sometimes found the plot too rushed and the characters underveloped as if the author was trying to cram too many stories within "The Story" without giving us enough time to connect all the dots... OK, I just wanted more time with story but I have to commend the author for his delightful imagination & I will definitely follow him in the future! Many thanks to Netgalley and Matador Books for the opportunity to read this novel prior to its release date. Denise959 4

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